XXI

Blossoming Friendships

"Do you think he'll like it?" asked Asia. "I didn't know what to make so I just went with cookies."

Issei smiled as he hauled the multiple trays of food Asia had prepared for Kouji and Amelia. Since it was the weekend, he ended up staying up all night helping her bake and cook while telling his parents it was for a fundraiser they were participating in.

"I think this is more than cookies," said Issei.

"Well I didn't want to just make cookies," said Asia. "I hope they like omelettes…and brownies…oh and don't forget the tacos."

"Oh let's not forget that," said Issei. "Where did you even learn to make tacos?"

"Rias is a fantastic teacher," said Asia.

As they approached the steps leading up to the church, Issei had a momentary flashback. This was it…This was the place where everything had changed for both he and Asia. This was where Raynare killed Asia for her Sacred Gear, where he awakened the Boosted Gear…where he became the Red Dragon Emperor.

"Hey!" cried Issei. "Kouji! Amelia! Are you guys up yet?"

"I guess we can't just walk in there…can we," said Asia.

"I think that would literally kill us," said Issei.

They waited for a few seconds before an unfamiliar girl poked her head through the half broken door. That…definitely wasn't Amelia. This one was beautiful in a way that reminded Issei of Rias. Her dark hair was tied up into a bun, however her bangs framed her face. Her skin was pale, however even down the winding steps he could see the glistening of her skin against the sunlight like diamonds.

"Who…Who is that?" asked Asia.

Issei watched as the girl slammed the door shut before pushing both doors open, floating down the steps to greet them as both Kouji and Amelia emerged from the church.

"Hello there!" the girl landed and smelled the food. "You must be friends of Kouji's. I'm NingNing, it's nice to meet you."

"NingNing…" That name…Why does it sound so familiar. "I-It's nice to meet you too. I didn't know Kouji was having visitors."

"Oh it was a last minute thing," she smiled. "Are those cookies…"

"Y-Yes!" said Asia. "I…We wanted to give you guys a welcome gift since you'll be staying in town for awhile. I didn't know what everyone wanted so I kind of made…everything."

"Hey Issei," Kouji and Amelia finally joined them. "What are you doing down here? Why didn't you just knock?"

"They're Devils, Kouji," said Amelia. "They can't enter the vicinity of a divine sanctuary."

"Divine sanctuary?" asked NingNing. "Honey if you think this run down warehouse is a divine sanctuary, I'm very worried for the state of modern exorcists. Don't worry kiddos, God's abandoned this place, you can walk in there like it's your house and not have to worry about eternal damnation."

"That's…good to hear," said Issei. "Don't mind if we do then."

Issei was definitely nervous to enter this building after the last time, however NingNing was right. Both he and Asia stepped inside without it physically hurting them to…and he was definitely surprised at how much this had changed. The entire church had been transformed to resemble a bunker with beds, a second floor for storage, even…

"Why is your pantry so depressingly empty?" asked Issei. "Dude did you get sad and eat yourself to sleep?"

"N-No…" Kouji sighed. "Somebody's been asleep for a year and ate everything she could get her hands on."

"I was hungry!" cried an embarrassed NingNing. "Sue me for trying to recover my grace to save your ass from a Snake Demon. And might I add you were the one who put me to sleep in the first place?"

"I did not put you to sleep and you know it," said Kouji.

"Well you might as well have!" cried NingNing.

Asia looked to Amelia, who was equally as awkward about this as they were. "Are they…friends?"

"More like siblings, from what I can tell," said Amelia. "But thank you for the food. I was starting to think I had to run my savings dry to feed us."

"It feels weird to be back here," Issei took a seat on an empty bed. "You know I grew up in this town and I've only been in here maybe three times total?"

"I'm guessing you're not really religious, huh?" Kouji sat down on the ground in front of him. "It'd be weird for a Devil to believe in God."

"I believe in God," Asia smiled. "I was a nun before I became a Devil. I've actually visited Vatican City a few times…I wish I had met you sooner Amelia."

"Just Amy is fine," she said sitting down besides Asia to unpack the food. "And I doubt we'd ever have met Asia. I was an exorcist, we hardly ever talked to regular priests or nuns unless we were visiting their town or city for sanctuary."

"A Devil who believes in God," said NingNing. "That's something you don't see everyday."

"When exactly did you come to Kuoh, NingNing?' asked Asia.

"Last night," the girl replied, jumping into a bed. "I've been asleep for the past year trying to recover my grace from a spell my sisters and I cast on good ol Kouji here. The damn thing nearly killed us."

"A…A seal?" Issei remembered what Kouji had told them yesterday at Kuoh Academy. "Your eyes…What did you say it was? Imugi?"

"And you called it…the Snake Demon?" asked Asia. "And if you were recovering your grace, would that mean you're an Angel?"

"Reincarnated Angel, yeah," NingNing smiled. "As for Imugi, you can think of that thing as the first demon. It's a tremendously long and painfully boring story but it's an ancient Demon from the times before the war. It was sealed into Kouji when he was a child and when it fully possessed him, my sisters and I sacrificed our grace to seal it into Kouji's Sacred Gear."

"I see…" said Issei. "Wait a minute, NingNing? Are you an idol?"

NingNing shot up and looked to Issei. "You know me?"

"Y-Yeah," Issei smiled. "I've seen your performances online. I was sad to hear you guys disbanded…but I didn't know you guys were Angels. Is every idol an Angel?"

"Not all of them," said NingNing. "Well, maybe a few, but that's a different thing entirely. But I'm always happy to meet a fan."

"Does that mean your sisters are the other members of Aespa?" asked Issei.

NingNing smiled and nodded. "They woke up from their recovery period the same time I did, but they're out on errands for Lady Gabriel."

"Kouji can you grab some plates?" asked Amy. "I, for one, am gonna eat. I'm still hungry."

"How can you eat five instant ramen bowls and still be hungry?" asked Kouji.

"NingNing ate my entire stock of oreos…" said Amy. "I was looking forward to those."

"Sorry, sorry," NingNing smiled and placed a hand on her head. "Promise I'll buy you more Oreos."

"Speaking of which," said Kouji. "We should probably hide these before Winter gets here…We might not have a food supply."

"Oh my word you're right…" said NingNing. "Where are we supposed to hide food from her? Her nose is sharper than a K9…"

"Or…" said Kouji. "We could eat it before she gets here…"

"Oh…Oh I like that," NingNing practically drooled over the thought. "Do you think we can?"

"We'll have to be quick though," said Kouji. "Amy, help us out. You do not want to be hungry when Winter's here."

"You can not be serious," said Amy. "You two are not about to eat all of this food…"

"Of course not," said NingNing. "The three of us are going to eat all of this food."

Issei found himself smiling. He didn't really know the relationship between Kouji and NingNing all that well, but Kouji was definitely acting different than he did the other day. He was smiling and had a brighter aura about him.

"He's happy," said Asia.

"Yeah…" Issei smiled before his arm began to throb. Issei managed to grab it before it could get worse, however Kouji flinched as his eyes began to shift as well.

"K-Kouji?" asked Amy.

NingNing's eyes fixed on Issei. "Well, hello there."

Issei's Boosted Gear forced itself to overtake his arm as the emerald jewel glowed once again.

"A pleasure to meet you, Angel of Gabriel," said Ddraig. "I suppose you already know who I am."

"Not personally," NingNing smiled. "One of my sisters knew one of your previous vessels. She spoke highly of Belzard."

"What the hell…" Kouji looked to Issei, however avoided eye contact with him. "The Red Dragon Emperor?"

"Vessel of Imugi, I presume," said Ddraig. "I apologize for not formally introducing myself to you earlier, however seeing as you tampered with my partner's memories, I did not think it wise to speak to you so soon."

"Sorry about that," said Kouji. "Can't be too careful in a new town, you get it."

"Indeed," said Ddraig. "Is Imugi present? It has been eons since I've last had a chance to meet the Dragon of the Earth."

"Afraid not," said Kouji. "Since we found out about the Prophecy of the Starless Night, Imugi's gone silent."

"The Prophecy of the Starless Night?" asked Ddraig. "Has another prophet spoken the same prophecy?"

"You know about the prophecy, Ddraig?" asked Issei.

"Belzard, my previous vessel, was made aware of it during his lifetime," said Ddraig. "We had thought it to be the words of a hack…but if it's really true…"

"What is it exactly, Red Dragon Emperor?" asked NingNing. "I've heard of it but I don't know what it means. Is it literal?"

"I'm afraid even I do not know," said Ddraig. "However there was one thing Belzard was certain of when speaking of the prophecy. Even if it did come from the mouth of a conman, the prophecy depicts the release of Lucifer from his prison…a prophecy of the end of the world."

"Wait a minute," said Amy. "I thought the Devil died during the war. That's what the Elders told us."

"Lucifer was one of the original Archangels," said Kouji. "He can't be killed even by the other Archangels. They just created a parallel pocket dimension to hold him…Purgatory."

"Indeed," said Ddraig. "I do not know what this prophecy foretells or what is to become of the ones involved, however if it were to be taken at face value…You've got a lot on your plate, vessel of Imugi."

"Tell me about it," Kouji sighed. "But to free Lucifer from his prison…no way the prophecy is just taking into effect on its own. There has to be someone pulling all of these strings from behind the scenes."

"That's pretty obvious," said NingNing. "But we won't know much until Azazel finishes his investigation of that drug. I hate it when everything is connected except for one piece."

"Partner," said Ddraig. "If this prophecy is coming true…You need to be wary of the White One."

"The…White One?" asked Issei.

"The vessel of the Vanishing Dragon, the White Dragon Overlord, Albion," said Ddraig. "I sensed his presence in this world not too long ago. If both Heavenly Dragons are awakened at the same time, we are sure to clash."

"He's here alright," said Kouji. "I ran into him in Paris. He was in a group of some weird looking people and even trying to hide himself, but it was him alright."

"If this is true, it is only a matter of time until he makes his move," said Ddraig. "Do be careful in the future, partner. The dominoes have begun to fall…everything leading to this prophecy."

With that warning, Ddraig vanished back into the Boosted Gear as his arm returned to normal. Issei always hated when that dragon does something like that. He always comes out to spout some bullshit warning and just disappears without ever telling them anything else. It was honestly kind of annoying.

"Well…," said NingNing. "This complicates things."

"It does?" asked Amy.

"The Red Dragon Emperor and the White Dragon Overlord awake at the same time," said NingNing. "Not to mention the vessel of Imugi with the Mystic Eyes. Some really powerful players are entering the board at just the right time…an idiot might call it a coincidence."

"And what would you call it?" asked Kouji.

"Pieces being dropped onto the board by whoever is pulling the strings," said NingNing. "Forget the food Kouji, we have something important to do."

"We do?" asked Kouji.

"Red Dragon Emperor," said NingNing. "I need you to contact your master and set up a meeting with Kouji and I. It's time we have a negotiation before any more factions interrupt."

…

Winter yawned as she was being escorted through Vatican City by a handful of insignificant exorcists. She had been here so many times in the past that the grandness of the architecture and history behind this place stopped fazing her. After all that the people of this country have done to her personally, she couldn't care less about this city or its people.

"I hope you'll be staying for awhile," said Shidou Touji. "We've prepared a room for you to stay at the Basilica."

The Basilica di San Pietro. Even if the rest of this place meant nothing to her, Winter remembered the palace fondly. When she was alive, it was always her dream to come here as a child. The grand arches, the library, the mosaics. While it looked nothing like it, this place reminded her much of Heaven.

"I won't be staying long," said Winter. "I should be out by nightfall."

Shidou Touji. So this was Kouji's adoptive father. He looked nothing like him, though it made sense. He had short but slicked back auburn hair like Irina as well as a childish but polite face. He wore the same priest's uniform as the dozens of other priests around here…though it seems he's still a powerful exorcist nonetheless.

"That's a shame to hear," said Touji. "I suppose I should take you to the scene of the crime then. We've preserved it once we heard Lady Gabriel would be sending someone to investigate."

Winter's curiosity poked in her mind. How would Touji react if she brought up Kouji? Would the priest even care? If Kouji's memory alteration spell worked as it should have, nobody else on the planet besides them should remember.

Thinking about it made her fists clench as well as her heart break. How could he? After all they've been through together, how could Kouji just force them to forget? If it weren't for Lady Gabriel, he would be a nameless figure to them.

I'm going to give him the hardest hug he's ever had after I slap him in the face, she thought to herself.

Winter was led through the Basilica and to it's upper floors, off limits to visitors and only accessible to members of the Church. Princess Alice's room was rather spacious, like a princess should have. Silk wallpaper, black out curtains, and a bed frame that just screamed royalty. However even before walking in, Winter could tell something was off about this whole place.

"Here we are," said Touji. "Everything is as we found it…please do what you can."

Winter's eyes lingered around the room as she walked inside, making sure to mind her steps. If this room really was kept as it was, it would mean that outside entry through the windows were impossible. Princess Alice's room was closely guarded so simply walking in here would prove to be hard…unless it was someone on the inside.

"Where was her body?" asked Winter. "In relation to the blood stain."

The puddle of blood was large. Princess Alice was a normal human, albeit with the gift of future sight. She was completely human…this much blood definitely should have killed her.

"Right at the center of it," said Touji. "We found several puncture wounds on her stomach. It appears she was murdered in her sleep, no signs that she fought back."

"That doesn't mean she was killed in her sleep," said Winter. "Can I see the body?"

"I'm afraid her body is being cleansed for the ritual," said Touji. "I'm sorry Winter, even I can't grant you access."

Typical exorcists and their traditions.

"Do you have photos at least?" she asked.

Touji handed her a stack of photographs that were detailed and from different angles. It was convenient anyway. Winter counted 13 different stab wounds on Alice's body…however the blood patterns on her dress didn't correctly match up with how her body would have been laying in that puddle. If she simply laid on her back, there would at least be blood running down her sides rather than straight out. Most of the blood came from the exit wound on her back, meaning that it wasn't a knife that killed her. It would have been too short to have an exit wound…it was a sword. However there was a singular stab wound that caught her eye.

Winter flipped through the photos until she could find a picture of the dress Alice had been wearing to confirm her theory. As horrifying as it was, it gave her a good idea of how this was done.

"Your Princess's death was overly exaggerated," said Winter, handing him back the pictures. "She was killed by a single stab wound that entered from her stomach that punctured her heart, the others were just there to mask the actual way she died."

"W-What?" Touji looked at the photographs. "How could you tell?"

"13 entry points but only 12 exit wounds," said Winter. "Meaning that one of them didn't go through her…it went up. That and the way the blood was flowing meant she wasn't laying down when she was killed…she was held up."

"What do you mean held up?" asked Touji.

Winter floated up over the blood puddle and held out her hands. "She was probably held up like this. That singular stab wound would have hurt like hell but she probably was still alive as the murderer slowly inched it up through her body…which means she was tortured."

"T-Tortured?" asked Touji. "But for what possible reason? She didn't know anything about the Church's secrets."

The prophecy…It was all making sense. Whoever killed her tortured her for information on the prophecy. This was good to know.

"Look at the stab wounds," Winter landed besides him. "They have irregular edges and some are shorter than others…it wasn't a single sword that created those wounds. Multiple different weapons were used but that single wound on her stomach was what killed her. Have your coroners do an autopsy to confirm but I'm pretty sure I'm right."

"I…I don't know what to say,' said Touji. "Thank you Winter. I'll have the Elders take a look and we'll move forward from there."

"Be careful priest," said Winter. "Keep this between the higher ups, but if someone managed to sneak their way into the Vatican like this, I doubt it's an outsider."

"You're saying one of our own people did this?" asked Touji.

"Not exactly," said Winter. "But someone might have tampered with the barrier to allow someone in. There's too many unknown variables, but I'll leave the forensic work to you. I doubt you'll find anything substantial but I have enough to report back to Heaven."

"Thank you Winter," Touji bowed. "The Church thanks you for your service."

"Don't do that," Winter smiled. "You know I don't care for your organization."

"But still…"

"Say, priest," said Winter, deciding she might as well. "Do you have a family?"

Touji looked up at her with confused eyes. "Y-Yes. I have a daughter…my wife passed away quite some time ago so it's just been the two of us for awhile now. She's actually an exorcist as well."

"Is she here?" asked Winter.

"I'm afraid not," said Touji. "She was chosen a Holy Sword wielder. She's actually been sent as an ambassador to speak with the Devils of Japan, though they wouldn't tell me why we needed ambassadors."

"J-Japan?" asked Winter. "She's going to Japan?"

"Yes…why?" asked Touji.

This…This wasn't good. If Irina is going to Japan to meet with Rias Gremory, it would mean she's going to intercept Kouji. It's been a whole year since he had wiped her memory…would that be enough time? No, it doesn't matter. She had to be there for him either way, regardless of whether or not he can handle seeing his sister again.

"Nothing," Winter smiled. "Just curious, I suppose. I'll be taking my leave then."

…

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" asked Amy. "I get that she's an Angel, but we're dealing with a very, very, risky situation here Kouji."

He smiled as he looked down at NingNing sitting before them. He had always known her to be withdrawn and a little bit shy, however she must be opening up to him. She was a lot more emotional and open now…that year apart really has changed both of them.

"Believe it or not," said Kouji. "Political negotiations like this are her specialty."

NingNing had created an entire space for everybody to meet. With help from Kouji's scales to use as a platform, she created an invisible and undetectable room over the skies of Kuoh to act as a meeting place for her and Rias Gremory. She sat in her chair, soft leather and comfortable, with a single chair ready for Rias. The scale platform was well over a hundred feet in the air and ready to descend as soon as the negotiations were over.

"I can hear you, you know," said NingNing. "And yes, I do very well in negotiations. Though I wish Giselle were here…or Rina, they're better at it than me."

Kouji placed his hands on her shoulders. "You'll do great NingNing. Fighting!"

"Oh shut it," NingNing smiled.

"Do you think she accepted our offer?" asked Amy. "She's kind of late."

"Dramatic entrances and being ten minutes late? Typical," said NingNing. "Here she comes."

A magic circle opened up on the platform as Rias Gremory and Himejima Akeno materialized before them, smiles on their faces. Rias sat down as Akeno took her place behind her.

"Apologies for the tardiness," said Rias. "I was speaking with my brother about this whole situation."

"I hope we're not getting evicted," said NingNing.

"Not at all," said Rias. "Depending on how this meeting goes."

NingNing smiled. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is NingNing, Reincarnated Angel of Lady Gabriel. You've already met my bumbling baby brother and his…pet?"

"Hey!" cried Amy. "I am not a pet!"

"Sorry, sorry," NingNing smirked. "A stray. Thank you for taking the time. I know the call was rather sudden."

"Not at all," said Rias. "I was actually wondering when we would be getting down to business. Azazel aside, I would rather have a conversation between more civilized beings."

"What is your relationship to Koujiro, exactly?" asked Akeno. "Is he truly your brother?"

"Not by blood," said NingNing. "But my sisters and I have come to view him as such. He's family, and we'll do what it takes to protect our family."

"Now, now," said Rias. "I'm sure it won't come to that, however I do have to ask what your intentions are. My brother and I are worried about how the other factions will view us taking in the Nephallem into our territory."

"If it comes to that, we won't be staying long," said NingNing. "I'm sure you know of the Prophecy of the Starless Night."

"Yes…" said Rias. "But I don't know it's foretellings. We just know that it's an armageddon prophecy."

"It's a prophecy that appears to have been foretold long ago," said NingNing. "It depicts the end of the world at the hands of Lucifer. The release of Lucifer Morningstar from his prison in Purgatory."

"What?" Rias's eyes narrowed. "Lucifer is dead. He died during the war."

"You might want to double check that," said NingNing. "Lucifer is one of the original beings created by God, the first. A being of infinite cosmic energy like that…even death cannot hold him for long. I'm not 100% if this information is for me to tell, however the Archangels created a space to hold him. The Gates of Purgatory."

"That's impossible," said Rias. "I would have known about it if-"

"I doubt your brother or the other Devil Kings would want news of their greatest ancestral warrior and leader not really being dead to be public knowledge," said NingNing. "You're free to believe me or not, it's your choice. However if we take the prophecy at face value, it means that Lucifer will be freed from his prison and destroy the world as we know it."

"If Lucifer is locked away…how would he be released?" asked Akeno.

"That part I'm not entirely sure on," said NingNing. "However one thing we know for sure is that my baby brother here possesses the metaphorical key to releasing Lucifer, the key to opening the Gates of Purgatory."

"What?" Rias's eyes glared at Kouji.

He nodded. "Imugi, the being sealed into my Mystic Eyes, it's the first Demon created by the first being ever created. To make sure the Gates would remain forever closed, the Archangels used Imugi, an infinite being created by Lucifer himself, as a key. It's had three vessels throughout its lifetimes all safeguarding it, well technically two."

"And the one?" asked Rias.

"Valak," said NingNing. "When that Demon possessed Imugi, he tried to open the Gates but failed…so he took an alternative route and kidnapped a human child to turn into a Demon in order to house Imugi until such a time came where the Gates could be opened."

"And you think that time is now?" asked Rias.

"The prophecy coming back as it did…I'm sure of it now," said NingNing. "Something about this prophecy coming to light is the start of the prophecy. Valak knew that his time wasn't yet ready…so he used Kouji to wait until it was really time. Imugi's been silent since it learned that the prophecy was coming to light, which further backs my theory."

"Valak did all of that…" Rias's eyes lingered on Kouji. "Just to free Lucifer?"

Kouji balled his fists. He hated those eyes…the eyes of a random stranger pitying him. If it were NingNing or the girls, he was fine with, but a complete stranger he knew nothing about pitying him…it made him sick.

"We both know what would happen if Lucifer were to walk free," said NingNing. "So, Sister of the Devil King, my proposition is simple. We work together to uncover the truth of the prophecy, it's connections to this mysterious drug that's been circulating in the Shadow World, as well who would go as far as to kill the prophet who told this prophecy in this age…and stop it. Fair deal, information shared on both sides, square all around. What do you say?"

NingNing was smart…even Kouji caught onto it. She didn't mention a thing about how Azazel was working with Karina and Giselle to investigate the drug or Winter being at Vatican City to investigate Princess Alice's death. She didn't mention Ddraig and Imugi's relationship or the White Dragon Overlord. She kept out key information on their side yet giving Rias just enough to lure her in. She really was good at this.

Rias rubbed her chin. "I'll have to speak to my brother about-"

"It seems like a fair deal."

Kouji's heart began to race as a magic circle materialized two people he had never seen before. One was a maid with silver hair braided over her shoulder and startling red eyes like his own. The other…the other almost sent Kouji to his knees from the magic pressure.

"B-Brother?" asked Rias.

NingNing and Amy acted on instinct. NingNing flipped behind to protect Kouji while Amy took to the front, manifesting her sword in a defensive stance.

This…This was Rias's brother? The Devil King Lucifer? His crimson hair was long and framed his face and his emerald eyes seemingly stared into Kouji's soul in ways that made the Mystic Eyes look like a pair of contact lenses. He wore an embroidered jacket over a plain white dress shirt and stainless white pants. He could almost pass for an extremely handsom human…if it weren't for the monstrous aura and magic pressure coming from him. It almost felt like Kouji's chest was about to be stomped on.

"Hello, Imugi," Sirzechs's eyes glowed as Kouji's body reacted beyond his control.

The mask…the mask had already begun to form. His body automatically detected the presence of the Devil King Lucifer as a threat. It reached both his eyes before he could move an inch.

"N-No…Dammit…" Kouji gritted his teeth. "Not…Now…"

"Sir," said the maid. "The boy has yet to control Imugi's defensive countermeasures. It would be troublesome if he went on a rampage…do control yourself."

The Devil King Lucifer smiled before closing his eyes, relinquishing that magic pressure. Kouji dropped to his knees…finally able to breath again.

"You idiot…Why would you go crazy now of all times," Kouji gripped his face.

"Kouji, are you okay?" asked NingNIng.

"I'm…fine," he forced himself to his feet. He couldn't back down now…he had to stand tall and look the Devil King in his eyes. "A pleasure to meet you, Devil King Lucifer."

The man smiled, as if he was amused by Kouji's feigned display of confidence. "You can call me Sirzechs. You're not a Devil or an Angel so the displays of honorifics mean little to me."

"What are you doing here?" asked NingNing.

"You would discuss the potential release of Lucifer with my sister but not me?" asked Sirzechs. "I can't help but take offense to such a-"

The sound of flapping wings heralded the arrival of Lady Gabriel this time. She…didn't look happy.

"Lay a hand on any of them," said Lady Gabriel. "I dare you, Sirzechs."

Amy's knees began to give out. Sirzechs had only momentarily suppressed his magic pressure, however with Lady Gabriel here…a regular human exorcist didn't stand a chance of staying conscious in the presence of these two. She collapsed before NingNing could catch her to lay her down.

"This…This is getting out of hand," said Kouji.

"What, pray tell, are you doing Gabriel?" asked Sirzechs.

"That boy is under my protection, Sirzechs," said Lady Gabriel. "You would do well to remember that next time you threaten my children."

"You and I know what that boy is," said Sirzechs. "Letting him live is a mistake that could doom us all. If this prophecy really has been foretold again, our best course of action is to-"

"If a single hair is plucked from his head," the scales were beginning to crack from Lady Gabriel's rage alone. It was the first time he had seen anything even crack the scales. "You will have the most one sided war of your life, Devil King. Did you forget it was I who killed thousands of your kind by myself? Must I show you again, boy, what an Archangel can do when you don't know your place?"

"Lady Gabriel," the maid, somehow, stepped in between Sirzechs and Lady Gabriel and pushed them away from each other to avoid a very…very messy fight. "I understand your anger. My Lord, I believe it's time you drop the act."

Kouji's eyes furrowed. "Act?"

Sirzechs smiled innocently. "I apologize, Shidou Koujiro. I wanted to see, for myself, how far you've come to mastering Imugi's powers. You did well."

"I did…what?" asked Kouji.

"Lady Gabriel," said NingNing. "Did you know he was just putting on an act?"

"Of course I knew," the Archangle sighed and crossed her arms. "But knowing that he wasn't going to kill you didn't make watching his intimidation any less painful."

"I can't believe you would do that…" Kouji collapsed on his butt, trying to catch his breath. "What Azazel said…Jesus Christ I thought he was going to rip Imugi out of me."

"I would do what?" asked Sirzechs. "Did Azazel tell you I would kill you?"

Kouji nodded his head. "He said you would be afraid of me…that killing me was the best choice."

"Well he's not technically wrong," said the maid.

Sirzechs broke out in a fit of laughter, the complete opposite of how he was not a minute ago. "Koujiro, I assure you killing you is not on my list of things to do to prevent the Apocalypse. I know of Gabriel's relationship to you, doing that would mean angering an Archangel…as you just saw."

"So… So why would you-" However he was cut off by NingNing.

"You were testing him to see if Imugi would fully possess him," NingNing got up. He hadn't noticed it from before, but NingNing had placed herself directly in front of him…to shield him if Sirzechs tried anything. "Surely there was a better way than intimidating him like that. The mask almost fully manifested."

"But it didn't," said Sirzechs. "Which shows the lengths he's gone through to master it. It isn't yet fully under your control, but to suppress that survival instinct enough to stop the mask…I commend you Koujiro."

Lady Gabriel sighed. "I guess this means you accept our terms?"

"We do," Sirzechs smiled. "I'll have Ajuka assist Azazel in tracking down the manufacturer of that drug, however I'm afraid I can't be of much assistance with the prophet of the Church."

"We've got that part, don't worry," said Lady Gabriel. "Now if you'll excuse us, Sirzechs, I think you've scared my children enough for one day."

"You did good, Kouji," NingNing ruffled his hair. "I'm proud of you."