NMHA Ch. 46 - Best Foot Forward


A/N - No beta this time. Seems like he's occupied with IRL stuff - which I can't blame him for, there's a lot underway over on his end of the pond that makes reviewing some dude's story something of a secondary concern.

Also, I have a cover, commissioned by yours truly for the story! The artist doesn't read the story, but check out VGMArt for the hard work he did! There were a few creative liberties taken here, but I really do think it's a solid representation for Luna.


When Issei came to, he recognized the ceiling that met him.

He also recognized the relief-filled blue-eyed gaze that stared down at him.

"Ise-kun..." she murmured, practically sagging with relief.

What he didn't recognize was how he got there. Hadn't he tried to slow down that white-haired bastard with the lightsaber?

He'd been... getting kicked around like nobody's business though. It was only when he'd pulled out a gun that things had gotten dicey. And then his arm...

'Fuck!'

"Shit, my arm-"

"Is perfectly fine."

The other thing he didn't recognize was the woman - a quite frankly incredible-looking one, hair reaching down to her lower back - leaning against the doorframe into Masaomi's guest bedroom, watching the two with a sardonic smirk on her face.

Not that he'd be against getting to know those oppai, a certain part of his mind whispered.

He shoved that down in favor of figuring out what the hell was going on.

Issei glanced down to his side, where he all but expected to find himself still one limb short, yet with widened eyes he realized that it was still there. He tested it, even, rolling and flexing the arm to ensure it was, in fact, the limb he lost. He was, after all, still missing a sleeve of his Kuoh Academy uniform, even if he had two arms again.

"What happened?"

"After you passed out, according to Luna-san, Freed was trying to carry you off somewhere when she stopped him from doing so." Asia bit the bottom of her lip.

"He won't be bothering anyone anymore." The woman in question beamed, lifting a hand to the back of her head to rub it. "Also, hi, I'm the Luna she's talking about. Luna Bell, just call me 'Arunn', Eh-rin, nice to meet ya."

"And my arm...?"

"Oh, it totally got lopped off," Luna lifted a forearm and sliced downward in a chopping motion. "Thankfully, I've got some... experience, handling wounds. Between that and Asia-san here being as knowledgeable on the human body as she is, we were able to put you back together without any further issues."

Issei tugged the opening on his school jacket to look at where his arm had been chopped off and furrowed his brow. There wasn't even a single scar to be seen. Aside from a faint soreness, it didn't even appear as though his arm had been hurt at all. He gazed back up at the two of them in newfound wonder.

"You're a doctor?"

"Oh fuck no!" the brunette gave a single laugh. "No, probably the closest I could be considered a 'doctor' is 'drafted battlefield medic'. Really, it was Asia-san that saved your arm. I reset it, she restored it."

"I still don't know how you managed to reattach all the skin and bone though," Asia pouted, crossing her arms and glancing away. "Especially how you lined up the nerve endings..."

Issei gulped, choosing to not think about the grisly details of reattaching an entire arm. "Was there... a red gauntlet that you had to handle before you could put my arm back?"

"Eh?" Luna lifted a brow, head shifting backwards slightly. "You mean to say you've already awakened the Boosted Gear?"

The young man blinked, and Asia whirled around with wide eyes.

"Is that what it's called?" he asked

"Wait, he has a Longinus?!" she yelped.

The brunette opened her mouth, then closed it, putting a hand to her chin. "...I'm guessing it awakened in response to your desperation against Freed. Well. I'm not quite sure how to put it, but let's try this."

She cleared her throat, adjusting her blouse as though it had a tie, and stuck out a hand to the side in a grandiose pose. "Congratulations Issei-san, you've got one of the strongest pieces of magical equipment that a human being can be born with. Rejoice, for you now have the power of bullshit exponential amplification on your side!"

Issei's mouth dropped open. "...Born with?"

"That's the thing that sticks out to you? Huh." Luna put the outstretched hand, and pressed that hand's index and middle fingers to the side of her head. "Yeah. You've always had it, possibly subtly influencing you, ever since you were born. But now that you've awakened it, you're going to need a crash course on the supernatural world and what your little 'gift' can do."

All this was making him dizzy.

"The supernatural... you mean like, vampires and werewolves and stuff?"

"And gods. And Devils. And Angels. And just about any mythological being you can think of."

Issei blinked slowly, and reached for his side to pinch it, hard.

"...Ow." He winced.

But when the world around him didn't fade away, Issei just stared at Asia.

"I'm not dreaming, am I?" Then he held a hand to his head when she shook hers. "Sorry, it's just... a lot to take in. I knew that there was magic about, I've seen your Sacred Gear, and that you and your pops went on missions around the world, both regular missionary work and... other things."

"But you haven't had a realization about how deep the rabbit hole goes until just now?" the brunette offered with a wry grin.

"Y-yeah, exactly," he admitted, to a shrug from Luna.

"Fair enough. I definitely needed some time to get used to it myself. I literally woke up in a world that wasn't mine, in my own introduction to this whole song and dance."

"Y'mean like an isekai?"

"Hah! You'd think so, and you wouldn't be that off the mark, but it's a bit more complicated than just that." Luna waved it off. "But enough about me, I need to go talk to Asia's dad about... stuff."

"What kind of stuff?" the daughter of the man in question queried with a tilt of her head.

"Well, we've sort of been friends for nearly fifteen years now, and I haven't actually seen him in over half of that. I'm thinking a drink's in order while you two clear the air."

With that, Luna pushed off the doorframe, standing straight. "If you'd like, Issei, I'll give you a crash course on how to work with the Boosted Gear once you've had a bit of time to absorb everything."

"You mean to say you can teach me to use it?"

"I know a lot of things, and I can share some of those things," she replied enigmatically, lifting a hand with waggling fingers to emphasize her point. "The legwork's on you to work that big red menace though. In any case, I'll check back in tomorrow. You can let me know then. But 'til then, later~"

With that, the brunette stepped out, flowing hair indicative of her walking off, Asia and Issei staring after her before the former shook her head.

"...She is right, though."

"Eh?" Issei glanced at Asia askance. "What do you mean by that?"

"Since you have the Boosted Gear you do need to be filled in on what's going on." Asia clasped her hands together. "As the wielder of one of the Longinus, you are now one of the most... um, wanted people in the supernatural world."

"Wanted as in like 'bounty' wanted?" he guessed, to which Asia nodded.

"There are thirteen Longinus that exist today, and though other Sacred Gears can come close, what separates the Longinus from the rest of the Sacred Gears are two things: uniqueness of ability, and totality of their inhabitant."

Asia leaned back over and took Issei's arm. "When you awakened the Boosted Gear, did you hear someone else in your head?"

"Eh? You mean that really was someone else?!" he exclaimed, eliciting a giggle from Asia.

"Mhm." The blonde nodded. "Sacred Gears are pieces of divine equipment, part weapon for humanity and part prison for some of humanity's greatest enemies. Humans with Sacred Gears can call upon the domain of their Gear's inhabitant, and use the imprisoned creatures' powers as their own."

'Wow. So kind of like that Natsuno manga?' He poked his belly. '...Pretty sure my demon beast is in my arm though, and not the gut.'

That got a huff in the back of his mind.

"I'm a dragon, not a demon, and I am offended that you would even think so lowly of me! At least your friend knows what's going on."**

"Oh, he spoke!"

"Of course I did. Otherwise you're going to pester me for weeks when I want to continue my nap, I know how this goes. I'm still waiting for an apology, by the way."

Issei frowned. '...Sorry? I was making a reference, not calling you a demon.'

He got a harrumph for his confused condolence, so Issei decided to drop it.

"It sounds like you have a particularly powerful bond if they're able to speak to you even now." Asia paused, then frowned. "Though that does worry me a bit."

"Impudence. I am the Crimson Dragon of Domination, Ddraig Y Goch! She should be celebrating, not worried!"

"Why's that, Asia-san?"

She pursed her lips, poking her index fingers together.

"Well... the thing with Sacred Gears is, the more compatible a wielder is with its Gear, the more easily they and the Gear's inhabitant can communicate with each other. There's always some level of dialogue possible, but to be able to speak freely with each other means... there's a lot of dragon in you too, Ise-kun."

He tilted his head. "Is that... a bad thing?"

"Er... yes? No? I'm not quite sure." Asia glanced away. "On one hand, the stronger an understanding a person has of their Sacred Gear, the more skilled and powerful they can become. But on the other, you're..."

She swallowed, shaking her head before continuing. "You're a target now. For anyone that wants to use the Boosted Gear, whether that's for good or bad."

Given her pause, Issei wondered if she meant something else.

He drove a fist into his palm. "Then it's all the more important that I figure out how to use it, right? That way anyone that comes and tries to do so gets what for!"

"R-right." Still, Asia didn't seem all that convinced.

Recognizing her discomfort, Issei decided to change the subject. "How do you know all these little intricacies about Sacred Gears, anyway?"

She perked back up. "I've met other Sacred Gear users before. After meeting enough wielders I started picking up similarities between them and myself."

Issei hummed. "Do you hear a voice in your mind too?"

"Not so much a voice as a... collection of feelings." Asia tilted her head. "I'm able to understand what it is getting at perfectly, but there aren't really any... words, between us? I still wonder if that's because it's a weaker Sacred Gear, or if our connection is strong enough to not need words."

"It's the second." The wielder of the Boosted Gear nodded decisively. "You're amazingly wise, or perceptive, or something like that, and if Twilight Healing was able to put my arm back on me then it's way stronger than you give it credit for! Don't sell yourself short, Asia-chan!"

She flushed prettily. "You're too kind, Ise-kun."

"Honestly, just take her already, it's clear you two like each other," the voice in his head huffed. "It's unbecoming of a dragon to pussyfoot around what they want!"

'Ddraig, or whatever the hell your name is,' Issei smiled through the embarrassed flush that formed on his own face. 'Do me a favor and shut up.'


"Man, it's hard to believe it's been ages since we last saw each other face to face. You've definitely taken on the years well, Masaomi," Luna complimented, raising her bottle of cola before popping the cap off and taking a swig.

"And you haven't taken them on at all," he dryly remarked, lifting a cup of sake in a toast before taking a small sip. "I'm unsure whether to be pleased or offended."

"I'd go with the former. Works better for us both that way," she winked, prompting a smirk and a roll of the eyes from Masaomi as she set her bottle on the table between them. "So, how have things been the past... what, fourteen years? Enjoying your job as an Archangel's personal gofer?"

"I much prefer 'freelance exorcist of Gabriel'," he replied, shrugging.

"To-may-to, to-mah-to."

That got Luna a flat stare. "As irreverent as ever, I see."

"I get plenty of practice, keeping a faction running; keeps the gods in it humble," she shot back with a smirk.

"And how is that, I might ask?"

Luna closed her eyes, smirk becoming a grimace. "It's... a time."

"Yet even so, I can tell that the place you're in now and the one you were in fourteen years ago are worlds apart." Masaomi smiled earnestly, one eye closing. "Figuratively, and literally."

That got a laugh from the brunette and a shake of her head, brushing a lock of hair away from over her eye. "Shit man, you couldn't be any more right. Keeping all these idiots working smoothly is like herding cats, but at least now it's for a cause of my own choosing. It's exhausting work, but I really couldn't care less."

"So you still mean to continue with your plans?"

The smile on Luna's face died as she wrapped her fingers around the bottle of soda.

"Of course I do. I can't just... let matters lie, you know?"

Masaomi let out a soft sigh. "I can understand wanting to lay them to rest once and for all, bu-"

"It's not just that," Luna interrupted, softly but firmly, placing a hand on the table. "Even beyond the fact that this is personal, this needs to be done. Peace can't be built on a lie, otherwise it's fake, fragile, hollow."

"We've done it plenty of times before."

She gave a single, silent shake of her head. "And why do you think the Middle-East is still a complete mess? Terrorists, rogue caliphates, and blood-soaked sands aren't just buzz-words of the twenty-first century, they're the byproduct of the 'peace' that stands today. Can you really tell me that it's worth it, after you joined the conflict not once or twice, but three times?"

"That and this aren't the same, though."

"Isn't it?" Luna smiled. "It comes down to the same principles: if we're not the ones suffering it's not our problem."

"But neither can we all claim to be responsible for everything. We can only do what we are able to for others."

"I agree. That's why I have to keep going."

The black-haired priest stared hard at his sake, before throwing it back, letting out a growl as he set the now-empty cup on the table.

"It'll be messy."

"So it will be."

Masaomi's brow drew together. "...How can you expect me to stand with you when you so readily admit that?"

"Because you know as well as I that it's the right thing to do. It'll burn. It'll hurt. But that means that what we'd be doing is necessary."

Silence rose between the two for a long, pregnant moment.

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions," Masaomi warned.

"Been there, done that. Besides, evil wins when good people stand by and do nothing," she shot back smoothly. "And that's been the status quo for God knows how long. You know that; it's why you left the Church. From the sounds of it, it's why you managed to catch Gabriel's attention in the first place too."

As she took a long drink of her soda, the Japanese poured himself more sake and downed the entire cup in a single swoop.

"I still can't agree with the price you mean to exact."

"Then help me, Masaomi," Luna smiled. "The more people who are willing to stand with me, the lower that price will be."

He ran a hand through his hair with a rough exhale, but before he could answer there was a knock on the door.

"That's peculiar. Nobody should be visiting at this time," Masaomi commented, rising to his feet before walking over to the front door to his and Asia's small house. As he left Luna's line of sight and opened the door she heard him talk. "Hello? Ah, welcome. It's late, but how might I help you tonight?"

'A worshipper? Or someone else from the supernatural world?' Luna mused, putting an arm on the table and resting her head on that hand.

"Of course. Please, come in, make yourself comfortable. I do not have much, but make yourself at home."

"Thank you, Masaomi-san." As someone walked back into view, blue eyes met violet, and Luna's brow lifted upward.

'Is that...?'

"Oh?" A disguised Raynare stared back. "And who might this be, Masaomi-san?"

"Ah, that's-"

"Arunn Bell," Luna cut in, turning around and leaning back. "World-traveler, deadbeat, and a friend of our illustrious host. And you are?"

"Yuuma Amano, Arunn-san," Raynare replied, bowing lightly. "Apologies for interrupting, but I needed someplace to spend the night, and I recognized that Masaomi-san was the pastor of the Kuoh Reformed Church."

"She can sleep with Asia-san and Issei-san." Masaomi bowed his head. "They're about the same age anyway, and I trust that after Issei-san got into a fight he will be too worn out to get up to anything."

"He did?" the disguised Fallen queried.

"Managed to run the other guy off, from what he's claimed," Luna commented, cupping her hand to her chin as the lie slipped smoothly from her lips. "I don't buy it though. He's not nearly beaten up enough. Or at all. My money's on someone else stepping in and he's too proud to admit it."

"I... see..." Luna could already see the gears turning in Raynare's head. The brunette turned to Masaomi.

"Hey, you should probably let 'em know that their impromptu sleepover is getting a third. Think you can fill 'em in?"

"Of course. I was just about to do so, actually." He stood, then bowed to both women. "Like I said, make yourselves at home."

As he left, the two nonhuman women eyed each other with a hint of suspicion in the eyes of one, and a casual coolness in the other.

"Deadbeat?" 'Yuuma' drawled.

"Hey, considering I'm not exactly what you would call a 'worker', it's a good way to sum up my profession. I take it you're a student?"

The disguised Fallen nodded, choosing to say nothing more.

"Well, damn. If you're a student and need someplace else to sleep, I'm guessing you've got a... troubled, family life."

She stiffened, before giving another, slower nod.

"Don't worry, I'm not gonna pry.'' The brunette lifted a hand apologetically, causing Raynare's shoulders to sag in relief. "But it does sound like you could use a drink. What are you in the mood for?"

"You don't look like you have any drinks on you," Raynare muttered.

"That's because I don't!" With that, Luna hopped off her seat and walked over to the fridge, opening it up and digging through the contents.

"You'd offer me... Masaomi-san's stuff?"

"I'll pay him back," she replied offhandedly, snickering when she noticed one particular carton in the fridge, raising her voice in disbelief and childish glee. "Wait, this guy's got prune juice?! Heavens above, has all the years gone to his head?!"

In the other room, she heard Issei shouting something, followed by a beating of feet as Masaomi stormed out the door leading into the young former nun's room.

"Damn it woman, Issei was on his way to not calling me an old man any more! You've set me back by God knows how long!"

Luna pulled herself out of the fridge with the carton of prune juice in hand, staring at it with a furrowed brow before turning her head toward Masaomi, expression turning quizzical. "How old are you again...?"

"Thirty-nine, but that's beside the point! How could you bring up my drink preferences while he's here?!"

"That's what you're upset about?" Raynare deadpanned. Her comment went ignored.

"Hey, hey, I'm not saying that you're old... just that you clearly need to change up your tastes before you shrivel up any more."

"Says the woman who's obsessed with putting pickles in all her sandwiches."

"I like salty and sweet foods, so what?"

"And I like my dried fruit juice."

"Okay... old coot."

"You're older than I am, you're one to talk!"

"You are?" Raynare inquired, a hint of suspicion entering her eyes once more.

"My family ages really, really well," Luna excused herself, before shooting a warning glare at Masaomi where the Fallen would not see it, slipping the prune juice back where she found it. "Plus I use tons of moisturizers and natural remedies. I'd say they worked pretty well, wouldn't you?"

"Considering you don't look a day over twenty-five..." the black-haired man lifted his fingers and pinched the bridge of his nose, catching on with remarkable aplomb. "You certainly don't act more mature, though."

Raynare jumped back in. "How would you have the money to buy all that, though?"

"Never said anything about being broke, just that I'm a traveling deadbeat," the brunette grinned, pulling out a pitcher of water before closing the fridge, walking over to pull out two glasses to pour the water into. "I retired early."

"Ah. Then you're one of those... red-light district ladies that I've heard about?"

THe brunette slowly set the half-filled glass of water down, then she set the pitcher down. She did not immediately reply.

Masaomi blinked, a deeply-ingrained sense of danger recognizing the underlying threat that just entered the room and decided that discretion was the better part of valor, scurrying back up the stairs.

Luna closed her eyes and tilted her head, beaming at Raynare. "Funny that you accuse me of that, when you would have had to be so yourself had Masaomi-san not taken you in."

There. A crack in the facade, a flash of rage that flickered in Raynare's eyes, a superior dismissiveness that Luna had seen far too many times before. Yet, as quickly as it appeared, that anger vanished, leaving a cool expression behind.

"Ah. My apologies Luna-san, I did not mean to assume."

Perhaps she was more skilled than in canon as well. Luna wasn't willing to risk it.

"Eh, don't worry about it. I'm pretty sure I'd make top dollar if I gave it a shot. Can't say I blame you for your assumption."

Now there was another idea of expanding her reach... Luna quickly shut the idea away, and instead refocused on Raynare.

"You remind me of my... older sister," she muttered.

"Sounds like someone I'd like to meet!"

Another eye twitch. Luna was chuckling silently, but then let out a low sigh, her beam dropping.

"Sorry. Bad blood between you two?"

Another crack in the facade appeared. "She's a bitch."

"Ah. Probably just a one-night stand sort of partner then." Luna put a finger on her chin, glancing up before nodding sagely. "Maybe she's just clam-jammed to hell and back?"

Raynare made a 'kch' sound and glanced away. "Try 'raging nymphomaniac'," she muttered under her breath.

Luna heard her anyway.

"Y'know, I don't know what your deal is with her, but I tend to not judge others on their life choices or origins as long as it doesn't hurt anybody else. Way easier that way."

"Okay, but who asked for your opinion? I didn't," the disguised Fallen bit out.

"Oh, nobody. I just decided to hand you a nugget of wisdom anyway." The brunette's face morphed into a smirk, tilting her head to the side to emphasize the scar running down her neck to beneath her collarbone and blouse. "I'd prefer it if a young woman like you didn't have to get one of these to learn her lesson."

'Yuuma' took a glance at the long, thin line going down past 'Arunn's' collarbone at her prompting. She sighed, shaking her head as she brought her temper back under control.

"...My apologies, Arunn-san. I would... rather not discuss matters of family further."

"Fair 'nuff." Luna let the matter drop with a wave of her hand, grabbing the pitcher to finish pouring herself and Raynare water, grabbing both and offering one to the Fallen Angel.

She took it without another word, though the brunette recognized that the black-haired girl was watching her closely.

By the time Luna finished her drink Masaomi had returned, gesturing for Raynare to join him in heading up to Asia's room.


"So we're getting a... Fallen Angel, for a sleepover partner?" Issei could hardly believe it. He'd just gotten introduced to the supernatural world, and suddenly one of the very creatures Asia had warned him of was going to sleep in the same room as them?!

"If father thinks so, then I do too."

"Isn't that a bit dangerous? I was just healed after losing an arm, and that was just my introduction to the supernatural world!"

"It's alright. If they were dangerous, father would never have let them step foot in here." She beamed, but a moment later her eyes reopened in a cute glare with pursed lips, lifting a finger and pointing it at Issei, close enough to his nose that his eyes crossed following its motions. "But don't think I'm gonna tolerate any... l-lewd behavior from you, Ise-kun!"

"W-why do you think I'm gonna be lewd! I can handle myself just fine!"

Asia's eyes narrowed, and she puffed out her cheeks.

"Besides, from the way you put it, Fallen are basically just people with wings," Issei shrugged. "I can handle myself around girls if I need to, so why's this different?"

Then they heard a knock at the door, revealing Masaomi and...

'Oppai~!'

His voice went small, as his... 'tendencies' reared their head. "Oh. That's why."

Ddraig took the moment to internally groan. "I am eternally damned."

Issei felt someone pinch his cheek and start pulling, shaking him out of his appreciation - no he was not calling it 'perversion' - to meet her deadpan stare.

Right, he had to behave. No ogling the amazingly hot girl that gave the Princesses of Kuoh Rias-chan or Akeno-chan a run for their money!

There was a long moment of silence within his head.

'I am eternally damned,' the brunet internally bemoaned, lifting his forearm over his eyes as he echoed Ddraig's defeated comment.

He couldn't watch! He couldn't let his eyes rest on that image of womanliness any longer, lest he lose control of his perversion! Or his chuunibyou tendencies!

"...Is there something wrong?"

"Please don't mind him, ah..."

"Yuuma Amano," the Fallen Angel supplied, a brow rising as she saw the small rivers of tears flowing out from under Issei's arm. 'How does he do that?' "Just call me Yuuma-san."

"Please don't mind Ise-kun, Yuuma-san," Asia smiled, but there was a touch of brittleness to it. "He's trying his best."

"Trying his best?" 'Yuuma' parroted, her second brow joining the first.

"At holding my primal urges at bay," Issei jumped in, tilting his head - and his covered eyes - back as he clutched at his heart with his free hand, voice laden with a trembling desire and an ironclad will to resist. "If I laid eyes on your beauty and grace again I may not be able to control myself any longer and devour you, Yuuma-san!"

The ravenette gawked.

Asia just facepalmed.

'No, not the chuuni!'

"Ise-kun..."

Yuuma, oddly enough, gave a brief giggle, more of disbelief than anything. "...Is he usually this... theatrical?"

"Only when he's trying to... ah, I shouldn't say," the blonde pouted, turning back to the brunet and poking his arm. "Are you done, Ise-kun?"

He held out a hand, taking a deep breath in.

"Oh, the torment..." Issei sobbed out, before snapping back in place, removing the arm and exhaling, still pointedly not looking Yuuma's nor Asia's way. "Yeah, I'm done now. So you're spending the night with us, Yuuma-san?"

"Yyyyyyyyes," the Fallen Angel in disguise started slowly, still trying to process what just happened. "Yes, I am. I promise to be as little a bother as possible. Thank you for having me, Issei-san, Asia-san."

She bowed, and while Issei stubbornly remained looking away, Asia's eyes narrowed faintly, shifting herself so that she sat a little closer to Issei.

It was a sign that Raynare caught easily, and she would not deny the idea of taking someone else's man despite their claim was an... exciting notion. Particularly since said man hadn't realized it himself yet or was feigning ignorance.

Either way, the Fallen Angel met Asia's disapproving look and protective motion with a faint smirk, which turned into a head-tilted beam, neither expression promising pure intention.

She wouldn't be a Fallen if she was 'pure', after all. Messing with them both could prove as some form of amusement during her mission, if nothing else.

Issei's eyes locked with Yuuma's... then dipped lower for a moment, less an ogle and more an appreciative look.

He took a glance, drinking the sight in as much as he could in the moment he'd managed to get, then looked back up at Yuuma.

"I-it's nice to meet you as well, Yuuma-san." He bowed his own head in greeting.

'I... am very glad I know that she's not to be trusted, because wow. I'm not sure which of them is hotter, Yuuma-san or Rias-senpai!'

"Get used to it. There's going to be a lot more where that came from, whelp."

'Weh?'

Ddraig didn't get a chance to reply, as Asia hugged the brunet's arm and beamed up at him. "Why don't we get some rest, Ise-kun? We do still have classes tomorrow."

Ah. He'd forgotten...

"R-right." Issei swallowed, shaking his head before holding his arm - his healed one - up to his eyes again. "Ah, tomorrow is going to be so dull..."

"It's better than getting into another fight!" the blonde protested, pouting cutely at her longtime friend, to which Issei could only concede the point.

Certainly, his fight with that Freed maniac had shown him just how much he had to learn...

"Ahem. At least now you know your birthright. So use me, learn your strength, and take your place on the world stage as the Red Dragon Emperor!"

'I'm pretty sure I'd be more... excited about that, but Asia-chan is right. I'm beat after everything that went down today.'

As Issei turned to the furniture in the room, he then recognized a problem.

"There's... only one bed."

"Ah." Yuuma's eyes widened faintly as she glanced over to said issue. "So there is."

He frowned, but then gave a single nod. "I'll go ask Masaomi-jii if he has any sleeping bags, you two can share the bed."

Two people would be a bit of a tight squeeze, but three? They'd have to practically be on top of each other to all be on at the same time.

"At least one of these girls wouldn't have an issue with that."

'I really doubt that the Fallen Angel in the room would be interested in me, especially right after introductions.'

"Idiot." Ddraig huffed and didn't say anything more. Had Issei offended him somehow?

Asia's grip around his arm tightened. "T-tou-san doesn't have any," she said, glancing over at the bed. "We can share it, I'm used to s-sleeping in tight spaces anyway."

Raynare, however, just grew a faint smirk. The sleeping bag comment was as much a lie as any, but Asia had also just given her the opportunity to... make a little game out of their sharing the bed.

She knew that just going in was the right plan.

"I don't have a problem with it," 'Yuuma' agreed. "It's a much better place to rest than I would have gotten anyway."

So somehow, Issei found himself in bed with two beautiful young women. Or at the very least, one of them merely appeared as such.

If it weren't for the fact that they were so close together, Asia still glued to his side while Yuuma had taken the other, he might have even celebrated internally.

As it stood, he was instead trying very, very hard to avoid any physical reactions that could ruin his time in Heaven.

"Gh...!"

His breath caught when something firm, soft, and undeniably feminine pressed up against the very thing he was trying to keep under control.

"Y-Yuuma-san..." he tried with a gulp, as his body began to betray his intentions, seeking comfort in the thigh that had somehow pressed up against a rather sensitive space.

His eyes zeroed in on hers... and the way they were sealed shut, alongside the swell of her bountiful oppai as they pushed against his arm in regular intervals, in time with the gentle sound of her breaths.

Was that natural Fallen instincts? Was she fucking with him? Was he overthinking things? Should he just bite the bullet and wake her up, or try to grin and bear the-?

Issei's train of thought was interrupted as he bit down a groan, Yuuma's thigh squeezed against him, all but forcing more blood downward.

No, he couldn't take the risk of offending Asia, or alienating Yuuma... or was he doing so if he remained silent?

It was really hard to tell.

At least Asia was just curled up against his body, a warm presence that helped settle his nerves... and his urges.

But given where exactly Issei was, who he was with, and what they were doing...

He had the distinct impression that this was going to be a very long night.


"Worried that word will get back to Kokabiel, 'Arunn'?"

"Yeah. If he hears that I'm here, there's a decent chance he'll come in guns blazing and send everything to bedlam. She's a low-ranking member of his splinter group anyway, so I doubt Raynare will pick up on who I am exactly. Though I do have to wonder where the other three are."

"There's more?" Masaomi asked, lowly.

"Yeah, but with the exception of Dohnaseek I don't think any of them will figure out who I am unless I actually show my powers or float my name. Kalawarner's a Fallen of Lust, Mittelt one of Envy, and Dohnaseek one of Gluttony. Donny was an archivist of Heaven though, so at the very least I should steer clear of him."

"I'm a bit more worried about how the Devils will react to a cell of Grigori agents being dispatched to Kuoh," he admitted. "Especially considering that the heiresses of not one but two Satans are here. I was here before them, so I was able to work out a truce, but the Fallen might well throw a wrench into things."

"They're weak enough that if they become a problem, the Devils can take them out without too much issue." Luna held a hand to her chin. "So instead of being a threat, said cell is instead a nuisance and thus tolerable... so long as they don't cause any trouble. Even if the Devils raise a stink, he can use your presence, that of the Church, to suggest the Devils are working with a double-standard and are excluding Fallen from peacetime efforts. Even if you or the Devils don't rise to the bait, he is able to gain an intelligence foothold in Kuoh by virtue of his agents being able to stay. Clever; Kokabiel knows what he's doing."

"Even if I'm not actually part of the Church and he's well-known to be a warhawk?"

"You run a congregation smack-dab in the middle of Devil territory," The brunette's lips curled upward. "The semantics won't matter, only the optics."

"In other words... politics."

"Yep. Unless they start something, the hands of every other group here in Kuoh, myself included, are tied."

"Even you?"

"I'm not a part of the Big Three," Luna waved a hand, hair swaying as she shook her head, "but I also have to keep a low profile. I already dispatched an unruly rogue; if I stir the pot too much more then I run the risk of being found. That'll be a recipe for disaster in and of itself, as each faction rushes in with their big guns to try and apprehend or kill me."

"And if that happened..."

"There'd be war," she finished, prompting a grunt from Masaomi as he threw back his drink - the very same prune juice that Luna had teased him about earlier.

"Damned politics," the freelance exorcist groused.

"Damned politics," Lunarunn agreed, with a tilt of her head. "If there's gonna be war, I'd rather it be on my own terms, y'know? Control the field and cause of conflict, and you have a marked advantage over all your foes."

"I take it you'd rather Kuoh not become a battleground, going by your logic?"

Luna nodded. "I don't want civilians getting involved in the event that supernatural forces start throwing down. Especially not civilians that aren't involved in a given conflict point whatsoever."

Masaomi nodded slowly, mulling over his old friend's words, as she continued, voice lower.

"I don't ask this lightly; I know that you have family now in your adopted daughter, and want to live a pious life. But... what could be more pious than fighting not just for the struggling people, but for your family's future as well?"

The exorcist lifted a hand, face morphing into a scowl as he held it out, palm forward, in the brunette's direction as her eyes widened in recognition of what she'd said. "Don't. Don't bring Asia into this."

Luna looked down, already cringing, clenching her hands into fists in the pockets of her longcoat.

"...Sorry. I... that was a low blow. I should be better than that."

"It's... it's alright. I'm a soldier myself. I know how this goes. The most frustrating part is that I recognize you aren't wrong." He stood, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Do you really think you can win?"

"I know I can."

"How?" he asked.

"How else? A single person can't take over the world, but a single person can make the world move to their beat with the right words, the right force, and the right message. And considering how many separate entities I've been able to bring together, the proof is in the pudding."

"Against an establishment that has been in place for millennia," the priest pointed out. "Most would consider that madness."

"The only difference between brilliance and madness is that brilliance is proven. I would like to think that by now, I've proven myself only a little bit crazy. Just the right amount, I'd say."

"So you have." Masaomi held out a hand, chuckling and closing his eyes. "Alright. Gabriel needs to know that you reached out to me, and that you're planning something big. But if our goals end up aligning, which I am fairly confident is the case, then I'm in."

The grimace on the brunette's face from before eased into a smaller, earnest smile as she took the priest's offered hand and shook.

"Thank you, Masaomi."


"Are you sure, Koneko-chan?" Sapphire eyes gazed at the white-haired girl in no small shock, but within that shock was the spark of curiosity and interest that Koneko knew well.

"Absolutely, Buchou," she replied quietly. "Issei-san has the Boosted Gear, and he manifested it during his fight with that rogue exorcist. Before I could step in and rescue him though, someone else did and put the rogue down, and left with the pervert."

"You did mention that Issei-kun was, ah, disarmed, however." The blue-eyed one's Queen commented, violet eyes quirking up in a show of amusement. "I have to wonder, what would someone of that sort of power do with... damaged goods~?"

Koneko was silent. Something about that question rubbed her wrong, but she didn't say anything about it. The gleam she noticed in Akeno's amethyst gaze was the same as before... but there was a hint of something else behind it that unsettled the Nekoshou-turned-Devil.

"You have an idea what might have happened?" Rias Gremory's question shook Koneko out of her brief stupor, amber eyes shifting to meet blue once more.

"His... best friend," she started, slowly. "Asia Argento, the daughter of that priest in town. She has a healing Sacred Gear. It may have developed to the point of repairing missing limbs. The problem though, is I don't know how Issei's savior would have known such."

"So we have an unknown agent that knows Masaomi-san. Another exorcist? Maybe they were hunting that rogue one you mentioned down?"

"Not an exorcist," Koneko shook her head. "I didn't see any weapons, and I didn't notice any holy emanations coming from them. But the rogue that attacked Issei-san and Asia-san was cleanly decapitated, in an instant."

Rias lifted a finger to her lips, biting on the side of her finger lightly as she listened to Koneko's story. "That is... concerning," she admitted. "If even you couldn't see what happened, then they're definitely stronger than us. Were you at least able to gauge their intentions?"

Koneko tilted her head, closing her eyes and thinking over her view of Issei's savior's intervention.

'You better not be here to hurt my family, Luna-nee.'

"As far as I can tell, they're not a bad person. The kill was clean and instant, and they immediately left in the direction of the Church, suggesting that they were getting Issei-san medical attention." She reopened her eyes and gave a single, decisive nod. "I think they won't act against us unless given good reason to."

Rias let out a sigh. "Good. We don't need another problem, not with that quartet of Fallen Angels moving in. Akeno, do you have any information on them?"

"I thought you'd never ask. Apparently three of them decided to go to ground. I think they gave up on their mission, which... given that the rogue Exorcist appeared, makes me think they were allied. Perhaps they were after the Boosted Gear and gave up after their pet human got cut down?"

"You said three. What about the last?"

"Why, she went and decided to ask for shelter at our resident priest's apartment." A slow smile crossed across Akeno's face. "Whether he was brainwashed into agreeing, or they're working together to begin with, I don't know, but either way that sort of development makes them a... problem to remove."

"There's also the possibility that he was just duped, and she's taking advantage of his kindness. Or that he's doing so to keep an eye on her, like I asked you to keep an eye on her."

"You don't take chances with random people, Buchou," the black-haired nephilim drawled, closing her eyes and tilting her head at Rias with that same smile. "Perhaps the rogue exorcist was a false flag, and the Church and Grigori are working together to poach the Red Dragon Emperor?"

"Akeno. Let's not jump to conclusions just yet," Rias cut in, but nodded her head once. "But I agree that it is a potential plot, and a concerning one to boot. If it does turn out that they attempted to poach the Red Dragon Emperor from Devil Territory... well, Onii-san would be more than happy to bring it up with the other leaders. You have your own contacts too, don't you? It might be worth asking."

Akeno's face twisted into a frown. "You know I don't like asking Tou-san for favors. But if my King demands it, then I shall follow through."

Koneko's normally-blank face pulled into a very slight frown of her own at Akeno's words, but she didn't interject.

"I'll do some digging as well," Rias nodded once. "We need to judge Issei's attitude toward Devils, how close he is to the Church, and how deep the crow dug her talons into him tonight. With a little luck, he'll still be amenable to the idea of Peerageship."

"And if he isn't?" Koneko finally asked, almost nervously.

The bright crimson-haired heiress took a lock of hair and wrapped it around her finger, a faint smirk rising to her own face. "He'll become strong in time; all Red Dragon Emperors are. There are certainly worse options to have an eye on, especially if your visions are true. It might even light a fire under Riser-kun, having a competitor - and a human one at that - for my... affections."

Koneko tilted her head at that. Technically, Rias wasn't wrong, but even so she felt the need to interject. "Be careful, Buchou. If Issei-san was only a pervert, then he wouldn't be in Kuoh Academy to begin with."

"Of course. After all, it's with your recommendation that he and the two public menaces were accepted into our halls in the first place."


Issei was exhausted.

Yuuma's incessant use of his body like a pillow was something he probably would have enjoyed, but the fact of the matter was that he had gotten absolutely zero sleep the past night due to a certain distraction.

The brunet had taken the opportunity provided by his phone's alarm to pry Asia and Yuuma off of him to get to the restroom and take a shower before either of them noticed the morning salute. A very cold shower.

Even then, though, that didn't settle the heat that had arisen from the disguised and questionably sleeping Fallen Angel's incessant teasing.

If she'd meant to rile him up, then mission accomplished.

"You're the one who decided to take it, instead of pushing for taking the floor."

'And you wonder why I'm on a short fuse right now,' he bit back at the dragon. 'I know better now, you don't need to tell me... and this situation isn't helping!'

At the very least, when he woke up he found that his academy jacket had been repaired overnight. It was good that he didn't need to explain that, since..

"Am I in trouble, Tsubasa-san?" he asked dully, bags under his eyes as he walked behind the vice-president of the Student Council.

"No. Unlike your partners in crime, you apologized for your actions, acted to try and de-escalate the situation beforehand, and have made an agreement with Murayama-san to make amends. As long as you abide by that agreement, we will not seek further reparation on behalf of the Kendo Club."

How did they- 'Right. Even if Tamaki-san let me off the hook, Katase-san would need to report the... incident.'

Even calling it that left a bitter taste in Issei's mouth.

"Speaking of Matsuda and Motohama, where are they? I haven't heard anything from 'em."

"They are currently serving a two-week suspension." Tsubasa Yura turned back to face Issei, lips tugging downward. "We have made it explicitly clear that if they step out of line like this again the Kuoh administration will not hesitate to expel them and report them to the authorities for sexual harassment. I'll extend the same warning to you, so consider yourself lucky that your friend bailed you out of trouble."

He gulped some of his exhaustion fading as he registered the threat for what it was. "M-message received loud and clear, fuku-kaicho."

"I'm surprised you didn't hear this from Motohama-san and Matsuda-san, Hyoudou-san. Considering that you three have a reputation for your deviancy, I would think you all spoke with each other."

Issei's own face sank into a frown.

"I stopped talking to those two bastards outside of school about a year back," he grunted. "I'm a pervert, but I have standards."

"Language, Hyoudou-san," she chided, but now there was a contemplative look in her eye. Tsubasa turned back around and continued walking. "I am... glad to hear that second part, at least, though you'll have to forgive me if I will reserve my judgment on whether or not that's true."

"No offense taken. I know I'm not exactly seen as a paragon of virtue like that blond ba- prince Isaiah-san," he shook his head as he corrected himself. "That just means I'll have to prove myself. That's why I came to Kuoh in the first place, so I could get away from that reputation."

"Then you best start quickly before it takes root any further."

'Tell me something I don't know.' Issei scowled, biting down the snappy comment before it could escape him.

He noticed the double-doors that led into the Studen Council room, and how Tsubasa stopped, knocked, and paused.

"Enter." The imperious voice of the Student Council president intoned from inside, sending more chills down Issei's spine.

He hadn't had many interactions with Sona Shitori, but from the few times he did see her he got the distinct impression that she was not an individual to upset.

The voice that spoke from behind the door just reinforced the notion.

They stepped in, and...

Issei gained a gobsmacked expression on his face. "Eh?"


A/N -

Chapter Canon-2 is a go. One thing I noticed when I was reading some other fics is that I had started to dawdle on minute details for this chapter, giving scenes that didn't need to be there. This version, I feel, is way more fluid and forward-moving.

As you can see, there's some more changes - small as well as large. Issei's estrangement from his two 'friends' being part of it.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Tempura Wizard out.