A frown sported on Cleria Belial as she continued to read the report given by her peerage member. She had her doubts about the rumor she obtained from the grapevine, but evidence showed otherwise.

"I couldn't believe it… I wished it wouldn't be this and yet…"

It was a conspiracy; That much she could confirm with absolute confidence. What shook her to the core was a simple fact that she hoped was false.

The Belial Family, her family, was conspiring with other clans together for their 'ideals'.

She knew she was young compared to other devils, certainly after the Devil Civil War that took place decades prior to her birth. She has values and ideals different from the older generations which caused some friction among her family members.

'But this… this is just sickening…' She thought to herself as her heart broke into pieces. To think that such conspiracy was under her nose the whole time and done by the people she considered her family.

How could she leave this alone without pretending she found nothing?

She sighed, no solution could form in her mind now from the stress. Perhaps she could investigate this further then inform one of the Four Demon Lords; Sirzech was the more favorable one.

'But what if one of them were involved in this too?' Doubts crept into her being as she thought about it. Anyone could be involved in this and she could quite possibly be forced to keep this to herself.

Just as her mind fell into a darker place, the office door was knocked. She allowed the guest to enter only to reveal her lover, Yaegaki, walking in with a smile.

Cleria immediately felt her anxiety leave her entire being and returned his smile with her own loving smile. She immediately hugged the man and gave a chaste kiss.

Yaegaki chuckled before asking her. "How have you been? You looked stressed before I came."

Cleria paused, her mind through all her options. She bit her tongue then decided to speak.

"Not good and…" she hesitated to speak. "I don't even know if I can say it."

Cleria immediately felt being wrapped by Yaegaki, sinking her into his warmth. His heartbeat allowed her to feel safe under his -in her own words- wings.

"Then don't." His words assured her for a bit. His love made her forget about the trouble in that moment, allowing her to live in her fantasy.

Of rings and children; a quaint house and beautiful days.

*Click*

The couple jumped away from each other and found a grinning Serafall with a digital camera. Fear dawned at their faces when realization fell on them.

"And that is going to the wedding presentation." Serafall said in a sing-song manner, looking at her digital camera with a proud expression.

"Serafall!" Cleria screamed in horror with a tomato face and dashed to the blue-haired woman, trying to pry the camera off her hands. Unfortunately for her, she was unsuccessful. "Please tell me that's the only one."

"Yep, only one."

Cleria stared intensely at Serafall before turning away from her to return to her desk. Yaegaki noticed Serafall gave a small smirk before placing a finger on her lips.

"So what business do you have with me? It's rare you visit me."

The moment Cleria's question was asked, Serafall's demeanor immediately shifted to something far more serious. "It's more than you, actually. Both of you are involved in this."

"Us?" Yaegaki looked at Cleria who was just as clueless about the sudden seriousness. "What's going on that involves both of us?"

"You have been snooping around for information for the Evil Pieces aren't you?"

The room quickly went from tense to cold; Cleria couldn't hide her surprised expression quick enough to not get caught by her guests.

'How did she know?' The first question entered Cleria's mind before quickly shifting to how she was supposed to get out of the situation.

"Evil Pieces?" Yaegaki questioned Serafall tersely. "Was it some secret weapon made in the devil society?"

Serafall glanced at the pair for a few moments before forming a magic circle. Cleria immediately jumped into action by shrouding her body with the Power of Destruction while Yaegaki whipped out a Light Gun to assist his lover.

"Calm down, both of you." Serafall waved her hand and the room was filled with blue runes. "I'm just casting a silencing spell to stop any eavesdropping. Whatever we talk about is too important to be leaked."

"And how can we trust you wouldn't bring us to 'them'?" Cleria snared with the Power of Destruction pulsing along her anger.

"Because I want to see your wedding." Serafall answered it like it was the most simple thing in the world.

Cleria and Yaegaki glanced at each other, a silent message given to each other before they stood down.

"Then talk. What's going on?"

Serafall took a deep breath, thinking about how to phrase her words before mumbling 'screw it'. "Both of you need to run as soon as possible. 'They' are coming after both of you to keep it under wraps. Especially you, Cleria."

"Be sure the kid isn't doing anything to mess with the girls, okay?" Baraqiel requested his wife, who merely giggled.

"Dear, you know Ise-kun very well at this point. He won't touch them at all."

"I know…" He sighed and silently reprimanded himself for not trusting the boy. "But I can't help it, he's a hormonal teenager now. And Akeno's getting bigger."

"And it's your job to also let her choose and trust her choice of friends."

He nodded, agreeing with his wife before giving her a chaste kiss. "I'll be back soon. I love you, Shuri."

"Be safe out there dear."

With that, Baraqiel left the Himejima home for work while Shuri stood alone in the empty house. It would be about a day for her husband to return from Grigori so she and Akeno (plus her friends) would occupy the house.

Well… there was one more occupant soon but she decided to wait until her husband's return to inform him of the good news.

With more time on her hands than needed, Shuri went about her day as both a housewife of the Himejima Family and a Miko.

Well, a former Miko. She still treated herself as one out of habit despite the exile from her former family. She almost had no other way of life prior meeting Baraqiel and giving birth to Akeno except being the best Miko possible.

Did she regret it? She would never trade this life for the other one, but at times she wished her family could see her point.

*Ding Dong*

"Hm? School is not even over yet, who could it be?" Shuri paused her work at folding clothes and quickly jogged to the entrance of her home when the second bell rang. The moment she opened the door, she gasped upon seeing her surprise guest.

A teenage girl who looked similar to her daughter except the red eyes and noticeably older stood before her with a nervous smile. She waved before greeting Shuri with that nervous smile. "Hi, Aunt Shuri."

"Suzaku! Come in." Shuri ushered her niece into her home with a welcoming smile. It was one of the few rare times her niece had the free time to visit her. "Sorry if the house is empty, Akeno is still at school and Baraqiel is off working."

"It's okay aunty, I came here unannounced."

They made their way to the living room and Suzaku sat while waiting for Shuri to serve a cup of tea to her niece. With the hot beverage and relaxing atmosphere, Suzaku felt right at home.

But the business she had to do today was not one that befits the atmosphere.

"So what made you suddenly visit me, Suzaku?"

Suzaku made a strained smile before resolving herself. "I'm… being elected as the next head of the Himejima clan."

Shuri merely smiled and nodded. "I see."

Suzaku looked at her aunt with a stunned expression before speaking once more. "Aren't you… upset about this?"

Shuri's eyes softened and gave her niece a pat like she was still a little girl. As much as Suzaku appreciated it, she was still confused by why her aunt seemed… proud.

"Not at all, I always knew that you would be the best person to inherit that position."

Shuri shook her head in denial, unable to accept what her aunt, the idol and role model of her life, said. "But you're the best out of all of us! Everyone respected and followed you all the time and your miko skill is excellent, better than me!"

"But I was exiled, so the eligibility for that was long gone."

"It shouldn't be that way…" She muttered.

"If it was years ago, I would agree with you. However, I see a different scenario right now."

Suzaku kept silent as she couldn't trust her next words. She felt frustrated that her amazing aunt was unable to take the place that was rightfully hers to begin with; she felt sadness of the situation that Shuri landed on which resulted in her exile.

To say she blamed Baraqiel (at the beginning) for her aunt's exile was an understatement. She agreed with the clan head at the time that she was brainwashed, compromised from being a suitable leader.

But observing the wedding with her father changed her mind, and now she had an amazing cousin in the form of Akeno.

Even so, she still wished Shuri was the clan head.

"Right now, I am seeing one of the best candidates for the position of the Himejima clan head. She is the strongest Miko in her generation and very level headed despite her age and experience."

Suzaku kept silent while listening to her aunt's passionate speech. This was why she admired her so much.

"But most importantly…"

Shuri gave the warmest, reassuring smile to Suzaku. Suzaku knew she would forever etch this into her memory, always remembering for years to come.

"Suzaku, you are kind, a child kinder than anyone in the Himejima Clan. Regardless of what suffering may happen, even if your dreams have changed, that kind and gentle heart alone will never change."

How could the clan head be so blind by their own pride and arrogance that the kindest, wisest, candidate was just in front of her. Just because she had fallen in love, married, even had a family with a fallen angel doesn't mean she couldn't lead.

'How can the world be so cruel yet kind to Shuri Himejima?' That was the main question, was that not?

"Thank you… Thank you for the reassurance and…"

'Damn it…' Suzaku thought to herself as the stinging of her eyes told her what she needed to know. She was touched by those words.

"You don't have to thank me." Shuri then hugged her to allow her feelings to be released.

Shuri meant her words, especially with Suzaku being the kind girl that she was. Her brother truly had raised a kind girl, one that would definitely help the future of the clan.

Suzaku eventually stopped her tears and thanked her aunt once again. This time, they switched to a lighter topic like their daily lives and other gossip.

Yet unknown to them, a dark presence loomed over the Kuoh's Himejima Shrine.

A turning point was approaching.

This chapter is... suffice to say, not easy to make at all. The funny thing is that this was a long time coming, just that I want to do this mini-arc justice. The whole arc planned out ever since the beginning of this fic so I do have a solid plan.

Also, just to clarify: I never read Slash/Dog before so I have no idea whether I did Suzaku justice. I knew Suzaku thanks to the wiki while I was looking at Shuri's character wiki for references.

The next one would, hopefully, be out much sooner than this. I make no promises, but I will try my best.

Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this prologue of the arc and see you all next time!