Chapter 4. Price of Duty
In the middle of the night on the outskirts of Kuoh academy forest, an intruder was making pace to finish his scouting of the forest.
Wearing all black clothing, jeans, sneakers, leather gloves, a ski mask, and ski goggles hiding his features.
He took out a small metallic tracking device that was the size of a peanut with the center glowing flashing red, and a Swiss army knife, switching the gears to a knife as he carves out a piece of bark from the tree next to him. The mask then takes out a glue bottle gluing the tracking device at the tree bark and gluing the edges as he places the bark back on the tree.
On his daily routine, Dohanseek took a sip of his Irish coffee while reading the daily newspaper. As he sat alone beside a wooden table in the ruined church lounge, surrounded by unfurnished furniture and a makeshift kitchen. The morning had started rather peacefully for him.
He was annoyed not being able to get to fight one of the Devils controlling this town, but he pushed it aside. Unless their leaders got the word to attack, there was nothing they could do, since their main objective was already enslaved to the house of Gremory.
Whatever worries their leaders had about that boy going critical and exploding should be dashed aside. Now they just had to worry about a Sacred Gear user being in opposition to them. It didn't help that his weapon was just Twice Critical. Even if his Sacred Gear went critical, a low-class weapon hardly had dire consequences. At worst he would be in a coma or lose some function in his body. Making the boy´s assassination and their presence at Kuoh even less necessary than they had to be.
Heck, he would have preferred to recruit the boy. Given their low numbers as it was, compared with the other two factions, they desperately needed people to join their ranks.
He took another sip of his coffee mug, savoring the alcohol within the caffeine, enjoying his moment of peace.
"Did you hear!?" Mittelt shouted as she soared through the church lounge corridor with her small wings out to see.
"I take it, you heard that Raynare failed assassination attempt from the other Exorcists," Dohanssek took another sip while keeping his gaze on today's article, "I called out a meeting with the other Exorcists about our situation at first thing in the morning while you and Raynare overslept."
Mittelt fumed, her face glowing cherry red as multiple tick marks pop at her forehead, "Then why are we sitting on our ass and not finishing the mission!? That's we're here, right!?"
"Our target is the servant of house Gremory, there is nothing we can do until our leaders order us to."
"But… we came here because he was dangerous to us, should we finish what we started no matter what any stupid Devil says."
Dohanseek sighed in annoyance as he put down his newspaper giving the girl his full attention. "Look, I don't like it either but until our leaders contact us, there is nothing we can do. If you have a problem with that then complain to Raynare."
"Fine, I do just that," Mittelt pumped her chest up with a humph of inflated pouting cheeks, her head inclined upward in closed-eye annoyance as she marched upstairs.
She halted at the oak door of Raynare's room, her hand resting on the iron doorknob. Her confidante and irritated gaze faltered to an uncertain frown as her lip twitched in uncertainty.
Maybe she should let this go. She promised Reish that she wouldn't start any fights with anyone and didn't want to disappoint him when he returned.
"Is little Milly having cold feet?"
A cold shiver ran down Mittelt's spine, her messy pigtails straightened upwards. She shrieked in a jolted fret and spun around to the mocking eerie voice.
Of all people that have to sneak behind her, it has to be Freed Sellzen. He had white combed hair, ghostly pale skin, and red blood eyes. His Physique was athletic but was concealed by his black priest clerical clothing. He wears a long-sleeve clergy shirt, black pants, an open long white overcoat with a large black vertical line lapel stripe that reaches the bottom of his coat, and a cross necklace around his neck.
He leaned forward to Mittelt's personal space with a mocking eerie sharp toothy smile, causing the child Fallen Angel to take a step back as she leaned on the oak door. She swallowed a lump in her throat as she clenched her fists with a false sense of bravado.
"W-what do you want, Freed?" She demanded with a trembling voice.
Freed rammed his palm at the oak door beside Mittelt's head, leaning close to her personal space. Mittelt's nose scrunched in disgust, able to smell the Exorcist's horrible breath that smells like raw meat.
"Oh, little old me just happened to overhear your conversation with Mr. Fedora man. I'm just making sure you don't turn chicken out."
"I-I wasn't chickening out. I was… I was, I just want… Don't want to wake Raynare´s sleeping ass." She snorted with her arms crossed, shifting her gaze from Freed with a single bead of sweat dripping from her forehead.
Freed let out a peal of hysterical laughter loud enough to be heard downstairs as he let go of the oak door and held his stomach from his hysteria. Shivers ran down Mittlet's spine even running even faster as she paled seeing those sharp teeth, his tongue sticking out as he cackled, his red blood eye shrunken to fierce insanity.
"What's the matter little Milly!? Not so tough without big brother Reish holding your hand!"
"Th-that not true… I just…" she struggled to get out her words, lowering her head down while fumbling her thumbs, wanting nothing more than to get out of here.
"No wonder that bitch´s boy toy left. Who wants to spend their time babysitting a little brat that ma and pa would rather drop dead than raise-"
"SHUT UP!" Mittelt shouted with clenched fret fists, a teardrop threatening to spill at the corner of her shut eyelids, "I DON'T NEED REISH OR ANYONE ELSE! I'll KILL BOSS STUPID TARGET AND FINISH THIS STUPID MISSION!"
Mittelt barged into Raynare's room, slamming the door towards a malicious grinning Freed.
She let out an expurgated breath as she leaned on the oak door, wiping the tears that threatened to spill over with the palm of her hand as a cracked window illuminated Raynare's room with the rising morning sun.
Raynare was asleep on a white mattress, completely wrapped by the thin layer of sheets from head to toe, failing to conceal the curvaceousness of her body. Her large breasts bulged like a snowy mountain, curving down to the slender build of her abdomen and hourglass waist. Her BDSM bikini was scattered on the floor beside her bed, her golden bracelet was placed beside her on the wooden counter.
Mittelt walked towards Raynare's desk as she scoured her notes with various dates and information on her target, a guy named Gabriel Amakusa. She scoured further on the notes about him with little information.
From what she gathered he was born in a village named Hinansho, which had been on a verge of collapse but suddenly began to prosper. To the point that it had been close to becoming a town. But not before it was destroyed by an earthquake that burnt the village to the ground making him the sole survivor.
He was adopted by Kiritsugu Emiya and moved to a city called Fuyuki where he lived with him and his adoptive siblings, Shirou Emiya and Illya Emiya for three years. Before being expelled from Homurahara academy, but not without serving three months in juvie for assault of a middle schooler girl, Sakura Matou. He was then later accepted at Kuoh academy, for his perfect scores.
Mittelt winced after reading the deeper details of Raynare's target past.
Sheesh, was this guy jinxed or something? She almost felt bad about killing him, but immediately shook her head pushing down such thoughts. He was a human and now a Devil, an enemy to her race, that neither of their kind will show the Fallen any kindness or compassion.
A tinge of red warmed her cheeks as she spotted a picture of her supposed target. He wasn't that bad of a looker… for a Devil that is. The scar at the right eye kind of ruined his face, but his sapphire eyes were hypnotizing. They were sharp and focused with a hint of amusement. It kind of reminded her a bit of Lord Azazel, but there was something else she couldn't put her finger on.
Mittelt's face turned red as a tomato and her cheeks into an even deeper one now, beads of sweat started leaking as steam roused from the back of her neck. She shook her head at a rapid pace as her two messy twin tails swing back and forth.
No, no, no! No!
Just because he's easy on the eyes, didn't make this Devil hot.
Mittelt hastily put all the notes back where they originated in an embarrassed fret with reddening cheeks. Her blush cooled as she folded her arms in a close-eye huff. Her attempts faltered as the corner of her right eye opens slightly as Mittelt slithery snatched the photo, putting it inside her black gothic dress pocket.
This was just for research purposes, for her collection, that's all. Nothing weird or anything about it, besides her heart, belongs to Reish… Vali… and Tobi.
Mittelt's dilemma was caught short as she heard one of the Raynare soft moans as she shifted her position to her backside, her tone ass sticking upward in a similar fashion to her breast.
An eerie toothy grin reeked as Mittelt rubbed her hands in malicious glee.
Might as well give the boss the old wake-up call.
Mittelt opened a window, humming a song to herself as she skipped beside Raynares bed, in one massive pull the sheets aside exposing Raynare's nude body. Her tired face was partially hidden by the bangs of her hair, her melon size breast was being pressed by the white sheet mattress, and the thigh of her long legs glowed with a slight pearl radiant.
But what caught Mittelt's gaze was her naked white shiny ass as the sunbeam at the firm tone cheeks.
Mittelt placed two fingers at the soft, slender curves of the flawless skin of her toned back. Her fingers mimicked a hike as they walked towards the soft curves to the destination of her firm white mountain butt. She lightly tapped her squad leader's posterior who let out a tired groan in mild irritation.
With a toothy grin, showing her small single fang, Mittelt raised her hand high, her sight aimed at the pearl cheeks.
A small quake shook the town causing Gabriel's espresso to burn his tongue, dropping his coffee as he held his mouth.
"PUTAIN!" Gabriel cursed in his mother's French tongue.
Arachne chuckled softly at the boy's expense. "Here I thought you were a courteous Gabriel. Are you all right?" She asked with amusement in her tone.
The two were walking on the littered sidewalk of the neighborhood, passing by the rundown buildings and small-time businesses and fast-food stalls beside them, who were also taken back from the sudden aftershock.
Gabriel put his hands on his hips, giving the Stray an accusing frown. "T-Th… scor… settle…pre… g-girl." He struggled to pronounce with his burnt tongue, stumbling over his words.
"Bend over," she gestured with a laugh, which Gabriel reluctantly complies with a grumble as his cheeks reddened by the sudden closeness, bending over to reach Arachne's level. She palmed her hand on his cheeks, to which Gabriel shot up, feeling an ice-cold trimmer freezing his mouth as the burning sensation cooled over.
Gabriel straightened rubbing his chin, fixating his mouth, his blush still present on his cheeks.
"Thanks… for that." He said with an embarrassed cough under his breath, "Is that one of your magical powers when you become a Devil? I thought with a name with Arachne your power would have something to do with spiders."
Arachne sheepishly rubbed her head, "Well, I'm only half-human even without my damn Evil Piece. To be more precise I'm a hybrid half Yuki-Onna, an ice Yokai from my mother's side, and from my father he was a Mage from the Arachne tribe."
Gabriel raised a curious eyebrow, "Tribes? From what I read about the Magus Faction, they operate with different households." Well to be more precise, this was what he assumed from Enzo's video.
"Well, consider tribes are the many branches under the head houses either they are a minor house or higher. The head house and their leaders are the ones that dictate the other tribes under them. Ever since the founding of the Magus Faction, houses and tribes' branches are usually formed from the descendants of previous Sacred Gear users or legendary figures from different mythologies around the world."
"You didn't mention hybrids. What about them?"
Arachne's joyful features shifted to a subtle frown, and she shifted her sight away from Gabriel, her face covered by the shadow of her bangs. "I rather not say," she answered with a defeated tone.
Gabriel slapped himself by the palm on his face as he dragged his features. He had the good conscious looking apologetic as he touched on another sensitive topic of someone's past.
First Kiba, now Arachne. Is the supernatural just one huge cluster fuck?
"Arachne, I'm sorry. I didn't-" Gabriel yelped in pain as he holds his foot while hopping with one leg, "What was that for!?"
"Didn't you say, 'If I hear some thank you or I'm sorry, one more time I'm going to sock someone.'" Arachne mimicked an overzealous deep voice with her chest pup, her index finger pointing halfway in the air in a mocking explanation.
"Very funny," Gabriel scoffed with his arms folded, but a small grace on his lips. "Here I thought you were a sweet girl with a troubled past. Now you're just trouble."
Arachne turned to her side and shifted her gaze to the air as she playfully kicked her feet, "I'm just making sure you honor your condiment. You don't want to be labeled as a hypocrite now, do you?" She playfully chastised.
"Then I better return the courtesy."
"Well, I better be more guarded," Arachne chuckled as the duo banter ended as they shifted their gaze to the other residents who recomposed and went about their daily lives, "I take it aftershocks aren't common in Kuoh." She assumed flatly.
"No. Quite conveniently our little aftershock occurs with the arrival of our unwanted guests." Gabriel remarked dryly, "I'm still a novice of the supernatural world. So do you get any ideas about what's going on?"
"I'm afraid your guesses are as good as mine."
Gabriel sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He's not afraid of taking risks with his own life, but considering the whole town might be endangered by God who knows what, he had to be more cautious than before. It wasn't just his life on the line anymore and the odds weren't in his favor, "You remember the plan?"
Arachne nodded with a concerned frown, "I do, but are you sure you don't want me to use me as bait instead? Out of both of us, one of us has experience fighting with the supernatural."
"All the more reason I need you to keep a watch on Kaguya while I'm at school. Besides, I still have a few tricks on my sleeve." Gabriel reassured with a challenging smirk as he mocks tossed a small vial of sugar water at the palm of his hand, as immediately slid it back into his sleeve. "Besides you need to find your comrades and draw as little attention as possible. Not to mention I'm not looking for a fight with Fallen Angels but a way to contact them. Hopefully, it won't lead to a fight, but best to be prepared just in case."
Arachne's brow twitches in a concerned gaze, "You still don't know how powerful the Fallen Angels are. You said that Raynare only has a single pair of wings, but from what we know, she might be suppressing her power. She might not even be the leader of her group. Not to mention the political strife going down on the Grigori."
"Believe me Arachne I consider that, but I'm dealing with the cards that I've dealt with and time isn't on our side. The more time we spent fiddling our hands contemplating what to do. The Fallen Angels might make someone else their next victim or both Rias' peerage and Raynare's group might start a fight and bystanders would get caught in the crossfire. Worst case scenario, it might escalate to war." Gabriel ended with a tired sigh.
"B-but…"
"I'm going to try one more time to convince Rias to contact foreign affairs about the Fallen Angels. Hopefully repressing my urge of feeding her a knuckle sandwich." He muted the less subtle threat with grinding teeth.
"And if she doesn't." She intensified with a fret concern.
"We continue with the plan."
"You sure you want to spar with me?" Kiba asked with a concerned fret, beside him was Koneko eating a box of chocolate sitting by the benches of the ORC personal dojo of their clubhouse. The two boys wore navy blue kendo uniforms and armor sets.
"Yup," Gabriel answered as he tossed the blonde boy a shinai as he held his own while putting his "Men" mask on. "So, you're going to stand there looking pretty or we're going to beat each other with bamboo sticks." Gabriel declared as he gets into his stance firming, holding his shinai forward, his feet planted to the ground while summoning his Twice Critical.
"You're not going to last long," Koneko blatantly stated while continuing her devour of her boxes of sweets.
Gabriel rolled his eyes in bored annoyance, "No kindling, I just want to see how far I manage to compare the rest of you. After all, we still have Fallen Angels lurking in our town until Rias gives the say-so. I want to be prepared if they try another swing on me."
Kiba's brow twitched, looking conflicted about the whole ordeal, "I know you had your doubts, but you just have to play-"
"Place my faith in Rias, I accepted that. It's the crows I'm more worried about. So, are we going to talk all day or we're going to beat the living shit with each other's bamboo sticks, as Satan attended?"
Kiba's lips twitched into an upward smirk as he got into his stance, covering his face with his own "Men" mask mimicking Gabriel's stance. "If that you wish Gabriel. I heard you were once part of a Kendo team before you came to Kuoh, but the training I had is far superior to whatever you learn."
Gabriel nodded in frowned acknowledgment, "Noted."
[BOOST!]
Just like before Gabriel felt the boost of energy inside him, by the green glow of the sphere emerald gem of his red gauntlet. He felt the power inside him once more.
Both Gabriel and Kiba walk in circles around each other, never taking their gaze from their opponent, their feet overlapping one another.
Gabriel charged with a forward pierce strike.
Kiba tilts his shinai firmly to a slight right as their bamboo touch. Gabriel shifted backward as his shinai followed through a grind, behind the tip of the Kiba bamboo sword, shifting his shinai downward strike to Kiba's hip. He countered with a blinding right clockwork quick shift of his wooden blade, his shinai pointing downward.
Gabriel narrowed his eyes at the exposed opening of his chest, as he releases his hold taking a step back.
"You're not taking this seriously," Gabriel accused firmly as he lowered his guard as Kiba follow-through.
"I didn't mean to offend you Gabriel but if I go all out you won't be able to see my moves let alone predict them. Even with your increased power when comes to 'boosting.'" Kiba explained politely as he could trying not to insult the boy.
"Then how about we treat this like a real battle? What do you say Rias?"
From the entrance of their dojo came Rias, her arms crossed holding her large breast to a bulge analyzing the short duel between Gabriel and Kiba. With Akeno beside her with that closed-eye polite smile of hers.
Kiba blinked, "Rias, I thought you were about to take a shower."
"I was, but I saw you three heading toward the training area and was curious." Rias then turns to her newest pawn, "Gabriel you want to fight Kiba in actual battle?"
Gabriel nodded with a bow, "With your promotion, of course, to be able to predict Kiba's movements with his insane speed."
Rias nodded with a mocking smile, "Very well. Kiba, it seems my newest servant is in desperate need of humility. You two will take your fight outside, holding nothing back."
"Are you sure Rias? Even with my Sacred Gear?" Kiba asks with a concerned frown as he takes off his "Men" mask.
"You have my permission to use Sword Birth."
Kiba's brow twitched in contemplation, "O-okay," he nodded, turning his sight to Gabriel, "I hope you're ready for this Gabriel."
Gabriel nodded firmly with a piercing gaze at the boy, "More than you realize."
"Koneko please escort Gabriel to the armory. We'll be waiting outside at the field."
The two boys were now standing separate from each other by a mile apart on an open grass field, far from academy ground hidden by the surrounding trees of the forest, and now wearing their Kuoh uniform.
"You sure you want to do this Gabriel? There's no shame in turning back." Kiba suggested in a polite gesture. His medieval long sword teleported to the palm of his hand in a black smoke flash of energy. The sword was different from the previous blade he wielded, the blade was jet black, and the golden cross guard was in a vertical wide shape of two "V's". One points upward to his blade and the other points downward on his hilt.
"Wouldn't dream of it," Gabriel declared with a confident smirk, a drip of sweat beading down his forehead, feeling his blood rushing in his pulse in anticipation.
Despite the mind games he played with the ORC, he couldn't help but enjoy himself. Even with both Devils and Fallen Angels breathing down his neck, protecting Arachne, and the safety of town on his shoulder. There was a burst of adrenaline when he put himself in these kinds of situations. Once he took a breather of comprehending what was going on.
Gabriel wielded a katana with the sheathe in his left hand and his sword in his right, the sun beaming down with a bright glimmer at his blade. Thankfully, he didn't have to waste his time polishing his sword given how well managed the Gremory's keep their weaponry.
The two boys got into their stance, Kiba pointed his black sword at Gabriel as he did the same with his katana. However, he held the scabbard behind him in a reverse grip while wielding his katana in one hand. In a flash of red light, Gabriel summoned his Twice Critical.
"Promotion, queen!" Gabriel declared feeling the burst power of the queen piece.
[BOOST]
"That won't help you, Gabriel. Even 'if,' you can match my speed, your reaction timing wouldn't be able to keep up."
"You find out I'm full of surprises Kiba."
"Before we start, I want to set up some ground rules." Rias declared as she paced in the middle of the field between the boys, "Victory will be achieved by the first spell of the blood of your opponent other than that anything goes, no fatalities. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes," the boys answered simultaneously as Rias walked back to Akeno and Koneko.
Gabriel flipped his katana in a reverse grip pressing close to his face, the curved blade pointing at Kiba while still holding his scabbard behind him.
Kiba was taken aback by such a stance but shook his head dismissing such a technique.
Why do people always think holding the blade backward is always a good idea?
He blamed that Star Wars game for starting that stupid trend. Better make this quick at least this will be a good learning experience for Gabriel to not underestimate your opponents' abilities.
In a burst leap of speed, Kiba charged at Gabriel with a right downward swing, feeling the wind caressing his face, the blade, of grass pulling out of the dirt ground by the sheer force of the launch of his first footstep. Just as they were an inch apart, a glimmering light blinded Kiba's vision reflected by Gabriel's katana, but not before he saw a cocky smirk from his opponent as he slowed down by instinct of the flash.
Gabriel swung the curved end of his scabbard with an upward right strike at Kiba's right cheek, sending him flying clockwork across the grassy field losing the grip of his sword.
"Be seeing you in the forest." Gabriel sheathed his katana and run at bursting speed towards the hordes of trees that surrounded them, leaving a faint of grass blades hovering in the air where he used to be.
Kiba got up on all fours and fixed his jaw.
Man, that's smart.
He recuperated his bearings and grabbed his sword, dashing at the same speed toward the forest.
"He's a deceitful one," Akeno chipped beside Rias.
"I'm starting to see why Sona wants him as an advisor for her peerage," Rias nodded in acknowledgment.
"PUTAIN… MERDE… CONNARD!"
Swears of French curses and faint screams spewed from the training ground forest from the supposed speedster. Unable to slow down or react fast enough to evade the many obstacles in the forest, stumbling into bushes or bumping into trees. Fortunately, he shielded his face with his arms from the forest obstacles. His self-torment came to an end as Gabriel tripped off a tree root that was sticking out from the ground, sending him soaring into a pile of bushes in a crash.
Gabriel woozily got up stumbling over his footing in a wobble. Twigs and leaves spurred at his messy hair and faint bruises were all over his face. He immediately bore his senses, shaking his hair with the palm of his hand getting rid of the twigs and leaves.
[RESET!] The power of the Twice Critical faded with the glow of the green jewel of his gauntlet.
"Damn." Gabriel cursed under his breath. He had to wait for five minutes to boost again. At least he had his queen promotion, that wouldn't be enough to predict Kiba's movements even then. He was lucky enough to even react with the Twice Critical.
Gabriel looked back at the destructive zig-zag path he laid out. The tree branches lay falter at the ground or hang loosely by their bark. Scatters left from the trees lay on the ground when he was a living pinball. Tracks of the footprint from his sneakers were still planted on the trail of chaos.
He took out his phone and activate his GPS tracker, showing the location of the tracking device, he planted last night. Gabriel let out a breath of relief, knowing which part of the forest he needs to go to. "Thank God."
Gabriel took out the vials from the small metal compartment inside his Kuoh jacket pocket and slipped two of them inside his sleeves. While taking out a modern-day slingshot he then used his katana to cut around the right lower end of his thigh of the black fabric of his dress pants above his knee.
"I almost to the nest."
Kiba sped through the forest being unseen by the untrained eye, the only signs of his presence were leaves that hovered faintly by the breeze of his speed he intimated. While inspecting the carnage of Gabriel's untamed speed. His investigation came to a halt, as Kiba stopped where the remittance of Gabriel's rampage ended.
Kiba halted as he kneeled, narrowing his sight at the track footprints Gabriel left behind, fainter than the one he saw as the destructive path he had created.
He had no control over his speed, nor how to handle his reaction timing. The only way Gabriel could beat him was the raw strength of the queen's promotion.
Gabriel probably lured him here to fight in a closed space to limit his movements.
Kiba followed the tracks at a slow pace in silent footsteps, kneeling behind the surroundings of bushes and trees, concealing his presence. He stopped his pacing, seeing a black fabric hidden behind the corner around the tree. He squinted, narrowing his gaze realizing it was the shoulder fabric of Kuoh academy's black coat uniform.
Kiba hunched and pressed his sword close to his torso. He bursts at an immense speed as he vanished, leaving the swift sound of his first step. Halfway through towards his target, Kiba leaped in mid-air over the forest landing in front of his target, pressing his sword forward until he halted.
"What in Satan's name!?" Taken aback in wide-eyed shock. In front of him was not Gabriel, but a torn black fabric of a Kuoh uniform stuffed with a curved stick and a pile of leaves. The curved top mimics Gabriel's shoulder blade, being held by some kind of a huge gap of chewed gum on the upper end of the stick to the tree bark. While the lower end is tied by a thread of string from the uniform, holding the leaves in place.
A stone was shot through the bushes behind Kiba to the stem of the wasps' nest above him, which was hanging from the tree branch.
By instinct, Kiba sliced the nest in an upward clean-cut vertical strike. In retaliation hordes of wasps began surrounding the blonde boy, the loud buzzing of their minuscule wings blocked his enhanced hearing of his surroundings.
Kiba smirked. He got to give it to Gabriel, he lured him well with his trap. Unfortunately, he underestimated his speed. Just as Kiba was about to take the first swing at one of the wasps, two small glass projectiles hurled right at him.
Immediately he strikes the two glass projectiles with a hastened short upswing and downswing strike. Unfortunately, the liquid content hit its mark on Kiba's face. Kiba squinted tears started to water up by the heat of one of the vials, clouding visions. Losing his concentration, Kiba let go of his stance as he rubs his eyes with his sleeves as the hordes of wasps take their bite at him, sucking his blood. Enchanted by the sweet aroma of the second vial.
Kiba lowers his arm, taking a slight glimpse of Gabriel behind the bushes where the vials were shot at, giving him a mocking smirk with a two-finger salute, before he ran.
Kiba snarled, in a dashed slice through the wasps in a clean-cut fashion, his after images being seen standing in one spot as wasp-sliced corpses falter to the ground. In a burst of instant speed, Kiba ran. His face was covered with blisters from the wasp bites, his eyes water clouding his vision from the intense heat of his vision. He came to a crash face first towards a tree with enough force that a large portion of leaves descended.
Kiba took a step back with a stumble as he shook his head, regaining his senses. Kiba let out a yell that could be heard outside the forest, he slashed the tree in half and fell to a timber.
With his Holy Eraser sword, black, dark smoke energy began to cover the black blade. Attached with thin, long black appendages as the tentacles of the darkness bursting from the Holy Eraser. The appendages began smashing trees, piercing the ground, pulling a nearby tree out from its roots, and tossing easily aside.
Kiba's rampage came to an end as he heard someone whistling a melody from a yard away from him. With a growl, he ran towards the source, his ears being his guide as the melody was getting louder.
With a squint, he saw Gabriel sitting on top of a small boulder in a small open field, holding his katana lazily.
The appendages wrapped toward Gabriel's joints and his neck, holding him in place.
"T-took you long enough," Gabriel grumbled, struggling to say with the increased pressure from the black appendages around his neck from Kiba's sword.
"It's over Gabriel, I won!" he declared.
"You sure about that? You might want to take a good look in a mirror."
Kiba raised a perplexed eyebrow from his bruise-blistered face.
"He's right, Kiba." From up above was Akeno with her Devil bat wings out to be seen, she hovered in the sky, witnessing the bout from the boys as she descended to the ground.
Gabriel flinched seeing those bat wings of hers and immediately shifted his sight downward away from them, as his breathing was starting to get heavier.
"But Rias said that the victory is achieved by the first spell of the blood of my opponent."
"You might want to take a good look at yourself," a small mirror materialized from Akeno's hand as she gave it to Kiba.
Kiba's sight began to fully return to him as his pupils widened in shock. From his enhanced eyesight, he could see the many small dots of blood at his blister of the wasps' bite marks. He touches his nose, noticing a tiny drop of blood started leaking.
His Sword Eraser disappeared in a flash of black, dark energy along with its appendages as Gabriel fixated his throat.
"B-but… but… I… h-he."
"Looks like Gabriel outfoxes you," Akeno winked at him as he hung his head and shoulder down in defeat.
Right behind Kiba was Rias and Koneko, teleporting with a magic circle. Koneko pats him on the back in comfort in her usual stoic manner.
"You did well Gabriel," Rias congratulated him as she approaches, "We could use your intellect for the Rating Games and future peerage battles."
"Thank you and I'm looking forward to it," Gabriel said with a nod, "By the way, I didn't know Kiba had a Sacred Gear. Does anyone else have these magical weapons made by God?"
"Besides you? Just Kiba and Gasper." Akeno added to the conversation.
"Gasper?" Gabriel asked with a raised eyebrow.
"He's, my bishop, that I have him sealed away until I'm powerful enough to control his Sacred Gear," Rias answered him.
Gabriel raised an arched eyebrow wanting more detail, but it is best to follow up later after the Fallen Angels are dealt with. For now, it looks like he's taking another deep dive into the supernatural fuck ups.
"Was he going critical, like me?"
"No, his Forbidden Balor View wasn't going in mass."
"Then what happened?"
"Gasper didn't have a pleasant experience of his kind with him being a Dhampir, a human-vampire hybrid. That causes him to suppress his Vampire heritage."
"I take it that Vampires-hybrids don't have a warm welcome in their society."
"Unfortunately, yes. Both Tepes Factions and Carmilla Faction view Vampires-hybrids as 'lesser' beings and treated with discrimination from their vampire brethren."
"Do all supernatural factions have that level of discrimination in their society?"
"It differs with the level of tolerance from each faction, that's why hybrids benefit from becoming Reincarnated Devils. Having a place of a refugee with their master."
Gabriel fought the urge of rolling his eyes to listen to another Devil propaganda, "Couldn't the Devil Faction just allow them an asylum without the Evil Piece System? Like a process of gaining citizenship."
One perhaps that doesn't involve internal servitude of transforming into another species that risks turning them into a man-eating monster and having to fight life-risking battles.
"This is their citizenship," Rias corrected with a stern gaze, "with the Evil Piece system they're able to live safely with their master and one day become the high-class Devil under the Pillar Family banner."
In translation, it benefits high-class Devils rather than their society as a whole. Gabriel had to hand it to the Devil Faction. Just once he thought their faction couldn't go any lower, they found a way to make them even more abhorrent. Leave it to the aristocrats or the elitists to manipulate a system that only benefits them.
"But wouldn't the Devil Faction benefit more from the assimilation within their society? The Devil's numbers were demolished during the Great War and the civil war with the original Satan's descendants. Also, couldn't they go to the other factions?"
"The other factions do accept hybrids, but only the species within their factions."
"What about the Magus Faction? Do they have that level of intolerance? I read that the Magus Faction is the only human faction. I could imagine being the only human faction they would take any advantage they can, so they wouldn't be exploited by the other factions. Wouldn't having hybrids in their rank be beneficial to them?"
"Well Mages under Merlin's rule accepted hybrids of all kinds, in some cases forming houses within their faction, having a say in their government. Devil hybrids often abandon the Devil Faction and join the Mage's ranks. Unfortunately, the hybrids began to revolt after we reforged our pact with the Magus Faction and during the declaration of lady Le Fay as their queen. Also, it was revealed that a large portion of hybrids and mages were forming a separatist movement. Thankfully, their leaders were executed, and their ranks were able to redeem themselves by joining our faction with the Evil Piece System. Thanks to the joint effort with the Magus Faction."
Becoming a puppet state in the process and dealing with unruly rebels with slavery.
Gabriel bit his tongue forcing down the urge to spit off the atrocity. The way Rias described the entire event of the Devils being benevolent for enslaving a large mass of people as a form of redemption was grotesque. He would bet every single Yen he has, that the Devils incited political strife within the Magus Faction.
"Well, I think I had enough of another supernatural lure dump for one day," Gabriel lazily waves off as he grabbed his nape rolling his neck to ease the tension of the previous strangle of Kiba´s Holy Eraser.
It wasn't enough information yet, that he intended to fish out of the ORC club skills and abilities, but at least it was something.
He could look up Sword Birth and Forbidden Balor View on the Devil's internet when he had the chance. Only Rias, Akeno, and Koneko had unknown abilities to him. For the short time he had known them, he suspects that Akeno has some kind of bioelectric powers, given her subtle threat when he almost started a fight with Rias, but who knows what other magical abilities she had?
Kiba seems to rely on swordplay and overreliance on the magical properties he had with his Sacred Gear, rather than the magical abilities he has as a Devil.
Gasper is unknown to him other than his Sacred Gear, but having him sealed rubs him the wrong way, and wanted Rias to elaborate further.
Who knows what Koneko was capable of, but Rias?
There was something about that black-red flame of hers that was familiar to him, that ran a chill down his spine, a splitting headache with flashes and his breathing became heavier every time saw it in action. He didn't have those strange flashes during his fight with Dohanseek, since it happened so fast, but with Enzo and the spider Stray Devil, those headaches became more apparent.
"Time to head back to campus." Rias cut off Gabriel's train of thought as Akeno finished healing Kiba's bruised, blistered face with the palm of her hand in a red glow.
Must be a healing property.
"Wait, there's something else," Gabriel stopped Rias' tracks gaining her attention once again, "I was brass of our conversation about the Fallen Angels, but what are we going to do about them? This isn't something we could ignore."
Akeno leans beside Rias a whisper, "Might as well tell him or he would never let this go."
Rias let out a reluctant sigh, "We're planning to attack them at the abandoned church this weekend."
"Wait, what!?" Gabriel stumbled dumbfounded with a widened gaze that mirrored Kiba's healed face of the brash plan, even Koneko's emotionless face shifted into a subtle shock that has her frozen in place.
"Rias, I meant no disrespect, but I didn't think that's a wise course of action." Kiba flabbergasted in as composed a manner as he could, trying not to offend her, "Gabriel didn't handle the last conversation about the Fallen well, but he made key points. We should contact foreign affairs and Serafall about their presence. We're not certain that they're even rogue."
Rias let out a frustrated sigh. Ever since she recruited Gabriel, her friends began questioning her every decision, even she started to second-guess herself. "I understand your concern Kiba, but for the last time, I assure you the Fallen Angels are acting independently. They wouldn't be here if they were otherwise."
"We don't have that authority," Koneko interjected with a subtle voice shifting her uncertain gaze downward away from Rias.
Gabriel stands in front of the two preparing to be the main focus of Rias' outburst, "You're the governor of Kuoh." Gabriel stated in a blatant stern manner staring directly at Rias' sky-blue eyes, "It's your duty to serve your people. To ensure their safety and act in their best interests. All the more reason to report Raynare rather than start a fight with her. We don't have the authority to attack them or the assurance they are acting rogue." Gabriel let out a reluctant deep breath pushing down whatever kind of pride he had. He got on his knees, and bowed his head in the grass, his frustration hidden by the grinding of his teeth, "Rias, I am begging you please contact foreign and military affairs."
"My answer is no Gabriel, I'm governor Kuoh and I will govern how I see fit. This discussion is over." Rias declared with a firm tone as she left with Akeno beside her.
Gabriel rose his head, still on his knees, from his spot beside Kiba and Koneko, his vision hazed in red. The stern of his gaze hardened with a piercing sapphire glare watching the back of Rias' long crimson hair, the palm of his hand bled by the tight clinch fist of his fingernails.
"You don't have to do that dear." Kaguya politely chided Arachne, as the small girl easily held three cardboard boxes full of clothes in her petite arms.
The two were in the wide-open space of the store storage room, filled with cardboard boxes, a desk at the other end of the room full of stacks of paper, and a diagram of a dress. Beside the desk was a mannequin wearing an unfinished blue dress that was being hung by one shoulder strap showing much of the cleavage, filled with pins at a certain part of the dress.
"It's fine, it's the least I can do. Besides, fashion has always been a field that interests me and my family." Arachne added while placing the boxes down in their attended place, with other pile boxes she helped carry.
"Really?" Kaguya perks with a raised eyebrow. "If you want, you can check the sketches of my previous work. It might give you some ideas."
"I appreciate it, but I'm more into weaving. It's sort of a tradition with my family."
To be more precise a tradition within her tribe.
"Is that so…" Kaguya contemplated while rubbing her chin. "Come with me," she gestured with a wave as she led Arachne towards a back door beside two sects of a pile of boxes.
Kaguya opens the door, revealing a brightly lit room, the three walls are covered by rows of hanging tapestries at the center of the room, a tapestry loom.
One in front of the tapestry showed a young man with black hair kissing a woman with long black hair that reached to her waist with split bangs, they were standing on a cliff beside the ocean as the waves rose behind them with the sun beaming below. The next tapestry was the same man and woman now at a Shinto shrine, wearing a kimono, the man wearing black while the woman was wearing white.
In the third tapestry entrance, Arachne was as if possessed. She walked toward the work of art, she placed her hand, feeling the soft silk fabric of the work. It was a young man from before hugging the woman on the right side of her bed as she held a baby, on her left side was a smiling woman with black and gray hair.
"This amazing work. Who weaved this?" Arachne awed in bright eye marvel.
"My son-in-law. When he was Gabriel's age, he used to work with me. We share the same passion when it comes to art and weaving just happens to be his specialty. My daughter loves his work and often asks for recommendations. My husband made this room for him to continue his work when we're on breaks. Although he originally did that to keep an eye on those two."
Arachne chuckled, "That's a clever idea, kind of a reminder of what my sister would do to keep an eye on me."
"Give it a try, weave to your heart's content," Kaguya gestured to the tapestry loom.
Arachne bit her lower lip in hesitation, not sure if it was okay to use something this precious. Gabriel briefed her on Kaguya's history, that her family was missing after a trip to the Pacific Ocean, while they were going to Hawaii. If she kept this loom for this long, is it all right to even use it?
"Gabriel told me you're a runaway." Kaguya brought up with a blunt response.
"Yes… Gabriel told me that you figure that out." Arachne answers sheepishly as she rubs her arm.
Kaguya let out a tired sigh, "I don't know what's going on and why Gabriel wouldn't send you to the authorities to help you, but I know he has a reason. He's not the type to needlessly put people's lives in danger. So, a friend of his is a friend of mine."
"If you don't mind me asking Kaguya, why did you hire him even though you know he was an ex-convict?"
Kaguya sat on one of the boxes letting a soft chuckle with a sad smile, "I saw the boy daily, doing interviews of the various restaurants around the mall, but he kept being declined given his record. We met face to face when I was being mugged by some gangsters when I was going home. Luckily, we were going the same route and Gabriel fought them. Bloody, and bruised, regardless of his safety he beat them despite the odds. After that, I asked why he did that and you know what the brazen thing that came from that boy's mouth?"
"What?" Arachne quips listening intensely.
"He said it was his duty!" Kaguya burst into laughter, "You would think someone who went to juvie would care less about being chivalrous."
"How gallant of him. Being labeled as a criminal most people would be detached and cynical." Arachne her gaze desolates as she rubs her nape, the bruise mark of Enzo left her still present, "Although… there others who are softhearted despite knowing the cruelty of the world. Some accuse being soft-hearted in a cruel world is for the weak and foolish. They're wrong. Having a soft heart and knowing the harsh reality doesn't make them weak, but an act of strength. Being soft and strong is what a few come to master."
"Well, I'm sure you have a big heart," Kaguya complimented as she tussled Arachne's white silky hair.
"No, I don't," Arachne whispered to herself, the bangs of her hair covering her eyes.
Kaguya gave her a sympathetic frown, "Working on one passion, ease the grief or a tribute to those we love. I leave you to your loom, Arachne, let your heart speak to what you love. Just ask if you need anything else."
With that Kaguya left, leaving Arachne alone with the loom and stacks of the tapestry that hung on the wall.
Arachne smiled softly to herself as she rubbed the wooden frame of the loom. Reminiscence of the times she and her sister competed with each other. Her father wove them stories of their ancestor of the original Arachne. Her mother often sewed clothing for them when they were once together.
"I miss you."
An eerie silence dreaded Kiba and Koneko as the two walked beside each other on the outskirts of Kuoh Academy, heading to the ice cream parlor that was at the mall. They were confident Rias had the situation with Fallen Angels under control, but after Gabriel made his keen points of why attacking the Fallen might escalate into war. They were less confident of Rias' stated assault against the Fallen.
Or if there was a plan in the first place?
"Do you think Gabriel was right?" Koneko broke the silence between the two, her head lowered to the ground.
Kiba beamed his boyish charming smile at Koneko, the one that won the hearts of the vast female population of Kuoh Academy, "I'm sure Rias' assessment of the Fallen Angels acting rogue is accurate. I'm sure she did her research on them, she even knows the Fallen Angel that killed Gabriel, name. She's probably a low-class crow that Rias can deal with a wave of destruction."
"How are we even sure that they are rogues? Why couldn't we inform foreign and military affairs about their presence?"
"I-I'm… sure Rias has her reason. We just need to put our faith in her."
They stopped their pace, spotting Gabriel leaning on the sidewalk light post, waiting for them.
"We need to talk."
"What is she?" Gabriel gawked in horror, seeing the embodiment of a black hole devouring a twenty-two-scoop sundae, in a petite manner with a teaspoon in hand at rapid speed. The image wouldn't be so haunting if the sundae didn't reach half of Koneko's height.
Kiba smiled, dismissing his companion's appetite while enjoying his strawberry smoothie.
The three were at the mall ice cream parlor gaining the attention of the other customers, who were distracted by the gluttony that is Koneko Toujou.
"It takes time to get used to Koneko's appetite," Kiba chimed in with a chuckle.
"Where does she put it?" Gabriel whispered to Kiba, which Koneko overheard as she kicked Gabriel's shins under the table, he yelped in pain as he held his leg. "FILS DE PUTAIN!"
"It's rude to talk behind a girl's back when they eat." Koneko bluntly stated as she continued her rapid petite pace.
A tick mark pop-up on Gabriel's forehead as he snarled. He put his right hand in his armpit, and underneath his coat, the flash of red light glowed.
[BOOST!]
Came the deep muffled voice of his Twice Critical, returning Koneko the favor with a kick to her shin as she made a cute yelp while clutching her little leg.
"I'm an equal opportunist." Gabriel clapped his hand at a sideways angle while politely chiding with a farce-beaming smile.
Koneko kicked again, "Jackass." She retorted with irritated stoicism.
Gabriel returned the favor with a toothy smile, "Brat."
Koneko kicked again, "Smart-ass."
Gabriel retorted his kick, "Jail bait."
"Guys! How about we take a step back before we get kicked out." Kiba pleaded, waving his arms between his comrades.
Both Gabriel and Koneko glared blankly at each other for a good minute before Gabriel sighed in conceding reluctance. He shoved his hand off his Twice Critical at his coat pocket, vanishing in a red glow light.
[RESET!]
"Let's cut to the chase, this is about Rias not informing foreign and military affairs about the Fallen Angels' presence."
"Gabriel, I know you have your doubts, but I'm sure Rias knows what she's doing," Kiba assured, which only aggravates Gabriel even more that he has to reset to burst out a rant.
What is with these people blindly following a slave owner to commit a war crime?!
They knew all too well that Rias is acting out of reach and only doing this because of her damn ego! Risking their safety and the whole town.
Does being reincarnated into a Devil kill people's brain cells?
"Do you think it's a bit odd, the Fallen Angels haven't left yet, when they kill me? What other reason do they need to stay at Kuoh after they finish their objective?"
"Maybe they're just waiting for further orders," Kiba answered with uncertainty.
"So, you believed the Fallen Angels are acting on someone's orders, dismissing Rias' claims of them being rogue."
"No, that's not what I meant!" Kiba frantically reputed, "I-It… just… well…"
Good, despite Kiba's bizarre sense of loyalty to Rias, deep down he acknowledged Rias' plans of attacking the Fallen made no sense. Which he could exploit. If reasoning with these idiots didn´t work, other methods had to be used. It's not like he's going to feel bad about using his so-called 'friends' who left him for dead only to enslave him and turn him into another species.
Still, it's odd how they blindly followed Rias. Knowing full well if they ever leave her side they mutate into a man-eating monster and be hunted, being labeled as a Stray. There is something more going on about them. Could be Stockholm syndrome or brainwashing from some kind of Devil propaganda. Denying his misgivings about these people, he would be lying if he said there was not a bit of guilt about using them like this.
No.
He didn't have the luxury to feel any kind of sympathy for these people. He's at a time limit before this whole mess escalates to war.
But even still…
"Can we report the Fallen Angels ourselves?"
"NO!" Kiba shouted as he got up from his seat, gaining the attention of the other compatriots. He smiled sheepishly in an apologetic manner sitting back in his seat. "I mean only the governor has that kind of authority let alone their servants."
Gabriel narrowed his gaze at Kiba with a suspicious brow, "You seem often defensive about reporting them without Rias' consent, care to elaborate with me, Kiba."
"I-It… just… well-"
"We don't want Rias to be in trouble," Koneko bluntly answered for him, putting down her teaspoon in the empty bowl.
"Don't you two believe there is another reason for the Fallen Angels being at Kuoh? Think about it. If killing me was their only objective, why haven't they left yet?"
"We're not sure ourselves," Kiba answered as he and both Koneko looked uncertain of themselves.
"I think we're being set up, including Raynares group. Probably from an enemy of the Gremory's or someone wanting to break the cease-fire."
"That's not hard to believe, being Sirzechs little sister, he and the other Satans made some enemies when they took the throne during the civil war."
"Wait! Rias is the sister of SIRZECHS LUCIFER?!" Gabriel blunted out loud for the whole parlor to hear as he shot up from his seat. He quickly apologized for his outburst and sat back in his seat.
"I take it you haven't gone that far in research of the Devil Faction politics?" Kiba politely chided.
"I know the current state of the three factions, the level of authority the Satans and the Pillar Families held, and the legal structure of the Devil Faction. I was saving to know the names, cultures, and identities of the Pillar Families after the Fallen Angels are dealt with."
"Well, Rias is the sister of Sirzechs, who used to be the heir of clan Gremory before ascending to Lucifer's throne."
"Do you know any nobles who want to dismantle the Underworld power structure? I could imagine there still being some loyalties to Satan's descendants and not too pleased with the current regime. Or how about the Grigori? Do any of their leaders want to restart the Great War?"
Kiba tapped his chin in contemplation, "I don't know much of the internal power play of the Pillar Families, but the clan leader of House Bael has always been outspoken about the current Satan's liberal policies."
Gabriel rolled his eyes while nonchalantly resting his right cheek on his fist. Liberal, being a loose word for a feudal society that has a controlled state media and practices slavery.
"What about the Grigori?"
"I don't know much about Fallen Angels' politics either, but what is widely known in the supernatural is that Amadeus, one of Grigori leaders seceded with his followers and Kokabiel has been advocating restarting the Great War."
"Why did Amadeus secede from the Grigori?"
"We're not quite sure ourselves, but I'm certain Amadeus has nothing to do with what's going on with the Fallen Angels."
"How do you know for sure?"
"We just are and leave it as it is," Koneko bluntly answered for Kiba.
Gabriel pinched the bridge of his nose and sighs in reluctant acceptance, "Okay, fine, but with the political strife of both factions don't you think they're someone in the shadows pulling our strings?"
"Gabriel, I think you're overthinking things." Kiba reasoned with false assurance as a few beads of sweat dripped from his forehead with a false smile.
"Drop the façade!" Gabriel commanded in a deep stern tone of severity, his sapphire eyes piercing Kiba's light blue. Both Koneko and Kiba were taken aback by the level voice of authority of Rias' new pawn piece. At first, they considered Gabriel a trickster given how he and Kiba last fought, but now it felt like they were talking to a king with that commanding presence he radiates. "Yourself don't believe your lie. Are you going to shelter yourself from sweet lies, consequences be damned? Until it turns its gaze directly toward you. Or are you going to face the horrid truth head-on, eye to eye? Head held high with the resolve to stand your ground. So, which is it?"
"Okay, okay…" Kiba conceded in reluctant acceptance, as he lowered his gaze, "You made your points about the Fallen Angel more plausible than Rias' theory of them being rogue. But what can we do?"
"We can try to contact them," Gabriel answered the two as both Kiba and Koneko's brows twitched in confusion, lingering for Gabriel to continue, "I lure myself as bait if someone is lurking in the shadows playing both sides. If they want to finish what they started or use one of our deaths to escalate a conflict. Since I'm the weakest one in Rias' peerage, I'm more favorable as a target. After I capture the Fallen Angel, I ask the said captured Fallen Angel to arrange a meeting with Raynare or her group leader. I'll falsely claim that I'm on Rias' behalf and convince them to leave Kuoh, to never return. If you two don't want to get in trouble, fine. I only ask if you have the means to restrain species like the Fallen Angels and not inform Rias or Akeno?"
Both Kiba and Koneko side glanced at each other in a side-wide glance of contemplation of uncertainty until Koneko nodded in reluctant acceptance which Kiba agreed with a tired sigh.
"Very well,"
"An M.R. Handcuffs, that's all they gave you!" Arachne fumed while rattling the jet-black bat handcuffs at her dainty fingers. "These things are only useful for low-class warriors, and you going out there not knowing how powerful the Fallen Angels are?"
"That's all they had," Gabriel explained as he pulls over the red shag carpet, cutting the brown carpet below with the utility knife of a Swiss army knife. He lifted the brown carpet with a small peel, revealing the wooden floor. He switched his Swiss knife gears to a screwdriver, ramming it at the small hinges of the wooden panel and spanking the bud end forcing the screwdriver deeper inside. He forcefully lifted the small wooden panel as he put on a black dishwashing glove covering his forearm, digging deep below the underlayment and grabbing a small black case.
"What's that?" Arachne asked with a raised peculiar eyebrow.
"For now, the second-best weapon I have." Gabriel gestured grimly as he opens his case revealing an M1911 pistol and a clip.
"I thought Japan has a no gun law policy?" Arachne questioned worryingly as she eyed the pistol.
"Tell that to the criminals," Gabriel answered firmly as he put the clip at the bud handle of his gun, cocking his pistol, and switching the safety on, "Besides my last legal guardian wasn't the exact model citizen."
"Gabriel this is insane. A gun and a katana aren't going to do much even if the Fallen Angels are low-class warriors. If you're going to use someone as bait, why don't you use the Devils who agreed to help you on this?"
"Both Kiba and Koneko agreed to help me after I made up a half-ass lie about someone in the shadows pulling our strings and got off Rias tit's knowing full well her actions could cause a war. Just because they agreed to help me doesn't mean I trust them to steed themselves from fighting the Fallen Angels. Rias was goading Dohanseek to attack her rather than defuse the situation. I can't risk those two jumping the gun and attacking them off the bat or worse killing one of them. Besides, who knows maybe I won't bump into them, maybe they left Kuoh already."
"Bull…" Arachne accused with a scowl, her arms crossed, "You wouldn't arm yourself like this if you didn't know where to use yourself as bait at."
Gabriel sighed as he took off his dishwashing glove, he had to get it to Arachne she's sharp, "My neighborhood doesn't have an outstanding reputation. I hear all kinds of rumors of what's going on, some might be related to Stray Devils. This might be plausible, but the Fallen Angels might go hunting for another Stray like Dohanseek, with any luck, I bump into one of them."
Arachne let out an expurgated sigh, "Okay, let's say you bump into the Fallen and they're not in the mood of talking, then what?"
"I told you before, I still got some tricks in my sleeves." Gabriel got up and took out a pistol shoulder holster from the drawer of his closet. "I know you Stray's need me for something, but these people's safety is my number one concern, that's including you."
"It's your duty?"
Gabriel stopped his hassle, as he stares directly at Arachne's silver eyes, with a steel resolve within his sapphire eyes, "I am a citizen of Kuoh. This may not be my home, but it's my duty to protect this town if all else fails. I failed once, I'm not failing again."
"Then let me come with you!" Arachne's demand unflinchingly met Gabriel's gaze.
"Arachne you already did more than enough for me, looking after Kaguya. You have your problems to deal with and this isn't your fight."
"So, what!" Arachne shouted in retaliation, "I said I would help you and I met it. You're right, we do need you for reasons I don't even know, but I'm concerned about people getting killed for something they don't even understand!" she ended her rant as she let out an expurgated breath, "What about Kaguya?" Gabriel´s eyes widened in shock, "She cares about you. You probably close things to a family for her. What am I supposed to say to her if you get yourself killed?" She lowered her gaze to the floor.
"I'm not planning on dying Arachne," Gabriel gave a small smile as he tries to reassure her with a softer tone of voice as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
Arachne's bangs covered half of her face as small drips of tears rolled down her cheek dipping to her sharp chin, "No one does but that hasn't stopped it from happening. I know the pain Kaguya is going through. I don't even know if my family is either killed by the Devils or still in hiding. Can you even imagine that? Not knowing what fate happens to your loved ones with the blind hope that they might be still alive only to crash down by the cruel realization within your consciousness that they're dead." Arachne wiped her tears with her sleeve as she stared at Gabriel with a determined gaze.
"I'm a warrior Gabriel, I may not look like it but I have fought and killed before. We made a deal, remember."
Gabriel let go of her shoulder as he let out a sigh, "Fine, but I have some requirements."
"Name it," Arachne nodded in acceptance.
"First, if the Fallen Angels are too powerful for us or things go down under. I want you to run even if you leave me for dead. Agreed?"
Arachne frowned but shook her head in reluctance.
"Second, no civilians would be involved with our conspiracy,"
"Obviously,"
"Third, you will tell me of your powers and what skills you have. To form a strategy, I need to know the full capacity of my allies. Do we have a deal?"
Arachne shifted her sight from Gabriel's gaze in hesitation, unnervingly exposing her powers, but nodded in determination. If it meant protecting these people and keeping Gabriel alive, so be it.
The image of Kaguya admiring her son-in-law's tapestry. Seeing the passion of the soul and heart at work, only to be clouded in reminiscence forlorn.
"There has been enough pain. I'll follow your lead, Gabriel."
In the middle of the night, Mittelt flew around the ghetto where Raynare's target lived. She descended slowly into an alley and concealed her wings.
She made pace inspecting the address of her target as she walked towards the next block. She winced when she steps on a spider as she scrubbed the soles of her black dress shoes on the sidewalk.
Mittelt stopped at a two-story apartment building and grabbed the note of her target address. She summoned her wings and flew to the second floor past the rails to a door. With a deep breath, she clenched the doorknob with a tight grip on her small hands. She summoned a glowing pink light spear shaped like a harpoon.
Mittelt began hyperventilating as her chest rose and fell. Beads of sweat dripped on her forehead as her sky-bright blue eyes shined, her iris reflecting the door.
She could do this. She was a Fallen Angel warrior!
Mittelt rammed through the door after she turned the knob. She soared through the mixed shape living room bedroom but halted only to find no one was there. She inspected the apartment and spotted crumbs of orange potato chips scattered on the floor. Mittelt cheeks puffed in a frown as she left the apartment and flew above the complexes. She narrowed her gaze around the building until she spotted a crumbled bag of potato chips on the sidewalk.
Mittelt flew downward and unraveled the crumbled bag, revealing it to be a barbeque flavor.
Mittelt grinned, she almost had him. Dumbass was practically telling her where he was.
She soared as she heard a loud crash from a building nearby entering through the broken shard window. Mittlet scoured the building but stopped only to find a pile of half-empty bags of chips, crushed beer cans, and a pile of discarded poker cards scattered on the floor. Dishevel all over the floor with a little trail of blood from some of the cards. Mittelt flinched in disgust, inspecting the cards until she spotted an orange dust thumbprint on one of the cards.
"You're dead, Gabriel!" Yelled a gruff voice from down the stairwell.
Mittelt flew downward at the stairwell but stopped when she spotted a walkie-talkie placed on one of the stair treads.
Sorry for the delay, the recharger of my laptop broke, and I've been waiting, for a new one for weeks.
Also, the art commission of Jeanne d'Arc is done. If you want to take look, go to DeviantArt and type Comission – Jeanne by Shinta-Girl.
If anyone is wondering why Rias was so adamant about believing Raynare group is acting rogue.
To put it bluntly, Rias lied to Issei and manipulate him.
After Raynare captured Asia, Issei begged Rias to save her. Rias denied Issei's pleas claiming the action could spark tension or cause a war. After that Rias left with Akeno, and start a fight with Kalawarner, Dohanseek, and Mittelt. I recommend people read this part of the light novel or rewatch this scene. So… yeah Rias straight up lied to Issei, and he never questions her about this and letting Asia die.
To counter Rias' point of interrogating Raynare team and I'm using the light novel not the anime.
One, Rias interrogation was during a fight while Issei, Koneko, and Kiba were at the abandoned church fighting the small army of rogue Exorcists. The interrogation was pointless since it was in the middle of a fight, with no valid statements or evidence.
Two, if Rias was serious about the investigation, she should have confronted Raynare, don't start a fight with her, and given an ultimatum to cease any action or it might escalate into conflict like any other foreign power, especially one in a shaky cease-fire. Also, INTEGRATE her about why she's here.
Three, Rias was wrong. Raynare group was ordered here, by Azazel himself. This confirmation in the Fallen Ange arc when Raynare faces off with Issei for the first time at the park. Also, in the Peace Treaty arc when Azazel stated that untalented Scared Gear users are dangerous and unable to control their powers. I give more detail about Raynare when her role in the first arc is over, but she didn't disobey anyone's orders. Ichiei Ishibumi confirms this with a Raynare fanboy at a High School DxD Reddit page, it reaches the point that High School DxD wiki page has to change Raynare's profile so that she didn't disobey Azazel's orders.
I don't think Azazel ordered Raynare to kill Issei, but I'm willing to bet Kokabiel gave her the order or the false order. The reason is, to prevent a powerful Sacred Gear to fall into the enemy's hands and escalating tension with the Devil Faction. However, my theory is flimsy since there is no stated evidence or statements. It's just something I see Kokabiel doing.
I explain my reason further when Raynare's role in the first arc is over.