XXVI

Fallout

Kouji was awoken from his first night sleep in ages when Giselle shook him awake before slapping a hand over his mouth. From the looks of it, she was the first one up…aside from a missing Karina. He looked over to see NingNing soundly asleep in her bed sucking her thumb, Winter turned away but somehow sneaking into his bed, Amy knocked out in her bed sleeping in the wrong position, and of course Irina and Xenovia on the other side of the room.

"We need to go shopping," Giselle whispered. "There is literally no snacks in here and I'm dying."

Kouji smiled with her hand still on his mouth before nodding. It didn't take him too long to wash his face and brush his teeth before grabbing a coat and leaving with Giselle.

She stretched before tying her hair back and putting on her baseball cap. There were a million things he wanted to say to her but it never felt like the right time and he had absolutely no idea even how to bring it up. Even as they walked through Kuoh as the sun began to rise, it was completely silent.

"Say it," said Giselle.

"Pardon?"

"Apologize," said Giselle.

She said all but three words yet it sent shivers down his spine. Had he ever been afraid of Giselle before? Karina, definitely. But Giselle had always shown him her comforting, introverted and sisterly side…He'd never seen her angry side before.

"I'm sorry," said Kouji.

"For…"

He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry for giving up my body to Imugi and trying to wipe your memories. It was selfish of me and extremely stupid and dangerous and I swear on everything I hold dear I won't do it again."

"Good," She grabbed his arm. "I've missed you."

"Oh thank God," Kouji finally felt like he could breath around her. "I thought you were gonna kill me."

"Where's the fun in that?" she asked. "You can't die Kouji…but it isn't like I didn't spend a few months thinking of ways to make you wish you were dead."

Kouji chuckled awkwardly knowing that she meant every word of it.

Walking with Giselle through Kuoh brought Kouji back to that day in Gwangjang. A typical day of grocery shopping had deepend their bond and even showed him who Giselle really was…who she had tried to avoid becoming for so long. He hadn't thought about it until now but as much good as the girls have done for him, he liked to think that he did some good for them too.

"Lavinia," said Kouji. "You know her, don't you?"

"Yeah," Giselle's eyes narrowed. "She's not exactly someone you of all people should openly trust Kouji. I know it may be hard for you but when you meet her, and that's definitely a when, do not fall for her tricks."

"Tricks?" he asked.

"She plays it off like a blonde bimbo but she's extremely manipulative," said Giselle. "She's a master mage who's considered one of the pinnacle in the Mage's Association, a Grandmaster. She's as manipulative as she is powerful."

"And you know her…because…"

"You know how you and King were best friends?" asked Giselle. "Think of her and I as best friends without the friendship. We're basically rivals. Everything I do she tries to one up, everything she does I try to one up. If I were a human still, the Mage's Association probably would've wound up at my doorstep one way or another."

"Do you hate her?" he asked.

"Hate is stupid," said Giselle. "I don't wanna waste brain power hating someone. I tolerate her, especially when she's useful, but I never know what she's thinking…especially now."

"You think she's the one who was in Karisma's office, don't you," said Kouji.

"I'm starting to," said Giselle. "This is exactly my point Kouji. She's a field agent for the Grigori but she's also a Grandmaster of the Mage's Association, one of their highest ranked mages…so what the hell is she doing infiltrating the Holy Church and helping the Hero Faction?"

"What if she's not?" asked Kouji. "I think you're letting your relationship with her cloud your judgement here."

"Excuse me?'

"T-Think about it for a second," said Kouji. "If our timeline is right, Karisma disappeared before Princess Alice was murdered. Lavinia could have tried to save Karisma because she was the only one in the Church who heard Alice's prophecy. If the Hero Faction knew that, they would have gone after her and not Alice. Lavinia could have tried to help Karisma, but knowing that stubborn bitch, she probably declined. Lavinia probably didn't take no for an answer and…I don't know, kidnapped her?"

"So your response to Lavinia helping the Hero Faction is…her kidnapping the previous Paladin," said Giselle.

"Better then assuming she's working with the Hero Faction, right?" asked Kouji.

Giselle covered her mouth and giggled. "I miss that naive optimism of yours. I thought an entire year alone with Imugi would have made you all gloomy."

Kouji smiled. "Who says it didn't?"

He still wasn't entirely familiar with the town but he managed to lead them around town to a few department stores and grocery stores. To his surprise, Giselle had a black card too. He was beginning to think that each of them had their weight worth in gold seeing as how they were buying everything so easily. In a matter of an hour as the sun fully rose over the town, Kouji was carrying four or five full bags of grocery, three bags of clothes, and of course a separate backpack full of snacks for Giselle exclusively.

"I'll be right back," Giselle smiled and ran into a men's fashion store.

Seeing as how he couldn't stop her, Kouji stood outside and watched as the day began for the citizens of Kuoh. He watched a few students pass by, eyeing him like he was a weirdo, several salarymen starting their work day, a handful of restaurant owners setting up their businesses, even…

"Issei! Asia!" cried Kouji.

He locked eyes with the two from across the street. With smiles on their faces, they ran over and joined them.

"Kouji," said Asia. "What're you doing up so early? And why…Did you buy all of that?"

He smiled. "Giselle…She kind of buys a lot. Are you guys headed to school?"

"Unfortunately," Issei frowned and sighed. "How the hell am I a Devil with a dragon in my arm and I still have to pass midterms?"

"I told you I could have helped you study," said Asia.

"It was 2 AM when we got back!" cried Issei. "I was tired."

Kouji smiled. "I forget you guys are older than me…How's school here?"

Issei furrowed a brow. "You haven't been to school in awhile, huh? I guess it's fine if you have friends to spend time with. Classes are meh."

"Only because you don't listen, Issei," said Asia. "Oh, I almost forgot to say thank you for the meal yesterday Kouji. It was really delicious."

"Don't mention it," said Kouji.

"I'm back!" Giselle ran out of the store carrying a jacket in her arms. "Oh, hey guys. Funny running into you here."

"It's nice to meet you," said Issei. "We didn't really get a chance to talk yesterday. My name's Issei, and this is Asia."

"The Red Dragon Emperor and the Twilight Healing," said Giselle. "Yeah I know you guys. How's little Ddraig?"

"L-Little?" Kouji and Issei asked in unison.

The green gem on the back of Issei's left hand glowed. "Angel of the Arcane, I didn't think we would ever run into each other like this."

"Good to see you too," Giselle smiled. "I see you found yourself a new vessel. I see some promise in the kid Ddraig, don't screw him up."

"I am offended you think I'm the one who's going to screw him up."

"How…How exactly do you guys know each other?" asked Issei.

"I was friends with his old vessel," said Giselle. "Belzard was a good man, a great mentor. I was sorry when he passed."

"As was I,"said Ddraig. "Do you have news on the Prophecy, Angel of the Arcane?"

"Not too much to go on right now," said Giselle. "I did want to ask you Ddraig, you were around when the war started and ended right? Does the name Wrath mean anything to you? I have an idea in my head but…I'm not exactly liking it."

"The Seven Trumpets shall sound the price," said Ddraig. "It's begun…hasn't it. One of them is already awake."

"It looks like it," said Giselle. "Karina and I had our suspicions when he attacked the two exorcists who came to meet your vessel's master, but he knew Kouji's name…from before he became a Demon."

"If that thing truly is what I think he is, we should notify Rias Gremory," said Ddraig.

"Can I ask you to do that Ddraig?" asked Giselle. "Karina's already meeting with Lady Gabriel and the Archangels to inform them of our findings…I'd like for you to do the same to the Devils. This matter involves them too."

"I understand," said Ddraig. "Partner, we should really be on our way, don't you think?"

"Y-Yeah…" said Issei. "We'll see you guys later, stay out of trouble."

"You guys too," said Kouji.

He waited for the two to be out of sight before turning to Giselle. "You wanna fill me in now?"

"Think back to the prophecy Kouji," said Giselle. "The Seven Trumpets shall sound the price…take it literally."

Kouji gulped. "You mean…the Seven Deadly Sins?"

Giselle nodded. "Back in the war, Lucifer was extremely arrogant but he was also infinitely lazy and uncaring. Rather than lead his forces, he split his soul into seven pieces that personified a portion of himself. Those seven beings led his generals and his forces. Since they were a part of Lucifer, they couldn't die…they were locked behind Purgatory with him."

"And…you're saying that Wrath is exactly what he said he was?" asked Kouji. "The literal personification of Lucifer's wrath? Is that…Is that even possible?"

"It's the Devil, Kouji," said Giselle. "Anything's possible. But this isn't good…one of the Sins is already loose on the world. That means-"

"The Gate of Purgatory are already beginning to open," said Kouji. "We're running out of time."

…

Karina never felt like she was being interrogated more than she was right now, standing before the Four Archangels and their closest Reincaranted Angels. She could handle Lady Gabriel and even to an extent, Lord Micheal…however Lord Raphael and Lord Uriel's eyes pierced her to her very core.

"We've read over the report you passed onto Gabriel, Karina," said Lord Micheal. "Do you really mean what you said? Do you truly think there's a force at work to set Lucifer free from his imprisonment?"

"I…" Karina balled her fists and thought of her family. If she didn't do this, it would be done to them. She was their big sister, their leader…she had to do this for them. "I do, Lord Micheal. My gut is telling me that everything that's happened is connected. There is a puppeteer pulling the strings of everything that's happened to my little brother…to Kouji. Valak experimenting him may have been the start, but everything has been a carefully thought out plan…something is coming sir."

"I figured the Hero Faction would make a move eventually," said Lady Gabriel. "But what could they want with that Paladin?"

"I…I don't believe the Hero Faction had anything to do with Karisma's disappearance, Lady Gabriel," said Karina. "From Winter's observations, there were no signs of the Sacred Gear called Blade Blacksmith used in her office or her bedroom. She found bits of ice magic that was powerful enough to freeze anything that touched what remains…we think it's a human mage who had a hand in her disappearance, but we believe it to be unrelated to Princess Alice's death."

"You're saying this Paladin was kidnapped by a human…because she knew this prophecy before any other?" asked Lord Uriel.

Karina nodded. "Alice only told a single person of the prophecy. All signs would tell you that Karisma was the one who killed her, but I urge you to look at the facts."

"I'm sorry," Lord Raphael slammed a hand on the desk. "Are we truly to believe that one of our sister's Reincarnated Angels has adopted this Nephallem into her family, and we are all supposed to be okay with it?"

Karina suppressed her magic almost out of sheer willpower. She was never the type to hold back her anger when her family was being belittled, however she figured she shouldn't be talking back to an Archangel so recklessly.

"I don't have any problems with it," said Lady Gabriel. "Perhaps if you paid a visit to the boy, brother, you would see that he's not what we had made him out to be."

"Our sister has a point Raphael," said Lord Uriel. "He has done good in the time he spent by himself. The number of souls purged from their sins rose tremendously. The number of vengeful spirits on Earth drastically declined in one year compared to the works of the exorcists, all of that done without a single casualty. If nothing else, the boy makes for a great janitor."

"Let's not go that far, Uriel," Lord Micheal smiled. "But I do agree. Shidou Koujiro has proven to be responsible with his gifts and has upheld his promise to not harm humans. And our sister has been true to her word of guiding the boy down a righteous path…He is nothing like Lucifer."

Karina smiled. If Kouji could see how much praise he was getting from timeless Angels. She was so proud of him for all he's done considering all he's lost.

"And what of the prophecy?" asked Lord Raphael. "Karina, what do you make of the events of yesterday?"

"I believe the Gates of Purgatory have been forced open," said Karina. "It may not be open wide enough for Lucifer to simply walk out, however…however the Seven Deadly Sins can."

The faces of the Archangels said it all.

"You can't be serious," said Lady Gabriel.

"That is a rather bold assumption to make, girl," said Lord Raphael.

"Hear her out," said Lord Uriel. "Tell us Karina. What happened?"

"The Holy Church sent two exorcists that possessed an experimental Holy Sword in the hopes of killing Kouji once and for all," said Karina. "However they were intercepted by a man in a mask similar to Imugi's self defense mask. He stole the weapon and injured one of the exorcists before my brother and sisters arrived…however he said his name was Wrath, and he knew Kouji's original name."

"It cannot be," said Lord Micheal.

"The doors are truly being opened," Lord Uriel leaned back on his chair. "Father help us."

"If I might ask," said Karina. "How exactly are the Gates locked? Surely it can't be as simple as a lock and key."

Lord Micheal sighed and rubbed his head. "666 seals were created through the combined efforts of the Angels, Fallen Angels, and Devils that forcefully bounded Lucifer and his Sins behind the Gates. Once they were secured in, the purge of his followers soon followed. The Prophecy of the Starless Night depicts the breaking of all 666 seals, unleashing Lucifer and his Sins, plunging the world into eternal night and darkness…a starless night."

So the prophecy truly does tell of Lucifer breaking the Gates open.

"If the Gates are opening…" said Karina. "Does that mean that the seals are already beginning to be broken?"

"Somebody truly is planning on breaking Lucifer free," said Lady Gabriel. "Micheal…"

"I know," said Lord Micheal. "Karina, you must return to Koujiro's side at once and do not let him out of your sight. The world may think he's dead for now but sooner or later they'll come after him, dead or alive."

"W-Who?" asked Karina. "Lord Micheal please, who's after my brother?"

"The Seven Deadly Sins," said Lord Micheal. "They will come after him with full force, with the might of ancient Demons. They will stop at nothing to rip out those eyes of his and free our brother…"

Wrath was only the beginning…a calm before the storm. He may or may not have been the first Sin to have been released, but if they're truly coming after him…

"But what about the seals?" asked Karina. "Do we know who's trying to break them?"

"Leave that to us darling," said Lady Gabriel. "We'll find out who's behind all of this. You just worry about protecting your family…and we'll do the same."

…

Irina opened her eyes, for some reason expecting to wake up her home in London. Memories of Kouji flooded back in her mind, contradicting with the memories she thought she had. His room, his belongings, everything felt like a dream now that she had been shown the truth.

"Good morning Irina."

She looked up to see Amy wearing an apron and walking towards her bed with a tray of water and breakfast. Eggs, bacon, toast and…asparagus? She didn't know why but this breakfast made her tear up…what's wrong with her?

"G-Good morning," said Irina. That's right, she and Xenovia were attacked…they were with Kouji and the girls from Aespa.

"How's your head?" asked Amy. "Giselle told us that you're probably going to have a headache until your memories are completely set so I thought I'd make breafkast for everybody. It's nothing like Kouji's but I hope it'll do."

"I'm okay, thank you though," she smiled. "Where's Kouji anyway? I don't see him?"

"K…Kouji…" Irina looked to see Winter tossing and turning in Kouji's bed.

Irina remembered faintly how the girls were a year prior when they had first met him. Comparing them from before to now, they were completely different. Irina had seen first hand how ingrained her little brother had become to their lives, how much they all depended on one another…a bond formed while she couldn't see him.

"He's out with Giselle shopping," said Amy. "She left a note for us."

"Winter…Shut up," NingNing groaned. "You're so loud…"

"Make…me…LingLing."

Irina watched as NingNing shot straight up, eyes wide opened as she slowly turned over to Winter. It was clear that Winter was awake now as well, slowly getting up and backing away from NingNing.

"W-Wait a minute, I'm sorry…It was a mistake…"

"What did you just call me?" asked NingNing.

"S-Sis I'm sorry…" Winter's eyes were full of fear, something Irina never thought she'd see from an Angel. "Wait!"

NingNing grabbed a pillow and threw it right at Winter's face before plunging over to Kouji's bed and began to wrestle with Winter.

This was definitely different from how Irina remembered them to be. It hadn't dawned on her until now that they were just as they seemed, a family. Family's bicker and fight. She couldn't help but smile. These were the people that Kouji had spent so much time around, the family he had found…the family he had sacrificed to protect.

What was wrong with her? Why…Why did her heartache thinking about that? She was his sister too, she knew that. She knew that Kouji knew that as well…but seeing him so close to these girls broke her heart in ways she couldn't explain. It wasn't like they were trying to steal him from her, she even gave them permission to take him. Yet…yet why did it hurt so much to see how normal they were?

"Ow!" Winter cried as NingNing forced Winter on her stomach and grabbed her hair. "NingNing please! I'm sorry!"

"Do. Not. Call. Me. LingLing!"

Irina moved almost on instinct. The second she heard the slightest sound coming from Xenovia's bed, she jumped out of bed and straight to Winter and NingNing. She projected Excalibur Mimic from it's casing and clashed swords with Xenovia. Her Durandal wasn't something Mimic could withstand for very long, but the look on Xenovia's face said it all.

"W-What are you doing Irina?" Xenovia gritted her teeth. "They are our enemy…Why are you-"

"They're not our enemies Xenovia," said Irina. "Remember…You and I were attacked. If it weren't for them, we would be dead right now."

"Then we die fulfilling our mission," said Xenovia. "How can you stand there and protect them?"

"G-Guys…" said Amy. "Let's just calm down, okay? Xenovia, you're still injured. If you move too much, your stitches are going to rip…"

Xenovia gritted her teeth. Irina remembered the injury she received from that man in the mask. He had stolen the Holy Sword experiment they were in possession of and cut her before Kouji came.

"It doesn't matter," said Xenovia. "Irina, don't tell me you're straying from our mission…"

Winter grabbed both of their swords with her bare hands and shoved them away. "House rules ladies, no swords out inside. We spent a lot of time renovating that kitchen and I won't have you two breaking things."

"W-What?" Xenovia raised her sword. "Where is he? Where is the Nephallem!"

Winter's eyes glowed blue as she caught Xenovia's Durandal, instantly beginning to freeze the blade as the temperature in the room began to drop.

"I said…no swords," Winter snatched Durandal away from Xenovia before tossing it to NingNing who slammed it into the ground. NingNing began to write symbols in the air before the runes themselves flew over to Xenovia, transforming into golden chains that completely restrained her.

"You're staying under our roof so you will follow our rules," said NingNing.

"You even lay a hand on Shidou Koujiro," Winter leaned down to face Xenovia. "I'm going to literally feed you your own arms. You do not threaten my family, do you understand?"

Xenovia gritted her teeth however Irina could tell that Winter's words struck fear in her heart. Irina felt it too. Winter meant every word of it. She was beginning to realize why Kouji was willing to go so far for them…they were willing to go this far for him too.

"Okay calm down!" cried Amy. "Fighting among ourselves is pointless. Xenovia, I get that you're devoted to your mission but you know this isn't right. This is bigger then you or me…we either work together to solve this or we die."

"You think I'm going to work with that abomination?" asked Xenovia.

Irina didn't realize her body had moved before she even did it. Her hand made contact with Xenovia's cheek as she slapped her across the face to the shock of the other three girls.

"You do not call my brother an abomination!" cried Irina.

"Irina…" said Winter.

Xenovia was still wide eyed as she glanced at Irina. "So that's it…You're that things' sister? How could your family bring that monster into this world? He'll be the one to bring this world into the Apocalypse."

It wasn't Irina this time. She watched as Amy slapped Xenovia this time. With tears running down her eyes, she gritted her teeth as she hit Xenovia.

"He's not an abomination!" she cried. "Do you realize what he's done for you, for all of the stupid humans in this world who fear him and want him dead just because he's alive? He spent all year entirely on his own…no friends, no family, not a single person to stand by his side as he saved countless souls from falling into despair…He did all of that after he had lost every single thing he had ever known. We did that to him Xenovia. We did that. The Church killed his best friend in front of his eyes because we were afraid of him…How would you feel if the world hated you so much, without a reason other than just because you exist. Wouldn't you want to burn it down? But he didn't…He helped to raise others instead of breaking him down. He's a good person…He's a good person who got lost because we stole from him the only thing that was remotely human left in him. You do not get to sit there on your throne after we slaughtered innocents and call him an abomination, you self righteous, hypocritical bitch!"

Amy…Irina didn't know she cared about Kouji like that. It was everything Irina had wanted to say…to herself. Everything she had ever felt in her heart poured out through Amy.

"Way to go Amy," NingNing wrapped an arm around Amy and fistbumped her. "Didn't know you had that in you."

"I take back what I said about you," Winter smiled and took her hand. "Welcome to the family."

"What the hell is happening!" cried Giselle.

Irina turned to see Kouji and Giselle returning from their trip with Kouji carrying more than enough food to last them awhile.

"I leave you guys alone for three hours and you tie up Xenovia and use her as a punching bag?" Giselle waved her hand as NingNing's restraining spell shattered. "We do not go around slapping exorcists. Winter, NingNing, back in bed now."

Winter and NingNing didn't argue or even talk back. With fear in their eyes, they jumped back in bed and sat down obediently.

"Are you okay?" Kouji asked Xenovia, helping her up.

"Don't touch me," Xenovia pushed him away. "You're all out of your minds. Reincarnated Angels protecting the spawn of a Demon? And you," Xenovia eyed Irina. "You're supposed to be an exorcist. We're supposed to kill things like him…you let your attachment to him cloud your mission."

Giselle's eyes grew cold. She held up her hand as golden chains shot out from magic circles, one of them wrapping them around Xenovia's neck.

"Excuse me?" asked Giselle. "It's about time you realize your entire organization is corrupt from the ground up. Don't think I don't know what your people did in China when you ambushed and surrounded my brother, the village you held hostage? You were willing to kill a village of 150 people in order to kill one 15 year old boy…and you think we're the bad guys? You better watch your tone Xenovia, before I rip out your vocal chord."

"Is Xenovia giving you guys trouble?"

Irina looked to the door once again to see Karina walking in with an unfamiliar nun. She was the most gorgous nun Irina had ever laid eyes on. Her fair skin, her sky blue eyes, evens strands of her golden hair poked through her showl.

"Let her go GiGi," Karina sighed and placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's not worth the blood, trust me."

Giselle reluctantly released Xenovia at her sister's orders. The nun walked over and looked down at Xenovia, who looked down in terror.

"G-Griselda?" asked Xenovia. "What are you-"

"You tried to kill a very dear friend of mine," said Griselda. "It was my fault for forgetting about him…but he's still my friend nonetheless. I'll deal with you later." Griselda waved her finger as a bandage wrapped around Xenovia's mouth and bound her wrists.

"Griselda…" said Kouji.

The nun smiled at her brother. "My word…look at how you've grown. It's good to see you again Kouji, after all this time."

"We have a game plan," said Karina. "Everybody get ready, we're heading out soon."

"To where?" asked Winter.

"Things are getting out of hand as is," said Karina. "Griselda secured us visitation rights to the Valak Manor so Kouji, Amy, and Winter go there and see what you can find. Giselle, NingNing and I are going to find Lavinia for even more answers."

"W-What about us?" asked Irina. "Do we still…"

"Yes, I'm afraid," said Griselda. "Shidou Irina, I know you love your brother very much, however you and Xenovia must return to Vatican City and inform your superiors of his death. Time is already running out so we have to work fast. With the world thinking he's dead, it'll give us a chance to work without being noticed."