Fate: Bonds Beyond Humanity

by Apprentice of Life

In a world where all can be real, what does it mean to be human? What is the meaning of humanity? A meeting between a human and a devil will have them discovering the truth while chasing their dreams. My take on the combined worlds of Fate and DxD with characters from other franchises if they can be adapted to it. Harem.

52. Chapter 52

Fate/Bonds Beyond Humanity

…..

52- Fulfillment

…..

'Numb', that was the first thought Vali had once he recovered his conscience. He felt himself immersed in a liquid and deduced his allies were treating him. He couldn't open his eyes but noticed a breathing mask on his face. 'Did I fall asleep?'

[More like you passed out the moment we arrived back at the HQ.] Albion helpfully informed with a grunt. [Too many wounds, broken bones, nerve damage, cuts and more damage than we could manage. It isn't surprising they shoved you in a healing tube as soon as possible. Not that I could tell since you passed out so fast.]

'Right, sorry…' Vali tried to move but his muscles were not responding properly. 'If memory serves right this solution is the most advanced one for these kinds of treatments. Was I hurt that much?'

[Didn't you hear my 'grocery' list? That Mage earned his title. If I hadn't acted to strengthen the Scale Mail you would have been cut to bits.]

'That is right, I lost. Huh, I am not even half as upset as I expected to be. Perhaps because it was a great fight.' Didn't change the fact he lost even if he escaped alive. 'Hmmm, I can tell that my muscles are relaxed and my mana reserves are stable. We must have been asleep for a few days at least.'

Albion grunted again, sounding more irritated. [That redhead bastard… that pegasus wouldn't have mattered if you had unleashed Juggernaut Drive.]

The hybrid would have chuckled if the mask wasn't on the way. 'No reason to complain about spoiled milk, Albion. A loss is a loss.'

[He fought dirty and didn't give us a chance to show our magnificence. If I was free-]

'Then you would have crushed him. But you aren't and he planned around exactly that.' Vali could understand his partner's anger but would have none of it. 'All his plans hinged on fighting us like Ddraig fought your previous hosts. If anything that shows we are lacking in… originality.'

Pondering a little, the dragon grunted again. [I agree. Against someone like him just unleashing my power won't be enough. Not that he would give us the chance.] Albion acknowledged bitterly. [But we caught him off guard plenty of times there. Unfortunately we weren't able to capitalize on those openings.]

It was Vali's turn to grunt, if only mentally. 'Dragon Slaying weapons still can break my aura and barriers if they have enough power.' To be fair he couldn't expect Ascalon to be that versatile.

Then again he knew of one stronger Dragon Slayer sword in the hands of another person, far more ruthless than Shirou and that was who he was preparing against. Still, fighting against it directly was far from Vali's ideal and he didn't plan to clash against it anytime soon.

But knowing his preparations failed stung quite a bit.

Especially with what Albion said next. [I was referring to your use of Light.] That made Vali twitch in discomfort. [We already had this talk, Vali.]

'I know, I know. To be the strongest I need to use every resource, no matter how uncomfortable. If it is my strength, I need to apply it.'

[Doesn't change the fact he will be ready next time anyway. Grr… But goddamned! I can't shake the bad taste off my mouth-]

'You don't have a mouth-'

[Semantics!] Vali shook at Albion's shout and the dragon felt his discomfort. [Apologies but the fact we lost to someone weaker just doesn't sit well with me. Had you unleashed our full might, victory was assured.]

'That was the point of him rushing us by the end. He knew he couldn't beat us at our best so he made sure we would never reach our best.' Vali accepted that, it was a strategy like any other even if it didn't sit well with them. However, that wasn't his opponent's fault. 'I grew, complacent.'

[You? How many times did I cut your power because you were about to kill yourself from training? Just the other day Azazel was complaining about you hogging the living room for practice because we had no space and he couldn't play games.] From the emotions he felt, Albion knew bringing up the former guardian was a bad idea. So he kept pushing. [You are the best host I ever had; willing, capable and certainly not lazy so don't come at me saying you grew complacent.]

Vali felt happy at his partner's words but the dragon misunderstood him. 'That wasn't what I meant. It isn't like I didn't work for my strength but I neglected ourselves in other areas.' Albion sent a mental nudge to show he was listening. 'I thought that surpassing our weakness would be enough, that with my mana, your ability and our powers we would be invincible. That was a mistake.' His fist closed with resolve. 'We need more power, more speed, forget about the Chant for Juggernaut Drive or make sure I can defend myself during it.'

['We' partner, 'we'. We are in this together.] Just the thought of them growing stronger pleased Albion. [But there is another thing you must do for us to grow. Enough of just using my Balance Breaker, we need to unlock yours.] He could feel his partner's excitement.

'We will! Enough playing around! From now on I will use everything I got to win!' Vali felt his heart pounding on his chest. 'My mana, your power, my bloodline, Divine Dividing! We will combine all these resources and become the strongest existence!' Plans began to take shape in his mind and the ideas kept coming. 'Starting with-'

Then they felt the tube shake and a jolt of electricity ran inside it, forcing Vali to open his eyes and see a familiar white haired woman standing in front of the tube he was in, a mocking smile on her face and mirth on her red eyes.

Vali could see others around him, some friendly faces, others frightened by his presence. Not that he cared about the latter category as he kept glaring at the woman, knowing the jolt was her fault. Like he suspected he was in a healing tube just on his underwear, looking down he could see that his body was mostly recovered even if he had a huge scar on his shoulder.

The tube itself was made of glass, almost as if for exhibition, and connected with other tubes that filtered the liquid he was in. However it was decided that time had come for him to awake and the ones replacing the liquid were turned off while others began to drain it. In a few instants his feet were touching the floor and the glass tube opened.

Vali didn't waste any time to take off the mask and glare at the woman. "Did you really need to shock me, Illya?"

"Why yes, I did. You should know these are for emergencies, not to take a nap."

"I wasn't taking a nap."

"You were twitching and moving your eyes, clearly indications you were trying to go back to sleep."

"Those can also be symptoms of nighterrors." Le Fay helpful pointed out while offering Vali a towel. "Also he needs more time in there. Didn't you notice that the scar on his shoulder isn't gone?"

Illya shook her head with a smile. "A wound like that should already have healed with my concoction. If it doesn't, then it isn't healing."

"Did you add my solution to the formula? It should have improved its efficiency by at least 10%."

"The ingredients you suggested are too rare for us to find."

"I know you have some in the lab! I saw it!"

"Not enough for something that wouldn't work for sure." Illya waved her hand in dismissal.

Le Fay didn't take it kindly. "But it would have worked if. You just didn't want to admit it."

"I don't need to admit anything, pipsqueak. Those ingredients don't mix. Get over it." Illya leaned down to meet the girl's eyes.

"With your concoction they would." The witch said back. "I am sure of it."

"You don't even know the recipe!" And as a magus, Illya refused to share it.

Sparks began to fly between the two girl's eyes and they looked ready for a fight, much to the amusement and concern of the others present. Worse yet was that there weren't many who would get between the two as both were considered important in the Khaos Brigade.

"Hahahahaha! Maybe you should share the recipe, Illya. If only to see if Le Fay is right or wrong." Gilgamesh commented from the side, leaning against a wall. "Then again, that could be a waste of materials."

"Can I ask why so many people are visiting me in bed?" Vali asked while drying himself, looking around and noticing only Arthur was with Le Fay. "Where are the others?"

Arthur pulled his sister back with a hand while Sella and Heracles worked on Illya. "Altria and Bikou are sparing while Kuroka is doing as Kuroka does." He threw Vali a pair of pants.

"So you don't know?" Vali began to put on said pants as it was clear the other man threw it for his sister's sake. Once he was done, Vali studied the damage on his left shoulder, poking the scar. "Bigger than I thought." It went all the way to his chest.

"Kakakakaka. You took quite a beating, White One- Auch."

"Not so loud, Add." Arthur poked the cube and placed it inside his shirt. He then turned to Vali. "It is an impressive wound but you should have more. Many more."

Vali ignored the little byplay as he studied his body further, feeling a particular sting on his back. When he tried to pull out his wings there was no reaction, they were completely destroyed.

However he didn't let anything show on his face while studying the damage. Albion stayed silent during the exam even if he wished to say something to cheer his partner up.

Except the dragon knew Vali didn't need cheering up, losing his wings in a good fight didn't bother him in the least.

Just reminded him that he needed to prepare better for the next time he fights, adapting to the loss of his flesh while growing his strength.

"Shirou did shove a sword on your shoulder." Gilgamesh commented with a chuckle which made Vali turn to his friend.

"Did you tell them?" There was only curiosity.

A new arrival replied. "Actually I was there recording the match." Georg arrived with Cao Cao, fixing his glasses. "Was more interested in Azazel's research but your fight was… interesting as well." There was some anger there and not directed at Vali.

"We watched it like movie night while you were unconscious. Made a lot of good for the members of our Faction that thought a human couldn't defeat a hybrid. And a True one to boot." Cao Cao commented with a good dose of cheer. "Pity that we didn't have any sound but hey, the flashes were impressive, especially at the end."

"Happy to be your villain for your story," Vali spoke sarcastically as Arthur threw him a shirt with long sleeves, "but why are you all here? I get Arthur and Fay, they are worrywarts, this is Illya's lab so her and her assistants are a given, but the rest of you wouldn't bother to visit." He noticed that there were two scars on the palm and back of his right hand but shrugged them off. 'More medals.' His smile was misinterpreted.

"That is mean, Vali. Of course we would visit one of our stemmed allies." Cao Cao joked with a small edge on his voice. "In fact, you are the main reason for our visit; we want to know where Emiya Shirou got that much power and even Illya doesn't have a clue."

Gilgamesh shook his head and left the wall. "The pegasus is usually connected with Medusa and Illya had already told us about her. But since we had no sound during the fight it was prudent to ask if you figured something else."

"You know, I don't like you guys speaking about my brother like that." Illya said with a hostility that had Gilgamesh grinning.

"Ho~ Are you showing the concern of an elder sister? Are we to expect a sudden betrayal?" All he received was a flat look that had him laughing. "Ahahahaha! Of course not. Don't worry, we are just curious. It isn't like we are going out of our way to fight my friend."

Which made Georg upset as that was a fight he wanted. "Regardless, we should know his capabilities, especially since he defeated you."

At that Illya, and Sella but to a lesser extent, began to brim with pride. "That is my brother for you, give him a sword and he can kick anybody's butt."

Puffing her cheeks, still upset with Illya, Le Fay commented with skepticism. "He only beat Vali because he was careless. Your brother isn't that strong." Illya turned to glare and the witch grew confident before hugging her sibling's arm. "Besides, he would never be able to beat Ria with a sword, right brother?"

Before Arthur could answer, Illya was already on Le Fay again. "Excuse you? Do you think your sister can beat my brother? Didn't Vali have the most wins between the three of them?" She raised and began to laugh out loud. "Then it is just logic; Vali can beat Altria then Shirou who can beat Vali can beat her too."

"Can not."

"Can too."

"Can not!"

"Can too!"

"Okay, okay, enough already children." Cao Cao got both girls' attention but their eyes promised murder. "We can't know for sure until the fight happens and everyone here is curious for Vali to say his piece."

"Can't I get something to eat first? I have been out for… How long have I been out?" The hybrid question was met with some amusement.

Especially from Gilgamesh. "Four days straight. To be more specific this is the morning of the fifth day since Arthur and Altria dragged you into the tube while Le Fay and Illya fought over them using it." The descendant of the King of Heroes shrugged. "The damage was extensive and you were a mess of blood so when Illya saw you she made saving you a priority."

"I may not like the half pint but I am not heartless." Then she glared at Vali. "Even if I dislike how you tried to manipulate my brother into killing you. Lucky you that he isn't like dad or else you would really be dead."

"Better not remind Ria about that. She is still upset with what you tried to pull." While Arthur was happy his friend was alive, he respected his wishes and wouldn't have saved him. His sister only moved because she was against how things went.

"Well then here is a brief summary; he is strong, plays dirty, can spam Noble Phantasms, has a sword that can chase its target, uses Ki and has a pegasus that can amp everything he can do." Most they already know from the recording but Vali decided to point it all out. "He is strong, that is all you need to know."

"Hahaha, fighting dirty? He was just using strategy." Illya failed to hold back his smile and her shoulders were still shaking. "If anything you should see the damage dad can do."

"What a haunting note." Gilgamesh chuckled but didn't disagree. The Magus Killer's reputation was well known. "But that pegasus, did it come from Medusa?"

"It is a he, his name is Bellerophon and yes." Vali replied while he stretched. While the solution healed him and took care of his muscles, it didn't hurt to check. "Oh, congratulations by the way, your brother was named a Mage."

""What?"" Both Illya and Sella were shocked by the reveal but the maid recovered first, a smile "Such great news. The first Mage from the Emiya Family. Can I ask if you know his full title?"

"Mage of Swords from what a devil called." Vali chuckled when he realized something else. "I may have made it more official by calling him that outloud. Certainly defeating the White Dragon Emperor affirmed it, anyway."

"Fhe, what else could you expect from my brother?" Illya turned around to hide her face. "Just to show that we, Emiyas, don't play around. We already have a Mage in the family. Yes sir we do."

"Do I hear some jealousy in your tone?" Gilgamesh asked with a smirk, raising his hand to block a punch so strong and fast that was heard throughout the lab.

"Illya-sama!" Sella was confused but concerned about her mistress' reaction.

Instead of replying to her, Illya glared at the King of Heroes. "I hate that smug smile on your face." She turned around again. "I am not jealous if that is what you are wondering. Just processing it." If anything she was a little jealous but mostly concerned. 'A Mage attracts all kinds of attention, usually the bad kind.'

"Sure, sure, tell yourself that."

"Angelo, give the girl a break. We can't have Illya distracted while she is still working on the Dress of Heaven." Cao Cao pointed out and the blond shrugged. He turned to Vali again. "Besides that, is there anything else you can share?"

"Besides his power being incomplete? I think you could see that depending on the quality of the image." Cao Cao nodded and Vali decided to make another observation. "Perhaps it has something to do with that sword," he looked at the blond man with red eyes, "It was a Noble Phantasm, by the way."

"As expected of my friend, he must have found another one. I wonder if he collected it." Gilgamesh rubbed his chin, wishing he could visit Fuyuki. "Tell me, did you by chance catch its name? I can't recall any sword connected with a pegasus of any kind."

"He called it Bakuya and the pegasus Bellerophon." Names Vali won't soon forget.

Yet Gilgamesh's reaction was surprising as his eyes grew wide as his expression grew pensive. "Are you sure?"

"Isn't that-"

"Not now, Georg. Angelo also realized it." Cao Cao also was paying to his friend's expression as the blond was making sense of everything. "Bakuya shouldn't have anything to do with a pegasus, it is a Chinese weapon. Made by humans too."

Vali and Arthur traded looks as Le Fay also grew a pensive expression. "Just telling you what I heard."

"And I believe you." Gilgamesh was smiling again, a more feral one. "Is there anything else you can tell us?"

Illya didn't like the interest on Gilgamesh's face. "You already figured something out?"

"Just conjecture. Nothing concrete so far." Which was why he wanted Vali to give him more.

However the hybrid didn't want to do it because he also didn't like the blond's expression. "Only that he was too fast for me to do anything at the end."

"Hmph, that was a given." Georg watched the whole fight intently and only upon seeing Vali's wounds during his recovery was that the magician understood what had happened in that moment.

The record showed the same thing he saw, a Shirou as a blur while Vali was cut hundreds of times over. There was no slowing down the spell to see exactly what happened and only a few members of the Hero Faction could see that moment. And they were their strongest, almost if not stronger than Vali.

"Suit yourself." However Gilgamesh understood Vali was holding something back, something that could give Shirou a disadvantage.

"Didn't that look a little too much like a Balance Breaker?" Heracles asked which earned him looks of surprise and amusement. "What? It just looked like it."

"He isn't necessarily wrong." Le Fay's eyes looked misty as she gazed at the distance. "The pegasus is Divine by nature and he would only lack the sacred gear. A Noble Phantasm couldn't do the same but…" She blinked and looked at the sides, feeling odd. "I don't know."

"Anyway, you got what you wanted. If you excuse me." Vali got ready to leave but Gilgamesh opened a portal and collected a black sword that had him stop in his tracks.

"Perhaps we can do the same for this one?" He held a sword that was an exact copy of Bakuya but black like the night instead of white and with an hexagonal pattern. Vali could feel the sword's power and knew Bakuya was stronger because of the pegasus in it. "After all, there are twins. Whatever Bakuya can do, Kanshou can as well." He chuckled.

And Cao Cao joined him. "Perhaps we should go looking for another pegasus? I know legend only speaks of one but…" He let the idea sink.

"You won't get anything without Medusa." However Illya shot that idea down, making both men pout. "Hah! What did you expect? My brother rescued a goddess, obviously he got perks." Under her breath she said, "Not that I knew it until now."

A little disappointed but nonetheless unable to disagree, Gilgamesh returned the weapon to his vault. "Maybe I can ask Ophis for something? Both her and Medusa are snakes."

That was possible in Vali's opinion but he considered everything he felt a warning was needed. "If you succeed then be careful because that form consumes a lot of mana. Too much mana for any human to use it safely."

"But Shirou used it and he doesn't have that much in terms of mana." Illya pointed out in confusion. "I mean, he is really good at using it, really good. Mother made sure he was after she caught him turning his nerves into circuits."

"Preposterous! Is he that much of a fool?" Georg felt insulted that someone like that insulted his name. "How can a person like that be called a Mage? Whoever gave him the title can only be an idiot."

"Oi, it is my brother you are insulting here." Illya looked ready for a fight and the usually stoic Sella wasn't far behind.

"Maybe I was misguided about who was the jealous one." Gilgamesh commented out loud but he was also curious about Vali's warning. "So you lost to someone that was burning himself out? You are slipping, Vali."

"That was because Rias Gremory was giving him all the mana he could need." That silenced everyone. "As the Heiress of Gremory she comes from good stock and her mana levels are considerably high."

"I see. So they made a pact with blood." Illya deduced immediately, refusing to think of the alternative.

Unfortunately for her, the alternative was presented by Georg. "With how much mana that kind of form needed to do what it did, not even considering the wings that needed a constant fuel to exist, then you can't-" He grew silent as red eyes full of murder turned to him. "Can- can- can't disconsider that-" The aura grew more dangerous and he gulped before starting to shake. "I mean-"

"Mana transfer like that needs a ritual of more than just blood and unless they predict the attack, they must be doing it everyday." Gilgamesh started with a grin that Illya found insufferable. "Hahahahaha! To think a devil would share her power with her magician like that. That Gremory has guts! Hahahahaha!"

Le Fay batted her brother's hands away when he tried to close her ears. "Kakakakaka! So the Mage brat is 'tussling' with a devil between the sheets? And a noble to boot? Merlin would be impressed! Kakakaka!"

"Silence, Add." Arthur really didn't want his younger sister to hear that kind of conversation. She almost pitted him since as a witch she already was well aware of such rituals.

Cao Cao rubbed his chin with intrigue. "At least I can respect a devil like that if she was just looking over for her magician. Giving him that much mana to play with is a sure fire way of keeping him safe."

"I am going to kill her!" Illya declared in fury which made Gilgamesh laugh harder.

Even Vali was amused and he couldn't help but throw more into the fire. "Oh she didn't do it to keep him safe, at least not that. He announced out loud, for everyone in the meeting to hear, they were dating."

That did it for Illya as she froze in place with Sella trying to snap her mistress back to reality. It wasn't helped by Gilgamesh who was starting to have problems breathing. "Oh my goodness! Shirou aimed for a noble devil like that? Hahaha… There must be a lot… of them going for his head… just to get her back." He laughed some more as Cao Cao and Georg just stood there in disbelief. "To think, hahahaha, their relationship would develop like that! It is almost like a fairy tail. Maybe we should send a gift for the wedding."

In a second Gilgamesh had blocked another of Illya's punches. "I swear one day, one day, I will rub that smug smirk off your face."

"What is wrong, Illya?" He knew exactly what was wrong and she hated him for it. "I just want to congratulate my friend for the relationship. Isn't that what 'bros' do? Go to drink when one of them manages to get a girlfriend."

"That bitch isn't his girlfriend! She is manipulating him somehow, I just know it!" She turned around as the aura of murder grew stronger, surprising everyone. "I am going to kill her! Make her swallow her own heart before ripping off her head! How dare she corrupt my younger brother like this?! I bet she threw herself at him in the middle of the night and Shirou was just too weak to do anything! That is it! She took advantage of his good heart!"

Arthur was one of the few who found the courage to talk. "I think that you are exaggerating-" At the look that promised thousands of tortures turned to him, he froze.

"She must have tricked him! Unacceptable! Absolutely unacceptable! I am going to skin her alive! Rip her pretty fingernails one by one until she admits she did it!" Illya turned to march.

"Must I remind you that going to Fuyuki now is a terrible idea." Cao Cao showed his bravery and leadership by stopping her. "An attack just happened and the leaders of the Three Factions will have a close eye on it for a while. If you attack Rias Gremory now, you aren't coming back."

With the worst case scenario so close to being a reality Cao Cao was bound to intervene and if he did Georg would as well since her loss would destroy their plans. Concern about Illya would have both Heracles and Sella also moving to stop her by any means necessary.

Only Gilgamesh wouldn't interfere since he was too busy laughing to death.

"Illya-sama, I think-"

"Gremory is going to pay! By the time I am done there will be no more Gremorys! I will burn their lands and rub salt on every field-"

"Let's go guys." Vali felt a little bad for leaving the Hero Faction to deal with Illya. Just a little, he was far more amused and knew Le Fay half agreed with him if the small vindictive smile on her face was anything to go by. "This will take a while and I am hungry."

"After how long you were asleep, that isn't a surprise." Le Fay's eyes turned more sharp than a girl her age should have as she placed a glowing hand closer to Vali's back. "If you weren't a True Hybrid you would be dead, as a devil by the blade and as a human from starvation as your body had to work extra hard to fix itself."

"Don't call him that, Fay. It is rude." Arthur chastised as they began to walk out of the lab.

"Let her be, Arthur. I don't mind much and it is good to know how close I was to dying." He could feel Albion wanted to say something but judged his body still recovering and his partner didn't want to mess with that. "Next time it won't happen." Because of course he wanted a rematch.

"-taking my brother's purity like that is the greatest of crimes and I won't let it slide-" Finally they stopped hearing Illya's voice as they stepped outside her lab.

Khaos Brigade HQ wasn't a single building but a small town for all intents and purposes, a hub of a sort where its all parts came together to negotiate, prepare, share intel and whatever else was needed for their cooperation.

It was also a space where they all kept an eye on each other.

Indeed Illya's lab was a huge building close to the center besides the hospital since both areas could be used for healing. Both buildings were white and had a modern design in contrast with most in the main square.

And it was really a square with a mixture of modern and post medieval architecture that extended beyond itself, each going in a cardinal direction to make paths for every individual component of the Khaos Brigade.

Between Illya's lab and the hospital there was a path from a bunch of modern tents and small buildings where humans could be easily found. Only a few pavilions could be seen in that direction because for the most part the structure was more similar to barracks and warehouses belonging to a modern army.

Most of the tents there were because of how many members the Hero Faction actually had, being composed not only of sacred gear users but many others who were little by little assimilated thanks in most part to Gilgamesh's charisma and Cao Cao's plans.

To the left of the hospital there was a big warehouse that kept going for a few miles before stopping and giving way to other buildings. Those belonged to anyone as the hospital was considered neutral ground with the area behind it. Usually it was mostly for numerous research facilities and to hold weapons of many kinds and was where the bulk of their members mingled.

After the warehouse there was a castle and the zone where the devils claimed their territory. Since they were all considered rebels in the Underworld most of the Old Satan Faction wasn't welcomed there and many made a place to live in the HQ. Traders as the devils were that was the zone with an active commerce with inns, stores and whatever else they could set up.

Thanks to those efforts there was always a constant influx of people from the other Factions going in and out of the place which allowed the devils to expand. The castle that marked the entrance to their street was a small one, barely a keep, but one of descendants of the Original Maou refused to live in anything less.

Besides the castle there was the biggest example of how long the Khaos Brigade had really been active with a huge skyscraper that was the tallest building of the place. It was a communication center and apartment building in one, the place where many of the Khaos Brigade in the HQ lived and worked.

All of that surrounding a dark tower with a brick wall surrounding it, statues protected the entrance of the garden that was taken care of by the inhabitants if they so desired for the owner of the tower couldn't care enough to do so herself.

However that was the center of the HQ of the Khaos Brigade and all who belonged to it knew that the Dragon Infinity, Ophis, lived there when she wasn't running around to wherever struck her fancy.

The perfect place where all and everyone could keep an eye on the dragon so nobody could take more power than they should. Mistrust was rampante even if their HQ was organized and the people mingled. It was the only way most of them could work together in such an organization.

Vali and his friends were moving to the tower as the silver haired man noticed there were few changes in the HQ. 'The Old Satan Faction butchered the operation and yet nothing changed, as expected. Nobody was counting on Katerea succeeding in her mission.'

Not that they were counting on him in any way shape or form as while the rank and file devil thought of him as Lucifer, the leaders of the rebels saw him only as a convenient ally at the best of times and a rogue card at the worst.

Still he was pretty sure that some of the Old Satan Faction bases had to be abandoned or refitted by the lack of personnel. Vali didn't count how many had gone with Katerea for their doomed attack but he was sure it must have put a dent on their numbers.

And it was a failure, an absolute failure since even with his interference none of the New Maou was taken down. It wasn't like Vali was disappointed by the events or cared about that Faction. He didn't care for any Faction, only people; his friends and those he had an invested interest in.

Yet he still stopped to ask. "Fay, you still have some friends from when they tried to invite you to witch covens, right?" Because something was wrong with all that happened.

Le Fay was surprised by the sudden question but nodded. "Yeah, we still talk somewhat."

"What was the damage?" He didn't need to elaborate.

"Well, the coven allied with the Old Satan Faction was destroyed so all the others officially joined the Hero Faction."

"So Cao Cao's plan worked, huh."

"Plan?" Arthur was intrigued. "Are you saying he planned for that particular coven to be destroyed?"

"Not at all." Vali looked around, seeing far more mistrust against the devils in the place. Their usual market street was almost empty. "But the plan was always for Sirzechs to waste his energy to teleport his sister. Because of that he blocked any and every human that could help with the Bishop and forced the Old Satan Faction to ask for one of the more neutral parties." So anyway the Hero Faction would lose nothing. "Simply put, they would be destroyed by Rias Gremory, that was the best kind of possibility for the Hero Faction."

"We are the last neutral party left, aren't we?" Arthur realized with a frown. "Everybody else is officially with the Hero Faction; the witches, summoners, necromancers, everyone."

"Pretty much." And Vali knew Cao Cao wasn't the only one with a plan. "What happened with Katerea?"

The siblings looked at each other and the brother shook his head before the sister replied. "She didn't come back. From what I heard, who rescued her was-"

"She wasn't rescued. That man wouldn't send his strongest vassal to rescue anyone. He literally doesn't know the meaning of the word." Vali's scowl showed so much loathing there was no way in hell people wouldn't notice. The siblings more than most as they knew where all of it was coming from. "Whatever game he is playing, we need to figure out the rules or else we are going to get screwed."

"Problem is that he barely has any contact with anyone, even with the Old Satan Faction." Le Fay reminded Vali which caused him to grunt. "I will see what I can find."

"Don't bother, you are right." Vali hated to admit it but there was no going around that fact. "And that is the problem; he usually doesn't care about anything or anyone, why save Katerea?" 'What is your goal, Rizevim?'

A moment of silence descended as the trio mulled in their thoughts and tried to understand the implications of everything. If anything it cast another light on Kuoh's attack.

Like if there were dozens of directors on the same movie, each taking care of the part that interested them, ripping the rewards and only the actors, the Old Satan Faction, got screwed in the development.

In contrast Cao Cao got all neutrals on his side and the devils more isolated while Vali was sure Rizevim also got something even if it was just Katerea.

He started to think about all he knew about her. 'She is strong but lacks ability and skill. Does he want her only for her blood? No, he would let them catch her and break her out after or just place people around to keep her safe.'

"Nothing we can do then, for now." Arthur collected his thoughts and deduced. "We can try and find them if you want but speculating doesn't help."

"You are right, you are right." Vali accepted rather easily and Le Fay wasn't buying it.

She moved closer and hit his arm. "We are going to take a look. No rush." At his grunt she pouted. "It isn't like he got anyone important. Katerea may have mana but is rather weak." Vali was about to reply when his stomach began to growl and Le Fay giggled.

"Why don't we go eat something?" Arthur commented with a smile but besides a grunt, Vali gave nothing else, just marched for the closest stand to grab a bite of something.

…..

Waver Velvet felt a heavy need to sleep as he sat down at his desk, knowing he couldn't. Unlike most days where he was presiding class, today the only sounds in the classroom were pencils, erasers and the occasional groan from a student that knew they were going to fail.

Or at least get a question wrong for Kuoh hit the time of the year where the teachers can take a short break before the actual break.

Exam season.

At least that was how it was for Kuoh since the school used a system where, throughout a couple of weeks before the summer break the students would start taking tests. From how the season was spaced out it was supposed to last for two weeks with three days of tests per week.

Theoretically that should be given enough time for the students to actually study even if they had to take multiple tests in a day thanks to Kuoh's heavy curriculum. But as Waver was observing children could be lazy even when they had enough time to cover most subjects.

Either way all members of his class belonged to the moonlit world so he expected, as their homeroom teacher, that all of them at least got decent grades. Sure it wasn't a guarantee but considering everything they should be more disciplined than the average highschooler student, at least in his opinion.

He knew that those that came from noble houses would at least be more dedicated and in previous exam seasons he would be far more relaxed, reading a book, while his spells caught any cheaters.

Unfortunately Waver was one of the few unlucky fellows called to help with the illusions and repairs after the signing of the now dubbed Kuoh Peace Treaty, Kuoh Treaty for short. There was so much damage, so many traps, such a risk of maiming if they weren't careful, Waver half expected for classes to be canceled for a few days.

However that was not to be and he got roped into the work having to act as a teacher during the day while pulling all-nighters with any devil the Gremory and Sitri could spare. It was because of his skill and deductive ability that they needed him to disable some nasty stuff so he couldn't complain.

But he still complained a little and received a check for fees of service.

A very generous check.

Enough for retirement twice over in the mundane world.

Apparently the Governor General, since he controlled the richest of the Three Factions, began his contributions to the alliance earnestly by banking the repairs, paying everyone for the extra work and by joining Kuoh's staff at the first opportunity.

Sure he wasn't teaching anything as of yet since the subjects for the tests were already established but Waver wasn't going to complain about the check.

'I should have complained about the check.' Waver let out a sigh as he removed his glasses and massaged his eyes. 'A man can't sustain himself with just mana, coffee and half an hour of sleep. Someone tried before and went mad after a month.' He consoled himself with the fact he had only another week of work.

Then he was going to hide somewhere and play games until his responsibilities showed their ugly head again and forced him back to work. Waver wasn't going to stall when the call came but he wished his vacation started as soon as possible. At least without having to take care of his students he could sleep properly.

Because of his lack of sleep there was no way he would risk placing a spell and ruin some of his brightest concentration. Instead he bit the bullet and kept his eyes roaming, daring any cheater to try and get caught. If he was more in shape he would be roaming the classroom as well but Waver was too tired.

'I want a cigarette.' He would never admit to whine. 'I want to drink a beer and lay down. To watch something funny and sleep after. To eat something sweet and-'

"Sensei, I am finished." One of his brightest, Olga Marie Animusphere, stepped forward. Her paper was all filed and he could see she would get a good score even if it wasn't his subject. "Here sir."

Waver placed the best smile he could, burying his exhaustion in the back of his mind. "Good job. Please sit down and wait if you don't mind." Policy was to only let the students leave class after two hours.

"Yes, sensei." Olga turned with her back straight, anyone could see she was proud.

From her accomplishments, Waver didn't blame her and if some of what he knew about her research came true he was excited to see what would come after. 'This makes it all worth it.'

His methods, his theories, the development of his students, everything that he accomplished made Waver joyful, enough so that he could ignore the exhaustion and refocus on watching his class.

Even if the cogs on his mind were still working hard on new places to check for traps that still needed to be swiped. Fortunately he wouldn't have to do it alone because there were still a lot of places to cover.

'A good thing most clubs are taking a break for tests. We still need to check a few installations then we are done.' While that brought a wave of relief, Waver still felt some dread. Because he wasn't going to be checking that alone. 'At least I am getting used to the Governor General but who was insane enough to think letting him become a teacher was a good idea?'

…..

Rias managed to stop herself from sneezing just as she was about to finish her exam. 'Is someone talking about me? Hope I am not getting in the way of their exam~' She joked while finishing marking the answers on her paper. Then she stood up, noticing Sona doing the same. 'Oh~ done already?' Her eyes asked her oldest friend.

Sona offered her a small glance but marched towards their teacher as if to say. 'Don't underestimate me, Gremory.'

A small chuckle came from behind and Rias knew Akeno was paying attention to the interaction. Nothing much as the two Heiresses marched towards the front of the class, one of the last classrooms with only girls since the school started to allow boys.

Both approached the teacher, a gentle old lady, who received their tests with a smile. "Good job, both of you. Now-"

"I would like to request to be dismissed early to attend to my duties." Sona spoke quickly, shocking the old teacher.

She was one of the oldest ones in Kuoh, the kind that was present from years before the devils ever took over Fuyuki. Not the kind of older woman who would fret over everything but she was a stickler for the rules. She also had no idea the two girls who finished their tests were devils and the real power in the school.

However she knew Sona's reputation and the Sitri was well respected for her deeds and grades so she indulged her. "Shitori-kun, you do recall that the norm is to wait for a couple of hours before allowing any student to leave the class during a test, correct? Why make such a request?"

"Because I have a lot of paperwork." Rias just smiled but deep inside she was laughing out loud and holding it back. Sona could see it written in her face. "Most of which the director informed you about, I believe." Said director was up to par about both Sona's real nature and her work for the school.

"Oh dear, to let such a young one take that many responsibilities. And in the exam season no less." The teacher sounded extremely disappointed but not with any of her students. "In the past that wouldn't have happened, the Student Council also had less work but that is expected. Times are changing." She let out a sigh, debating retirement before shaking her head. "But I digress. I cannot allow you to go. Rules are rules."

Sona's eyebrow twitched as they already had that song and dance before, she never managed to convince the woman to let her leave the classroom early enough for it to be relevant. The most she was ever able to get was twenty minutes before her classmates.

Pitying her friend a little, Rias leaned forward on the teacher's desk. "Sensei, we knew that rule solely exists to prevent cheating, correct?" The old teacher turned to Rias to show she was paying attention. However, her annoyed glance told her to 'get to the point'. "But this is Shitori Souna we are talking about. Just the idea of her cheating would belong in a parody of a comedy."

It was a fair argument, a really good argument considering the teacher was just hearing them because of Sona's reputation alone. There was no other student that was more praised, legitimately since few knew her actual position, than her.

'A student admired by her classmates, well regarded and who cares for the school. Her grades are also exemplary.' She took a glance at the tests, noticing that while Rias made one or two mistakes, Sona was going to get a perfect grade. In the past that wouldn't be enough for her to let Sona go. 'If I am going soft, I might as well retire.' One of her last colleagues did so recently after winning a lottery and decided to go on a trip with his wife. "It is true many of the staff got flooded with paperwork from the surprise reforms so I don't blame some of them for trusting a few of the responsibilities to you. If your grades had slipped, I would never consider this request, Shitori-kun."

Gritting her teeth, Sona made sure her face remained calm. "Sensei, if I can ask for a selfish request?"

"You already are."

"May I request that Rias accompany me?" Rias held back a curse. She was planning to take a nap. "She is as capable as I am dealing with paperwork and since the Occult Research Club doesn't have much to do, she can take my workload."

'Oh that was cruel, Sona." Yet the redhead just smiled even if it became a little strained as they waited for the teacher's verdict.

"You are pushing, Shitori-kun. While both of you are excellent students, some of Gremory-san's activities aren't the kind that I can approve off." Since she knew nothing about Rias' position either, the old teacher showed her distaste for the ORC existence. "Having a whole building for themselves while also spending time with three boys is not what a proper lady should be doing."

"I know, sensei." Sona's smile made Rias glare a little. "But you can't deny that she is decently competent when it comes to paperwork."

"That I can not." The teacher still watched Rias with suspicion.

For her part the Gremory Heiress was fuming on her mind. 'Just you wait, Sona. I am getting payback for this with interest.' She hoped that the teacher would remain strict and deny the request.

In vain because Sona's reputation was good enough to have the woman consider the request. "Very well, I will write a note with permission for both of you. But only this once and to no one else." She looked at the rest of the class, some shivering under her glare. "You still have the next week of exams and if I see a single dip in your grades I will talk with your parents."

""Of course, sensei."" Both heiresses replied with smiles and began to leave the classroom.

Thanks to their teacher they had all the school for themselves and over an hour before the other students started leaving their classrooms.

Still Rias couldn't help with a jab. "Finally going to ask for my help with paperwork?"

"Just didn't want to owe you anything, Gremory. Besides, you have your own paperwork to deal with." Sona began to march towards the student council office with Rias in tow.

"You aren't still upset about the 'Azazel thing', are you?"

"Yes, I am still upset about that. Why have him as a Chemistry teacher again?" She looked at Rias dead in the eyes but the redhead giggled. "Why couldn't you just accept him as a member of the board?"

"It was just a suggestion."

"A suggestion he took way too seriously." Sona felt the need to scream once or twice during that particular meeting. "Now we have the Governor General running around the school. I definitely never wanted that."

"But he is such a nice guy." The cold stare from Sona just made her want to laugh. "Come on, Sona. He was happy to take the job. Even paid for all the expenses for mister Kuwabara's vacation." After they hypnotized the man to believe he entered the lottery in the first place. "And didn't you want to make a school for everyone?"

"For devils and don't try to distort the subject." But eventually Sona had to let out a sigh because she knew her technicality couldn't beat Rias' logic. "Why did you really offer that, Rias? Be honest." When her friend began to open her mouth, Sona shut it with a hand. "And on more dodging or deflecting or just saying 'it would happen sooner or later'. Be blunt, like your boyfriend." Both stared at each other and Rias shrugged before Sona let her mouth go. "Well?"

Taking a second to place a finger under her chin just to egg Sona further, Rias finally replied with, "Because he needed it. Issei said he was upset about Vali leaving and, well, we felt bad for him."

Sona wanted to facepalm. "Sometimes I think you don't mind shooting any political advantage on the foot just for your amusement. No, wait, I know that for a fact." Rias smiled and she ended up chuckling. "But fine, at least he helped pay for the repairs. If only that solved the paperwork."

"The paperwork." Both shivered, remembering how much they already had done over the week. "Can't blame anyone since two armies fought in Kuoh… But I still think you should have at least let everyone rest for one day."

"No excuses. We could do the job and we did it. At this point everyone agrees checking for traps is just a formality. " They arrived at Sona's office and she stopped at the door. Then she let out a sigh. "Is your brother also sending mixed signals about 'something exciting is going to happen soon'?" She was quoting Serafall precisely minus the song-like tone.

Rias nodded but looked more relaxed. "He said that we should expect something in the Underworld but he would tell me the day after we arrived to 'keep it fair'." She shrugged. "Fair to who, I don't know but it doesn't sound like anything bad."

Which made Sona shake a little, remembering her sister was in the middle of whatever this was. "Makes me wish to not return to the Underworld this summer."

"But your Clan is calling you as well right?" Rias should have asked this earlier in the week but paperwork and exams got in the way.

"Yours too? Great. Only a Maou can order them to call us home." Her sister, or her coworkers but those were not the ones Sona feared, which only made her more concerned. "Oh by Goetia, what are they planning now?"

"Aren't you exaggerating a bit?" Rias felt pity for Sona but also thought she was overreacting. "It isn't like this is just for you, I am going too and received a similar vague heads up." Her friend still looked upset and Gremory patted her back hard. A glare later, Rias just smiled. "It isn't like they are going to announce your engagement or something."

Another glare from Sona didn't even bother Rias but the kaichou shook her head regardless. "Fine, fine. I will try to be… optimistic that this isn't one of my sister's schemes." The image of a blue magic girl outfit wormed in her mind.

Not knowing why Sona was shivering just made Rias more amused. "Well~ since you don't need my help I am going."

"You could actually help. I know you still have your own report to make-"

"Oh, those~ we finished it days ago~" And Rias was too pleased to reveal that.

Which surprised, shocked and frustrated Sona to no end. "How?"

"I asked for Shiro, oka-sama and Maya-san's help of course~" Rias giggled at her fellow Heiress' baffled expression. "Or did you really expect Akeno and I to do everything by ourselves?" It felt like a giant weight fell on Sona's shoulders. Rias' words did a lot of damage and she noticed it. "Wait a minute… Are you saying it is just you and Tsubaki doing the new budget?" Right on the mark. "Sona… you have an almost complete peerage. Why didn't you ask them for help?"

"It is our duty as Kings to take care of such matters." She grumbled something between the lines off 'and I forgot' before shaking her head. "So…"

"So…" Rias was not going to make things easy for Sona.

And pride had a way to get in the way. "Fine, go along and do whatever you want. Not like your boyfriend can leave the classroom for another hour."

"More time for me to spend with Gasper." Never let it be said that Rias can't see the positives of a situation. "He will start going to class after summer, you know? I need to make sure he is ready."

It was a duty that Sona couldn't chastise Rias for. "Very well. See you after lunch, Rias."

"Good luck, Sona." Before the door closes, Rias placed her feet in front of it and offered with a smile. "But don't hesitate to ask for help."

"Heh, who do you think I am?" Sona chuckled. "Besides, my new Piece won't mind helping me either once he is free."

"You got a new Piece? Someone I know?"

"Oh I will tell you later."

"Later when?" And Rias could only play on her hands.

"In the Underworld." Sona loved the pout but quickly closed the door. From behind it she said, "See you later."

"Mou~" Rias pouted a little more before a smile grew in her lips. "If you told me sooner we could have celebrated." Then she began to think. "Do they come to school too? She isn't going to tell me even if I ask." In the end she shrugged and moved towards the ORC.

Just like she said, Rias marched straight towards her club and spent time with Gasper until lunch.

Ever since the Kuoh Treaty, Gasper had shown great progress in stepping outside of the club but it was still too early for him to join his classmates at school. Not only the boy himself admitted he wasn't prepared yet it was exam season and he was used to taking tests on his computer.

It was then decided he would join normal classes at a later date but that didn't squander his improvement as he stopped fearing staying outside or his power altogether. He even flew to the rooftop of the school a couple of times to eat with everyone, carefully to not be seen but he succeeded every time he tried.

There was a small thing however that still baffled Rias and Akeno most days and was how Gasper still hid inside his box despite gaining greater courage. It wasn't because of fear, that much they were sure, but he still did it most days for a reason or another.

What most shocked Rias was one day when Xenovia went to drag him off his box and Gasper just stood up and began to run away. Still inside the box, only his legs were out.

The blue head laughed and there was a chase until Gasper announced that a box was a 'manly hiding spot' not because he was hiding himself but because he was waiting for the best chance to attack.

And in that day attack he did as Gasper turned into a cloud of bats and managed to startle the former Exorcist enough that she lost her balance and fell on her butt. Then the former dhampir got inside his box again and disappeared inside the club, a laughing Xenovia letting him go.

That was when Gasper earned Xenovia's respect and while she still chased him from time to time for 'training', she never again complained about the box, something that Shirou, Issei and Kiba nodded their approval of, much to the girls' amusement.

So great was Rias' pride on her Bishop she had no problem in only bringing him officially to school after summer. It would give him time to get used to people and perhaps make some friends outside of their circle.

Despite all the headache the Treaty gave her, she would take every single one for that victory alone.

Today Gasper wouldn't be joining them on the rooftop, despite having already done his test for the day the poor thing was exhausted so Rias helped him relax and left him to sleep after humming him a lullaby.

Perhaps things would be better if Medusa or Iri were there for support but once again that was exam season and Gasper insisted on them staying at home so he could focus on the tests. It was like he was trying to prove he was brave despite everyone telling him he didn't need to.

After that she took her time in returning to the school, enjoying the breeze in the recently repaired woods. 'The smell of blood is finally gone.' Rias wished that Gasper's courage didn't come with some trauma as she remembered trembling a little before falling asleep. 'At least it is not as bad as when he arrived. Mostly because this time he could do something about it.'

Didn't stop the Heiress of Gremory from wishing she could kill the witches that attacked her family all over again.

But she didn't let her concerns consume her as Gasper's improvement showed he was fine. She still went back to check how he was sleeping before making her way back to Kuoh with haste, stopping herself from going back and checking again.

"Just a few more days, Rias. Then we will be in the Gremory Castle and you won't have to worry about Gasper being alone again… I really want to convince him to move to our house. He can live alone after he comes of age if he wants." Rias nodded to herself, plan made.

She met with Koneko on the first floor, the girl leaving the classroom with a confident stride and munching a lollipop. "How did it go?"

With a click of her tongue she took the treat off her mouth and grunted. "I hate math."

"But it's all good, right?" Rias watched the former nekomata as she nodded confidently. "Good job." She hugged the white haired girl and caressed her head with her own.

It was an image that had many stopping to admire and that in turn made Koneko blush a little. "Buchou, lunch?"

"Sure, sure. Let's get going." Holding hands they swiftly moved to the second floor where they ran into Issei, Kiba and Asia first. "I hope the exams weren't bad… right, Ise?"

"Come on, buchou. This time I studied a lot. I'm gonna ace this thing." The Red Dragon Emperor declared with a confidence usually absent during exams. He didn't fail per say but obviously Rias wanted him to more than just scrape by.

And for that they had Asia as an ally. "Yes, buchou. Ise-san spent most nights where he didn't have a job getting ready for the exams. He also helped me prepare for the Japanese test." All the while the Pawn nodded proudly.

"That is great to know." Rias then turned to Kiba who smiled a little. "Well…"

"All clear here, buchou. You don't have to worry about me."

"And your girl-"

Her Knight rushed to her side and whispered. "Please don't say that on school grounds?" She giggled but let it slide as Shirou, his hair fully red again, Setsuna, Xenovia, Luvia and Rin approached.

As expected the Colored Rivals were already clashing about who was going to get the best grades, usually both got top marks so there was never a winner, while Shirou, Setsuna and Xenovia just kept their distance while making sure they wouldn't get in anybody's way.

They didn't need to bother as the rivalry was so well known that the moment Rin and Luvia were seen together the students parted like the Red Sea. There were enough incidents with those two for everyone to get used to it. Nobody missed a step either, thanking the heavens that Shirou, Xenovia and Setsuna were there to give them a safety line.

Forever Kuoh's student body, and a couple of the teachers, would be grateful for the trio who kept the red and blue ogres at bay.

"Sooo, how did it go?" Rias asked when the four approached, the Colored Rivals stopping their shenanigans now that their boss was around.

Xenovia's smile was a huge one. "I like math."

"That's a new one." Issei voiced the surprise around the group.

"She finished first, believe it or not." Setsuna patted Xenovia's back in respect.

"Just because numbers are the same, no matter the country." It was with great relief that Xenovia could affirm that, for the first time in a while, she had no problems with an exam. "Still hate doing tests, though."

"Welcome to highschool life." Shirou joked as he stepped besides Rias, his hand caressing hers gently. "But at least you won't have to worry about staying behind for the summer." Thanks to her hard work she managed to catch up.

There was much Xenovia wanted to say about that but they were in school. "I wouldn't miss that trip for anything."

"I wish I could go but I have responsibilities back in Kyoto." Setsuna also had to explain to her father why her one of a kind weapon broke. It wasn't going to be a fun talk.

"You could always go next time." Kiba pointed out and everyone nodded.

The hanyou smiled and nodded. "Maybe, we will see."

"Want us to bring you a gift?" Shirou offered.

"That would be nice. Something I can share with my sister?"

"You can count on us." Issei puffed his chest. "We're going to get the best gift."

"Hum!" Asia was excited by the idea.

"Good, good. I can't wait to show you all my hometown." That was the excuse Rias was going with, an excursion to Europe. "Can't wait to show you the castles, the small village- oh, I need to remember to take you all to see the stables and-" Shirou closed her mouth a finger, an act far more intimate than he should show.

But Akeno wasn't around and she was about to say too much. "Remember you came from a well off family, not a rich one." It was the disguise Rias chose to be more approachable.

It didn't really help because of her natural beauty, attitude, confident disposition added to a highschool environment but she would kick herself later if she ruined everything.

So Rias gave Shirou a meaningful look and nodded. "Right, take you all to the small cottage in the woods my family has."

"That sounds fun." Both treated the incident like nothing had happened but rumors were already being spread how the two of them were closer than they should be.

By the end of the day the whole school would already have it rooted in the brains of every single student. Gossip could have devastating effects and be a powerful weapon in the right circumstances, an extremely dangerous one when wrong.

However this time it wouldn't be wrong as the conclusion people would reach would be the obvious one; Rias Gremory, school idol, was dating Emiya Shirou. The repercussions of that event would dominate Kuoh for a while, that was inevitable even if it was exam seasons and most were focusing on passing.

Once summer was over, on the other hand, people would go back to that moment and questions would be asked. While both had agreed to keep their relationship on the low, the proximity that they were showing just would spark the conversation that would reveal it to everyone.

Even if indirectly they exposed themselves and neither would know about it until someone told them the kind of gossip they started. Until then they were blissfully unaware that pretty much all of Kuoh knew they were an item.

"Can we go?" Koneko's stomach demanded to be sated.

"Yeah, Akeno must be waiting." Rias led everyone to the third floor but they didn't need to leave the stairs to see that the Queen was already in position with a pair of lunch boxes. "Sorry I had to leave early, Sona wanted help with the paperwork."

"Did she?" It was hard to say what amused Akeno more, the notion Sona actually wanted help or that she would ask in the first place. "She isn't done yet?" But that was funnier for her.

Enough so that Rias smiled at the unsaid joke. "Nope."

"Shouldn't the teasing be in someone's face?" Kiba asked with a smile as they kept marching to the rooftop.

King and Queen giggled but said nothing as the ORC kept going up while trading small talk, for the first time in a while acting like the students they were; no responsibility beyond getting good grades, no end of the world scenario, no urgency on the surface.

On the surface that was because Rias could read Shirou like a book. "By the way, how many times?"

"Believe it or not, I was busy with an exam." Mage or not, no one believed it.

"Dude, never try to play poker, ever." Issei advised, making Shirou's shoulders drop.

"With his luck?" Setsuna asked exaggeratedly. "Want to make him lose his home." Kiba's shoulders were trembling as he quickly covered his mouth.

"It wouldn't get that bad…" Akeno grasped Rias' arm. "We wouldn't let it, right, buchou?

"Of course, Akeno. Can you imagine him lost on Lucifaad?"

The name wasn't familiar to many. "What is 'Lucifaad'?" Asked Rin, beating Luvia to the punch.

"Former capital of the Underworld. Now our equivalent of Vegas."

"Oh ha ha. Very funny." Shirou was trying to take everything calmly but even he had his limits.

Rias and Akeno nodded to each other and moved to his side, each taking one of his arms. "You still haven't answered the question." His lover pointed out. "How many times did you enter your Reality Marble after the test?"

"Because we believe Xenovia finished first. But you helped her study and wouldn't be that far behind." Akeno giggled at Shirou squirming.

"One after but I had a reason." The Queen raised an eyebrow. "I figured out how to use my Reality Marble to memorize some information." Everybody froze as Shirou chuckled.

That was new information not even Rias knew and she wanted more. "Shiro… What do you mean your Reality Marble is helping you memorize information?"

"Weeeeell, I just started to Alter some swords there, making copies of them with whatever fact I have problem remembering like certain equations or biologic facts about cells I always got wrong." Disbelief filled the staircase. The silence just made Shirou grin. "So I used any extra sword that I ever saw or made and wrote whatever I couldn't remember there and thanks to my Reality Marble, if I recall them, I recall what I need to remember."

Issei broke out of the collective stupor first. "Hold on! You found a way to cheat-"

"Technically it isn't cheating, it is kind of like using a mind palace." It was from where Shirou got the idea in the first place.

"A devilish idea nonetheless." Rias sounded proud and kissed Shirou's cheek in approval.

"He is abusing his soul to store information his mind can't be bothered with." Rin's tone carried some wonder. "I mean, it makes sense I suppose. He can't forget swords and by modifying swords he can remember… everything? What are the limits of it?"

Luvia stepped forward, leaning from the side. "Images, right? You can write on the blades but that doesn't mean you can register everything unless the blade has contact with it."

"I can get a mental picture of the user." A different blonde girl came to Shirou's mind for the tenth time that week, her hair changing between silver and gold. "But you are right, can't 'save' pictures or anything like that."

Didn't stop Rin from letting out a sigh. "Man, that means you don't have to memorize anything anymore, just call your soul if you need it. If you just weren't a third rate magus that meant you could remember every spell you learned in your life. Wouldn't even need a Crest."

For the first time in a while Luvia shared Rin's feelings. "Kinda makes you wish you had a Reality Marble, doesn't it?" She tried to picture herself with one. "Then I would only need to get a spell right once-"

"You two are forgetting the cost of a Reality Marble and the reason why I am third rate; no spells but the ones related to it." Shirou felt it would be enough to end the subject.

He was wrong. "Only because yours is related to swords." Rin pointed out. "Mine would be related to something more versatile."

"Like anything you could have would be versatile, Tohsaka. Only someone truly noble could have something superior to Shero's, like one of jewels." Before another fight could begin, Xenovia stepped in.

"I believe Master's would still be more versatile since he can actually use treasures good for combat."

""Jewels are good for combat.""

"Not better than swords. Or Noble Phantasms." Xenovia's grin was smug and neither of the girls could deny she was right.

They were already close to the rooftop door and Rias was about to unlock it when she noticed it was already open. "Huh?" The girl pushed, finding the event odd. It began to make sense when they saw there was already someone there. "Azazel?"

"Yo, Rias and company, how have you been?" The Governor General was using a proper suit and tie but the tie was loose as he was relaxing. His suit was light blue, well pressed and of good quality, making him ready for a business meeting or teaching classes with professionalism. "Thought about dropping since we haven't seen each other in a while."

"And whose fault is that?" Rias asked cheeky, noticing how Akeno retreated inside their group. "May I ask what are you doing here? Or did you come by to eat with us?"

Azazel also noticed the Queen's moves but his eyes were focused on someone else. "No, I wouldn't want to get between your 'flower of youth'. An old man like me would ruin your groove. Do you younglings still use that word? 'Groove'?" He was obviously playing around. "Not really keeping up with what are the trends anymore, too much time in the lab." He pointed at someone in the group. "That being said, sorry for taking so long, Emiya Shirou, I am ready to talk."

"Huh?" The redhead, and everyone else really, was caught off guard by the declaration. "Wait, were you-"

"Avoiding you over the last few days? Not really, I knew you wanted to talk with me but I had so much stuff happening at the same time that I just couldn't stop in place." He shrugged his shoulders exaggeratedly. "Besides, if I was to talk with you I wanted us to have some time." Azazel then cupped his chin. "And as a teacher, doing that during exam season could get in the way of your studies so here we are."

Shirou recovered enough to say. "You know it isn't over yet, right? Last days mean there are still days in the calendar."

"Yeah, yeah, I know we should have talked sooner buuut Governor General stuff, what can you do?" Azazel really looked sorry about that. "Not that you weren't a priority or anything but if you noticed I barely hung around the school after classes were over. Heck, I haven't called Ise to play games for the whole week."

"I thought it was because you wanted me to study." Issei pointed out.

"If you can't balance your business and studying then you shouldn't have a business in the first place." Azazel shot back.

"Then shouldn't you have picked the job after the summer or once all your responsibilities were settled?" Setsuna asked with a skeptical look.

Azazel gave the impression he was truly being chastised for his behavior. "Maybe but I kinda got excited, you see. I was never a teacher in a school before." He offered them a roguish smile, fixed his tie and placed his hands on his pockets. "Don't I look the part?"

Nobody said anything for a moment. "He kinda does."

"Asia, no need to be gentle with him." Rin said after placing her hands on the Bishop's shoulders. "He looks like the kind of guy a teacher passed a lot of detentions in highschool."

"Or not enough." Kiba joined the joke.

"Ouch, that is mean." Azazel chuckled regardless, his eyes returning to Shirou. "Anyway, can we talk privately?"

"I mean, sure, no problem. At least not on my part." Shirou looked at Rias who nodded.

"We will be waiting at the edge of the rooftop." Everyone followed the Heiress of Gremory with no complaint, Akeno making sure to stand between her and the fallen angel the whole time.

Azazel raised an eyebrow, turning to Shirou. "Hard to have a private conversation in an open space with people a few meters apart."

Without saying anything the redhead approached the fence and with a wave of the magus hand swords fell around them to form a wall before he lodged the final one in the fence. He was careful to not damage anything, even the ones stabbed on the ground did so superficially.

In any case nobody would notice they were ever there once the swords disappeared but once Shirou had enough to form a disjointed square mana began to flow in the blades that formed an improvised boundary field.

Whistling a little, Azazel touched the barrier and watched how it didn't stop him before putting both of his hands outside and clapping. There was no sound. "Now that is more like a Mage."

"Please forget about it. Better yet, make it into law that nobody can mention it." Shirou sounded desperate.

"No can do, kid. Enough people heard that day and for all intents and purposes you are the Mage of Swords." Azazel chuckled at the drop of Shirou's shoulders. "Hey, it is a cool title."

"It is because- nevermind." Saying too much would be associating himself with the Order of Pendragon. 'Better everyone knows me as Mage of Swords than Merlin.' He shivered at the thought. "So…"

"So…" Now they were there and the conversation should happen, neither knew where to start. Eventually Azazel let out a sigh. "Look, you don't need to apologize."

"How did you-"

"Because I am old!" Azazel looked around to see if the devils would have a reaction but there was none. He approached the walls of the boundary field and placed his hands around his mouth. "Sirzechs is a siscon that likes to be in the bottom!" Shirou flinched but Rias just kept talking with Akeno to calm her down. "Woah, this boundary field is good. Your design, if I have to guess." He crouched to study the swords.

Suffice to say that Shirou was starting to grow nervous. "Look, I am sorry that I let Vali escape. And that I tried to kill him."

"But you didn't and his actions were of his own free will." Azazel was poking the sword before having an idea. "Hey, can I have one-" Shirou traced another and gave it to the fallen angel. "Thanks. Excellent craftsmanship, by the way."

"Learned that from Muramasa- Can you stop it?"

"Stop with what?" Asked while taking a swing.

"Trying to change the subject."

"I already said it doesn't bother me. Vali-"

"You look too much like my old man for me to fall for that." Azazel stopped to blink and Shirou snapped his fingers. "Yeah, more expressive to be sure, especially when you are happy. But your brooding is exactly like his."

Once again the fallen angel was surprised. "I don't know if that is a complement or an insult."

"Take it as both." Shirou replied, his back lying on the fence. "From what I have seen that day, you really hated what happened."

"I did, didn't I?" Azazel forgo denial and let the sword go, Shirou making it disappear, to watch the horizon from beyond the fence. Fuyuki was in sight. "But I am not lying either, Emiya Shirou, I am old. Really old. Older than the dirt under my feet." His expression would be blank for many but the redhead saw signs of distress and concern. "This isn't the first time a subordinate betrays me. Do I need to remind you of Kokabiel?"

Trying to come up with a response, Shirou tried to think of what he would say to his father in the same position. It didn't take long for him to realize he already had been in a similar position once, on a night with a full moon before he was given more responsibility than he ever hoped for from his old man.

He could only hope he was right. "But it isn't the same thing when it is your own child." A small twitch of the shoulder was all the proof he needed that he hit the nail in the head. "To see someone you care about going somewhere that you can't reach or protect them from harm isn't easy."

"Buf haha! Did the Magus Killer have to deal with something like that because of your sister?" Despite the mocking tone, Shirou's eyes never lost the pity and sympathy on them. Azazel didn't like that. "Didn't you hear me? I am old! If we are talking about children, I had way more than I could count. Most of them I help, somewhat, and if they are fallen angels, I recruit them." He offered an impish smile with a side glance. "However, they are free to live their lives as they want. I don't really care."

"Care enough to give 'help' or to recruit the fallen angels into an organization that prides in keeping them safe." Shirou wasn't falling for Azazel's nonchalance. Instead he was ready to call the bluff. "I bet you can count them with no problems. Especially the living ones."

Throwing a small glare, the Governor General turned to the Mage while keeping a hand on the fence. "So I look like your father, hum?"

"Don't try. You know my mother." With his experience, Shirou wouldn't fall for any of Azazel's traps. Instead he would push more. "You said so yourself that you help somewhat and I bet you know where every living one is now, even in the Grigori." The older man kept his silence, eyes on the city. "But you raised Vali, you bragged about it."

Azazel's hold in the fence grew tighter.

"If you didn't raise the others and all your focus-"

"Okay, okay, I get it. You're a therapist. Shesh." The man shook his head and turned to the redhead with a sad smile. "Bet you already have it all figured out."

"I doubt it." That earned Shirou a raised eyebrow. "I am just guessing here. Even if you look like my father, at least in your demeanor, I only know what he is thinking sometimes." Straightening his back, Shirou bowed his head. "That is why I am sorry; sorry for almost killing your son and for not stopping him from joining the same thing I want my sister away from."

After blinking a couple of times Azazel laughed out loud. "Hahahahaha! If I look like your father, you aren't nothing like him." Rubbing off a tear, he looked at the redhead with new eyes. "At least your intelligence isn't limited to fighting like that battle maniac." His gloom returned with a vengeance as his eyes turned back to Fuyuki. "For the record I wasn't lying, I have had many, many, many children over the years."

It was clear from his tone Azazel wasn't bragging or anything similar, that he was building up to a point even if Shirou couldn't see it. So the Mage of Swords kept his silence, waiting for the Cadre to continue.

Took him a full minute before he did. "When I first Fell, it was like a rush that most humans could compare to drugs. Suddenly I was free from all restrictions and could do anything. Father no longer had any hold on me." The man had a grin that mixed nostalgia and true happiness. "So I did the first thing most guys do with that kind of freedom; got a girl."

"Was she-"

"She isn't remembered by anyone and for anyone else she was of no importance." He placed emphasis on the last word. "However, to me, she was the most important person in the world. A clever little thing that knew how to speak just right to get my blood boiling." His grin only grew bigger. "And I swear to you she was more beautiful than the stars themselves, such a unique person… How could I not fall in love with her?"

Azazel began to reminisce the first time he met his 'muse'. For a few moments he was there, landing in a forest, talking with a random traveler about one thing or another. His wings white as clouds as they could be. He watched how people carried vases of water from the river that was pretty far from their village.

Then he saw a woman, beautiful but not the kind of beauty that would tempt a true angel. He watched as the woman, instead of carrying the typical vase, was rolling what could only be described as a tree trunk with ropes. A crude barrel if nothing else, something unique enough that got him to approach.

He asked what it was and she replied it was a trunk, something she made to make getting water easier. That was a piece of ingenuity that was still too new in those times but it was clear the woman wasn't just pretty but clever.

At the time the pure angel didn't know why but he followed her home to see she had many children, even asking about the father. There was none for her father and the father of those children was a hunter and had passed, it was her older brother's duty to hunt while she took care of the rest.

Immediately she asked him if he was there to steal the water and Azazel had said no, finding amusing how she watched him with suspicion. Then she asked him to follow her and he wondered if it was a plea for help.

There was no such thing as the woman transported the water five more times before finishing her day, never once asking for his assistance. He ended up helping anyway on the third trip out of his own volition meanwhile asking why she never asked.

He fell when she said "I wanted you around in case you attacked my siblings because I didn't know if you were a good man."

In those times such a sentence was so bold that many could take offense from it, especially from a woman without a husband. It was her words and the resolve behind them that made Azazel wish they could be together forever.

'Unfortunately it wasn't to be, Kala.' The Cadre wasn't there when she died, he couldn't see her so weak. "My family- no, my first few children were so pure and pretty. I made sure war would never touch them. Time did the work instead." Azazel felt a pain on his chest he spent most of his life running from. "Finding ways to give even a single one of them eternal youth or immortality was something beyond my means at the time. Neither the Grigori was an organization big enough to try that nor I was smart enough to realize I needed it until it was far too late."

"I am sorry." Shirou was genuine in his sadness.

"Don't be… It was… Long ago." Too long in his opinion. "Some of them probably ended up in Heaven, others… they had too much of their old man." And they weren't the last. "After my first love died I moved on, not immediately but eventually."

Shame wasn't present in the Cadre's words at all, not even a speck of it. He loved a woman, gave her everything, but with how long his life was bound to be he was bound to try and find someone else.

But he never forgot his first. "I like to think they would have forgiven me."

"What about their descendants?" Shirou wanted to call them 'yours' but didn't want to depress the man anymore.

Chuckling slowly, Azazel shrugged. "Many died before their time over the Ages, nothing I could do. Some are still around but they don't know of me." He checked on them from time to time but he wasn't telling Shirou who they were. Better for them to stay far away from the moonlit world in the Cadre's opinion. "I didn't start any special bloodline or anything like that with her. Sure I made sure they were well off but none of my first children were ever famous."

"Have you ever talked with them? After your first family was gone?" Shirou knew in his place he would.

However Azazel shook his head. "Hard to explain how gramps didn't age after 100 years." His chuckle was bitter. "I kept an eye on them, like you guessed, I kept an eye on all of them." Then his face fell. "Many died before they could have children of their own, some made a name for themselves but for the most part the lineage of Azazel is in obscurity."

In the past such a sentence would make Azazel mad with rage or disappointment depending on where he was mentally at the time. Now no longer as he wasn't that fallen angel anymore and hadn't been for a while.

"You didn't need to tell me all this." It was little compared with how much Azazel lived by but to Shirou it was already too much.

Shaking his head, Azazel turned to regard Shirou fully. "This isn't about that apology. I was already planning to do it. That is why this conversation is private." The statement surprised the magus but Azazel returned his gaze to Fuyuki. "I have a request but before giving it to you I am going to give you leverage."

"What? Why?"

"Because for what I am going to ask, most magi would demand something similar. They would demand an advantage of some kind for us to work together." He watched as Shirou frowned, snickering. "Relax, I haven't given it to you yet. Just, lost myself in memories. You are a good listener and… I was already thinking about it because of the subject."

Shirou didn't need much anymore. "Your children, right? You want to- You don't need to tell me anything."

Azazel waved with his hand. "Just listen to the end, will you? Consider it a favor." Immediately Shirou closed his mouth, making the Cadre laugh. "You are a good kid." He was pensive. "Part of what I am going to tell you is to take some things off my mind. The other is to help Baraqiel."

"Akeno's father." Already Shirou wasn't liking that. "Look, I won't force her to do anything."

"I wasn't-"

"But I will listen." The Mage interrupted with a nod. "Sometimes it is good to take things off our chest. I doubt I am the first but still… I will listen if you want."

"Heh, my little therapist. Kinda wish we had one of those couches, you know the one, right?" Azazel frowned at the lack of response. This time Shirou had no intention of rushing him and would have the conversation at the Cadre's pace. "Well, when I said I had many children, I wasn't kidding. Hundreds of children over the last few centuries is a pretty good record even amongst the Grigori." No reaction. "You are no fun."

Shirou offered the man a sincere smile. "As your therapist I feel I should inform you that fun is subjective."

"Cheeky." Azazel was smiling as well. "Anyway, as a man who had thousands of children, how many of them were True Hybrids?" The question caught Shirou off guard and he started to think.

Math wasn't going to help him so he went with his gut. "Twenty?"

"Ha! Wrong." Azazel laughed a little but while Shirou frowned, he didn't take the bait. "I had plenty of human children who lived and died of old age. I had many fallen angel children, some who even had six wings upon birth." He raised a hand, a single finger up. "Just one True Hybrid. One son that was even more powerful than Vali, Divine Dividing be damned." He sounded proud, so proud it hurted both of them. "My boy was a force to be reckoned with, not a child of my first wife, oh no. He was born from 57th lover, many years after I had buried my first child. And he was strong and beautiful and so brave."

Despite his smile, Azazel's voice began to crack and Shirou could tell that the man just kept the mask on because devils were watching. He couldn't allow anyone else to see the Cadre shaken and the Mage didn't know if he could only tell because he earned some kind of trust or accidentally.

Still Azazel kept going. "My beautiful son, my beautiful Zera."

The name stuck as odd to Shirou. 'Isn't that 'seed' in Hebrew?' A page of a book written in a sword popped in his mind, confirming his thoughts.

"He was the last of my own sons I ever raised, so full of life." His hand was shaking, just slightly and once again Shirou wasn't sure if Azazel trusted him or was just emotional. "Always eager to learn, so happy and so smart and… He was going to be my successor, you know? Take care of the Grigori while I would be keeping up with my experiments for the sake of all fallen angels, 'because your head is always on the clouds, father', he used to say." His hand stopped shaking and his expression grew hard. "But a mistake had his life forfeit, a single mistake while dealing with one of the many Pantheons that were around on those days. I killed them all."

Cold, Shirou felt his chest grow thigh as a cold shiver ran all the way through his spine. 'He isn't joking… When he says he killed a Pantheon he doesn't mean just the gods but their followers and children and everyone.' He gulped, his throat dry. "You erased them."

"From every book and every wall." Azazel's words were like a blizzard. "They were small and we saw a chance to grow together but their gods were arrogant. I made sure their Head God was left alive long enough to watch the end of everything. He begged at the end." There was no joy in his words. "So much for pride."

"Do you regret it?" Shirou asked cautiously.

"Oh no, they killed my boy because of pride. Of course I don't regret it." His face said otherwise but the Mage stayed silent. "However I started to understand why Father held us back from making bonds, or at least the kind of bonds time could break." He looked at his hand and there was some blood as the Cadre was stopping himself from unleashing his power. "Unlike humans, we have no place to go after death. Maybe I can see Zera's mother if I go to Heaven but him… How could I ever tell her that our boy is completely gone." Clearly Azazel didn't plan to ever step into Heaven if he could help it. "He wasn't the first fallen angel I had but a True Hybrid so perhaps his Fate was different, but how can I tell so many women that their children could never know peace? How can I say the same to my brothers and sisters that also had children? How can allow violence keep going when there is nothing for those that die in it?"

"That is when you shifted your posture for peace. Why even at God's Death you wanted a ceasefire." Shirou didn't need confirmation, the emotions from the man were clear. "Looks like you understand human suffering better than most." That surprised Azazel but the Mage shook his head. "But once again, you didn't need to tell me all this." He also couldn't see how that counted as leverage.

And Azazel found that amusing. "Shirou, who said I am done?" His mood was still somber but the man sounded calm and his heart was light. "Thanks for listening to all the backstory anyway. It helped."

"Hey, I am your therapist." Both chuckled. "But perhaps you should get a real one."

"Nah, not in the mood." The man admitted. Then his face grew somber again. "I met Kiritsugu a few times before, hard fellow and too paranoid for my tastes."

'That is the old man alright.'

Yet when Azazel looked at Shirou his face carried a sadness that made him look similar to Michael. "Do him a favor; don't die before him." Wide eyes and open mouth were the only replies. "When a father buries a son… something goes with him from the land. Sure much of my heart broke when my first children died but when Zera did it was just much, much worse. There is just…" His hand slowly went to his heat. "Something is missing, something I always knew I had but never knew that it was there vanished. No matter how many I killed or saved, Zera never will be by my side ever again." For the first time he revealed on his face how much he was suffering. "Part of the father dies with a beloved son and to my shame I can never love any other more than I loved my Zera."

Perhaps it was because Zera was a True Hybrid, an existence that surpassed logic, that Azazel believed his son would outlive him. Perhaps it was because of how much time the Governor General had invested or how their relationship developed.

Or maybe he was just Azazel's favorite son.

Regardless, the mask returned quickly with a roguish grin that Shirou knew was 100% fake. "My sister-"

"We won't try to kill her but I think your father knows she made her choice… I just hope whoever stops her can do so nonlethally." Azazel commented with melancholy, enough so that Michael would be jealous. "Because a parent's vengeance from a lost child can destroy more than the man himself."

"I am sorry." Shirou said automatically, flinching at his own reaction. "I mean…"

"I know what you mean."

Still didn't stop Shirou from feeling bad. "Just… I wish I had met him."

Azazel smiled sadly. "I do too. Sometimes I wonder if he would be proud of the peace we are making or hate me for stopping fighting when we were about to win." It was one more thing he would never know about. "After him I couldn't raise any of my own children anymore, I just couldn't. I was so tired of losing them. But I couldn't stop making them either. Not even going to lie and say because we need to populate the Grigori, I just like having sex."

"You could use protection." There was neither humor nor bite on Shirou's tone. "Even the magical kind."

The fallen angel still found himself laughing. "Nah. It kills the pleasure, you know?" Shirou blushed and Azazel laughed more. "Ohoho, were she not a devil would you already have a kid?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Sure, maybe another day." Azazel wasn't in the mood to joke anymore. "Either way, everytime a fallen angel is born from my seed I take special care of them. Have them trained properly in magic, combat, strategy, and offer them a place on the Grigori if they want. Most of them accept it just to meet their hero, the 'great' Azazel." There was more than a little sarcasm. "Still I try to keep them as far away as I can from anything dangerous. I know that means sending the children of other people but I am biased. What can they do, complain? Nobody wants the job anyway."

Partially because every member of the Grigori admired Azazel in their own way and because those who could take the job knew exactly what the man had to deal with. Which has been going for thousands of years.

The only way Azazel would be leaving the job either if he did something really stupid or in a casket.

And he wasn't done. "Lo and behold I go around shuffling responsibilities, giving a chance here or there, prompting my children to grow with an unseen hand. Nepotism at its finest, I know." Azazel sighed depressedly. "Most of the time everything goes well, it isn't like I am making them diplomates or anything like that. Mostly they just take charge of outposts or keep an eye on people or places of interest." He stopped to study Shirou's face.

Quickly the redhead felt an expectation on that gaze, as if the Cadre was waiting for the pieces to fall in place. Shirou could tell that the whole conversation was leading somewhere but frowned because he didn't manage to figure out where it was going. His mind knew there was something he was forgetting.

Azazel then tilted his head a few times in the ORC's direction and the Mage turned to his friends. Only Rias, Akeno and Rin were really paying attention to the conversation even if they couldn't hear anything. Everybody else was either enjoying the food or just chatting.

When Shirou's eyes landed on Issei complaining about something with Kiba and the Knight nodding gently with a calming smile, it clicked. "No…" Like a punch in the gut.

"Yeap. Talk about leverage, right?" Azazel turned to look at the horizon again. "If you want to screw me over, just tell the Red Dragon Emperor that my daughter was the one who killed him. Bet he is going Juggernaut Drive on my ass?" Shirou was too shocked and the older man found it amusing. "No? Sounds like an easy bet."

"But she was just…" Shirou held his tongue, realizing how rude what he was about to say.

The black haired man got the message regardless. "Weak? Stupid? Nuts? Brainless enough to realize that killing the Red Dragon Emperor isn't a good idea since we could recruit him? All of the above?" His tone was flat and distant. He was being honest with his assessment. "Remember that I had hundreds of children? Yeah, not all of them are winners. Oh, I love them all in my own way but can't deny that I had more weaklings than not born from my loins." Azazel covered his face in embarrassment. "Sorry, sorry. Old dialect slipped there."

"I just… Raynare was your daughter?" Shirou couldn't even begin to comprehend what that meant. "So she was-"

"A run of the mill fallen angel. Had she not been my daughter then she wouldn't even be the leader of an outpost. It was supposed to be an easy job." The frustration and anger on the fallen angel's tone was clear as day. "Just be discreet and watch over a potential sacred gear user, that was it. I didn't order them to do anything else."

If the orders were properly followed then that would have been the gist of it; an easy job to keep an eye on an uninitiated human in 'friendly' devil territory. Friendly in the sense that the Heiresses wouldn't actively hunt the fallen angels down or even would look for them in the first place.

Even approaching Issei in the guise of becoming his girlfriend wouldn't be outlandish in any way, just a chance to watch him closely.

Still none of that was what happened. "And Raynare botched it, completely." Shirou concluded with a frown. "You do know…" He took a deep breath and stirred the pegasus in his soul. Bellerophon signaled he was ready and Bakuya could be traced in less than a second. "You know it was Rias who killed her, right?" Azazel wasn't surprised. "Right, you do." He wasn't going to describe what Akeno told him about the death.

"Considering how young Issei is, I doubt he had the stomach for it. Heck, I doubt he has it even now." Azazel looked at the Pawn discreetly. "I never tried to ask but… how is he, after that?" Shirou was confused until Azazel elaborated. "The worst wounds are those we can't see and dying is bound to have an effect. Trauma can be a powerful thing."

Something that Shirou understood but looking at Issei he was uncertain. "I… don't know? He doesn't talk about it and I am not one to pry." Nobody knew him well before the incident but Issei himself also didn't show any visible signs there was something wrong. In retrospect that was something he should have looked up deeper before focusing on the present. "But you aren't really angry about this?"

"I won't be looking for vengeance if that is what you are wondering. Raynare paid what was due after disobeying orders, attacking two innocents and throwing the Red Dragon Emperor on the devils' arms like a wrapped gift." Instead of being angry, Azazel sounded annoyed. "Sure we are allies now but that was a headache and a half when we first heard about it."

Studying the man's face, Shirou found himself unable to read him. "Just making sure here; you are not upset?"

Azazel took a deep breath and began to massage his neck while looking to the sky. "Upset? Yes, but not with Ise. He is a good kid and I barely knew Raynare anyway. To me she was like any other fallen angel." It was a lie and they both knew it. He was good at hiding his emotions but his similarities with the Magus Killer made him easy to read for the magus. "Raynare is the one I am mad at and just because she wasn't the only one dead." Lifting his hand he had three fingers up. "Dohnaseek, Kalawarna, Mittelt. They were not the best fallen angels, or the strongest, or even the most competent, but they were fallen angels. Three people died because my daughter wanted to, what, impress me?" An angry scoff escaped his lips. "At least Dohnaseek and Kalawarna should have known better, both Fell after Father's death and were good soldiers."

Taking all in, Shirou felt a wave of sadness. "I never knew their names, never even bothered." Dead for another's ambitions, that was the trio's Fate. "Wait, then Mittelt was also the daughter of a fallen angel?"

"Yes, she was. Her mother was once just an angel that Fell centuries ago. Luckily she took my example and kept her distance but was still upset for a while. Tsk, she kept asking me where she went wrong. Wish I knew."

Lamenting wasn't going to help either of them anyhow, their children were dead and Azazel was more experienced in burying his. So much so that he was pretty numb at the whole thing all together and the only reason he cared was because he cared about all fallen angels, no exceptions.

Still there were some he cared more than most and Shirou had the proof a few steps from them. "About Baraqiel, why make so much effort to ease Akeno to the idea of meeting him, or at least tolerate your presence." The redhead could see how Azazel's shoulders dropped. "You care about your kids, great. But do you care about Akeno because she is a True Hybrid? If you are trying to manipulate her into recruitmentent, I will stop you."

"Hehe, it is great that she has a friend like you. Baraqiel may not like a boy around his girl but you have my approval." While Shirou's eyebrow twitched, he avoided an over reaction. Giving Azazel anything now would be a mistake if his intentions were sinister. "I care because it is Baraqiel and she is his daughter. His only daughter."

"Wait, he Fell with you, right? Isn't that how History went? 'Azazel and the First Fallen'?" It wouldn't be the first time something was incorrect in History books.

However, that wasn't the case this time. "Oh yes, he was right after me when I showed everyone my black wings and announced that I laid with a woman." Azazel had a small smile. "But his case was different. Baraqiel wasn't like me or Kokabiel who Fell out of lust or like Penemue who Fell out of curiosity or other stuff. Hell no, Baraqiel Fell out of duty for his family."

"That… is noble." Shirou recognized with a sad expression. "And tragic. It was because of his duty that he had to leave his family behind, wasn't it? The reason why his wife died and his daughter became a devil."

"Pile the guilt even more, will you." And the Governor General felt every bit of it. "Perhaps it was the way he Fell that allowed Baraqiel to keep some of his Holy but things are how they are." From his tone it was possible to hear self loathing and depression. "When Father made us He gave some of us the ability to make a canvas with a certain element. Something akin to the Authority of a god."

Memories of Michael during the Treaty run wide in Shirou's mind. "Michael sometimes is portrayed with a sword of flames. His element is Holy Fire."

"Got it in one. That is what he used to cull the last opposition that day, his way to use Holy Energy at its full potential." Azazel shrugged. "Not like I ever had one. Father judged me as 'ideal to think and not fight'. Well, I suppose he was right but I wished I could do something cool with metal if anything." He would have lost it after his Fall anyway so there was not much complaint. "Baraqiel was Holy Lightning and even after he became a fallen angel he kept it. For years he was the person most dedicated to protect our race, a hero amongst fallen angels if there was any. No time for romance, no time for family other than the ones he already had, even when we started to make families of our own." At that point Azazel grew really depressed. "Then he met Shuri…"

"And the first child he had, was a True Hybrid. That… is impressive. Or extremely lucky." Shirou couldn't even phantom the odds of that happening. "And she also inherited his affinity for Lightning- no, if what Kokabiel said was true-"

"She completely inherited his Light and Holy Lightning. A True Hybrid, much like Vali; all the benefits, no weaknesses." Except she was a devil but neither dared to say it. "Anyway, I feel I own Baraqiel more than just trying to get him together with his daughter but that is all he wants. Nothing else."

"You didn't need to tell me all this." Even Shirou could tell that this conversation had gone completely off track. "I get why you told me about Raynare- no, wait, I don't. Why are you trying to give me some sort of leverage?" Azazel began to smile, a gentle smile that worried the Mage. "What exactly do you want?"

"Finally we can get to more fun stuff." Azazel glided to the magus' side and embraced Shirou's neck. "I want you to be my partner."

"Your… partner?"

"Yeah, my lab partner. After all, us fellow scientists need to stick together."

"I am not… Look, it is fine to see magecraft as a science, I can agree with it, despite how many on the Clocktower will want my hide. But I am a blacksmith anyway, no more no less." Shirou felt a tug on his neck and quickly grabbed his necklace, glaring at Azazel who chuckled. "Don't you dare."

Azazel took a step back and raised his arms in surrender. "I don't care about the Medusa's Gift, only what you accomplish with it." He waved at Shirou. "Or how you managed to make a sacred gear like thing with improvised metal, the blessing of a random goddess and the power of a pegasus. That looks very similar," he revealed his Down Fall Dragon Spear, "to my own work. Won't you agree." He played with his weapon a little, letting the Mage examine it with intrigue. "Come on, don't tell me you aren't even a bit curious how I did it. How it compares with your own work."

"But it isn't the same, Bellerophon isn't tied to my armor or necklace." Azazel raised an eyebrow. "He is in my Reality Marble. Medusa's Gift just helps me to modify and strengthen my armor, making the process easier." Shirou held his hand on his chest and jewel. "But my friend is in my soul. Not an object."

"Well, well, well. That makes things more interesting." The Cadre played with his weapon some more. "But it doesn't change the fact that you managed to make an extremely malleable metal and used Medusa's Gift to bridge the gap between your soul and it. It speaks of your skill." Azazel pointed his weapon at Shirou. "I really want to study it in a lab, to see the process of creation, to improve on it."

"Alchemy and mixing metals. Nothing really special."

"Bullshit and you know." Azazel called off with a smile. "You used Reinforcement on it- yes, I asked your mother. She was all praises for your work."

Shirou saw no choice but to relent. "Fine, I added Reinforcement, Chemistry and my own smithing knowledge on it. Either way the metal is too big… Just too big." He Traced his bow and threw it to the fallen angel who grabbed it eagerly. "There are dozens of metals mixed there; from common steel to titanium. All was melted, mixed with Alchemy and then forged from a blob that took me hours of hammering into a proper armor. If you melt it again, the properties are lost and you have to start over." The Mage of Swords tapped his head. "My bow only exists because I have the formula ingrained in my mind and managed to create a good enough image in my head to Trace it in the first place."

"To shoot swords, right? Blunt but clever." Azazel positioned himself and pulled the string, feeling how heavy the bow really was. Then he made an arrow of Light, noticing how the bow wasn't damaged and easily adapted to it. "Still want to work with this metal some more. By the way, what is its name? We have been calling it just 'metal' but it is much more than that."

"I never gave it a name."

"For real?"

"It is unnecessary since it can only be made into armor. If that much" Turning his head a little, Shirou grumbled. "Not that anyone is going to use them because they are not stylish enough."

"Don't be like that, any good creation needs a name. Something catchy that when they hear everyone thinks; that is so cool." Azazel moved his hands around like a true showman. "Not having a name for something so revolutionary is also a waste."

"Like I said, while the metal is good, it is also stubborn. I can barely do anything with it." After many attempts, Shirou accepted that only with Alteration and the image on his mind he was able to affect it. "Besides, what else would you use it for if not armor? Certainly not weapons, sharpening it is close to impossible without breaking it."

"We won't know until we try and that is what I am offering." He extended his hand with a grin. "Let me help you develop it, maybe even combine it with my Divinium and see if we can perfect them."

"Divi- Is that what you call the metal for your sacred gears?" Shirou asked with a flat look. "You just meshed words together."

"But it is catchy and people will remember it."

Shirou turned around, brushing the notion off. "No, they won't. Most likely they will remember the thing, not what it was made of."

Azazel chased him, making sure they were face to face. "Hey, don't be mean. Are you really going to say you aren't curious what your metal can do if we work together. Show some curiosity, man." As Shirou didn't look impressed, the fallen angel let out a sigh. "Perhaps you really aren't a scientist, just a utilitarian smith."

Letting out a sigh of his own, Shirou scratched his neck. "Look, while I wouldn't mind expanding the possibilities, I won't give you the recipe." He gave Azazel a hard look. "We barely know each other and I don't know what you could do with it."

"That is why we should be partners, I even gave you some leverage on me."

"I would just be a lab assistant and not much else." Shirou shrugged to show he didn't mind about it. "Maybe we can talk more about it once I return from the Underworld."

"No problem, I am going there as well. Remember? That was part of the Treaty." Azazel was going to have his own lab and help with the development of younger sacred gear users.

Shirou still shook his head. "I am not going for work but on a vacation." Rias would skin him alive if worked too much.

"It is your girlfriend, isn't it? She has plans." The silence was telling and Azazel chuckled. "Unfortunately they won't happen as she wants. Her and a bunch of noble kids are going to be busy."

"You know what they are planning?" Shirou was genuinely curious.

But it was for not as Azazel waved his hand. "Nope, not telling. All I can say is that odds are that she and her peerage are gonna be busy."

"Why?" He honestly couldn't see why Rias would give up her plans for a relaxing vacation.

"Power." Until Azazel said that and Shirou couldn't help himself but facepalm.

"Of course. Goddamned." Not only did his lover still have obligations, Shirou knew she would look for any chance of getting power for him and her family. "God fucking damned, it is a fight of some kind?"

"Maybe~"

A red eyebrow twitched. "Are they in any danger?"

"Only in reputation." Azazel smiled. "And you can't tell her even if I tell you. Sirzechs is going to be quite angry if we spill the beans."

Massaging the bridge of his nose, Shirou changed tracks. "So while she is… what, training?"

"There will be training, yes. And I will be helping Akeno if she wants." He then smiled. "Or we will, if you accept working with me."

Manipulation wasn't something that Azazel was against doing, especially when it was in benefit for both parties. His words also assured that Akeno would be around him and would need Shirou's help, cornering the magus into accepting if not to keep an eye on his friend and make sure the Cadre didn't overstep.

Yet he had his own responsibilities. "What about Medusa? I am her bodyguard."

"Her Champion." Azazel threw the title and Shirou had to concede he was correct. "Don't worry, she will be treated as VIP by anyone in the Grigori. Nobody is messing with her and if they do then you can do whatever you feel necessary." Surprised, Shirou couldn't reply as the Cadre chuckled. "I am confident that there won't be any issues. We can also get her whatever she wants and you guys will have time to explore the Underworld, at least Gremory Territory. That is where my lab will be."

It was obvious Azazel was getting to Shirou as the young man had a pensive expression, debating the pros and cons of taking the offer. "If we are doing this, I have no idea where to start."

"Forgot who I am? The Angel of War? First Weapon Creator? I got your back." Azazel joked with a gentle smile. "Besides, I have a couple of ideas and that rune teacher I wanted to introduce to you." Then he shrugged dramatically. "Look, if Rias decides to just have a normal vacation, we can work together later. But she won't and this is something to not grow bored while your friends are doing stuff."

"I could spend time with her family." He flinched as the Cadre laughed. "Yeah… without her that would be trouble, won't it?"

"Even if they love you anyway, they will want details. All details." Shirou shivered and the older man knew he had him. "Ready to deal with the in-laws? Without Rias to have your back?"

"No, I am not." HIs mother was already too much sometimes and just imagining her showing up too made him shiver in legit fear. "Definitely not." He let out a sigh in surrender, much to the fallen angel's satisfaction. "Fine, I shall be counting on your expertise." Shirou extended his hand and Azazel didn't hesitate to take it.

"Won't disappoint." The fallen angel said confidently. "And don't worry about what they will ask Rias to do. If what Sirzechs told me is right, they wouldn't dare to take her freedom after what she did to her ex-groom." Both chuckle at that, their conversation done. Shirou was about to undo the boundary field when Azazel grabbed his shoulder. "Out of curiosity, that… combination with Bellerophon? Did you give it a name, at least?"

"Actually I did." Shirou was proud of that fact and the surprise in Azazel's face was satisfying.

So was his curiosity. "So… don't leave me hanging him. What do you call that transformation? Or are you going with 'Balance Breaker'?" Because if he was then Azazel would never let it go.

Confidently, and with an expression much similar to a proud Rias, Shirou beat his chest with a closed fist. "I call it Ascension."

"'Ascension'?" Azazel let the word roll on his tongue with a flat stare. "Really? That is really simple and a little arrogant-"

"I don't want to hear that from you mister 'Down Fall Dragon Spear'." Shirou said back while pointing at the fallen angel's face.

"Hey! My name sense is great. And what about 'Ascension' that is so great? You are basically saying you are elevating yourself with that transformation."

"It is because it is simple that it fits perfectly. Also your name is too long and complicated. Even God's name scheme was better, at least He only used two words."

"Ohohoho~ You have no idea how messed up Father's naming sense could be. Most of the time He was too direct. Like you! Your name lacks flair!"

"And yours makes no sense! You use just the head of the spear! Where is the body? Did you forget to make it? Or calling it a dagger had no flair?!"

"Okay… that hurts." He legitimately looked hurt.

That made Shirou immediately feel bad. "Yeah, I went too far. It is your weapon and it is a great weapon."

"No, no. You are right… I was planning to make the body but a sphere in the back of a spear ruins its balance." Both paused and then began to laugh. They laughed for a few minutes before Azazel calmed down first. "Why Ascension though?"

Chuckling a little, Shirou turned to Fuyuki in the horizon. "It fits. When I am using that power, calling for Bellerophon," Bakuya was Traced in all his glory as he raised it to the sun, "it isn't just me, it is him too. His power, his courage, his will telling me to keep going. Assuring me that we are fighting together." The pegasus voiced his approval as the Noble Phantasm vanished. "It can only be called an Ascension because with Bellerophon by my side I can go beyond my wildest dreams. Together, we break through all limits."

Blinking four times in quick succession before replying, Azazel's next words came with a touch of amusement and a chuckle. "Well, I suppose that teamwork makes the dream work." He acknowledged, thinking of his own relationship with Fafnir. "But having a Divine creature with you had to be a boon in some way."

"Actually we prefer the term Phantasmal Beast, or Divine Beast.." Shirou commented and Azazel blinked. "From the writings of Solomon. Mom unlocked the last few books for me since you spilled in the meeting that he and others made sure we were informed about the World of Gaia." That brought out a frown. "Still she only unlocked Solomon's, and God's by default, writings. Any reason for that?"

"Dangerous knowledge is dangerous knowledge, regardless of the intentions." Azazel joked freely. "But still, that seems correct as Bellerophon exists as a Phantasmal in you and the term isn't used anyway. Only fair for you to use it…" A chuckle and a shake of his head showed he was more amused than before. "Phantasmal Beast, Noble Phantasm, lots of 'phantasms' there."

Shirou shrugged, "It is what Bellerophon wants." His expression turned serious again. "Who are the other three, if you are counting God and Solomon as one?"

"Gilgamesh was the first since he was there when the seal was made. His writings were about the original system of summoning Heroic Spirits and the potential of Noble Phantasms." Azazel divulged, much to the redhead's surprise who expected some resistance. "Solomon, with Father's guidance, wrote of the many kinds of Phantasmal existences while also guiding the path to Magecraft through his descendants and the Pact with the 72 Pillars." He poked Shirou's chest. "While Solomon's main line is death, killed by those who feared their knowledge, all magi share his blood; including you and anyone with magic circuits. Surpassing Gengis Khan, he holds the record of most living descendants that can be traced back to him, even if most people don't know that. Bastard served Father but had the biggest harem on the planet."

"What the hell?" If the plan was to unbalance Shirou, it worked flawlessly. "What the hell?"

"Hey, magic circuits needed to be transmitted in some way. Solomon created them and all his line possesses it. Some are better than others because of the mothers' potential and time but that was how he did. No complicated ritual, just a lot of banging."

Considering how many magi existed in the modern world, and the math of how many women a man had to sleep with to get that far, Shirou was still processing. "What the hell?"

"Not joking either. Solomon will forever hold my respect; great magician, if a bit of an oddball, relaxed whenever he could be and not interested in power at all, despite his position as King and direct Envoy of God." Azazel laughed a little. "How he convinced Father to let him have so many wives I will never know."

Massaging the bridge of his nose, Shirou wanted the conversation to end that instant. "And the other two."

"Knowledge can be dangerous so I am not telling." Azazel grinned at the glare he received. "Look, I will give you a tip; one of them is from around this side of the globe, the other is a woman."

"That doesn't narrow it down at all." Pats on the back were the reply.

"Can't give everything away, you may stumble onto something that could place you in danger… more danger than a Reality Marble, believe me." Still Azazel was cheerful and patted the Mage's back again. "Either way, Solomon wasn't called King of Mages for nothing and much of what he left behind is the base that makes our world today. Be proud of your ancestor and try to follow his steps." The fallen angel began to leave. "See you around, Shirou. Can't wait for us to start working together."

"Was everything you told me true?" Shirou really wished he had Traced Truthbearer for this.

Turning his head back, Azazel smiled. "Just lied about numbers." He was gone before the redhead could ask what he meant.

Feeling exhausted after all that conversation, Shirou undid the boundary field and silently moved towards his friends who were watching him witn concerned faces.

"What happened?" Rias asked immediately as Shirou sat down.

"Azazel asked me to be his lab partner."

""What?!"" Both Rin and Luvia jumped in shock.

"Yeah, he wants to work with my metal and," Shirou turned to Rias, "he wants to do it on the Underworld while you work with your family in something."

"Huh. The boldness of that man." Rias commented with a pout. "He thinks anything my Clan is planning is going to keep me away from you? He can forget that. We are going to enjoy our vacation together."

"Apparently if it doesn't he has no problem in waiting until we get back to start working together but he was confident." His lover became pensive while Xenovia passed his bento.

"Master, I have successfully defended it against Koneko's advances." The Rook pouted but didn't disagree. She wasn't going to eat everything, just wanted a small bite.

"Was that all?" Akeno surprised everyone by asking. "He didn't ask for anything else." Fear and anxiety tormented her far more than she would ever admit.

Elaborating on all their conversation wasn't something Shirou wanted to do. "Most of it was personal stuff but don't worry. I got his assurance he isn't going to mess with you." He offered her a comforting smile which she returned. Then his expression became troubled. "I also need to talk to Medusa about our arrangement in the Underworld." He took a bite of his food.

Rias shook her head. "No need to worry about it. I bet whatever my Clan has to do isn't important at all."

Shirou was about to say something only for the signal to announce the end of lunchtime. "That was fast."

"Hahaha, you two were talking too much." Issei pointed out, making the redhead blink in realization. "Come on, Asia. We still have a test to do."

Realizing he also had exams, Shirou began to shove food in his mouth quickly as Xenovia offered him a cup of tea so nothing got stuck where it shouldn't.

Meanwhile everybody got up to leave, Rin shook her head in incredulity. "First Rias, now the Governor General. I swear Shirou, you get the best kinds of jobs."

"Maybe it's because swords are better than jewels." Xenovia commented to the side, almost making the Mage of Swords choke from laughing. "Cheaper too."

Taking it in stride, even if gritting her teeth, Rin's competitive spirit had awakened. "Listen here Emiya; someday I am going to make something so spectacular that it will be recognized by the gods themselves, just wait for it."

"Isn't Shero recognized by one goddess already? Far too late for that, Poor Head." Despite also being a jewelcraft user, Luvia just couldn't let Rin have anything.

"Don't want to hear that from you, Drill Head." Foreheads collided as everyone else began to make their way back to the stairs.

Wondering even more what her family was planning, Rias turned to Shirou again. "Did he give out any hints about what is going to happen in the Underworld?"

Munching his food, Shirou replied only when he was done. "Nothing concrete. Sorry."

"It is fine." She then smiled. "Can't wait for you to explain to Medusa that you will have to spend time with the fallen angels. Not that I think she will mind since Michael is the one she will be worried about."

"They still are family, right, Buchou?" Koneko asked with a grin, taking over Akeno's usual teasing duty. Shirou would blame Yoruichi influence since they still called each other frequently.

Either way the Mage of Swords had a plan. "If nothing else, next weekend is the best one to have that talk."

…..

Promises were things that everyone on the ORC took seriously and most of them, if not all, had promised a certain goddess something and since they would be spending their summer break in the Underworld than that weekend after the exams was the best time to keep it.

Fuyuki didn't have many beaches but the ones it had were beautiful and one of its best tourism spots. "Haaaaa, how I love the wind." Iri commented as she stepped out of the van with a long white shirt, a giant hat with sunglasses. She quickly held her hat as the ocean breeze welcomed them. "It just smells right."

"Of course it does. It is the sea." Medusa commented as Shirou helped her step off the van. She took a few steps to stand in front of the vehicle, a white summer dress covering the same swimsuit she used that day in the pool.

But her whole demeanor was different as her eyes were filled with nostalgia and her step had a spring that threatened to take her straight to the water even as her company still left the van or collected their stuff.

"Where are the umbrellas?" Called Shirou in question only to see Liz carrying every single one of them. "Oh no, you should be resting."

"But I am better-"

"You just recovered." Rias added, a red shirt and small shorts covered her bathing suit. "Here, give me one."

"Me too." Koneko was already sizing the others as the maid was impeded from doing her job as everyone else began to pick towels, umbrellas and picnic baskets from the van.

In the end Liz was left with nothing to do and pouted only for Iri to approach with a gentle smile. "Everyone is just looking over you."

"But I am better."

"Doesn't matter." Akeno shared Rias' look with similar clothes but the addition of a straw hat. "You stayed in bed for ten days, nobody is going to risk your recovery for anything."

"That's right, sensei. Leave this to us." Issei was carrying one of the baskets, two umbrellas and a towel, taking Asia's loan. The former nun carried the basked with a smile, both with red shirts and smiles. "Just sit down, relax, get some sun."

"It wouldn't be good for her skin." The only person not sharing the good mood was Maya as she left the van dressed in all black, sunglasses and a scowl. "At least the beach is empty, for now." She threw Rias a glare. "We could have come here on a weekday."

"We had school-"

"Irrelevant. Absolutely irrelevant. Beaches are too open, have no security points and no way to stop strangers from entering. Just because it is empty, there may be something dangerous under the sands."

"Come on, aunt Maya, relax a little." Shirou could see his suggestion wasn't welcome and shifted gears, collecting an umbrella and a towel before turning to Medusa. "Want to go swimming now?" The glee on the goddess' face made her childlike form more endearing.

Kiba took the lead. "Last one in the water is a rotten egg." He charged at a steady pace to give everyone a chance to catch up.

While some of the devils, Xenovia, who had a new set of clothes including a new all green swimsuit, and Setsuna followed his lead, Rias just watched with a smile as her peerage had fun. "Aren't you girls going to join?" She asked, turning to Rin and Luvia who weren't competing for a change.

"I prefer to do things at my time, buchou." Luvia was fixing her blue light dress and glasses with a smile. "Besides-"

"Nope, not today." Rin interrupted before her rival could start anything.

"That is right, nee-san." Sakura jumped out of the van with a grin, a purple summer dress. "Today we are here just to relax. No work," she looked at the Colored Rivals with suspicion, "and no fights."

Those still present smiled. "Are you sure you don't want to join my peerage, Sakura? I would love to have someone around to keep those two in check at work."

"Yes, yes, joke all you want." Rin just picked her stuff and held her sister's hand even as Rias just smiled. It wasn't a joke if Sakura didn't want it to be.

But the youngest Tohsaka just shook her head. "Someone needs to keep Rin sane in the house." The sisters began to walk towards the beach at a sedate pace.

"Fufufu. Really a lot of sibling love." Akeno found the event a great distraction from her own thoughts. "Don't think about it, Luvia." Because everybody could see the blonde Rook was about to say something. "I have Buchou's permission to pull you by the ear if you start anything."

"I wasn't." She said with a pout before jumping to Shirou's side. "Just was going to ask Shero here to join me close to the water."

"Unfortunately today I am under the whims of another." He turned to Medusa who was transfixed by the sea. "What do you want to do?"

Surprised but happy, Medusa looked more shy than ever before in her life. "Can we… Can we go looking for seashells?"

With a chuckle Shirou bowed. "Lead the way, my goddess."

As soon as the two left, most of the remaining girls pouted but Iri and Maya smiled. "Well played." Said the Left Hand of the Magus Killer with respect as Shirou just dodged having to deal with the girls for the next few hours.

"Aww~ aren't they cute together?" However, that didn't stop Iri from getting some work done. "Almost like-"

That was the moment Maya revealed why Kiritsugu sent her with his wife. "Come on, we have to finish settling this stuff before the beach gets full." She grabbed the white haired woman and didn't give her a chance to finish.

"Wait! Hold on, Maya! We have much to discuss!" It fell on deaf as the white haired woman had no conditions of fighting back.

Which also made those behind giggle and smile. "So, Liz, where do you want to settle down?" Akeno asked and the maid pouted.

"I said I am better."

"Don't care." Koneko commented, just behind her friend and ready to help with anything.

"Besides, with this much sun, most of us are going to take a nap soon enough." Rias admitted, embracing the woman from the side. "Care to join us?"

From that perspective, it didn't sound so bad. "Sure."

"A long day at the beach. Just what the doctor recommended." Rias added as they began to walk. She still could see Leysritt wanted to do more but with Akeno and Koneko at her back, there was no escape. "Enjoy. Go swim later if you want. Or just walk. Maybe fish something?"

"Food there." Koneko pointed to some sellers with carts already up and running, both focusing exclusively on them.

"Or that…" Rias managed to recover as Akeno giggled. The two white haired women marched for the food and she let out a small laugh. "They do remember we brought food, right?"

"Oh, they do." King and Queen looked at each other before giggling again. "Going for a swim?" The raven haired girl asked as the redhead began to walk.

Turning towards her best friend, Rias offered an excited smile. "Of course. Can't get to the sea where we are going." She turned to the water where her friends were having fun and began to work. "Hey! Anyone wants to play volley later?!"

Plenty offered their affirmatives in lots of ways while Akeno shook her head. While the Queen was happy that everyone else was having their fun, difficult thoughts were running around her mind. She just couldn't help herself but dread what was to come as events caught up with them.

All reminded her that this day of fun was a small reprieve and that soon they would be in the Underworld doing whatever was necessary for the Gremory. Of course Rias wasn't going to let it be anything bad for them but still the Queen worried.

Akeno worried because she was well aware how much her King had pushed already, worried for what kind of job it would be that involved the Heiresses of two Pillars.

Worried how much she would have to tolerate Azazel and the fallen angels.

Because that was all that ran across Akeno's mind despite Shirou and Rias reassuring her that nothing was going to happen. She didn't trust the Governor General, knew he was sly and had some sort of trick to endear himself to everyone. And that Shirou, kind and gentle, was marching right towards his hands.

So with a dark look, she swore, 'I won't let him break my family apart again.' Akeno kept it in the recess of her mind, all smiles as she walked to the water. 'Whatever you are planning, Azazel, I won't let you ruin anything!'

All she could see was a trap of some sort, a plan of some sort, that Azazel could only have nefarious reasons to gain something. She didn't even see herself as important and only that Shirou had to be his target somehow.

'You want his metal? Maybe. But you may also want his life, his Reality Marble. I won't allow you to take any.' Akeno's expression grew darker for a second before she erased it, looking around to make sure nobody noticed. None did, all too busy just happy to finally come to the beach. 'I need to be careful. Fallen angels are allies now. Just need to play it safe.' She took a deep breath, her smile returning. "Besides, we are going to be in the Underworld and Rias will refuse anything that would compromise us. Everything is going to be fine.'

She kept telling herself that as she left the sea, deciding to not risk her friends seeing her emotions which were bubbling, almost exploding.

Taking off a towel she spread it in the sand before opening up her own umbrella. Already the combination of shadow and ocean gave her an excellent spot to lay down and sleep. A relaxing nap while they were still in Fuyuki, just having fun despite the fact her mind didn't stop, couldn't stop.

It didn't matter that Azazel was trying to make amends, it didn't matter that the Grigori were keeping their word and working together with the devils and the Church. Old fears crept up again and every day was a little harder to keep her composure as memories she didn't want kept coming back.

A loving father who abandoned her, a mother that died protecting her, days of hunger before being found and saved. Luck or Fate, Akeno didn't know what helped her, only that she needed that help in the first place and while she hated her past, she feared it more.

Fear that threatened to consume her completely.

Unlike Kiba, she knew how to keep her emotions in check, if just to not worry the others. She didn't want vengeance, she didn't want death, blood, she just wanted her past to leave her alone.

Himejima Akeno just wanted to stop that Light in her from growing even if it was always there, ever stronger no matter how much demonic energy she threw to suffocate it.

'Wings, wings, darker than night~ no bad news but to sleep tight~' A lullaby began to play in her mind, her mother's favorite and opening a folding chair, she began to relax. 'It doesn't matter what they want. I won't let them ruin my life ever again.'

Already she had decided that her past didn't matter, if Akeno could keep the fallen angels away from her friends, she would be all too happy.

…..

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