For all her wariness of Diodora, Sona opted not to imprison him or keep him under more scrutiny than before. Which sort of made sense, given that there would really be no point in that since he'd obviously behave well after their encounter. That way of thinking did have some faults, but he didn't doubt she had ways of checking on him without having someone tailing him all the time. In the end, magic made it so the sky's the limit.
Still, Diodora kept to himself and had Stain make itself scarce. It'd hide out in his new apartment, because ordering the creature to leave town would essentially be an admission of fault, while it remained Sona's main concern. So in the meantime, Diodora would train with Genshirou as much as he could.
"Well, well, well. Would you look at that?" A girl's voice came to him as he created a ball of demonic power while Genshirou used his black tendrils to take the power away. Cheeky, confident "He yet lives."
"Yuzu-san!" Genshirou almost lost concentration, but his power came from a Sacred Gear. So he didn't stop his work.
Diodora gave the girl a look, frowning as she approached them.
"What's with the getup?" He turned his attention back to his spell, seeing it shake as he took his eyes off it for a moment.
"You think I'd go around town looking like I do?" Miyuzuin asked, her hands running down her raven black hair and using magic to bring it back to its original color "You might think it's fine since the Gremory heiress doesn't even bother, but there's something called being subtle."
She nodded to Genshirou, getting her hands on her waist as she gave them a closer look.
Of course she spoke the truth. Diodora almost forgot about common sense for a moment.
"You sure are capable." He commented, not really knowing how to keep the conversation up.
"That, I am." Miyuzuin nodded "Seems like you're fine now. When did you wake up?"
"A few days back."
Miyuzuin nodded.
"Umm, don't worry Yuzu-san. I told Diodora-san that…"
"I figured out she wouldn't stick around while I was recuperating." Diodora interrupted with a frown "There'd be no point in that."
Miyuzuin gave them a lopsided smile.
"Yeah. We just met, Gen. It's no time for sentimentalities." Miyuzuin patted him on the back "We're just on the same team incidentally. I'd rather touch base and keep things in order."
That got Diodora's attention.
"Something wrong?"
"No. I just gave signs of life." Miyuzuin shook her head "It's not uncommon to lose contact with people from time to time, but I'd rather not push it too much."
That she had come back meant that she'd at least hear Diodora's ideas out. Which really was all he needed. Outside of what he brought to the table, Diodora had a singular goal in mind with her: Using her connection to the Emperor to get an easier access to the power the Khaos Brigade brings to the table. Maybe even get the Ophis' snake that the original Diodora had in the main timeline.
He also wanted to stay close to the main operations of the big players. Knowing so closely where Rizevim Livan Lucifer's plan stood would be of great help when the time to nail it to the ground came.
If Miyuzuin decided to stick around afterwards, Diodora would count it as an extra win.
"That's great. I'm putting a small operation together, but I need some time to get everything together. I'll tell you the details when more things are in place." Diodora informed her, ceasing his spell and giving the girl his full attention "It'd be great if we could count with your firepower."
Miyuzuin frowned… No. Her face simply turned more serious as she weighed her options. She tilted her head slightly, moving her eyes from side to side without looking at anything in particular. Considering.
"How risky are we talking?"
Diodora shook his head.
"Depends."
"That doesn't sound too good." Now Miyuzuin did frown.
"I'll need a lot of magicians, and a way to hijack a Sacred Gear." Diodora sighed "You know human magic, something might go wrong."
Miyuzuin and Gen looked at each other, exchanging an unspoken question.
"Well, listen to yourself and plan well." Miyuzuin finally spoke after the prolonged silence "You should probably start small too."
"I do want to recover the other two Vritra Sacred Gears." Diodora brought a hand to his chin.
"Ummm, do you know which ones we're looking for?" Genshirou sounded worried. More than he should've been.
"I doubt you'll just find them hanging out somewhere to be taken too." Miyuzuin added "We'll need a way to take them, if that's possible at all."
"It is." Diodora didn't hesitate to say.
"You did find them in that Khaos Brigade center…" Miyuzuin adopted a similar expression as Diodora "But how did they do it? Can't you just go in and…?"
"I'm but a small fry in that place." Diodora covered his eyes with his left hand "I can't just go snooping around. There's too many places to look, even with help. And I don't feel comfortable giving them something big to obtain those secrets."
Genshirou nodded vigorously, while Miyizuin simply clicked her tongue.
"Do you at least know… Never mind, you do, right?"
"Blaze Black Flare: Vritra's cursed flames, and Delete Field: Vritra's power nullifying aura."
Miyuzuin perked up at the second Sacred Gear.
"So we'll end up having similar abilities." Miyuzuin turned to Genshirou and gave him a soft smack with the back of her hand "Excited?"
"Kinda, yeah." He didn't sound excited at all.
Diodora frowned.
"Is something wrong?" He placed a hand on the blond's shoulder.
"I just don't feel too hot, it's nothing." Genshirou fondled his eyes.
Something in his tone didn't go well with Diodora. Perhaps the recent death of his Queen made him more nervous than usual, or perhaps constantly using his demonic power changed something in his mood. Perhaps, even, it could be backlash from his self-brainwashing spell Autosuggestion.
He couldn't just let his nerves get to him. Keeping his mind clear was what kept him on his feet and capable of responding to all threats.
What if he used Autosuggestion again? He hadn't tweaked it much but…
"I'm fine, really." Genshirou interrupted Diodora's thoughts "Let's keep practicing, Diodora-san…"
"Have you been resting?" Miyuzuin interrupted "I know I left you a training program, but you ought to rest properly too."
She turned to Diodora, having thought of something after saying that.
"You haven't been pushing him too far, have you?"
The accusation baffled Diodora, who glanced over both of them.
Had something happened? He did feel like they somehow grew close, but he assumed his nerves were getting the best of him.
"I'm going as far as Genshirou feels comfortable." He replied evenly.
"Weird way to say it, but okay." Miyuzuin pursed her lips.
Diodora scoffed. Yet the blond said nothing else.
That… Taking into account how genuine this guy was, Diodora felt comfortable guessing that something was wrong with him.
"Does anyone else feels peckish?" Diodora looked at both of them "I'm thinking a burger would go nicely, anyone else?"
Miyuzuin looked at Diodora funny but cheerfully agreed to free food.
"I…"
"Maybe we can get something for your siblings too?" Diodora offered.
Genshirou looked out of breath for a moment.
"That'd be great."
With his objective accomplished, Diodora got them out of the common grounds in Kuoh Academy. At this hour, no students remained. And Genshirou didn't belong to any clubs. Maybe it'd be better to ask Rias if he could slip into hers, given that the boy has to interact with the other reincarnated devils a lot more than Diodora himself. But that could wait. First, Diodora wanted to get the guy to cheer up. The dampened mood didn't sit well with him at all.
They walked together, with Diodora going a couple of steps ahead of the other two while Miyuzuin made small talk about how she had to make trips between towns. Places that took in people like her, secret operatives, and a bit about a small team that sometimes got together for work.
She apparently only belonged to the church on paper, but Diodora seriously doubted that the religion would take kindly to her heritage. Especially since, according to the girl herself, she didn't exist. The higher ups would probably lose their minds if someone with Masaomi's last name showed up at their doorstep.
"Does that mean there's other misfits running around patching things up basically unpaid?" Diodora chimed in, a bit surprised.
"Not unpaid, no." Miyuzuin corrected.
That too, made sense.
"So that means you'll charge me?" Diodora realized after a moment. Thinking about it, even if Miyuzuin hadn't brought money up, she'd probably expect something in exchange for her services. But if they could talk money, something the 72 Pillars didn't lack, it'd make things simpler.
"We'll discuss that on a case-by-case basis." Miyuzuin's reply came simple and centered. She probably had enough experience in this matter that she fell back to her tested and true reply.
Diodora could definitely respect that.
"I'm open to suggestions too. If you have things you'd rather acquire before we talk business, please let me know." Diodora made a finger gun and pointed it at the girl.
"Ah, well. In that case I'll be in your care." Miyuzuin sounded happier now.
Genshirou simply saw them interact, staying silent all the while.
Diodora's nerves couldn't get any higher at this point. He had half of his mind set in shaking the guy and asking what was wrong, but he didn't. He knew it would only make things worse, and talking over food would be better anyway. He'd have to wait. Again.
"By the way, I heard that Yuni's calling you by a nickname." Diodora said instead, forcing himself to take a different angle.
"Eh?" It took the blond by surprise, making him think about it for a moment "It's nothing like that! My friends call me Gen too!"
Diodora hadn't seen the guy with friends before. Perhaps he had had them before, but after the loss of his family… Diodora shook his head.
"Then, shall I call you that too?" He gave Genshirou an award-winning smile.
"That's…! Of course Diodora-san!"
Well, at least he sounded more normal now.
Genshirou stopped in his tracks, shaking in place and going completely pale in a split second.
"Gen…?" Miyuzuin leaned in and grabbed his shoulders, half helping him keep his balance and half questioning him.
Diodora saw something slither in the boy's skin, just out of his collar. Something slender and black.
His Sacred Gears.
"I don't think this is normal." Diodora switched gears, losing all pretense of charm and friendliness "We should head back."
"What's going on?" Miyuzuin snapped her face toward Diodora, eerily serious after seeing the blond get so spooked.
"I'm not entirely sure, but it has to do with his Sacred Gear." Diodora grabbed the boy from below his shoulder, motioning to the girl to do the same on the opposite side "Let's go. We don't want any attention right now."
"You sure screwed up badly, huh." Miyuzuin grinned, but it felt more like she was trying to dispel the tension than anything else.
"It's what I get from using Stain out in the open."
"To be fair, you were dying back then. Don't feel too bad about it." Miyuzuin helped lead Genshirou along, making an effort to keep her voice even "I mean, outside of employing a murderous monster."
"Not the time."
"Oh, but it's precisely the right time." A new voice stated. Confident, a bit sneering as it spoke.
Diodora turned around, more annoyed than anything. Only to grab Genshirou tighter when he did the same and lost more strength upon being face to face with the people behind them.
Two people stood in front of a group of exorcists. Diodora didn't hesitate to call them that because of their obvious church robes, and the small cap-like thing over the guy's head.
The one that spoke had been another blond. A guy clearly older than any of Diodora's companions, in his late twenties at most. He wore black priest-like clothes, and had a cross hanging from his neck. With a heavy book on one of his hands that gave Diodora the chills, almost as much as the cross itself.
The second person was a dirty blonde with proportions that reminded Diodora of Rias or Akeno, but in an eerie way. Whereas the other two's appearance looked eternal, this girl somehow managed to look irreal instead. Perhaps like an AI image that had something lacking, which couldn't be explained in simple words.
They locked eyes, and she offered a grin so wide that Diodora thought her teeth would all become fangs, and that she'd become beast-like. But this didn't happen. The idea puzzled him, as his mind registered her as simply a very energetic girl a moment later. Yet he couldn't shake off that feeling of wrongness.
Genshirou looked like he felt the same, but towards the guy instead. It didn't make sense, not immediately at least. Until Diodora saw the strain in both blond guys' faces.
No. No way.
Diodora stepped between Genshirou and the newcomer, cutting off eye contact.
"Excuse me, but I believe you lot shouldn't be around here." Diodora clapped his hands together, feeling cold sweat run down his neck but pushing the knot in his throat down. It hurt more than he expected "This place isn't suited for religious people."
The exorcists behind the two tensed, but the eerie beauty laughed openly.
"I guess it wouldn't!" She cheered on, for lack of a better term "But don't worry, we're just passing by. Right, Eliah?"
The guy didn't reply. He kept his eyes on his target, almost looking through Diodora to try and catch a glimpse of Genshirou.
"Elijah?" The girl kept her good mood, but sounded astonished at the lack of reply. Almost like she expected it at once.
"Yuni." Diodora whispered "Do you have a jinxing problem?"
"What did I do? What did I say?" The girl sounded genuinely confused by the question, but Diodora didn't want to openly tell her who the person in front of them was.
"Sorry!" The guy, Elijah, flashed the girl a smile "I was just distracted. Yes, we'll leave soon enough. God's hand guides me, and I think our exodus will come to an end soon enough."
Diodora grunted as the forbidden name was spoken, and caught a glimpse of Genshirou cradling his head.
He already disliked this guy.
"Not a place for that guy's people." Diodora tried to sound as affable as the headache allowed him.
"The Lord's word shall reach every corner of the world. There's no such place as unfit for His message." The girl beamed, clapping her hands as if she had unveiled the secrets of the universe.
Diodora regretted not having Sona watch over his every move right in this moment.
"Diodora-san…" Genshirou murmured, but Diodora waved his hand behind his back.
"I know. He's like you." Diodora stated.
"I remember someone like him in my dreams." Genshirou added.
So the Vritra hosts felt pulled towards one another now? Damn it all.
"No way." Miyuzuin whispered, but then walked forward and spoke with an imposing tone "Elijah the Witch Hunter? What are you doing here?"
"You can just call me Witch Hunter, sweetheart." The guy smiled at her "With whom am I having the pleasure of talking?"
Miyuzuin clicked her tongue within the mouth, without parting her lips.
"Yuni." She didn't offer anything else.
"A freelance exorcist on these lands. A faithless warrior." One of the people behind the two offered an explanation.
"A pretty name. I didn't know I was well-known even on this side of the world."
"I'm sorry, but I believe only Yuni here has ever heard of you." Diodora pushed himself a step closer to them.
That was a mistake.
The blond's expression twisted into something more hateful, like he wanted to say an obscenity but couldn't quite decide which one.
The girls found it funny, at least before the guy composed himself and released air through his mouth. Almost as if saying 'it can't be helped' but without actually speaking out loud.
"Yes, devil. I suppose you need to know. I am Pernicies-1618. From America."
Diodora closed his eyes, making a face as information that wasn't there before got loaded directly into his brain. That combination, that sentence he uttered, had been all he had needed to hear to know exactly who this person was.
Somehow, Diodora now knew that the guy's name was Elijah Smith. And although he looked like any fair skinned person Diodora had ever met, the fact that he was from America would never again be doubted by Diodora no matter if people said otherwise. This feeling, this certainty, was something that Diodora had never felt before. And it spooked him.
"Heh, never heard a Name before?" The girl tilted her head, making fun of Diodora "You just got hit with his true identity. I've heard that it's something strange when you hear them for the first time."
Diodora couldn't stop himself from covering his eyes.
"Hold on, this is going way too fast." He excused himself, trusting Miyuzuin to fight the moment someone made a strange movement "I'm really sorry, but I think we started out on the wrong foot."
"Obviously." Elijah crossed his arms "We're here for one thing, and one thing only. It'd be great if you devils didn't start interfering with our sacred mission."
Diodora's eyes narrowed into slits.
"He is the problem." Diodora pointed at the guy and told Miyuzuin.
A burst of speed saw Miyuzuin close the distance in a second, forcing a metallic noise to echo as she appeared right in front of Elijah, her arm stretched out and holding a blade whereas the guy had taken a gun out.
She had parried him, or at least struck before he could take aim.
"What's the meaning of this, Yuni?" He growled, more angry than surprised.
"It's just business." Miyuzuin stated, switching stances and roundhouse kicking him towards the exorcists behind.
Elijah managed to punch out and hit Miyuzuin in the face.
The mysterious girl kept smiling as they exchanged blows.