XXIV

The Man in the Mask

Karina looked up from her army of medicinal books to see Giselle completely knocked out on her chair. She couldn't help but smile at the sight of her sister, truly seeing her after an entire year of deep sleep. With a kick of the table, Giselle jolted awake and even wiping away the drool that had run down her chin.

"I'm up!" Giselle balanced herself back in her chair. "I didn't sleep…You're crazy."

"I'm sure," Karina smiled. "Find anything?"

"From the last 40 books I sped through? Nope," Giselle sighed. "Rina I don't think there's a single mention of this thing. I mean c'mon, what kind of apothecary would be stupid enough to mix nightshade and wolfsbane and use human blood as a bonding agent?"

Karina frowned at her sister's outrageous but correct assumption. Potion making and alchemy were never her strongest suit, either of them, but even Karina knew that mixing these ingredients in these dosages would be lethal for anyone, not just supernatural beings. Nightshade, wolfsbane, dragon-tooth dust, faye dust, even siren scales…all of these ingredients were voaltile on their own, but to think someone would actually have the stupidity to mix it all together and use human blood as a bonding agent to keep it all together…just to put a curse over the final product.

Lord Azazel finally entered the library. The Sky Library was the last place Karina thought she would be, the collective knowledge of the Fallen Angels all gathered into a single location. Lord Shemhezai's most prized possesson…Karina never thought she'd see it.

"How's it going?" asked Azazel.

"It's…going," said Giselle. "Has Lord Shemhezai found anything?"

"I did."

Lord Shemhazai, a man who appeared in his late twenties with short white hair and a bored look on his face, entered their section of the library and yawned. He walked over to the monitors and began to pull up the information he found.

Karina and Giselle joined them, looking at all six large monitors lighting up with…genetic information? Karina had spent some time practicing medicinal magic so she recognized blood analysis samples when she saw it…but this wasn't right.

"Is this real?" asked Karina.

"Unfortunately," said Lord Shemhazai. "This is the final blood analysis I ran after all of the other tests. It's at least 3,000 years old and yes, it's fully human."

"How is it 3,000 years old?" asked Giselle. "That's as old as Kouji but he's not human anymore."

"I don't know but it's definitely recently extracted," said Lord Shemhazai. "The carbon dating on the sample says at least 2 weeks old so the subject's still alive…but I've never seen an immortal that's still human before."

"Neither have I," said Lord Azazel. "But it seems like we've got another immortal on our hands."

Giselle shot a look at Karina, thinking the exact same thing she was. "Lord Shemhazai, can you determine the race or ethnicity of whosever blood this is?"

"I guess so," said Lord Shemhazai. "Iraqi…but if it's from 3,000 years ago, it'd be Mesopotamian. I'd say around the fall of Babylon. Remember those days?"

"God Gilgamesh was such an asshole," said Lord Azazel. "Can't believe it took so long to kill that guy."

"Mesopotamia…" said Karina.

It wasn't possible, could it? Kouji was kidnapped by Valak 3,000 years ago from Mesopotamia. Could it be that Kouji wasn't the only one that Valak abducted? She knew that the Demon had kidnapped other children before to experiment on them, but it never dawned on her that maybe they weren't all failures. Maybe Valak found a way to dillute his Demon Blood enough so that the subjects survived…

"Lord Azazel," said Karina. "Do you…Do you know where Valak kept Kouji after he was kidnapped? The sight of where he conducted his experiments?"

Azazel rubbed his chin. "It's in the Underworld at the Valak Manor. These days it's been completely abandoned, an empty ground that the Devils don't touch anymore. Why?"

"Kouji was kidnapped from Mesopotamia," said Giselle. "3,000 years ago…I think we need to go to where Valak conducted the experiments to see if we can find anything else. I know it's been abandoned for a long time but we need to find out more about who he was…"

Azazel smiled and walked over, placing a hand on both their shoulders. "The kid never stopped talking about you, you know?"

"W-What?" asked Karina.

"Every time I came to visit him over the past year," said Lord Azazel. "He would always ask if you were okay. The kid never stopped thinking about you. Every decision he made, every action, every thought…it was always because of you."

Karina couldn't help but smile. It pained her to know that Kouji went through so much in the time that she and the others were recovering, but she knew that he was strong enough overcome it. She couldn't wait to see him again, to see the kind of man he had become, to hold him again.

"Then he shouldn't have tried to wipe our memories," said Giselle, crossing her arms. "I swear to Gabriel when I get that my hands on that kid…"

"You love him," said Karina.

"I do," Giselle pouted.

"Winter and NingNing made it to Kuoh safe and sound," said Lord Azazel. "You two can go on if you'd like, you've been here long enough?'

"Are you sure?" asked Karina. "I feel like we haven't done a thing to help."

"You guys gave me more to go on then we had before," said Lord Shemhazai. "We know that there's a connection between Koujiro and whoever's blood was used to bond this curse…we can handle the rest."

"Sir," said Giselle. "That curse was woven into that drug with incredible precision. If a mage really did help manufacturer it…they have to be from the Association."

"I assumed as much," said Lord Azazel. "I don't really want to dig into the Association…even if they are humans, those arrogant humans might do something drastic."

"I think they already have…" said Karina. "We know someone who has the expertise in magic, potion making, and curses…though I'm not necessarily excited about tracking her down again."

"You don't mean…who I think you mean, right?" asked Lord Azazel.

"Dammit…" Giselle sighed. "Please don't tell me I have to beg her to help us. It is humiliating having to ask that woman to help us."

"We don't really have a choice," said Karina. "Even if she's involved, she has to have her reasons. We have to find Lavinia Reni."

…

"Amy, I need you to peel all of those garlic cloves. Winter, stuff that thing full of everything on the table. Ning, how's the grill looking!" cried Kouji.

"All set up!" NingNing screamed back from behind the church. "Do I really need to make it look like this?"

"Yes and don't question greatness!" cried Kouji.

Kouji looked over to see the incompetence from the girls around him. It was now more then ever that he missed Giselle. She always knew exactly what to do in the kitchen when they cooked together. He hadn't realized it until now but not having her here with him was more of a crutch than he had thought.

"Winter…" said Kouji. "If I turn around, I better not see you eating the stuffing."

"I'm not," she said with a tone that suspiciously sounded like her mouth was full.

Winter and NingNing really outdid themselves with this kitchen. It was like stepping onto the set of a movie compared to everything else around them. The kitchen floors were tiles checkered with black and white marble, the countertops were pristine white marble with ceremic cabinets of black wood that contrasted the aesthetic nicely. It felt like they were really back home in South Korea, a slice of home away from home.

Amy smiled as she peeled the garlic cloves for Winter to continue stuffing. "Does this happen often? Blowing $500 on an entire pig and all of this?"

"Why are we eating pig by the way?" asked Winter. "I'm not complaining, trust me, I never complain at anything you make…but I've never had whole pig before."

Kouji smiled as he mixed the glaze. "I had it while I was in the Philippines, the locals used to make it for an entire village for special occasions. It might not be authentic but…it'll do."

"I wish Karina and Giselle were here," Winter rested her head on the island countertop. "I miss them…"

"I miss them too," said Kouji. "Hopefully they'll be here for the feast."

"All set out there," NingNing came back inside and washed her hands. "That…is a really big pig."

Kouji smiled and set the stovetop to simmer the pot of the homemade glaze he made. "Let's take this thing outside then."

The pig rose up on a scale he created as they all went out back to see the homemade grill NingNing created using Scripture. It was…a crude design but it worked nonetheless. NingNing helped Winter to drive a stake through the pig before resting it on the spires as Kouji lit the flame underneath. With the gears controlling the turn, the pig would slowly roast on all sides.

"When is it going to be ready?" asked Winter.

"An hour," said Kouji. "Maybe an hour and a half if we want some crispy skin. But for right now, we just gotta wait."

"Aww!" cried Winter. "But that's so long! I wanna eat right now!"

"We have leftovers inside Winter," said Amy. "Maybe that can fill you up for now?"

"But that sucks," Winter frowned.

Kouji ruffled Winter's hair, a gesture he had never gotten to due back then do to his lack of height. "Good things come to those who wait. Plus you've been waiting for a year, an extra hour won't-"

In that moment, Kouji knew they all felt it. It was like the entire Earth shaking, trembling as a monstrosity of a magic pressure was felt by the four of them. He had felt strong magic pressures before, both Sirzechs and Lady Gabriel's combined. This was almost at their level…but even then he didn't know if he could match up to it.

"W-What…" Amy's knees buckled. "What is this…"

Kouji's eyes shifted, but not of his own accord. Something…Something was making the Mystic Eyes react to it. This was something he had never experienced before…

"Something's here," said NingNing. "Dammit…"

Winter grabbed Kouji's arm. "It's in Kuoh…W-We have to-"

"Irina!" cried Kouji.

Withot thinking, acting purely on instinct, an instinct he thought he had long suppressed, Kouji flew off into the sky on two scales on his feet. It was the fastest he had ever gone, however he had to cover a lot of ground. The Mystic Eyes's enhanced vision combed through every inch and corner of Kuoh before he saw them…Irina and Xenovia.

He didn't know why he wanted to save her. To him, he was a nobody and he would remain a nobody. A nameless figure shrouded in darkness. To go there now and attempt to rescue her would be to signal to her and Xenovia that he had a face, a name, a past. The Nephallem they were chasing wouldn't be a shadow anymore…it was him.

He balled his fists. It didn't matter anymore. Consequences or not, he had to do something. Whatever this thing was that had entered Kuoh, it wanted whatever Irina and Xenovia had. He had to save them…save her. Even if she doesn't remember, even if he couldn't make her remember…She was still his big sister.

The church the two were staying at was in the eastern district of Kuoh, a temporarily closed sanctuary thanks to the strings they pulled. He could see it now…Irina and Xenovia were fighting against a thing.

"Stop!"

Kouji dropped down straight through the roof of the church and blocked a strike from a man cloaked in black and wearing a mask that had a strange, almost nostalgic look to Imugi's mask. The sword the stranger wielded seemed to be made of bone, however with Xenovia laying behind him, cut and torn as she was…it wasn't just an ordinary bone.

"Finally!" cried the stranger. "The prodigal son returns…my, my,my I have been waiting for centuries!"

The stranger broke out into a fit of maniacal laughter. It was the most diabolical laugh Kouji had ever heard, before the stranger stopped and straightened his back.

"Brother…Why would you protect this…sheep," the stranger asked.

Kouji's eyes fixed onto the stranger. This was impossible. His eyes could see through anything, anybody…but he couldn't see through that mask. He couldn't see the stranger's face or even make his age or anything. Cloaked in a tattered black trenchcoat, ripped jeans, torn up tunic, and a hood to cover his face, the stranger pointed the bone sword at Kouji.

"If you want to save this pathetic sheep so badly, brother," said the stranger through a distorted voice. "Then you can die with them."

"W-Who…" Irina forced herself to her feet, using her Holy Sword as a crutch. "Who are you?"

Kouji forced his broken heart down. He knew this would happen if he made contact with her. She would have no memories of him, their connection would be completely severed…he knew that, but it hurt nonetheless.

"A friend…" Kouji got to his feet. "What happened here?"

"That…thing attacked us," Irina coughed, wiping away the blood from her mouth. "I don't know what it is…but it wants-"

"The fabled Demon killing sword…you have it, don't you," the masked man tilted his head. "C'mon girlie, tell me where it is and I promise I'll kill you quickly…well as quickly as I can."

"Demon killing sword?" asked Kouji. "The weapon that the Church is going to use to kill me?"

"Kill you?" Irina's eyes shot open as she jumped back using the last of her strength, shielding Xenovia. "You're the monstrosity…that abomination, aren't you?"

"See that? Do you see that, Son of Valak?" asked the masked man. "Look at the way they all look at you. The hatred, the contempt, they wish to kill you simply for existing! So why the hell would you go out of your way to protect them!"

"Because it's the right thing to do!" Kouji snapped. "I don't know who the hell you are or how you know me, but you are not going to kill her or anybody in this town. Now fess up, who the hell are you?"

"Where there is light…there is darkness," the masked man tossed and caught the bone sword, Kouji watching as the sword elongated and turned into a staff. "Where there is life…there is death. Where there is patience…there is Wrath."

Kouji could hear the sound of his own heart beginning to beat. All sound was cut off from his ears as the sound of his own heartbeat trumpeted in his mind.

One…Two…Three…Four…Five…Six…Seven…

Incriments of seven before his heart would rest for a few seconds before beating in the same rhythm.

The Seven trumpets shall sound the price…

Kouji's body reacted on instinct as he was lost in his own mind. A scale appeared before his face to block a strike from the masked man.

"Oh?" asked the man. "You've mastered the Serpent's Scales well…I would be impressed if I was disgusted by your empathy."

"Shut the hell up!" Kouji kicked the stranger away before falling back to Irina and Xenovia. "Can you move?"

"W-What?" asked Irina. "Why do you care? Just get away from-"

"Irina, I know you're too stubborn and possibly a little too racist to understand this but I am trying to help you," said Kouji. "If you don't want my help, fine just sit there and shut up and wait for him to kill you. But if you have any intention to live, then do as I say and carry Xenovia out of this church!"

Irina's eyes sparkled. "I…Do I know you?"

Kouji gritted his teeth. "Go!"

The masked man laughed once again as he struck. His close combat skills were nothing to laugh at. Kouji had trained with Azazel for quite some time in combat skills, but this guy…this guy was something else.

"And you can fight!" cried the masked man. "I'm starting to like you, brother."

"I'm not your brother!" Kouji pushed the man towards him with a scale before lacing his knuckles with smaller scales and punching him in the stomach. "Who the hell are you!"

"I am Wrath!" the man screamed as he laughed, fighting back even more. "Wrath the Arrogant!"

This was bad…Kouji's mask was beginning to manifest. Whoever this Wrath was, he was proving to be an enemy that the mask recognizes as a threat. Kouji had to control himself now more than ever, if the mask takes over…who knows what's going to-

"You're slow!"

Now, Kouji wasn't slow. Wrath was somehow bypassing his Mystic Eye's enhanced vision, moving faster than his eyes could see. The bone staff sharpened its point down to an edge as he stabbed Kouji in the shoulder, letting out another maniacal laugh.

"What's the matter?" asked Wrath. "The almighty Nephallem can't take a little poke?"

Kouji numbed the pain in his own mind and grabbed onto the bone staff. He smiled as two scales manifested on Wrath's shoulders, sharpening and thining out into needles that lodged into Wrath's body, jutting down to the ground and locking him in place.

"How else am I going to get you to stay still?" Kouji's voice was distorted from the mask, he could feel his sanity slipping. He…He had to end this quickly.

"Such a pathetic trick," Wrath's body…phased right through the scale needles and walked out of the trap without so much as a scratch. "Did you think that was going to do anything?"

"This will!"

NingNing broke through the ceiling, throwing Amy directly at Wrath. Her sword glowed as she slashed at his chest, but Kouji knew it wasn't going to work. Direct attacks like that…from the phasing he did, Kouji knew direct attacks won't work. His body was somehow made of smoke or shadow, intangible when he wants it to be.

"You brought another human?" asked Wrath. "What is your obsession with these apes?"

NingNing used her finger to inscribe runes made of light, falling down and trapping Wrath in a spellbinding circle. "Winter!"

Kouji felt the temperature in the church drop significantly as Winter materialized behind Wrath, holding her arms out. "Die."

NingNing's spellbinding circle encased Wrath in Winter's attack. A column of ice froze instantly over Wrath that completely tore away the roof. Kouji could see Wrath's body inside, unmoving. Did…Did they do it?

"Kouji!" Amy sheathed her sword and ran over to him. "Are you alright?"

"Hold still," NingNing grabbed the staff and pulled it out of Kouji's shoulder as he winced in pain.

"Ow!" cried Kouji. "Easy…I'm immortal, not dead."

"Serves you right for running off without us again," said Winter. "How many times do I have to tell you to-"

"What is going on?" asked Irina. "Who are you people…Amelia?"

"Irina," said Amy. "Looks like you did a good job following me here."

"You really made contact with him," Irina's eyes grew cold. "You aligned yourself with this abomination after all."

Kouji gritted his teeth. He knew there were bigger things to deal with right now, but no matter how many times he hears it…it hurt like hell to hear from Irina.

"Why you little-" Kouji held NingNing back as she attempted to retailiate.

"It's not worth it," He sighed. "Call Rias, we have to tell her-"

Wrath's laughter echoed through the entire church. "Again with the pathetic tricks! Brother I'm almost disappointed in your choice of retainers…A king must surround himself with competent generals at least!"

The ice pillar began to crack as Wrath broke himself free using his magic pressure alone. The ice smashed apart, turning into specks of light as it hit the moonlight. He grabbed his mask and began to laugh.

"Who the hell is this guy?" asked NingNing.

"Does it matter?" Amy drew her sword once again. "It's just another enemy for us to-"

"Why do you keep calling me brother?" asked Kouji. "Who are you exactly? No more bullshit and just answer me!"

"Where's the fun in just telling you…when you can find out for yourself and be filled with such delicious despair?" the man tilted his head. "You and I are connected in so many ways…What do they call you now?"

"Koujiro," he said. "You still haven't told me your name."

"It's Wrath," said the man. "Now and forever."

"Let's kill him," said NingNing.

"I'm okay with that," said Winter.

Something…Something was wrong here. Kouji had the strangest feeling of nostalgia. Who the hell was this guy? His body was somehow intangible to anything they threw at him…could they even kill him?

"I do hope you acquire some more capable retainers when the time comes brother," said Wrath. "The war to come is going to be quite spectacular. I would hate for you to die so early thanks to the negligence of these so called angels."

"Negligent, are we?"

Kouji watched with wide eyes as a sword of light appeared from behind Wrath, pressing against his neck. He recognized that sword anywhere…that curved blade belonged to one person.

Wrath's wrists were locked by a golden chain that shot out from two magic circles down at his feet, lowering itself as Wrath was forced to his knees…revealing Karina and Giselle behind him.

"We leave you alone for a year and you go and make enemies like this," Giselle smirked. "What are we ever going to do with you Kouji?"

"Well, well…looks like you do have some competent generals after all, brother," said Wrath. "The Angel of Annihilation and the Angel of the Arcane…my, my…"

"Oh? So you know of us?" asked Karina. "Then you would know better than to attack him…we are his generals."

Wrath lowered his head and began to laugh to himself, spouting words in a language that Kouji barely managed to understand.

"I love it!" cried Wrath. "Keep going brother…get stronger and stronger…become the vessel that you were always meant to be…"

"W-Wait!" Kouji stumbled forward. "You know me…You knew me…Who are you?"

Wrath's body began to disintegrate into the shadows. "Oh you and I go way back…I paved the way for your success long before you even knew who I was…Do not disappoint me, Hadi."

Kouji watched as Wrath's body completely vanished, sinking into the shadows and escaping from Giselle's chains.

"What the hell was that guy?" asked Giselle. "He knew our titles…Nobody's said our titles in years."

"I think the more alarming thing was what he called Kouji," said Karina. "That was a name, not a title. I think we have more to go on then we-"

Kouji couldn't contain himself. He ignored the pain in his shoulder and ran at them. Even if they were mad at him, he had to. He leaped at Karina and Giselle, wrapping his arms around them.

"W-Whoa," Giselle was caught off guard. "Kouji at least me-"

"Shut up," Kouji tightened his embrace. "Just…Just let me enjoy this before you kill me."

Karina smiled and patted his head. "You've grown since the last time I saw you…"

The sound of Irina getting up and readying her sword. "Y-You are under arrest under the authority of-"

"You have got to be kidding me!" Amy slammed her sword into the ground. "We just saved you, he just saved you, and you still want to kill him? How increidbly thick headed and stubbron do you have to be, Irina? Is killing him so important that you would completely ignore all of the good he's done?"

"It doesn't matter the good he's done," Irina gritted her teeth. "I made an oath to protect this world and humanity from evil…and he's evil incarnate. I cannot willingly let him-"

Kouji felt Karina brush past as she effortlessly manuevered over to Irina, twisting her wrist until she dropped her Holy Sword before slapping her across her face.

"W-What are you…" Irina caressed her cheek.

"You have no right to belittle him," Karina's eyes glowed. "Not you, not after all you've done to protect him."

"Me? I've never seen him before in my life!" cried Irina.

There it was again…no matter how many times. He wanted to part away from Giselle, however she wouldn't budge. Her arms kept his head down on her shoulder. "You've done more than enough Kouji…let us handle this."

"Get it through that thick skull of yours Irina," said Karina. "If he wanted to hurt others, he wouldn't be erasing memories of people he's helped. Do you realize how many spirits he's helped pass on from this world? How many regrets he's corrected…how many smiles he's put on the faces of people who died with regrets? He did all of that without a single person by his side to tell him how strong he is…he erased the minds of everybody who's ever loved him because he was afraid of what would happen to them…and you dare to stand there working for the organization responsible for causing this entire mess and call him a monstrosity? After all he's done…all he's went through…I should smite you where you stand you inconsiderate, heartless bitch."

NingNing let out a whistle as both she and Winter backed away slowly, dragging Amy with them.

"W-What are you talking about?" asked Irina. "How would you even know what this thing's been up to? Why do you speak as if I have any connection with-"

"Because you're his sister!" cried Karina. "Because you are the one person in this entire messed up world that's driven him to go so far…to go to such lengths. He isolated himself for a year because he was afraid of losing you! He willingly gave himself over to an eternal Demon and nearly killed himself to protect you!"

Irina's knees buckled. "I…What are you talking about? I don't have a brother…I'm an only child…I…"

"Oh for the love of…" Karina grabbed Irina by the shoulders and dragged her over to Giselle. "Can you break this stupid memory wipe? Her memories are still there…can you just...before I wring her neck?"

Giselle smiled. Kouji let go of her as she held out a hand to Irina's head. "Try to remember."

A magic circle formed under Irina as a bright light enveloped her. In a matter of seconds, the spell that Imugi had cast over her was broken. He thought it would be different, however Irina collapsed on the ground.

"Irina!" Kouji caught her. "Is she…Is she-"

"She's fine," said Giselle. "Years worth of memories are cramming their way back in her head…it'll take a bit of time for all of them to piece together her fractured mind. She'll need some rest."

Kouji's eyes swelled up with tears. After all this time…it was really Irina. He had drowned out these feelings for so long but it was really Irina. Her touch, her smell, waves of nostalgia shot at him and brought him back to the days when everything was even remotely normal for him.

Karina knelt down and pressed her forehead against his. "Words cannot even begin to express how happy I am to see you again Kouji…"

Giselle placed a hand on his head and smiled. "You know as much as I want to test the limits of your immortality…I really did miss you little brother."

Winter poked her head in between their reunion with a cheeky smile. "I know this is a bad time to bring this up but…are we still going to eat dinner?"