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.

25. Chapter 25

Fate/Bonds Beyond Humanity

…..

25- A Pervert's Way Of Life

…..

The day started well for Hyoudou Issei, it surely won't end well and he knows it. It began normally enough, he woke up, said 'good morning' to his parents, ate and rushed to school as he took too much time to finish his food.

Classes were normal for the most part, almost nothing interesting happened and since Issei is not a big fan of school most of it felt like an absolute bore for the teenager. Except for one class with his favorite teacher who acted as flamboyant as her usual self, something that usually always amuse everyone, for good or for ill.

Fujimura Taiga quickly became one of the favorite teachers for most of Kuoh's students. After one year teaching Literature and getting used to her new environment, the woman got comfortable enough to help the students with anything they needed. Add to the fact she is a beautiful and confident woman and many students agree with Issei in calling the Tiger of Fuyuki their favorite teacher.

That and the fact that saying her nickname was enough to make her riled up to make class more interesting was another point in her favor. She never punishes people for it and the students didn't abuse the title either, calling her Tiger only once per week in the different classes.

Before the end of the classes for the day, Issei had class with his favorite teacher and left in a good mood with his two best friends; Matsuda and Motohama.

The Perverted Trio as they are called is mostly inseparable and have no fear of acting when the opportunity to look at their favorite thing in the world comes calling; the wonders of women's bodies. They love the feminine form more than anything and all share their dreams with each other of having their ideal girl or having harems, especially in Issei's case who wants to be a Harem King.

Today one of Issei's friends revealed a discovery, that he managed to stumble into something that they considered a miracle; a peeping hole at the side of the kendo club's building that showed the girl's dressing room.

With their new discovery, the trio raced to take a look right before the club activities could begin properly, when the girls would trade from their school uniforms for the proper clothing for kendo.

There was only one hole for the three of them but it was entirely possible for two people to use it at the same time and as the man who discovered the hole, Matsuda got priority with Issei and Motohama needing to decide who would get to see it...Motohama decided to just make Issei trip with a leg and fall before running towards the club, the brown haired student rushing behind but getting there too late.

As the hopeful Harem King arrived after recovering from his fall, something that he forgives his friend easily since he considered doing the same, Issei still ended up waiting for his two companions to finish their turn before he could get his.

After some complaining, he did. Issei positioned himself for his first peek only to be met with a honey colored eye that was looking back, clearly angered.

What followed next was a scream and a chase as the girls of the kendo club moved to swiftly punish the peeping tom. Those already clothed moved with a vengeance and none of the Perverted Trio wanted to risk it so they immediately started running.

Issei was at the back as the kendo club began their pursuit, his friends were in better positions than him at the beginning of their race for survival as kendo swords and sticks got closer to them. None of the three perverts an athlete when compared to the girls that practice swords every day and it was clear that sooner or later they would catch them.

Luck also wasn't on the brown haired young man's side as he slips on his own feet and falls down to the ground. A hand extends to ask his friends for assistance, to get their help in his time of need as an armed battalion approaches with an aura of anger surrounding them.

The two runners saluted their friend, shouting how they are grateful for his unwilling sacrifice as Issei was left on the ground to fend for himself as the other two kept running.

Issei took a second to watch his friends leave, another to shout at their betrayal before moving his hands to cover his head and closing his legs to cover his more intimate parts. The women of the kendo club were not planning to show any mercy and he knew that.

That is how Issei ended up being attacked by a group of furious girls, his back and arms are hurting but he can safely say that his day ended bad but it could have been many times worse. It still can get worse if his attackers don't grow tired soon and he lets his guard down but this is the best situation he hoped to get.

"What is going on here?" Until a voice snapped him from the darkness, a familiar voice of a friend.

"Issei! Help!" Issei shouds and a young man with neat black hair and glasses steps forward only to be intercepted by one of the captains of the club.

"Ryuudou, I need you to walk away from this. He isn't worth it." One of the captains of the kendo club and a beautiful face, brown hair in two ponytails, Katase, calmly tells the newly arrived student.

"I can't let you just beat someone in the middle of the day." Ryuudou points out while other students watch as almost the whole kendo club turns to him with anger in their eyes. "Care to explain why you are doing this?"

"He was spying on us!" Another girl says and the diligent student frowned.

"Yes!" "He and those two friends of his!" "He was the only one we managed to catch!"

Ryuudou listens to their complaints, letting them speak their minds and tell him the situation while letting out their grievances with a grim face, nodding everytime someone manages to add to the conversation without being redundant.

Thus when the girls were done he turned his head to the young man still on the ground that still looked at him with hope. "Did you really peek inside the girls' locker room?"

"Yes." Issei admits with a little shame, especially when the black haired Issei shook his head in disappointment. "But I saw nothing!" He said fast in his defense.

"Liar!" Katase declares with a glare and pushes her sword on the downed boy's nose, making him flinch. "I saw the glint of an eye before I looked! You must be there for a long time, your bastard!"

Looking back at the fallen young man, the diligent student lowers himself with one knee and asks a question with his most serious face. "Ise, can you be honest with me?" Without hesitation, the brown haired young man nods. "Did you really take a peek using... a small hole to the side of the kendo club?" He questions using the information from the girls themselves.

"Yes, I did." The admission of guilt only made some of the girls inch closer to punish him more but the other Issei raised a hand.

"And did you manage to see anything from the girls besides an eye?" The question surprised all the girls and the little audience that builded because of the excess of students with weapons around. "Don't lie to me Issei."

Funnily enough for both students named 'Issei' both knew that the diligent one didn't need to say that. "No. I just saw an eye and then we had to start running."

"Liar!" Another of the kendo practitioners raises a shinai, ready to deliver more punishment.

The downward swing goes for the Issei on the floor but the black haired Issei moves quickly and intercepts the wood sword with a hand rather easily. "While I don't approve of what was done and you all have the right to be upset, violence is not the proper answer." He pushes the sword away.

"But he-"

"Then call a teacher!" Ryuudou raises his voice and fixes his glasses. "Or call one of the members of the student council! Or would any of you believe that Kaichou would do nothing about this?" Some of the girls of the kendo club lower their heads while others keep glaring, now at the black haired Issei. But he isn't intimidated. "With what authority can you beat down a student?"

"What?" Ryuudou didn't care who replied, only that he was heard.

"If you had just caught him, or even just taken a picture of him and his accomplices and showed it to the teacher, do you think they would be left unpunished? Now what we have is someone that is claiming to have seen nothing and you are all beating him up black and blue." Issei explained slowly to make sure they could understand what he was implying. When the most furious of the girls didn't, he continued with a sigh. "Do you have any proof?"

"What?" Katase takes a step closer. "What proof? He admitted to having peeked through the hole."

"Yes, after you had beaten him up." Issei's words had the girl mute. "You all also beat the wrong guy. He said he saw nothing."

Murayama steps forward to stand by her best friend. "He was just lying after! Trying to save his own ass!"

Ryuudou just sighs again. "I have known him for a year and believe me when I say this; if he does something, or wants something, even if everyone else is going to disapprove or disagree, he will still shout out proudly that he wants it anyway." Looking back to the fallen student he points to Katase. "If you could see her naked right now would you?"

The question surprises everyone but Hyoudou answers immediately. "Yes! She has nice proportions and a great pair of breasts." He shamelessly and proudly stated, making Katase blush with the admission with some embarrassment and rage mixed and confusing her emotions.

The black haired Issei follows up with, "And where have you seen that combination exactly?"

"I had swimming classes with her a couple of months ago." Admits the brown haired Issei. "She fitted the one piece perfectly and is one of the most beautiful girls of our class without a doubt."

The girl in question is just blushing more, exactly what the more diligent Issei wanted. "And have you seen her in similar conditions since?"

"No. I didn't-"

"But Matsuda and Motohama did." One Issei interrupts the other but the only one the present listened too was the black haired one. "They are the clear culprits in this situation as Hyoudou Issei here is too proud of his perversion to lie." The brown haired one wanted to protest but he could practically see the cogs spinning on the kendo club members minds. "So, shouldn't you be pursuing the clearly guilty ones to deliver them to justice?"

"After them!" "I'm gonna make them pay!" "They have run off!" "Split up! Search the area!"

Declarations are followed with actions as a dozen girls with shinais start to split up to find the new targets for their anger. The spectators watch in admiration and some even point them the right way while both young men named Issei look at each other. "That was kind of a dick move you know?"

Raising an eyebrow and offering a hand, Ryuudou offers his own question. "Ignoring the crass language; was it still a better move than abandoning a friend?" He waited for the pervert to grab his hand and when he did, Ryuudou continued. "You are better than this Ise."

"Better than what? Getting into the fetal position?" Ise questions as cleaning his uniform from the dust. "Best way to protect the body vitals and give people a smaller target."

"Not that." Issei says with disappointment. "Peeking in the locker rooms? Really? Couldn't you see nothing wrong with that?"

"Look, Matsuda-" Ise immediately shuts up but Ryuudou already got the context.

"He was the one that found the hole and instead of doing the right thing and telling a teacher or someone to close it, you three decided to use it." It is clear the disappointment in Issei's voice. "You know...if you had said that you did peek, I would have left you to the lions."

Hyoudou Issei massages his arm a little. "I just want to take a look, you know."

Instead of reprimanding him, his friend nods. "And that is why there are porn magazines and those kinds of images on the internet. The people there are paid for it." Issei starts to walk and Ise follows behind. "Our colleagues are not and they didn't give you their consent. Do you realize how close this is to a real felony?"

"I just…" Instead of defending himself, Ise keeps his head low. "It's not a big deal."

"For them it is." Neither notices the person watching the interaction from the window of the old school building as they keep walking. "You shouldn't have done that, Ise. If they hadn't beat you up and instead reported you to a teacher you could have been suspended or worse, expelled."

That made the brown haired student stop and flinch, his face showing how much the idea didn't appeal to him. "I- expelled? From Kuoh?" Partially because of his dream and partially because of his parents, the idea of expulsion made Issei truly nervous and concerned.

Noticing his friend's reaction, Ryuudou decides to explain something. "The top brass doesn't care what you bring to school or talk about. With the advent of the internet, that stopped being a concern unless it is something dangerous." Hyoudou nodded in understanding but Ryuudou wasn't done. "But there is a line, a fine line that if you cross there must be consequences. If I didn't find you getting beaten up, I would escort you to Kaichou myself."

"Right, sorry. I...won't do it again." Ise's words are enough for his friend to nod.

"I find it funny that you want a harem and yet you don't work to get one, just to ruin your chances further." It was an attempt to rile his friend up and take his mind off the reality Ryuudou himself had presented.

He succeeded. "Hey! It isn't that easy you know! I already have enough problems getting a girl to go out with me." The last part is a little more than a whisper.

"It would be easier if you stopped scaring them with your...intensity." Is all that the disciplined student can say to describe his friend. "Besides, how can you ever build a harem if you can't go out with a single girl?"

"That is a good point." Issei acknowledged with a nod. "But it would be wrong if I were to go out with a girl if she didn't understand who I really am!" Was declared passionately as there is a fire in Hyoudou's eyes that makes his friend sigh again.

"Do as you wish." The two keep walking back to the main school building in silence for a while until Ryuudou asks Ise a question. "Would you be willing to testify that Matsuda and Motohama-"

"No." Is the fast reply. "I'm no snitch and they are my friends."

"Bad friends but you can keep the company you want, I suppose." Once again the black haired student said with resignation.

"It was better when you were around man, too bad you are in another class." Hyoudou laments as he remembers the times when his responsable friend used to help hold back his worst impulses.

"You should be able to take care of yourself better. I was sure you wouldn't get worse than you were." Disappointment still colors his tone and Ise is starting to feel nervous.

Fixing the color of his red shirt, he asks "Where are we going? You're not taking me to Kaichou are you?"

"Kaichou is a busy woman." Was said with care and respect. "If I didn't know you or you were more wounded, maybe I would botter her. Fortunately for you, I am sure you are not lying."

With a sigh of relief and now knowing that he was off the hook, Ise decides to ask something that was eating him for a while. "So, we talked about me and girls...what about you? Managed to get a date with Kaichou yet?"

Rarely does anyone see Ryuudou Issei stumble but Ise just made it into the exclusive group as his friend almost fell before he recovered his balance and fixed his glasses throwing his friend a side glare for good measure. "As I said, Kaichou is a busy woman."

"But you tried to ask for a date yet?" Ise's question has a strong effect as Issei stops before they are close to the building.

"It's not that simple." Issei says hastily, making his friend raise an eyebrow.

"Why? Compared to me you are quite the catch right?" Ise says with a shrug. "The diligent student with excellent grades, part of the student council, like her by the way, and respected throughout the school. If we didn't have the same name then I would say your life here would be perfect."

Hyoudou knows that the confusion of their name still haunts his friend, especially with the first years who hear contradictory stories about two different people called Issei. Some days the brown haired one comes across a student or another asking for his help with something, he does help but also makes sure to mention he was the wrong Issei for that.

If there is one person that Hyoudou Issei can compliment for being truly diligent it was his namesake, he was grateful for having a friend like that and as his friend he also felt the need to try and help Ryuudou with his problems. "Come on, talk to me man. Why haven't you asked Kaichou on a date yet?"

"You don't understand Ise. She is completely different from us, completely. We aren't even on the same level." Issei fixes his glasses before he looks to the school but doesn't walk towards it yet, lost in his thoughts.

"So...she is too much sand for your truck or something?" The way Ise said it almost had Issei break his stoic posture as he looks back with a shocked face. "Why is that? I know she is beautiful but you are so into her that is more a bonus than anything else." He certainly would like to have a girlfriend like that. "What is it? Is she from a rich family or something?"

"'Or something' alright." Issei admits, returning to his walk towards the school with Ise following. "We are just on different levels."

"And? It's not like you don't have a shot just because of that." Ise offers with a half shrug. "I mean, you already have a leg up compared to the rest of the school, you are in the student council and see her everyday. Just...I don't know, ask her out."

"Have you ever tried to ask a girl out?" Issei turns around with a raised eyebrow to notice that Ise was avoiding looking back at him. "I will take that as a 'no'."

"That is hardly fair. You're the only guy in the student council and can talk with her at any time. Go for it." Ise says what he thinks would motivate his friend, not realizing what the problem really is.

But Issei can not fault the other student, instead he focuses on something normal. "There is another."

"Huh?" Was Ise's response.

"There is another guy on the council now, he joined recently too." Ryuudou has no bitterness or anger in his voice but there is a resignation that makes the young man sound much older. "And he...also has feelings for Kaichou."

"Wait, seriously? You have competition?" Ise wants to ask more but instead he immediately gets to his friend's side and grabs him by the shoulders. "Dude. You need to ask Kaichou on a date ASAP then or else that scum is going to get ahead of you."

"You don't even know him, why are you calling Genshirou-san scum?" Instead of looking guilty or explaining his reasons, Ise just nods.

"'Genshirou' huh? That is the name of our enemy." The brown haired man takes a step back and gives a couple of nods. "I will get some info on the guy. If he has any kind of dirt we can present it to Kaichou and make sure she won't date him ever."

"What is with that reaction?" Ryuudou's question snaps Hyoudou from his thoughts but he only nods again.

"If he is trying to date the girl you clearly have been pining for over an year now he is breaking the 'Bro Code'." Ise starts to nod to himself like he was imparting some great wisdom. "In that case only the girl inviting him to something gives him permission, but until then he is your enemy trying to mess in your territory."

"What - No, nonononono! We aren't doing this." While he isn't hanging out with his old classmates as much as before, he still remembers some of the shenanigans that they can drag him into. "This isn't about me! It 's about you! You need to fix your act, Hyoudou!"

"I-"

"No, listen here." Issei doesn't allow his name sake to talk as he gets closer to make sure the brown haired student understands exactly what he is saying. "This time, nothing is going to come out of it. While the other two were in the wrong, the kendo club wasn't in the right either for beating you up. But if you want to get a girlfriend before you ever leave school to have a smidge of a chance to get a 'harem'," something that Ryuudou finds hard either way but he isn't going to say that, "you need to get your act together. Forget about me and focus on you."

Ise pushes his friend back a little. "I'm fine, man. It's not my fault that there isn't a girl around the school that gets intimidated by my lifestyle."

Raising an incredulous eyebrow, Issei just says. "Aika." That made his friend flinch but Ryuudou just let out another sigh. "You better think seriously about what you want Ise. Aika isn't 'intimidated' by you or anything and yet here you are, the supposed 'Harem King' without a single girl." Ise lowers his head and sits on the ground making circles with a finger, making Issei sweatdrop. "Just, let's go back to the school for a bit so you can get your stuff. It would be better if you joined a club or something to meet girls instead of staying like that. I mean, what do you expect? That a girl falls from the sky and confesses her love?"

Minutes later, Hyoudou Issei is still thinking on his friend's words as he makes his way back home, his arms behind his head while holding his school bag.

Part of him wants to deny his namesake words, to reject all he said with confidence while keeping his attitude going. But Hyoudou is not dumb or ignorant enough to just reject something a friedn said because he disagrees with it and he knows that Ryuudou Issei was the closest thing he has of a best friend in Kuoh Academy.

'It's not like I had many friends before I joined highschool. Besides him, Matsuda and Motohama I can only think of Irina.' He remembers those times of his childhood playing with the boy with light brown hair before he moved for the exterior. If there is someone he would call his absolute best friend was Irina but they haven't seen each other for a long time he had no way to get into contact. 'Wonder what he is doing now.'

Looking both ways before crossing the street, Issei makes his way to his house. Night may be just a distant thought for now but his parents don't like it when he gets back late for no reason.

But the other Issei's words just don't leave his head and he slaps himself with both hands. "Get a grip Issei! So what if he is a little right on what he said! You are still young and can get a date any day now." But then his mind got back to the conversation. "But...is inviting Kiryuu on a date something that bad?" He crosses his arms and begins to think. "I mean, she isn't ugly or anything, her figure is a nice one, besides her own scout...but she said that I'm not bad either… Gah! What am I supposed to do?"

"Excuse me...Are you Hyoudou Issei?" A gentle voice reaches the brown haired student's ears and he turns around in a flash to see who spoke, thinking that someone with such a voice must be an unbelievably beautiful girl.

He wasn't disappointed as a young woman with long silky black hair easily reaching her hips and violet eyes that Issei found himself captivated by. Her red school uniform, a red jacket with a 'P' in gold on her breast did nothing to hide her slender body and the skirt wasn't as short as the one from Kuoh's school uniform but still showed well her legs that became hidden as the girl stepped back and used her bag to cover them with a shy attitude.

"I-I am sorry to bother you." The mysterious girl lowers her head in apology as Issei stays silent but he finally reacts after a couple of seconds.

"No, not at all. I was just surprised." The student from Kuoh says while lowering his own head. "I...maybe I'm not the Issei you are looking for, I mean-"

"You- I mean- You are Hyoudou Issei, the Issei I was waiting for." The girl said with a blush on her face and a small smile, her eyes looking towards the ground.

"I'm?" He points to himself in this belief. "Are you sure? I don't wanna sound rude but are you definitivally sure?"

"I would recognize...that mop of brown hair anywhere." The girl sounded hesitant at first but gained some confidence and looked him in the eyes and Issei couldn't take his eyes off hers. It was the most beautiful pair he had ever seen in his life. "I once saw you, running around and shouting something. You looked, so full of energy! It...may sound weird but that helped me that day, made me feel better." She moved in place a little and offered him a shy smile. "I heard your name later, people calling you for something and I wanted to meet you."

'A girl is talking with me and it's not weird. A beautiful girl is talking to me because of my positive attitude. Suck on that Issei!' Regardless of his thoughts or how he found it weird insulting someone with his own name, Issei smiles at the girl with confidence. "Glad I could help you. It's good that I managed to cheer you up."

When she smiled at him, Issei could say then and there that his heart skipped a beat. "Great. Sorry, I thought you would find me weird for that."

"Of course not. There is no way I wouldn't like to help a cute- I mean, sometimes we just need something positive in our day to help us get by or something like that." Hyoudou tried to think of something profound to say but came up short but the girl giggled so he considered his failure a win.

"Yes, I agree. We need to stay positive." Seeing the girl smile makes Issei smile more. However it wasn't long before he felt weird about just standing there smiling.

'Come on Issei, think of something. You got a cute girl talking to you, make the best of it.' But everytime the brown haired boy opened his mouth to say something he came up short. It has been a long time since he talked one on one with a girl and he admitaly had no idea of how to get the conversation going.

"Are you… free this weekend?" But she did, in a way that Issei didn't expect.

"This is too good to be true." He said out of nowhere and then shaked his head once he noticed what he said. "I mean- we don't even- I mean-"

"Are you alright? Do you need to sit down?" Gently the girl in the red uniform places a hand on his forehead, making him more nervous and making him forget what he was going to say before she blushed and pulled her hand away. "Sorry! I asked something like that too fast!" She bows her waist in apology and Issei feels bad for her.

"No, it was my fault. I just never expected something like this to happen." His smile is sincere and she raises herself to look at him with a smile that practically rebooted his brain. "Of course I'm free this weekend...sorry but I don't even know your name." He still can't believe the events that lead him here but wouldn't complain about his luck stars

"Really! That is great!" The girl makes a small hop in cheer before looking at Issei again with a tilt of her head and a smile. "And my name is Yuuma, Amano Yuuma. Nice to finally meet you, Issei-kun."

Still transfisiated by what happened, Issei smiles back. "Nice to meet you too Yuuma-chan." Then he has an idea. "Say, Yuuma-chan, would you like to meet tomorrow to talk a little more."

"Uhu~ No problem. When do you want to meet?" She replies with a gentle smile.

"Is your school around here?" Once she nodded, Issei's smile grew with a little mischief.

"Then we can meet each other on the way to school right?" The girl's smile also grew but it looked pure like the sunset.

"Sure we can." Yuuma said after a couple of seconds.

"Great! Let me just give you my number."

The Kuoh student didn't think his day could end any better.

…..

"I saw an unknown fallen angel with Hyoudou Issei." Koneko announces to the office in the ORC as everyone turns to look at her with some confusion and curiosity but a violin continues to play while the conversation gets going.

"Truly?" A surprised Rias asked with a raised eyebrow, she was just about to take a sip of her tea when Koneko arrived.

"What is a fallen angel even doing in town?" Shirou couldn't help but ask. He is sitting on a chair with Yoruichi on his lap as his hand caresses the nekomata. "I thought the defenses of Fuyuki were supposed to warn us when some unknown entity arrived."

"She is a small fry." Koneko comments as she steps inside the office properly and sits beside a smiling Liz who pushes some snacks her way. Both white haired maidens nod to each other before she continues. "I think anyone here could easily deal with her."

"She may be a spy." Akeno appears beside Koneko, a cup of tea being placed for the younger devil as the Queen offers her a smile. "Hiding may be her specialty and it's not like it's possible to stop everyone arriving in town."

"Shouldn't we be more concerned about the fact that she was seen with a student?" Shirou expresses his concern, still massaging Yoruichi who remains silent.

"That is a reasonable point." Rin enters the conversation, just happy that she doesn't have to work for the moment.

"Why would an angel bother herself with Hyoudou Issei?" Setsuna raises the question. She is in the corner of the office close to the window and practicing with her violin. It is her who is providing everyone with music and for the last few months she got really good with the instrument. "Discover that and then you will know what suspicious individual intentions are."

"Or you could just capture her and ask." Medusa turns a page of her book as she speaks. She is sitting in a chair beside Shirou with a small table with a box of homemade sweets and a cup to her side. Unlike everyone else in the room she, like Liz, is using her own preference of clothes, a white and black dress that belongs in a ball with pink ribbons all around or holding her long hair. "It will be much less dangerous for all parties involved if we just eliminate the threat."

"Unfortunately it's not that simple." Kiba comments from the couch as smiles at Medusa even if she couldn't see it. "Attacking someone from another faction unprovoked may bring out more problems down the line."

"Understandable considering the state of the world." Luvia takes a sip of her tea before continuing. "Even if she is a spy, she may be someone important or relevant. While eliminating her may be easy, the fact she is in devil territory will raise questions like 'how' and 'why'."

"Most importantly 'who'." Rias nods at Kiba's and Luvia's explanations before looking at Koneko again. "Where did you see her? Was she around the school?"

"Is that where Koneko was earlier in the morning?" Shirou questions Rias before the little devil could reply. "I know she left the house earlier but she didn't say where she was going. She practically just swallowed her breakfast and ran out."

"Shirou…" Koneko looked at her with sad eyes and the redhead magus almost regretted his words but he felt that was needed to be said.

"You should have told him to pack your breakfast Koneko." Rias folds her arms and holds her chin with her hands but her eyes are stern and not leaving the Rook. "I know I gave you an order but I didn't expect you to just rush to do it like that."

"Oh~ you gave her an order? And what exactly was it?" Yoruichi is suddenly very interested, something that Koneko didn't want.

"Koneko has the best sensory capabilities of all present and I needed her to check something about Hyoudou Issei." The part about Issei caught the attention of many.

But not Yoruichi's. "'Best sensory capabilities' you say? I wonder why?" Shirou starts to scratch below the cat's neck.

Unlike the majority, he is one of the few that knows that the nekomata is losing her patience with Koneko's denial and cold attitude. The comment is just another jab at the white haired devil even as she turns to at least pretend that the cat yokai isn't present.

"If I may ask Buchou; why the interest on the pervert?" Luvia asked with a frown on her beautiful face.

"Oh~ my~ Luvia-chan, did he manage to offend you in some way? I heard he and his friends had found a way to finally look at some women changing clothes. Did they manage to see you like that?" Akeno has her curious smile on but the blonde is not going to be fooled with how gentle it looked, she knows the older girl just wants a harsh reaction.

"If he did, he wouldn't have anything between his legs anymore." That was as much of a reaction that the Edelfelt's heir pride would allow.

"You are exaggerating a little too much, Luvia." Rias looks at the blonde with some reprehension.

"No, I'm not. Only the man of my choosing has the right to have eyes on my pure form." The eyes of the heiress move to a certain person. "Anyone else will only know pain or death. And that is me being nice."

'That is nice?' Was the thought on the head of more than one person present.

"Changing the subject; why did you ask Koneko-chan to follow the Hyoudou boy?" Youruichi, feeling that Shirou was slightly nervous with the subject, approaches something that was more interesting for her.

"When he was close to the club yesterday, I felt something." Rias says with closed eyes as she tries to remember the sensation she felt. "It was...something strong. I may have imagined that so I asked Koneko to check him for me."

"You were right, Buchou. There is something." The Rook of Gremory catches everyone's attention with the declaration. "It is powerful but it is hidden, almost like asleep. I suspect a sacred gear of some kind."

"Sacred gear? That makes sense since without the owner realizing it was there it may be releasing some of its power from time to time." Rias smiled at the confirmation as her instincts were right. "That also would explain the presence of the fallen on our territory."

"Recruitment." Akeno frowns at the fact but there is little else she can do. "He must have a sacred gear of considerable power to have one of them approaching personally."

"The fallen are recruiting? I didn't know that." Rin indirectly asks for clarification and Rias decides to give it to her and the others that may not understand what kind of recruitment was being talked about.

"Azazel, the leader of the Grigori, is a man obsessed in researching and experimenting with sacred gears." The redhead devil began with a small introduction about the leader of the faction since she knew for a fact Shirou and Medusa didn't know about him either. "He was the first angel to fall, to truly fall from Heaven in a way different from Lucifer, history shows that Azazel wasn't against the humans, if anything he became a fallen because his lust and wish to join with humans in manners God didn't approve." The pureblood stopped for a moment as she was trying to remember her lessons. "As a strategist, he was the best one in all the three sides during the war. It was him who first involved the human race in celestial affairs, teaching them how to make weapons similar to sacred gears even if of worse quality." She looks to Shirou since he has a deep connection with weapons but the magus is silent, thinking about something. Instead of being distracted by his lack of attention, she continues. "A couple of good things that can be said about the man is that he cares deeply for his subordinates. After the ceasefire, he also started to recruit sacred gear users. For a long time the other factions, even those of nothing to do with the war, feared that he was getting an army ready for a final offensive. Instead of that Azazel divulged some of the discoveries he made on the Gifts of God, including the names and powers of those that came to be called Longinus."

"That is impressive." Medusa lowers her book and looks at Rias with an impassive face. "Instead of planning for war, he was practically incentivizing peace, wasn't he? What happened? Did he regret involving humanity?"

"Only him can answer that question." Rias said with a shrug.

"At least now we know what the fallen are doing here. They found out about Hyoudou's sacred gear first and their leader wants to study it." Setsuna commented, her violin practice never stopping. Not that anyone wants her to stop as her music is soothing. "If that is really her goal. Once again we are in the dilemma of letting her act or act before she acts."

"And what should we do exactly?" Shirou raises the question. He has been distracted most of the conversation, trying to remember something but he is still paying enough attention to ask that in concern for his schoolmate.

"Nothing." Is Rias' response to her magician's question. "She isn't breaking any rules of the ceasefire and there is no reason to suspect foul play."

"Is that a common thing now to allow spies to walk around your territory unchecked?" Medusa returned to her book but still asked the question. "You know she is here and she is an enemy right?"

"She isn't unchecked. As you said, Medusa-chan, we know she is here." Akeno explains to the little goddess who shrugs, still not understanding properly.

"If she doesn't cause any problems then we have no reason to even bother with her." Rias takes a bite on the cake in front of her. "After all, Hyoudou Issei is human and he can be recruited if he wants to join the Grigori."

"That is right, odds are that she is just to give him a pitch about joining their side and invite him." Rin says with conviction and pretty much everyone agrees.

"Koneko, do you have any idea when they are going to meet again?" The King questions her Rook with a small smile.

"I heard they are planning to meet this weekend for a date." Between Issei bragging about the fact he now has a girlfriend and his friends' tears, that was the information that the little devil had managed to grasp.

"Kind of close for a recruitment, don't you think? She had no time to build anything for it." Yoruichi points out. "Does Hyoudou's family have any history with the moonlit world?"

"Not that I am aware of after a superficial research." Akeno reveals as she was the one that did said research the previous night.

"Ah! Now I remember!" Shirou startles most of the present with a shout. "It was a dragon!"

"A dragon?" Yoruichi is the first to react as just the name of the dangerous creatures was enough to surprise everyone. "What dragon?"

"Please tell me there isn't a dragon around Kuoh." Rias isn't begging, she is close but not yet. Just the amount of paperwork that a dragon is enough to cause is already giving her a headache.

"Well…" Shirou scratches the back of his head. "It happened last year when I first met Hyoudou Ise- I mean Issei. It was weird but that time an image of a dragon in chains appeared in my mind." Even Setsuna stopped to play to look at Shirou in disbelief. "Hey, it just happened that time and I thought it was just an impression and he never showed any power after."

"Doesn't change the fact that you should have told me about that. A dragon, of any kind, means trouble." Rias is extremely upset and Shirou just didn't move from his chair because of Yoruichi.

He still is going to defend himself. "It was on the first day of classes. After that I had the spar with Setsuna, the Fight of the Clubs after that-"

"That almost happened in the beginning of this school year again." Akeno happily supplies the information.

"- then we came here and there was also my new workshop. I was a little too overwhelmed to remember that detail." The magus didn't even flinch at Akeno's interruption, the Queen even pouting at not disrupting Shirou's pace.

"One would think that an image of a dragon is hard to forget." Medusa keeps reading her book with a chuckle.

"It was a chaotic day." Setsuna says in defense of her friend and no one can disagree with her.

Even those that were busy heard of the mess that happened on their first day of classes and in the first day of the new school year everyone felt on the skin how competitive some of the clubs are when trying get the best students for them and Shirou and Setsuna 'spar' was still considered legendary to the point that the sports clubs basically hunted them throughout the day.

In the end their group of friends ended up hiding themselves in the ORC to avoid any more problems. Not that Rias minded, she wanted them to enjoy the festivities but since it was impossible, everyone just stayed in the club talking or playing games.

"Okay, fair." The Gremory King recognized her magician's point. "I suppose that I can't blame you in these circumstances but now at least we have a reason why a fallen angel is personally trying to recruit Issei."

"Koneko, you said she was weak, correct?" The white haired devil nods at Kiba's question. "Then we may send someone to keep an eye on things?"

"Appearing to be weak and being weak are two diferent things." Akeno is pensive about the subject. "Do we have any idea of her identity?"

"No. I heard the name Amano Yuuma." With the new information from Koneko, Rias made a decision.

"A Japanese name may indicate a descendent of an angel, wouldn't be the first time." The pureblood devil didn't look at her but Akeno knew who she was referring to. "This may all be coincidence, maybe she is trying to recruit Hyoudou Issei or maybe she is trying to invite the boy she likes for a date, we don't really know."

"I certainly wouldn't like to have my date spied on." Luvia comments while looking at Shirou but the redhead was busy trying to find if he agrees or disagrees with Rias.

"So, unless anyone has any evidence that the fallen angel is up to no good we shall let Issei enjoy his date, anyone against it?" Rias looks to everyone in her office, waiting to see if someone is going to protest.

"I still don't like the idea of allowing spies on your territory." Medusa isn't really protesting, the whole situation has nothing to do with her but she felt the need to give her opinion.

"She may be of an enemy race but she also may be just a hybrid and not a spy." Rias says with a shrug.

"Well Buchou, I am definitely impressed that you are willing to allow a stranger to walk around unchecked. Definitely impressed." It didn't sound like sarcasm but Akeno was being sarcastic. "Especially since Hyoudou Issei may have an unknown powerful sacred gear."

"Of course I am not letting them run around unchecked." With a snap of her fingers and a magic circle, Rias summons her small familiar, Bat-chan. "I will be sending her to keep an eye on things."

"Didn't you say you weren't going to spy?" Shirou is the only one that saw a real problem with it and was willing to voice his protest.

"She isn't going to watch the whole date, just a couple of minutes to make sure nothing is wrong…" Rias watches as Shirou raises an unimpressed eyebrows and how everyone else in the room is looking at her from the corner of their eyes. "And deliver one of my pamphlets so I can negotiate a better deal than the fallen's."

"And there it is the best friend I know and love." Akeno says with a smile.

"That sounds fair." Shirou affirms and most of the room just relaxes before everyone has to go work.

"At least we know what Issei is going to want to join any group." Kiba said with a frown as every second year nodded in unison.

"Really? That makes things easier." Rias sounds excited by the prospect. "So? What will he want?"

""""""""A harem!"""""""" Even Yoruichi joined in the declaration as she had seen the brown haired boy talk about it in the school more than once.

"That is simple enough." The pureblood is cheerful by the news. "If he becomes a devil and raises in the ranks he can have a peerage of his own. With the power of a dragon on his body, there will be plenty of devils that won't mind being part of a harem if it means raising the power of their descendents."

"Depends on how fast he can get one as a devil then. He does call himself 'Harem King' around school." Setsuna expresses her opinion with a low string of her violin in sequence to give a flair to her point.

"Good point." Rias places a hand on her chin. "But nothing can be done about it. He will have to make a decision and I just need to make the best offer."

"Or maybe the reason for the date is because the fallen is planning to have sex with him." Yoruichi points out and suddenly Rias loses her smile as the others look at the cat. "I mean, if he is that much of a pervert but has never got any, a single girl for starters can be enough while Azazel looks for others to join willingly?"

With that argument the devils realized that there was little to be done if Azazel really wanted Hyoudou Issei on their side. Regardless of the fact Rias is still planning on sending her bat familiar with some pamphlets on Issei's way to see if she can make a counter proposal but the last word is going to be from the Hyoudou Issei himself.

It doesn't take long before the devils start leaving for their contracts. Pretty much all of them have a contract or another during weekdays from people stressed and wanting either company or someone to do their jobs for them.

Luvia, while not having anything to do herself any longer, dismisses herself with a bow and a nod to all present while Setsuna and Liz remain to help Shirou in his work if he so desires.

However the redhead magus knows that this night is not a night for using a hammer but a pen as he picks some papers from his bag and passes them to Rias. "Here is the inventory of the month."

"Thank you Shiro." Rias receives the list with a smile as she evaluates what is going to be sold in the Underworld for the foreseeable future. "I see that you didn't manage to make a sword capable of controlling liquids."

"I don't know if it is Sona who wants one of those, like you said, but no I admit my failure on that. There aren't materials compatible in doing it from the resources I have." And thanks to Rias, Shirou has a lot of materials to attempt such a thing. "I am still surprised that so many devils want my weapons anyway. I thought you guys would have all manner of weapons lying around."

"We do have lots of treasures but not all of them are weapons and your swords are the best on the market for many Knights." Rias says with pride as she checks the list. Many of the weapons were custom made for the Knights of many houses who compete in Rating Games. "Not like anyone else can brag about studying a Noble Phantasm to help in their development."

'And talk about help, it is almost akin to cheating.' Rin thinks to herself as she remains working diligently in the corner of the room. Sometimes she feels that Rias forgets she is around at this point. 'Not that I can spread what I hear here, I am under contract.'

Still a better contract than many others can say, especially after the 'Shinji Incident' which proved that she was right in wanting nothing to do with the Matou family. But that didn't change the fact that some aspects of working under Rias make her nervous like the presence of a goddess in the room.

Rare are the days that Rin doesn't take a minute or two to admire the small girl before chastising herself and getting back to work, noticing that Medusa remains on her seat reading her book without a care in the world.

'As a magus, having a source of materials like Medusa around and being unable to even get any is almost torture.' Rin remembers the day that Luvia offered a king's ransom for just a drop of blood from Medusa but the goddess utterly rejected the offer and stepped beside Shirou as if to say that if there was insistence then her protector would deal with it. 'That was when that bimbo caved. She can't challenge Shirou either directly or indirectly, feelings aside, that would be like asking to fight Rias and the Gremory clan. And that isn't even the only problem since her own presence can be too much some days…'

Medusa is an entity that Rias needed a couple of days to accept but had no troubles in settling in Japan, the Law of Amaterasu and she is welcome and the actual Lucifer saw no problems either. The man asked Rias to officially welcome the goddess to her territory.

Taking a deep breath, the head of the Tohsaka's returns to her work while Shirou and Rias talk business.

Besides Liz's salary as a teacher, Shirou managed to become the other source of income to their house and in the last few months things actually grew more than he expected.

There are devils that underestimated the works of a human, they understood the knives capability but dared the Gremory Clan to present something more substantial that could be used in a fight. Rias suspected the Phenex clan was the responsable for that slight but she wanted to stay away from the Underworld and so she didn't know for sure.

But her prided demanded to ask her for Shirou to make a sword to show to all the devils and prove that her contract is without a doubt the right maneuver and not just favoritism, it didn't need to be as good as Muramasa but he ended up making a new sword for Okita with her brother's specifications.

Things just got better from there since even if it wasn't every sword that received the endorsement of the Maou and once Rias let out that Shirou could make magical weapons the business truly started to get going for there are plenty of those that pursue the martial path of the blade with magic.

That to Ranting Games, ambition and curiosity, Rias managed to push enough with her family that they started to work in structure to build a market of weapons, especially swords, to be sold to anyone with enough money to pay for the materials in full and the addition of Shirou hard work for the non mass produced works..

Another important factor is that Shirou's time is limited; between taking care of his home, his own research on projects of both his and Rias' interests while also making mass produced works like the Analyser set actually made his work become extremely valuable. Most of the swords for rich families are made by request with considerable prices, if they are possible to begin with.

Besides him being the main source of materials, many of the Gremory lands were redirected to excavation and maintenance of his weapons with Shirou and Rias divulging to her family all that was necessary to repair the broken ones, they lose some capability in that case and a new one could be brought but the Gremory Clan wasn't going to give an opportunity for profit.

It is also the Gremory Clan that takes care of the mass production of the viable blades using Shirou's instructions since a inferior version could be made while the magus just needed to work on the main ones which would be used for transfer, those are under guard on specific places by some of the Gremory's strongest fighters.

There was an attempt to include Kiba's weapons for sale for a cheaper price but it was discovered that the weapons from Sword Birth depended too much on his will and power; they break apart when too far from his creator so only Shirou's weapons can be sold.

But there is one thing that Rias still wants, that she needs. Every week when Shirou gives her a list of the weapons he made that week, or the progress in some of his works that they divulged to the Underworld, she always questioned. "So, nothing new about EM?"

"Still nothing." Shirou's frustration with that particular work is visible to all present, even Medusa knew how much his failure with it frustrated the magus. "I am so close, Rias, this close." He raises a hand with two fingers barely apart. "But it doesn't matter what configuration of metals I use, it always fails."

Even with Yoruichi's help with senjutsu and Jakken's assistance with youjutsu, Shirou has made virtually no progress in months with the healing scalpel. Day after day when he is in school he takes at least an hour to try and work into a solution to make the instrument without killing whoever cast the healing spell as he almost did with his mother only for it to be for naught.

It is a sore spot for Shirou at this point but he recognizes his limitations. He knows completing EM is demanding something he lacks and if it wasn't for Rias' insistence he would have taken a step back from it for a while now.

But the pureblood devil always asked about it when she had the chance and Shirou didn't want to disappoint her. He also truly wants to complete it since EM could save hundreds of lives easily but he also knows that the inch that he needs to complete the tool is monumental even if it appears small.

"I see." For a moment Rias looks sad but she smiles in the next second without problems, almost rehearsed at this point with how many times they have this conversation. "That is fine Shiro. It just means we need to find something to complete it. Leave it to me!"

For Rias, EM represents a hope that she refuses to let go. It is her best chance to escape an engagement she doesn't want and if they didn't need the process to be sustainable she would have already called half a dozen of magicians to pump healing spells on Shirou's creations.

The problem was if they broke or were stolen or if the magicians couldn't make enough of the scalpels before the procedure became too dangerous. To surpass and take the spot of top seller of healing items, she needs it to be profitable or else she can't beat the Phenex Clan on their game.

"I do not understand why you always ask about that." Medusa has heard that 'song and dance' more than once, usually the goddess wouldn't talk in these business meetings but her patience with the topic is finally spent. "Is there something important about a healing artifact that you need?"

There is a momentary pause as Rias begins to construct an argument in her mind since she didn't really want to talk about the topic. "It is something that Shirou has been working for a long time now and it can revolutionize the structure of the Underworld, saving many lives that may be lost otherwise." An incomplete but true statement.

Of all those that spend time on the ORC, Medusa is the one with the most freetime and arguably she has no loyalty for anyone. Except that she does care about her protector, enough to notice how much he works on a thing that so far has only given him grief and headache because of failures.

Rin and Luvia both know the political value the tool will have for her even if not why Rias wants it, Setsuna did raise the question more than once in a more private setting while Liz never cared to ask because her trust in Shirou is absolute.

But Medusa doesn't care about privacy, to her it is just a question. A question she notices is missing something and she will save it in her memory to talk with Shirou later.

She doesn't need to bother, Shirou also suspects that there is something missing there, he has for a while. But he trusts Rias to tell him if there was an urgent need for the EM and since she didn't he kept trying to complete it without complaint.

And in turn Rias trusts that he will eventually succeed before her time runs out. She believes in him and will have more people searching for materials, their business now a perfect cover for her to get whatever she believes he needs and he can only do his best to finish EM.

…..

For his first date, Hyoudou Issei planned every possible detail he could manage. He didn't tell his parents what he was going to do nor he expressed his happiness for having a girlfriend, they weren't official yet but that is his hope.

No, he wants that first date to go perfectly, to have a date that Yuuma can enjoy to her heart's content and that will be a memory both of them can remember in their later years fondly even if they don't end up working out.

In the end Issei was actually a romantic at heart and he treated his first date like a mission, selling some of his praised collection of porn to raise enough money to make sure his date won't lack for nothing. He didn't get much money but that was fine, he would just plan for that.

Calling Yuuma for their meeting point, he made sure to research on the internet the best stores he could take her to, marked a fliperama, a restaurant and a ice cream parlor on the area where she could pick what they would do and even programed the date to start just before the rushing hour of the day following some internet advice.

All was set and ready when Hyoudou Issei made sure to arrive at least half an hour earlier than the time Amano Yuuma would arrive with his best clothes, a dark gray jacket with a black long sleeved shirt and black pants.

He also took a little smidge of his father's cologne to make sure he was presentable and tried to fix his hair. Issei failed completely on the last part but since it was too late to get a haircut, he accepted his normal hair style was going to be the one he would be using.

There was no denying that Issei was nervous, he took a look at the watch in the park the date was supposed to begin and the clock on his cell phone and as the minutes ticked he felt a great deal of pent up energy and had to fight to not bounce around.

Luckily for him a cute girl with brown hair and vampire cosplay showed up to give him a pamphlet just before Yuuma had arrived which stopped him from being embarrassed and he loved how she was dressed with a black dress that reached her knees with a small purple jacket on top that helped accentuate her eyes.

Issei was extremely pleased with himself when he was able to say that he wasn't waiting for long even if he was waiting for a good time. No time was too long for his first date in his opinion, the brown haired young man really wanted the date to go smoothly.

And when it began the date was perfect for the young man, Issei was having fun going around with Yuuma to do anything they fancied. They brought some clothes, got some ice cream and did some window shopping.

To the brown haired teenager the date could only be called a success. He was smiling, Yuuma was smiling and he even bought a light red wrist band for her and she adored it.

Yes, Hyoudou Issei was sure that this was one of the best days of his life and as the sun began to set he started to wonder if the time to end the date had arrived.

In truth the young man didn't want the date to end, sure he understood that they are too early in a relationship for 'nightly activities' but he can see himself doing plenty of other things in the earlier hours of the night.

Deciding to let his date decide when they were going to finish the date, Issei followed Yuuma to the fountain in the park where it all began and deep down he knew his first day was coming to a true end.

Issei wonders if Yuuma had fun, he knows he did, if they are going to go on other dates, meet each other regularly or just talk a couple times a week before they can have another one.

He also wondered if he would at least get a kiss of goodbye.

"Will you die for me?" Yuuma asked while looking at the fountain and for a moment Issei didn't process what she said, stunned by her beauty in the sunset.

Then his brain finally catches up with him. "Huh? What did you say, Yuuma-chan? I think I misheard you." Issei asked as nicely as he could, he didn't want to upset her.

Amano Yuuma comes closer to the boy and asks in his ear. "Will you die for me?"

Before Issei could react he felt a sharp pain on his chest from out of nowhere. With what felt like an herculean effort, the brown haired boy lowered his head to look at what happened only to see a spear made from pink light piercing him.

His mind couldn't comprehend what was happening, for a normal human this sequence of events made absolutely no sense. For a moment he thought it was all a dream. Except the pain is real and the shock was ten folds higher because of the person doing it.

Issei's brown eyes look back to the girl he spent the day with to see her smiling at him, it is the same smile she gave him all day, full of warmth and care. "I had fun on the date." However the voice is different, there is an edge to it that wasn't there before. "Like a kid trying to impress an older sister, it was fun if not a bit boring."

With the same cruel tone she laughs at him, pulling the spear harshly from Issei's chest and letting the blood flow. The boy falls on his back in sudden motion but his eyes don't leave the black haired woman that stabbed him, the obvious question in them, 'why'.

"If you want to blame anyone, blame God for you to have been born with a sacred gear." A pair of black wings like shadows spread on the woman's back and she begins to fly a little above the ground much to Issei's shock. Her eyes on the wrist band, the woman spoke again with an arrogant tone. "I believe I can keep this as a memory of the date we had. I will take good care of it." Turning her eyes to Issei she smiled with sadism. "Did you like the scenery, human? I had prepared it especially for you." She motions around her, knowing that with the blow she did that Issei still was conscious. "What a beautiful way to die, don't you think? Better than you worms deserve. It was the reason I chose the name Amano Yuuma, to kill you just like this, how poetic."

The long haired woman shivers at the thought, enjoying how she set up everything to kill the boy at the sunset while Issei is just more shocked from what he heard. '...she was planning...to kill me from the beginning?' Just thinking that made the boy sad.

"Do you want to know my name, human? My real name is Raynare." Her wings extend and some feathers fall to the ground. "Enjoy the last moments of your miserable life, human. It is more than you deserved." With that final declaration the angel with black wings took flight, disappearing in the darkening sky.

Issei couldn't believe what was happening, he wanted it to be a dream, that the pain be a ilusion and to wake up from his bed to go on a date with Yuuma. His mind rejected the last few minutes and he expected to wake up in his bed any moment now.

When he felt something wet on his hand, for a moment he started to believe he was waking up but had an accident on his bed. Only when Issei raised his hand to his face and saw red was that he couldn't deny reality.

'Red? Is that blood? My blood?' There wasn't any denial in him anymore. "I'm really... going to die?" He asked in a weak voice as his hand fell to the ground as he had no more strength to keep it up. "I...don't want to die." Issei tried to say out loud but he was too weak, his voice unable to reach anyone even if there were people around the park.

Issei can't move, can't scream, his body has already lost enough blood that the muscles are mostly unresponsive as the last of his conciency starts to shut down as it couldn't keep itself going anymore.

But before the end, he muttered a final and sincere wish. "Couldn't I at least die in a cute girl's lap?"

From his pocket, a red light starts to shine and a magic circle surrounds the boy as someone is summoned to his side.

Rias was expecting to talk with Issei after the date, maybe when he started to wish for something about it or wanted more explanations about the supernatural. She even made two different speeches in case the girl revealed herself like a fallen angel or not.

What she didn't expect was to find the boy that was supposed to be recruited or at least on a normal date on the ground with a hole on his chest. Rias can't deny she found the whole situation amusing since the fallen tried to kill him for some reason but with the last of his strength she was summoned and she plans to save his life.

"A wound like that, a human has no hope of surviving it." And with the blood he had already lost, Rias knew that as fact and told Issei straight. "However, I can still save you. You will just have to live for me."

A small magic circle summons a chess piece and the pureblood approaches and places it on the boy's chest...it fails.

"Oh my. Looks like you have more potential than I expected. And with a dragon type sacred gear I wonder which one it is…" Rias comments but Issei had already passed out. "I really should have bought EM with me and I can't teleport you so please, don't die just yet."

Realizing that Issei may not have enough time for her to test how many pieces he is going to take to reincarnate, she calls forth all her remaining pieces, a rook, a bishop and eight pawns. Immediately she tried for the Rook and when it failed she just placed all the eight pawns, noticing how they still took time but eventually worked.

"Sorry about all this but look for the bright side, now you have more of a shot to get a harem." Rias comments with an amused chuckle as Issei's skin starts to recover its natural tone. "Welcome to the moonlit world, Hyoudou Issei."

…

In the Emiya residence dinner is ready for all to eat and moving to his new home didn't change much in Shirou routine, at least when it came to dinner. The extra addition of Medusa meant that he needed to cook more and when the little goddess revealed that she had an appetite comparable with Liz, Koneko and Yoruichi he knew that he would need every penny of his operation with Rias.

Still dinner is a fun affair at the Emiya house; it is when Liz can be more open, when Koneko doesn't mind standing besides Yoruichi and when Medusa lets go of whatever she is reading to just talk with everyone, be about food or other interests

Shirou, with his favorite white and blue t-shirt and blue pants combo, always enjoyed cooking and having more people to cook for just made him happier to the point he also invites a certain neighbor when Yoruichi isn't around to avoid troubles for himself that said neighbor could start if she asked uncomfortable questions.

They have no need for chairs since they are using a big kotatsu with enough space for two people on every side. If for some reason they needed more they could bring out another one from storage but just one is enough for all present with Shirou besides Medusa on one side, Liz on another besides Shirou, Koneko besides Liz and Yoruichi also on her own with between Medusa and Koneko.

The house now has more of a garden than before when they first moved in, Yoruichi, with a black top that showed plenty of her breasts and orange shorts, having planted some flowers to place a barrier and while trying to coerce Koneko, using a blue shirt and teal short, to open more to her besides at dinner time.

While eating his rice in peace, Shirou watches as the older woman is devouring her food with a smile while trying to convince the little devil to try some tricks with her energy to eat faster but while Koneko is willing to give her attention that was all she was willing to give even with food.

"Pass the sauce please." Liz requests, dressed in her prefered loose shirt and shorts combo, to Medusa, using a white summer dress, in her typical manner and the purple haired goddess, who demands to always sit by Shirou's side as she doesn't trust no one other than him and Liz, does as requested with little fanfare. "Thank you."

"No problem." Medusa replies with a nod before returning to her food and her cheeks growing until they are similar to the ones of a chipmunk. Besides reading, eating is one of her favorite activities and Shirou can't help but chuckle.

"Slow down a little, you are eating too fast." At the redhead's comment, Medusa points her sticks to Yoruichi's and Koneko's plates with literal piles of rice.

"These two will end up eating everything." The goddess declares.

Shirou shakes his head before saying. "Then I make more."

"No, dessert." Is Medusa's declaration as she takes a sip of sake.

Only two, technically three people, are allowed to drink alcohol in Shirou's home; Yoruichi, Medusa and a certain Tiger. Not only that but only the Tiger drank common beer while the other two preferred sake of the best quality and the nekomata had no problems bringing some from Kyoto.

The owner of the house almost had a heart attack at seeing Medusa drinking but she reminded him that she is a goddess and that even the special alcohol made by yokais couldn't make her even tipsy, much to Yoruichi's jealousy.

Still the special alcohol shouldn't be consumed by humans so only the two drank it even if the nekomata had offered it to him a couple of times since in her words he could 'take it'.

It was a compromise that Shirou managed to work with Medusa about the consumption of alcohol as he doesn't drink himself and he has no interest. She is old enough even if she doesn't look like it so she is in her rights to drink it but only in the privacy of their home so people wouldn't ask questions.

She agreed to his conditions because in her opinion the tea on the ORC is much better which made him think he needs to get better at making tea which everyone agrees isn't his strongest suit.

"By the way, I finally found Rias Gremory's manga collection." Medusa said much to Shirou's surprise.

"Already?" Yoruichi sounds amused while Koneko just enjoys that the nekomata's attention isn't on her anymore. "I dare you to do it in a month and you do it in a week? I am impressed."

"It would have been harder if I had left the office but I was sure it was there somewhere." Medusa replies with a nod.

"What is this about a dare?" Shirou has a guess but he prefers to wait for confirmation.

"Since Medusa spends most of her time in the club I dared her to try and find Rias' secret stash." Even how Yoruichi said 'secret' showed how much of a secret it really was. Even Koneko just kept eating her food without reacting as everyone in the club already knew about it for a reason or another. "With how big the building was, I thought she wouldn't find it so fast. You didn't ask the Gasper-chan did you?"

Medusa shakes her head. "That would be cheating. Besides I think that Gasper is the only one that legitimately doesn't know about his mistress hobby."

Shirou lets out a sigh by the fact that the dhampir still refuses to leave the room at any cost even with the seal relaxed somewhat because Medusa can spend time with him without fear and even Yoruichi drops around his room sometimes and has remained unaffected by his power.

"So you two made a bet that Medusa had to try and find Rias' collection?" The owner of the house asked for clarification and when both ladies nodded he tried to picture the office during the week. "You just looked in the office? I don't think I have even seen a single pillow out of place."

"I didn't look every day since Gasper wanted to play some games." Medusa sympathizes with the little blond's plight and if her company can help a little she doesn't mind. "The reason why I took so long was because I checked the walls first, the hardest spot to find a secret if well concealed." Then the little goddess hits her tiny fist on the table in disappointment with herself, practically just making a small cute noise. "The problem was that I should have gone for the most obvious hidden spot first. I wasted hours for days and did nothing besides cleaning the place."

"Nyahahaha~ That was pretty much what I expected to happen. You shouldn't be surprised that Rias has the worst hiding place when everyone knows about it.." Yoruichi laughs at Medusa's plight and when the purple haired goddess pouts the nekomata just laughs harder.

"I hope you remember the bet." Is all the little goddess is willing to say as Yoruichi controls herself.

"Yes, yes. You won fair and square." Yoruichi said with some chuckles but it is clear that Medusa was taking the bet seriously. And once the dinner was finished, it was Yoruichi that collected the dishes. "Time to start paying up."

"What?" Shirou turns to Medusa who just smiled and reached for the remote control.

"She is going to do my chores for the next three days that she is in Fuyuki." The purple haired goddess declares, proud of herself. "So today is not my day to wash the dishes."

"But-" *Crack*

Shirou had no time to respond as one dish fell and broke. "Don't worry! I got this!" It was the reply but the redhead just closes her eyes as another dish breaks. "I will pay for it!"

"Do you remember she is awful at dishwashing?" Shirou finally gets out as he gets up and moves to the kitchen.

"That is the point, she wants you to help her." Medusa makes sure that Shirou can't hear her before she speaks. She spoke so softly that Shirou couldn't hear as the situation was amusing for her and also it gets her out of her chores.

Turning on the TV the three remaining women scrolled around the channels until Medusa found something that pleased her and none of the others had any problem with her preferences.

So they watched a drama just to pass the time because some of them found it funny while Shirou and Yoruichi did the dishes.

A few minutes later the duo exited the kitchen Yoruichi with a huge smile while Shirou was blushing and some of the more aware in the room could notice that her top was a little wet but no one was going to question that.

It was then that began the special programmation of Super Sentai, a block with the colorful heroes followed by the Masked ones. Medusa found the modern variations of heroes far more amusing than those of her time. 'Anyone is better than Perseus' she had said once when Koneko asked if the programmation bothered her.

After a few more minutes watching the show, the sentai was about pirates in this incarnation, Shirou's cell phone started to play a tune he doesn't get to listen much, Rias' favorite music in piano form.

Getting up he gets the phone from the kitchen stand and returns to the living room. "Rias? Good night. Can I help you with something?" … "Yes, she is here. Want me to pass the phone?" … "What?!" Shirou practically shouted and everyone is now paying attention to him with Yoruichi and Koneko focusing on listening to the call. "Is he… I see. You didn't take EM, didn't you?" … "I know you didn't expect an emergency, no one did. At least he is alive." … "So what are you going to say to him tomorrow?" … "Give him time to- No! This is the kind of thing you should talk about with him sooner rather than later." … "Rias, if you aren't going to talk with him, I will. There is a fallen angel running around and killing people!" … "Yes, I will also get into contact with my father's people to know if she is someone known for that." … "Fine! I will see you tomorrow before classes." He turns off the phone and says to all present. "Hyoudou Issei was reincarnated as a devil after the fallen angel attempted to murder him."

And with that Shirou sat down with a pensive face that had Liz immediately saying. "It wasn't your fault." The redhead's eyes go wide as he turns to the woman as she is now looking directly at him.

Liz may not have heard the conversation but she understood the context and recognized the look on Shioru's face. "I should have insisted more. If we had taken precautions-" Shirou grumbles but none on the table were having it.

"You couldn't possibly have known. We debated the possibilities and we determined that recruitment is the fallen angels MO. We made the most logical call." Yoruichi says honestly.

"Buchou wouldn't let someone die in her territory. It looks bad." Koneko tries to help with the little she knows about Underworld politics, trying to show that the fault wasn't just his if it was somebody's at all.

Yet their words didn't work. "A fallen angel shows up from nowhere and we just let her walk? That was too convenient in the first place. Spy or not, treaty or not, I should have done something." Shirou says with anger.

"Are you an all-knowing god?" Medusa questions with a raised eyebrow. "Can you watch the whole city with your eyes closed?" That question made Shirou look at the little goddess with a frown. "Are you able to tell what everyone is doing right now?" The magus stays silent, waiting for Medusa's point. "Most gods only have influence on their place of veneration or immediate vicinity, even if a god can see far, doesn't mean they are always able to pay attention."

"Shouldn't then I have questioned the fallen angel? She was there, in the area and we let her go." Shirou snorsts with his retort.

"Shouldn't Hyoudou Issei suspected something was amiss and denied staying alone with a person he just met?" Medusa shot back with a frown that only made her face look cute but the point still stood. "Killing a person is far easier when there are no witnesses and only one victim. If he wasn't walking alone in the place of probably her choosing, the fallen wouldn't dare to commit the crime or else her own superiors would have to turn on her to keep the peace."

"She has a point." Yoruichi folds her arms on the table and leans forward. "We can't predict everything and if you start dragging people around because of suspicion it won't take even a week before there is violence on the streets." As a leader she can understand what Shirou is thinking about, how the unseen mistake can be corrosive, especially for a person like him. "Hyoudou Issei made his choice by not suspecting a strange girl and we made our choice by giving her the benefit of the doubt. Now we know that she is dangerous and the question became; where is she so we can kill the bitch?"

"If I see her I am making her talk. I want to know why." Shirou said with conviction. "Issei suffered because of it, the trauma of surviving something can cause...I want to know why she did it."

Shirou is not hiding his anger and nobody on the table can blame him, he already blames himself enough. It is a part of his personality that can be admired or rejected by anyone but all present respect him for it even if they didn't like it.

One of them most of all. "It wasn't your fault." Liz said once again to make sure the owner of the house knows she means it. "Rias will do something," Koneko nods at the affirmation, agreeing with it completely, "and the fallen angel is going to pay for what she has done."

"Be happy that the pervert is alive." Yoruichi says with a chuckle. "I mean, odds were that if the fallen wasn't there to recruit him then Rias would end up recruiting him herself and he would accept since there are only 'harems' in that boy's head."

"It isn't that simple." Koneko was the one who said. "He still died."

"He came close." Yoruichi reminds her. "That is usual in our world."

"That he wasn't a part of until today." Shirou says with sadness. "I don't care what Rias thinks, I will talk with him tomorrow."

"You sure? He is technically her servant now. It's her job to do what is best for him." Yoruichi points out with a smile, already knowing his answer.

"He is part of our world now and I will be damned if he is caught unprepared again." Shirou's determination received nods from almost all present with the exception of Koneko.

"Buchou won't like that." The Rook felt it needed to be said.

"Yes, she won't." Shirou accepts the fact. "But Issei won't last a day if the fallen angel comes for him again."

…..

Mornings usually don't bother Hyoudou Issei much but today he feels weird. If he had to explain what he has been feeling since he woke up it would be lethargy to a degree he wasn't used to.

He also felt an uncomfortable headache and pain in the eyes when he looked outside because of the sun. 'Is this what a hangover feels like?' He couldn't tell as he brushes his teeth, confused by the dream he had.

Except that it was Monday and he didn't believe that for a second, rushing to his cell phone to check with Yuuma for any messages and apologize that he missed their date. And he number was missing, together with any pictures he took during the week.

"What is going on?" The teenager asks himself as he gets ready for school, stopping to talk with his parents for a couple of minutes only to learn that he slept through the whole day yesterday. "Was it all a dream?"

"Will you die for me?"

Issei shakes his head, trying to dismiss the words as he runs for school. "It must have been. I mean, Yuuma with wings like that? What anime was I watching to dream about that?" And yet he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, really wrong. It got better when he saw his two friends making their way to school. "Matsuda! Motohama! Good morning!"

The two other parts of the Perverted Trio greeted back and soon Issei started talking about sleeping the whole day yesterday and missing his date. "You had a date? Weren't you dreaming about that?" Motohama questions with a chuckle and a mocking smile.

"What? Of course I hadn't! I introduced Yuuma to you last week!" Issei was indignant by the statement and his blood began to boil with Matsuda's next words.

"You crazy there man? You didn't introduce any Yuuma to us last week." The bald student said with a grin.

"Of course I did!" Issei wasn't a violent guy but he was almost punching his friends. "Stop with your jealousy already and tell me you remember her and get her number or something! I need to call her!"

"Issei, you didn't introduce us to any girl." Motohama commented while fixing his glasses with a finger and a huge smile. "Like we would ever get jealous of you anyway! You wouldn't get a cute girl enough to affect us like that!"

"Hell yeah!" Matsuda and Motohama high five while Issei just grew more confused with the situation.

Confusion breeds into fear as he pulls out his cell phone again and while he follows his friends to school with close steps he keeps for any proof of Amano Yuuma, any text, any picture, any record he ever knew her or ever spoke with her.

"Will you die for me?"

That dream also didn't leave his mind and just made Issei more nervous as he messed with his cell phone like mad trying to find any proof that Yuuma existed, that she had been there and that they should have gone on a date.

His mind just kept going in circles as he entered school and as classes proceeded normally. Nothing weird was happening besides that but Issei felt a distinct impression that he was being watched in some way.

From time to time the brown haired student would look to a window and see a cat there only for it to be gone the next time he looked. Issei was starting to think he was growing mad or hallucinating as nothing of Amano Yuuma could be found or remembered by his friends.

Worse for him is that he had nobody else to ask as she wasn't a student from Kuoh and the only people he introduced her to were Matsuda and Motohama. Since all their encounters had been outside of school as well there was no one else he could ask about it while the day passed by him with his focus on his cell phone or his hands on his head as he tried to focus on his memories with unease as he remained certain that for the last few days he spent thinking about Yuuma and their date.

Even if there wasn't any proof of the girl anywhere, his research history still has the data of many of the stores he looked at in preparation for the date. Not only that but Issei is certain that he didn't sleep during the whole day as he never did that before.

Stay in his room for a whole weekend leaving only for bathroom breaks? Sure, he did that either for a game or out of laziness but he never before had slept a whole day away like nothing and if he ever did he knew for a fact that his parents would wake him up instead of being just accepting as they were of the new situation.

Dark thoughts plague Issei for most of the day and as classes ended he is called by his friends to hang out once again before someone's hand touches his back. "Are you alright?" The question surprises the brown haired boy but he is more surprised by Emiya Shirou's presence close to his classroom. "You look pale."

"Do I?" Issei has no reason to doubt Shirou, the redhead has a reputation of helping everyone and his question didn't seem odd. "Just having a weird day." It was all he felt like saying before being compared with a lunatic.

"Is this about Amano Yuuma?" Shirou questions experimentally and receives the shocked stare from Issei.

"You remember her?!" Most of the hallway turns their attention to them until Kiba starts moving around to make people ignore the interaction while Setsuna steps forward to Shirou's side.

"We shouldn't have this conversation here." The woman with black and redhead hair points out, earning a nod from Shirou.

"You are right." The redhead turns to Issei. "Could you please follow us to the Occult Research Club? I believe you are owed an explanation."

Confused but desperate, Issei nods his acceptance as they meet up with Liz on the exit of the school and make their way to the ORC.

On any other day he would be exhilarated to have a chance to enter the old school building; the ORC has a reputation of having the best looking girls around the school with Rias Gremory being considered the top of that particular pyramid.

But just hearing about Yuuma made him nervous as he follows Liz as she practically escorts everyone to the clubhouse.

Some events happened that didn't and did surprise him; Koneko, practically acknowledged as the school mascot also joined them which wasn't a surprise as she was a known member of the Occult Research Club. The cat that dropped from the roof and landed on Shirou's shoulder the moment that they stepped out of the school on the other hand was a huge surprise to him and most paying attention but they saw Emiya scratching the cat's head and realized it must be his in some way.

Besides that, Issei found odd that some of Shirou's group know company wasn't around as Rin and Luvia, two extremely competitive girls known by their beauty and temper, were not around him as they usually are.

Their tight knit group is famous around Kuoh Academy for both their academic accolades and the fact that they are the most popular students of the 2nd year for many reasons. The fact they spend most of their time together just added to the mystique and the gossip around them with other students dreaming of joining their group for one reason or another. The fact they are also part of the ORC just adds fuel to the fire in any popularity discussion involving them.

Even as shaken as Issei is with everything happening to him, his mind can still process all those factors but he doesn't lose himself in them since he did have lunch with the group a few times thanks to his namesake before the 'Incident' from last year.

While the women are beautiful, Issei reminds himself to be respectful and stays silent as they walk to the ORC, not really knowing what to do with himself but putting up with it in hopes of getting answers.

Which in turn concerns Shirou a little as he knows Issei by reputation and a little in person, enough to notice how the brown haired student is acting completely different than expected.

Soon they enter the forest and the only magus present can see the previously normal student shiver. 'Even if he just reincarnated as a devil his instincts are already telling him this is not a normal area.' Shirou thinks with a nod of understanding. "How have you been, Ise?" He tries to call him for his nickname to help his fellow student.

The sudden question surprises Hyoudou boy but he just nods quickly, still shaken. "Confused. I wanna know what you know about Yuuma. Did something happen? Was she kidnaped? Is this a government conspiracy?"

Setsuna shakes her head, she can understand the nervousness of the boy but she can also smell his fear and is getting bothered by it. Kiba just smiles, trying to be reassuring but when Issei notices the smile he just grows more nervous, much for a certain cat's amusement as Koneko and Liz keep guiding them towards the ORC.

"Okay, I can't blame you for that." Shirou notices that Issei is just getting more unstable and decides to chuckle a little. "Believe it or not, this is the second time I am having to have this conversation with an Issei."

"Really? Are you talking about Ryuudou Issei? You know, with glasses?" At Issei's description, Shirou smiles.

"Yes, funny that it happened twice right?" The redhead's hope is that hearing that their mutual acquaintance passed for something similar would calm down the Issei present. And it worked as he can tell that the brown haired student breathing is a little more even. "Issei, I will tell you the same thing I told my friend before; it is complicated and like him, I am not the person you should have this conversation with, I am taking you to someone that will answer all your questions."

More relaxed and noticing the sincerity of Shirou's tone, Issei nods. "Who is it then?"

"Buchou." Koneko is the one that said and Shirou nods in affirmative.

"Yes, we are taking you to Rias. In my opinion she should have had this conversation before classes..." Now the redhead sounds a little frustrated before smiling again. "But don't worry about it, just know that everything is going to be fine."

"Fine? What happened then? What are you not telling me?" Issei begins to get more agitated but Shirou points ahead and he turns to see the old school building.

"You are about to know." Emiya says with a serious tone before placing a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, alright? I know everything is going to sound insane when we finish explaining but trust me; you need to know for your own good."

Realizing that he had no choice if he wanted answers, Issei looks once again to the old school building to see that some of the others are already entering. Taking a deep breath he starts to head in with Shirou right behind.

"So far so good." A baritone voice that Issei didn't recognize spoke but he kept looking ahead as he fought with his nerves.

Everyone makes their way to the office where before entering, Shirou takes point and opens the door, getting ready for what is about to happen.

Once the door was open, Issei was able to see some of the students present, some familiar like Rin and Luvia or even just known like the top Onee-samas of Kuoh in Rias and Akeno. All of them could easily be the cape on a fashion magazine without difficulty whatsoever.

And yet, for some reason that Issei couldn't explain, his eyes landed in the unknown figure in the room. It was the figure of a young girl that stole his breath and dominated his attention.

'Perfect.' Issei knew for a fact he wasn't a lolicon, that title belongs to Mastuda uncontestedly, his own preference of women are the buxom kind with shaped bodies and hourglass figures. Hyoudou Issei knows himself well enough that he can recite that without shame and hesitation.

But for some reason, his eyes are not on Rias Gremory or Himejima Akeno, two girls that are precisely his types, double so for Akeno and her breasts. They are on a girl with purple hair and a long white dress that reaches her heels with black ribbons, she is more or less the same size as Koneko and her hair is huge with a considerable number of ribbons making a long and complicated braid to make sure that it won't touch the floor.

She was just sitting there, reading a book without a care in the world and if someone told Issei that she was a statue made from the greatest artist on the planet he would have believed that, his mind incapable of associating that girl existence as none other than 'perfect' even if her eyes looked impassive and her aparece is of a girl not even close to leave childhood.

Meanwhile Rias looks at Issei then at Shirou with a frown on her delicate features. "I know you are stubborn but couldn't you just agree with me on this?" Issei's mind snapped back to reality at Rias' melodious voice even if it carried a tone of annoyance.

"You left him at his house without an explanation." Shirou points out as both Rin and Luvia step to the side to let the two sides discuss. The two magicians had attempted to talk with Rias previously to prepare her for the arrival as a favor to Shirou but it was clear that they failed. "Explaining about the supernatural to him should be your priority, Rias."

"I wanted him to relax and enjoy his life for a while to help him recover from a possibly traumatic event." The redhead woman says with frustration.

"With the culprit running around town? I think not." Protested the redhead man, approaching Rias table while the cat on his shoulder jumps to a pillow close to it. "You should at least have explained what happened, not leave him in the dark."

"Oh, because that would be easy after what he survived. Let's just talk about a traumatic event just after it happened." Rias truly sounds upset with the idea.

"Fine. Doesn't mean that you should have just left him alone like that. From what people were saying, the poor guy was practically having panic attacks during the day." Shirou says back with an equally upset tone.

'I was?' Issei sounds surprised but says nothing as Rias throws her arms in the air.

"He needs some time for the whole thing to set in his mind." Her tone of voice gets louder as her hands end on her desk.

"And with a homicidal fallen running around you are just going to risk it?" His voice goes loud in turn as he takes a step closer.

"Of course not. Kiba would follow him at the end of the day to, you know, make sure he would be safe and healthy." Her tone didn't change but Rias is obviously speaking louder now.

And Shirou's voice rises to match. "You can still do that, just tell him what is happening."

"He needs to rest." Rias stands with both her hands on the table. "Anyone's mind can only take so much. He needs a break!"

"He can rest after." Shirou also places his hands on the desk and stares Rias in her eyes. "But letting what happened fester in his mind can do more damage down the line. Just talk with him!"

The two redheads glared at each other with real annoyance as the other side seemed to refuse to see their point. Most of the room can understand what is happening, how both sides care about the situation and want what they think it's best for Issei. But their approaches to the problem are completely different.

Shirou is the more direct when it comes to solving problems and has Liz, Rin, Setsuna and Medusa agreeing with him for the most part. His posture is that now that the situation has developed, they need to make the best of it immediately.

Rias' approach is more cautious and careful, to let the things develop with minimal input, something that Akeno, Kiba, Koneko and Luvia agree wholeheartedly. Her posture is that things take time and patience with most of the heavy lifting needing to be made after proper preparation.

However among those in the room there is someone that agrees with neither but finds the whole situation amusing. "Dad, mom, do you two want the room for yourselves to solve your issues? Probably on a steamy passionate night?"

'Again that gruff voice?' Issei didn't recognize it and noticed that nobody seemed to be talking.

Still, the voice's comment was enough to make both redheads notice their position, with Shirou stepping back and Rias sitting down on her chair with blushed faces. "Good to have you two back to Earth but the fact remains that what happened happened, Issei is here and the poor boy looks utterly lost."

"Okay! Who is talking?" Issei gets up and starts to look around. "Is this a prank? Because it's not funny."

The voice spoke again, from behind him. "It's not a prank but it's funny." Issei turns around to see Shirou massaging the bridge of his nose, an amused Rias and the cat now on the table just looking at him with what he believed was a smile.

"Fine, since the cat is out of the bag," Rias did everything in her power to not look at Shirou's raised eyebrow at her pun, "Issei, please sit down again." The brown haired boy did as commanded, not willing to reject the offer from a beautiful girl. "I will be frank and direct; the supernatural is real and I, together with many in this room, am a devil." A couple of seconds pass and Issei doesn't react. Shirou is about to say something when Rias raises a hand. "Give him a minute."

A couple of seconds later, Issei finally has a reaction. "Is this a joke? I thought you said-" Before the complaint could fully leave Issei's lips, from the backs of every devil present bat-like wings jumped out and Issei's jumps back in surprise. "What? Is that-"

"Issei, I will have to be a little more harsh than I intended." Rias glares at Shirou for a second before turning back to the brown haired student. "Tell me; what do you remember from yesterday?"

When it's clear that Issei failed to comprehend what was being asked of him, Shirou took a step forward. "Yesterday Issei, what do you remember of your date?"

Blinking rapidly, Issei concentrates on the words and finally the memories start to make sense. "It was real." He whispers, hand moving to his chest to feel where the spear had pierced him. "I died?"

"No, Issei, you didn't die." Rias says quickly but gently, not liking the face of despair that he was making and was relieved when he looked at her with hope. "Before you did, with the last of your strength, you activated this," she pulled out one of her pamphlets from a drawer, "and called for me. Unfortunately you lost too much blood and there was only one feasible way for me to save you."

With a snap of Rias' fingers, wings appear on Issei's back, pushing him out of the couch in surprise and disbelief. He touches his wings for a moment as the pureblood devil lets him take his time.

After a while, the King began to speak again. "I had to reincarnate you as a devil since a human couldn't survive the blood loss you suffered. You must have noticed some problems in getting up or walking around in the sun?" After a nod, she continues. "That is because devils like us work at night, not during the day. Of course there are some benefits as well; you will notice a little later you are going to be full of energy, your body is going to be lighter than before and you will be healthier than the majority of humanity with few sicknesses being able to affect you."

Even with wings and the proof in front of his face, Issei finds everything happening unbelievable before he turns to Shirou and the others. "Wait, you guys are devils too?"

"Magician." Rin said, which prompted Shirou and Luvia to nod which Issei understood as they were magicians as well..

"Hanyou." Setsuna informs while making her nails grow like claws that almost made the newly reincarnated devil scream but he holds himself back.

"Nekomata."

"The cat talks!" Issei jumps back in surprise as a second tail appears behind a chuckling Yoruichi.

"Rude~" The nekomata said with amusement which made Shirou scratch her neck.

"Be nice." The redhead magus said with a smile but it is clear he is a little amused himself.

"Maybe I should go get some tea?" Akeno offers with a smile, she wants to watch more of Issei's reactions but it is clear the boy needs something to calm his nerves.

"Yes, please Akeno." Rias requests her best friend before turning back to Issei. "I am sure you have questions-

"A million!" Rias is not surprised by Issei's outburst.

"-and I will answer then after you tell me something." Issei nods at Rias' words, giving her his full attention. "Are you alright?" When the boy didn't react, the King let out a sigh. "I am asking about what happened yesterday, about all of it. Are you alright to talk about it? Do you need some time?"

"Will you die for me?"

"I..." Issei lets the word trail off as he says nothing else. For a couple of minutes there is no sound in the room other than of a page being turned in a book.

"Maybe we should leave this for tomorrow?" Yoruichi spoke as a suggestion. "This way both of you are in the right; the boy is clearly in no condition to have this conversation and this way he can be escorted to his home without fear."

While everyone seemed to agree, Issei didn't. "Wait a minute!" His call got everyone's attention again. "What happened yesterday...what happend with Yuuma...was it all real?"

"Yes." Rias replies with a sad smile. "Unfortunately you were the victim of an attack from a fallen angel." Memories return to Issei but his attention is still fully on Rias. "We don't know the exact reasons why but we have a lead. Please get up." Issei obeys without thinking too much about it. "Now extend your dominant hand- yes that is it. Now I need you to think of something powerful."

"Something powerful?" Issei looks confused and Shirou tries to help.

"Think of it like a trigger to call the power inside you." The redhead magus tells the new devil. "You can also think of an engine or a literal trigger if you want."

"Now that you are a devil your body has now a minimal degree of control over mana, magical energy if you prefer." The redhead devil explained. "As a devil you will have an easier time assessing your power than as a human, being able to call it with your imagination. All you need is to focus on something of great power."

'Something powerful…' Issei concentrates on his left hand, trying to call for something by using the image of one of the most iconic attacks of his favorite manga. 'Ka...me…' He starts to recite before feeling a tingling sensation on his arm.

"Is that it?" Rin asked curiously as she and Luvia approached to take a better look.

"It's undoubtedly a sacred gear." The blonde magus comments as Kiba places a hand on Issei's shoulder.

"Good job Issei." But the brown haired devil didn't notice, his eyes focused on the thing on his hand.

"It looks like a shield." Issei comments with a look at the bulky piece of red armor on his arm with a green jewel above his wrist while his fingers remain free.

"More like a gauntlet of some kind." Luvia pulls out a cell phone and takes a picture. "But there is some powerful energy emanating from it."

"Its draconic power." Yoruichi comments, still remaining sitting on the table but her eyes turn to Shirou.

"Something wrong, Shiro?" Rias asked and the magus shook his head.

"For a moment the image of a sleeping dragon appeared in my mind again, some of the chains disappeared." He commented with some frustration as he scratched his eyes. "I didn't get anything else and that lump of metal also hurt my eyes when I tried to analyse it."

"Is it divine metal?" Yoruichi asked but Shirou shook his head.

"It is not divine, I think." He sounds confused but certain. "It is metal but at the same time it is not."

Rias gets up from her desk as Akeno returns with the tea, the Queen starts distributing before looking at the armor on Issei's arm. "Is that Twice Critical?" At Akeno's question Rias looked at it closely.

"It does fit the description." The King agrees with the observation.

"Twice Critical?" Issei asked in curiosity.

"A sacred gear capable of doubling the power of the user for a while while having dragon properties." Rias said with a little nod as she observed the Gift From God. "That makes no sense." She whispered but barely anyone heard her.

Issei admires the gauntlet on his arm before a somber thought crosses his mind. "Is that why Yuuma killed me?" Just hearing the words was enough to snap people off the reverie of seeing a sacred gear.

"Don't say that, you didn't die and I saved you." Rias tries to reassure Issei but she can see in his eyes when he looks at her that he is still conflicted.

"And what is going to happen to her? Yuuma, I mean." That wasn't what Rias wanted to talk about but Issei has the right to know in her opinion.

"I already sent a request to get in contact with her immediate superiors. What that fallen angel did was a crime and won't be easily forgiven." What Rias avoids to say is that considering the tensions between factions there is a huge chance that she will never get an answer.

Akeno knows her friend's plight and comments with a sigh, "It would be easier if we had a true name."

"Raynare." A memory of the last moments of conciency of the previous day dawns on Issei. "Her name was Raynare." He looks at the sacred gear again. 'Should I really blame God for this?' The object didn't respond.

Meanwhile Rias nods in understanding. "That will make things easier." Relatively speaking as a name helped much but she will still need some cooperation from the other side. "I will make her pay Issei. She will suffer for what she has done."

To his embarrassment and confusion, a part of Issei wanted to protest-

"Will you die for me?"

-but he stays silent as everyone talks about one thing or another as a cup of tea is offered to him as he sits back down with the gauntlet disappearing.

Noticing that promesses of retribution weren't helping with Issei's mood, Yoruichi tries a new approach. "Cheer up kid. Rias didn't even explain all the benefits of being a devil yet."

"Benefits?" He didn't even realise there were some.

"Oh yeah, there is one you are going to love alright." Rin says sarcastically.

"Pervert." Koneko looks at Issei with half open eyes and the brown haired boy is mute at the blunt truth that even his teacher was nodding with the same expression without any intention of defending him.

"You see, a little bird told me that you want a harem right…" Rias looks at Issei with a smile, letting the suspense build up as Issei starts to look at her, practically salivating. "As a devil...you can have one, if you are promoted."

"I WILL DO IT!" Issei gets up from the couch excited. "I will have a harem! Being a devil is GREAT! I will have a HAREM!"

The mood improved tremendously at the passionate declaration and soon things got more cheerful as people began to talk and Kiba tried to explain some things to Issei only for him to listen exclusively to Akeno when she said the same things.

Soon music begins to play as Setsuna picks up her violin again. After some adjustments she begins to play a cheerful but sedate piece, the kind that would be heard in a tavern on a game of some sort.

Shirou watches the interactions begin to develop with a smile before he starts walking to the kitchen, noticing how someone that stayed silent for the majority of Issei's brief introduction to the moonlit world followed him.

Once he arrives at his prefered place of work and as he starts to separate the ingredients she begins to talk. "He is weak of mind." Medusa comments as she sits on one of the chairs of the table. "I had to do my best to avoid his attention or else the conversation would never progress."

"He was a normal human until yesterday." Shirou says back. "It is not his fault he saw a goddess for the first time and got stunned." He tries to say in good humor but his smile is a little empty.

"Tomorrow I will explain some more things." Rias enters the kitchen to get a glass of water. "You can lose the frown now, you got what you wanted."

"I wanted to go back in time and tell myself to pin that fallen angel with swords and interrogate why she is in town." Shirou says immediately and none of the girls present is impressed.

"And I want to hold the Power of Destruction on her face while you do this and dare her to lie." Is Rias' own desire as she drinks her water and begins to help Shirou.

"You two need to calm down. We don't even know where this Raynare is." Medusa points out but it is clear it didn't work when Shirou began to grumble.

"The abandoned church is our best bet." The redhead magus said with confidence.

"And if other fallens are there then we may start a war." Rias reminds him. "We need absolute proof she is there first. I will ask Rin to send some small familiars to watch the place."

"If you want advice, you should start slow with the boy." Medusa commented, making both redheads pause. "He is still recovering from the shock of everything even if turning into a devil worked as a distraction."

"I agree." Shirou said after taking a deep breath.

"He won't have any clients on his first day but I will explain more about devils and other things before that." Rias says before looking at Shirou with sharp eyes. "Say...can you ask Velvet-sensei for a favor?"

"You can literally order him to give Issei private lessons. He literally works for you." Shirou gives Rias a deadpan stare as Medusa giggles.

"But things done for someone asking instead of ordering are better received." Says the little goddess as Shirou places some of Akeno's tea in front of her.

"And you are still his favorite student regardless if you don't take any of his classes anymore." Rias giggles herself as Shirou sighs again.

"And because everyone knows he is the best at teaching the broader details of the moonlit world, details that you wouldn't need to explain yourself." Shirou points out Rias' intentions but she just smiles. "You do remember that Kiba is still taking his classes right?"

"Fine, fine. Spoilsport." Rias sounds cheeky because she already knows how the conversation is going to end.

"I will talk with him... after you teach him the basics of being a devil." Something that Shirou knew Rias was already going to do anyway.

"Deal." Rias is pleased with this arrangement as she doesn't like to issue orders that much and Waver Velvet is a really good teacher for general studies. She begins to leave back to the office as Shirou begins to cook.

Medusa watches as the redhead magus cooks while the devil leaves, her stomach already grumbling. While staying close to Shirou she can argue that it is for her own protection, in reality she goes to the kitchen with him to be the one to taste the food first.

…..

The following day after the revelations and existence of the moonlit world, Issei is excited by the end of classes, even the idea of going to school isn't enough to damper his mood. 'I can get a harem! A harem!'

While the dream always existed in his heart for as long as he could remember, in reality this was the first time he had real hope about becoming a true Harem King. Turning into a devil may have been one of the best things that could have happened in his opinion, at least when it came to his dream.

Issei had to hold himself back to not tell anything to his fellow perverts as Matsuda and Motohama walked to the school and wondered why he was so happy that morning. He wanted to tell them badly but Rias' warning of the need for secrecy remained and he didn't want to disappoint his new mistress.

His excitement was visible with every step he took but as he crossed the gate of Kuoh he was caught by surprise by his neck. "I need to talk with you." Ryuudou Issei drags his fellow Issei, much to the confusion of their perverted friends.

When they were behind a building, Ryuudou let Hyoudou go and he coughed a little. "What the hell man? Do you have any idea what the rumor mill will comment if someone saw you dragging me behind a building like that?"

"This is serious." The black haired Issei said with irritation as his counterpart fixed his uniform.

"You do realize we are going to be late for classes right?" And Ise can't believe that between the two of them he is the one pointing that out.

But Issei's next words shocked him. "Doesn't matter." The brown haired student wanted to question who he was and what he had done with Ryuudou but he had no time. "Did you really join Gremory-sama's club?"

"Woah, news really moves fast around here." The only real contact with the ORC was his little escort yesterday and not many people really noticed and Issei was impressed with whoever guessed right he joined the club.

"No, that is not- " Stopping himself, Ryuudou places both hands on Hyoudou's shoulders and looks him deep in the eyes. "Did you really almost die?"

"How do you know that?" Ise separates from his friend as he looks to Issei with suspicion. "Buchou told me she took care of everything."

That was a confirmation as far as the member of the student council understood and he looked at his perverted friend with sadness in his eyes. "So it really happened huh? You almost died."

"How do you know?" Seeing the sadness in his friend's eyes, Hyoudou lets go of his suspicion and looks at him with concern as well.

"Your King and my King are best friends, they talked with each other about the incident and I was there to hear." With a sad look he continued. "I am sorry you got reincarnated like that. It must have been an awful experience."

Not wishing to dwell on those thoughts, Hyoudou observed something important with what his friend said. "What the heck is that about 'Kings'?"

Ryuudou lets out a sigh, realizing that Ise wasn't informed of everything yet. Deciding that it was better for him to give his friend an explanation, however brief, Issei fixes his glasses. "Ise...I am a devil too."

"Woah."

…

Shirou had to arrive in Kuoh much earlier that day in an attempt to talk with Waver but unfortunately for him the man himself is later than he normally would be.

That is fine, Liz is in the teacher's lounge waiting to tell the long haired magus to go to his office if it was not a bother while he spent some of the morning making a small snack for Medusa and Koneko at the club before returning to his position close to the teacher's office.

He didn't expect the little devil to accompany him but she tended to do that when Yoruichi wasn't around. The fact she is eating a crepe he made for her meant she could keep him company and eat doesn't bother her at all for it was good company and good food..

So they both are beside the wall to the private office, before there was a boundary field keeping it invisible from the normal students but now it just has a small sign saying, 'classroom materials'.

It didn't take long for Waver to show up, take a look at Shirou and Koneko and offer them a nod. "I doubt you are here for more advice."

"Not really but I am here for a favor." The teacher opens the door and escorts both students inside.

"For you specifically?" The older man questions as he goes around his office to get his lesson plans for the day.

"Not really but you can consider it personal if you want." Shirou responds as he and Koneko sit in one of the chairs in front of the desk.

"Considering something personal doesn't mean that it is personal. I taught you that." Velvet finds the plans and picks a book from one of his bookcases. "Be specific and then we can talk about price."

"Hyoudou Issei was recently reincarnated as a devil." That made the teacher stop and look at his redheaded student. "He was attacked and Rias had no choice."

"Besides probably letting the boy die. And since lady Gremory and everyone in her household are busy or have better stuff to do, you are here to ask me to teach him the basics of the moonlit world." Waver deduces.

"You are also the best to teach this kind of stuff." After a nod Shirou continues. "Rias will teach him the basics of devils as they go but the finer details about the rest…"

"He can join my class like any other student and get some notes, you know that. But something worries you." It was the only reason why the teacher could see him asking for the favor. "You are not good at political games, Shirou. You're too honest."

"The fallen angel that attacked is still out there and you are the best in teaching on how someone in a more disadvantageous position-"

"Read 'weak'." Waver interrupts Shirou with a chuckle.

"-if that is what you want to call it, sure." It is clear that Shirou didn't like to call it weakness. "I will admit my knowledge on fallens is limited and there isn't much that I can talk about to improve his odds of surviving them. But you can, practically a walking encyclopedia."

"There is nothing that I can teach about fallens that a devil can use. But I can still teach him the basics after classes in remedial lessons." He finishes getting his papers but sits on his chair. "A couple of history lessons and information can go a long way in helping someone survive."

"That is all I ask." Shirou says relieved.

"Don't you mean 'we'?" The teacher turns to a silent Koneko before looking back to the other magus. "Lady Gremory only needed to give command and I would have to do it."

"But you know how she is…" Shirou comments drily as Koneko just gives the older man a blank look that makes the long haired magus chuckle.

"Well, since it is a favor I suppose that you can give me something in return?" He doesn't want to presume neither with his student or his ally. "Information for information?"

"A magus to the end huh?" Shirou says with snort. "I already know what you are going to ask."

"You can't help a magus when a new avenue of research opens for them." Picking up a notebook and a pen from his desk, Waver opens it close to the middle. "Did you have any progress in developing your Muramasa?"

"I half regret telling you about that." Shirou says with a little sarcasm but Waver shook his head.

"You wanted help developing your ability and you came looking for a teacher." Waver places his hands under his chin with a small smile. "Your ability to trace weapons is unique enough but when you add the fact you can also produce Noble Phantasms, there is just no reference for it." The teacher turns a few pages and shows Shirou his notes. "I still regret that I never could lay eyes on the orginal, without a doubt its destruction is a real shame for humanity."

Even if the tone of his teacher's voice was even, Shirou still felt like he was being reprehended. "Sorry." He says with a shrug. "But I already told you that one needed to be destroyed and it wasn't like I could alter it in any way even if I wanted."

"I developed a theory about that." Waver turns a few pages to show the drawings of Muramasa that he made with Shirou's specifications. "The reason why the original Noble Phantasm was more stubborn is the same reason why a Noble Phantasm is praised in the first place; the fact that they are elevated to Noble Phantasms makes them immune to the effects of time and gives them strength depending on their legend."

"So you are saying that the reason why I couldn't really change Muramasa was because of its legend?" Shirou felt confused at the statement. "But the sword itself wanted to change, to be completed…"

"That is also part of Muramasa's legend, the man, not the sword. It doesn't mean you would be capable of doing it." Waver points to some observations in another page, things he researched about the smith Muramasa. "His desire was to create a blade that could cut everything. And he failed. We know that he spent his whole life trying to do it but never managed to reach success, doesn't that also make it part of his legend even if many don't know about it?" Shirou's eyes widen but the teacher is not done. "Of course that doesn't mean that he wouldn't succeed eventually or that if he was for some reason summoned as a theoric Heroic Spirit then he would continue to try and maybe even succeed in completing his work."

"Knowing his obsession would probably be the first thing on his mind." Shirou could already see it in his mind, the first chance that blacksmith got he would just go back to work.

"Not much different from some magicians." Waver says with a chuckle. "Even in his time Muramasa was considered one of the best, the best to some. And in a way that sword had reached its theoretical limit." He then turns a page to show Shirou another Muramasa. "Yours on the other hand, while carrying the history, the materials and techniques that created the original it is more versatile. Why?"

The answer was obvious to Shirou for a long time now. "Because it is my creation."

"To be more specific, because it is not the original." Waver smiles at that point. "You created it, true, and while your Noble Phantasm has all the benefits of being the artifact, it is not the artifact but a copy, a fake, not as good as the original as you said yourself." He points to a part of the paper that has 'degraded copy' written on it. "But with the benefit of not being constricted like the original."

"Constricted how?" Shirou had trained and studied his magecraft and Muramasa itself for a good while but constricted wasn't something he never observed in his work.

"Simple; you are not Muramasa to complete his work, but you don't need to be to complete your own work." He turns the page back to the Noble Phantasm. "It isn't far-fetched to say that only Muramasa can complete the work of Muramasa in any direction, but like an apprentice or many of the others that came after, you can learn from him and build your own legacy by using him as a base. That isn't something weird for a magus and it is one of the principles of science itself."

"Shirou can't finish the work, he can do his own work." Koneko observed after finishing her crepe.

"Indeed." Waver affirms with a nod. "That is why it didn't matter what he attempted, any improvement that he made to the original Muramasa would sooner or later be gone as only Muramasa himself can finish Muramasa the Noble Phantasm."

"And even then I think the man would make another sword instead of trying to force the metal to improve." Shirou reflected about it many times and he knows for a fact as there is only so much a sword can take before it becomes inutilizable.

"I wouldn't know, you are the swordsmith." Waver gestures with reverence. "But back to the question I asked before..."

"Muramasa as a Noble Phantasm can be adapted in many ways; I have managed to basically add almost everything that I have created to it in one way or another." Shirou informs impartially.

"What is missing?" Waver asked but he had a hunch.

"You know what; no healing of any kind." Even a Noble Phantasm refused the concept that EM was built towards and Shirou can't help but be a little bitter about it.

"And the other?" Turning to another page there is a drawing of Caladbolg in it.

"Can't add anything but can change its shape, to an extent." Shirou still remembers making the arrow that saved his life on the Shapeless Isle. He managed to reproduce the feat many times after, always cautious when unleashing a true shot with the Noble Phantasm. "And whatever I do with that sword it practically always reaches the point that it breaks in the most destructive ways. It may not be original but I call it a Broken Phantasm."

"Hmm." Waver writes the concept down before looking back up. "And you really couldn't add anything?" A shake of the head is his reply. "Is that because Muramasa was made entirely by human skills which are closer to magecraft than pure magic?" The teacher speculated more for himself than for the others present.

Left unsaid was that Calabolg is more magically enhanced and much more powerful than Muramasa, these factors can be the main reason why one is more susceptible to change while the other just changes in ways he can use to apply the same function; destroy its target.

Finishing a couple more observations on his notebook, the older magus closed it before picking up some papers. "I will ask Jakken to pass on a schedule with my free time for some lessons on the basics of the moonlit world. I will need at least one week to have an improvised lesson plan but at least I will be able to use it if similar situations arise again."

Shirou smiles at a successful job. "Thank you sensei."

The long haired man shakes his head. "Equivalent exchange, Shirou, equivalent exchange. You gave me the chance to study Noble Phantasms. This is the least I can do."

"I must remind you of the contract between you and Buchou." Koneko is quick to say.

"Koneko." Shirou chastises the little devil but Waver just smiles.

"Don't worry about it. I like my head where it is and the contract stops me from talking anyway." And the man wasn't kidding about the head or the contract, Rias' threats had him scared for weeks and the contract is ironclad on him not letting anything about Shirou's Noble Phantasms leave his office.

But Waver Velvet is a magus, a moral person true but still a magus, and he wouldn't give up the chance of studying a new avenue for magecraft even if his conscience, morals and principles stop him from doing anything sinister or trying to lock Shirou up somewhere for observation.

That and the fact that Rias promised enough pain on his future if the information was divulged was enough to keep even the most insane magician away from doing anything to her magician, he likes his head and his balls where they are.

"But just the basics. If he wants to learn more then he will have to join my special lessons, like everyone else. I can't be seen showing favoritism to anyone, regardless of who is his King." The teacher makes that clear while getting away from his potential disturbing demise.

"That is fair sir." Everyone stands up and starts to leave the office.

"We could have more of these sessions if you returned to the extra classes." Waver already knows the answer but he is a magus, he has to try.

"Sorry but I think we both can agree that the normal methods aren't working for me." Shirou opens the door for Koneko before following her as the teacher closes it behind him.

"Indeed. But if you ever change your mind it's still the same schedule; Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. You come and go as you please." Shirou understood that it meant that Issei would get his classes on a Tuesday or Thursday if not a Sunday to not get in the way of the teacher's work.

For some reason the man refused extra work on Fridays but no one minded that.

"Thank you for your time sensei." Both men shake hands and Waver made sure to shake Koneko's too.

"No problem at all. It is my duty as a teacher to help my students." He looks to Koneko especifically. "I shall see you a little later for our class miss Toujo." With a nod from the little girl, the teacher began to march his class before turning. "Ah, I almost forgot to ask Shirou." The redhead turns to give his teacher his attention. "When you sleep, do you still dream with a pegasus?"

"Yes, every other night." That earned a nod from the older man.

"Remember to meditate on it. Dreams have meaning and power and a pegasus is a symbol of glory and tragedy." Then the three began to walk again to get started on their school day.

…

Setsuna doesn't know how to feel about Hyoudou Issei as everyone gathered together in the office of the clubhouse as usual. Yes, he is a known pervert but he never bothered her because of it and that wasn't the problem with him.

Instead the problem Setsuna saw herself facing was the disruption of the usual activities of the ORC to help accommodate the newly reincarnated devil as Kiba needed to help Rias with explanations and the transition from human to devil and Shirou still felt the need to stop their spar earlier to cook extra food for said lesson, not that she minded the last part as everyone could partake on the extra food.

Not that Setsuna blames anyone for what is happening, Hyoudou Issei almost died and is now being thrown into a world that he is completely unfamiliar with. 'The humans around Kyoto for the most part are also ignorant.' The hanyou reminds herself as she prepares her violin. 'At least I can still make use of the extra time.'

Getting into position, the black haired hanyou begins her practice as the conversations continue. While in the past her mistakes were noticeable by the whole club and when she played a wrong note everyone jumped around thinking that something had broken. Now her skill with the instrument is high enough that she could either play tunes to just fill the whole room or just enough to help everyone's relax.

Setsuna is still unable to apply the instrument on her original objective; to turn it on as a tool of combat. Unfortunately that is something that needs a certain degree of mastery of the finest arts of youjutsu, something that she is decidedly bad at.

But Setsuna plays the violin every day anyway because she discovered something about it she didn't expect at all; she likes to play violin far more than she imagined, it was truly one of the things she discovered a great pleasure in doing.

The surprise was a pleasant one in many levels and with the support of her friends that had no problem in listening to her when she was still learning and even offered to help her practice on the case of Rias and Kiba who knew a little about music since they played the piano, it didn't take long before Setsuna became a descent player.

Even now the hanyou can notice people paying more attention to her music than anything else; Liz developed a taste for him as she closes her eyes everytime she is particularly enjoying a piece, Medusa was another who always liked to hear something while reading, sometimes even making requests depending on the book.

Music tends to help with everybody's mood even when they don't realize it and Setsuna is becoming increasingly good at her violin and at choosing the most appropriate song for the right occasion.

A calm melody runs around as she watches everyone around the office, her eyes focusing on Shirou and Akeno returning from the kitchen with tea and cookies. The redhead looks at her and already separates her plate immediately as nothing else needs to be said.

"So I either get good at fighting or I get enough contracts to be promoted and get a harem right?" Issei calmly questions Rias for how he can be promoted to high class.

"Skipping a few details but yes, that is the general idea." Rias nods in acceptance to Issei's logic. "Now today we are going to have an expecial activity and you are going to be part of it, Issei."

"Rias…" Shirou places some cookies on the King's desk while his voice carries a tone of warning. "He is not ready."

"Stop worrying too much, Shiro. It is just a small stray. He won't have to do anything." Rias explained as she picked one of the cookies in the shape of a rabbit and took a bite out of its ear. "Delicious~"

"He doesn't know how to fight yet." The redhead magus insists on the subject as the devil just shrugged.

"He won't have to, everyone else is coming with us so everything is going to be fine." Rias licks her lips as she finishes the cookie to then drink some of Akeno's tea. "You don't need to worry."

"Ah, Shirou…" The redhead turns his eyes to a nervous Issei. "Ryuudou...he told me he was a devil as well...is that because I had him talk with you?"

"What do you mean?" While most try to not be noticed it is clear to Setsuna plenty are curious as Issei explains his question to Shirou.

"Do you remember what happened last year? With Shinji?" The sound of a cookie being bitten is heard throughout the whole room as Rias looks really irritated at the question. "I mean…"

Issei doesn't know what to say as he can't understand that it is not his fault. Shirou however did." Yes, we all remember the Shinji thing, he even set up his attack when Rias was away." The magus looks at the devil with a small smile. "While not the smartest tool in the shed, Shinji was a decent planner." Rias nods in appreciation at the comment as Shirou reminds her it wasn't her fault. "But, yes I remember. What about it?"

"Ah…" The brown haired devil still looks insecure but noticing that he has everyone's attention he steeled his nerves and began to talk again. "After that, Ryuudou had some theories about what happened, I guess that some of them were right?"

Still uncertain, the boy asked the question and Shirou nodded. "Shinji tried to kill everyone at school and I stopped him." Then the redhead magus places a hand on his chin in thought. "I do remember Issei, Ryuudou I mean, asking a couple of questions later about it."

"Wait, he tried to kill everyone? Why?" The new devil is shocked by the revelation.

"Because he was an ambitious creep, that is why." Rin says without hesitation and no one disagreed with her.

"Ah, but you saved everyone?" Issei looks at Shirou with admiration before standing up and bowing to his waist. "Thanks for your services."

"You are welcome." Shirou said with a sincere smile. "About my old friend, yes he had questions and I directed him to Sona. I don't know what they talked about either as that was a private conversation but he was pleased with it after a few days."

"That was a really irritating situation." Rias complains a little before taking another bite of her cookie.

"Indeed it was, the situation itself was messy and the fallout is still affecting the school to this day." Akeno comments with a smile as she sits beside Liz on the couch.

"So that was when Issei turned into a devil." The question didn't confuse anyone even as it was one Issei but they could understand just fine what he meant.

"Sona reincarnated him around that time." Rias commented with a smile. "Such a kind and polite boy too. Pity that Sona can't see he has a crush on her."

"Hahaha." Issei lets out a weak laugh at the pureblood's devil comment. "But, for real, it was because of your conversation he became a devil?"

"I can't answer that." Shirou says immediately. "He talked with her and I don't know all the details. All I know is that he is happy and for me that is enough."

"I see." Issei accepted the answer even if it was unsatisfying.

"He may be a devil for a little longer but don't worry, soon you will get in the swing of things." Kiba comments with a smile and a hand on Issei's shoulder.

"Correct! And today is your first step." Rias' excitement is followed next by her standing up and all the devils in the room doing the same with the exception of Issei who didn't understand. "Come on, Issei. That for you to see some of the responsibilities that you shall have as one of my servants."

"Yes, Buchou!" A still nervous Issei gets up, not knowing the kind of night he is going to have.

"You guys don't wait for us, we are going to have some fun at the docks." Akeno informs with an innocent smile that everyone except Issei knows exactly the kind of fun she is thinking about.

'I just hope Issei doesn't end up traumatized.' Similar thoughts run in the minds of many in the room as they watch the devils leave.

A few minutes later Medusa marks the page she was in her book and gets up, taking calm steps towards Rias' desk. "Something wrong?" Shirou never saw her do that and one of his eyebrows raised as the goddess pulled a hidden lever to open the secret compartiment on the desk.

"I don't think you should do that, lady Medusa." Luvia spoke with as much respect as she could muster but the blonde was completely ignored.

Letting out a sigh, Shirou notices that Medusa is picking one of Rias' manga volumes. "Medusa, what are you doing?"

If it was anyone else, the little goddess wouldn't even bother to answer, but it was her protector and so, "Continuing my reading."

"You are reading that?" Luvia questions incredulously as Rin looks at the little goddess with emotions that transitioned between confusion and panic.

Setsuna, like everyone else, also knew about the secret collection but that was the first time she really saw one of the books. It was the image of a muscled man in flamboyant clothes and holding a mask on his hand. After analysing the image for a few seconds she focuses on her violin ready again while listening to the conversation.

"It is an interesting reading, the story may be a little bizarre but his version of certain monsters intrigues me." Medusa comments while sitting down again, getting more cookies closer to her chair. "Not my favorite story but it is good in its own way."

Shirou can understand what she is saying, what bothered him wasn't the story itself. "If you wanted to read it you could have asked me. I would buy you the complete run for the library." With the money he was making that wouldn't be a problem, especially with the internet.

"No need, I can read these ones." Medusa opens a page in the middle of the book promptly, making it clear that she had already started that one. "Besides, there is a certain thrill in reading her secret stash without her knowing."

Shirou gives the little goddess a deadpan stare. "Aren't you spending too much time with Akeno?" All she did was look at him for a moment and offer a small, unapologetic smile. "Or were you always like that?"

While there were few moments that Medusa showed a trickster side Shirou can recall that sometimes she did play pranks on her sisters even if usually she was the victim more than the prankster.

The whole interaction is witnessed by all present in the office at the moment and Setsuna can't help but smile at the cheeky goddess. 'She knows that nobody here will rat her out.' The hanyou was certain of that fact.

She can already see the thoughts running in the minds of the others; Shirou won't say anything, not because of his oath or anything personal, he just won't see any harm done and will leave it alone. Liz will always follow his lead, she doesn't care either way.

Rin is in a tough spot in these circumstances, like the devils she has the obligation to protect the King's secrets except that everyone already knows about it and revealing that to Rias may have really negative consequences to whoever does it. It is amusing to the hanyou how she looks to the goddess and to the desk back and forward with growing panic.

Luvia has no obligation either way but she wishes to stay in the good graces of both the goddess and the devil for good reasons on both sides with the Gremory clan being a potential ally in some circumstances in the future, even if she can't get with Shirou which is still her main plan, or maybe a potential friendship with a goddess is worth throwing herself in front of a metaphorical bus if Rias ever finds out. The blonde is still clearly debating both choices.

While her father was extremely stoic and Setsuna can't deny she takes him on that aspect, the hanyou can't help herself but watch the situation with a small smile hidden by her violin as she began to play a happy piece that could be find in some comedies, an indirect way for her to declare to everyone present she is amused.

It was the only indication of her true emotions that she allowed to manifest, how she adores watching her friends interact with each other, for things both big and small.

With her music playing, Setsuna felt like she was watching a show just for her where the soundtrack is to her tastes and convenience.

…..