Fallen Angels Arc Chapter 16: Fallen Angel Raynare

Jiro and Irina made their way home. Irina was secretly annoyed by the way Jiro was holding Raynare's unconscious body. Irina opened the door and stepped in first. Asia was wiping the counter in the kitchen with a rag. When she heard the front door open, she assumed it was Jiro and Irina and went to greet them.

"Welcome home, I hope you had a fun time," Asia said as she walked into the living room and saw Irina holding the door open. "You have no idea, Asia-chan," Irina said as Jiro walked in.

Asia was about to greet Jiro when she saw who he was carrying in his arms and almost fell backwards in fear. "L-Lady Raynare?! W-what is she doing here?!" Asia asked, stepping back shakily.

"Huh, you know her?" Jiro asked, seeing Asia's fearful expression. Asia looked back at Jiro.

"She's the fallen angel who brought me to Japan several days ago. I managed to slip away from her, and she's been chasing after me ever since," Asia said, pointing at Raynare in Jiro's arms, which made Jiro and Irina's eyes widen in response.

"Wait, she's the one who brought you here? What a twist of fate," Irina said, looking between Raynare and Asia.

Jiro looked down at Raynare. "Well, that gives me even more questions for her when she wakes up. But don't worry, Asia; we won't let her hurt you." Jiro said, smiling reassuringly at Asia.

Asia calms down a little but remains fearful. "W-what will you do when she wakes up? Won't she attack us?" Asia asked, glancing between Jiro's face and Raynare.

"I've already got it covered," Jiro said as he set Raynare down on the couch and went into the kitchen, came back with rope, and tied her up.

The girls watched him intently as he carried out his actions. "I know I told you to do this, but I don't think the rope is going to hold her for long," Irina said, raising an eyebrow.

"I know, and that's where these come in," Jiro said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the anti-magic handcuffs he had taken from one of the stray exorcists who had attacked Asia, then put them on her wrists behind her back. "There, now she's secure," Jiro said, turning to the girls.

"Now she won't be able to use her magic, so you have nothing to worry about, Asia." Jiro said reassuringly. Asia calmed down even more and sighed in slight relief.

"O-ok, I trust you... but can I stay with both of you tonight?" Asia said shyly, making Jiro and Irina chuckle. "Heh, sure, we can have a sleepover in my room." Jiro said, making the girls' faces light up in excitement.

"Yeah, that sounds fun. Let's have a sleepover together," Irina said cheerfully. Asia chuckled in response.

The three of them then proceeded to eat dinner, take a bath, with Irina and Asia together and Jiro after them. They changed into their usual sleeping clothes, with Asia wearing a white nightgown. Asia brought her futon to Jiro's room, while Irina shared Jiro's bed, and they fell asleep in peace.

Asia laid on her futon for several minutes, her mind flashing with memories of when she first met Raynare and her time spent with her afterwards, as she shivered in fear. She came off as nice until she brought her to the quieter part of town and revealed her true form. She put Asia in a cell and would aggressively order her around and punish her if she disobeyed. Raynare would slap her in the face, pull on her hair, and yell into her ears while pulling on it. The memories she recalled made her tremble uncontrollably, however, she knew she had Jiro and Irina there with her to protect her, and that thought calmed her nerves. She soon began to relax and found herself drifting off to sleep.

The next morning

Raynare's eyes flutter open as the morning sun shines through the window onto her on the couch. "W-what happened...?" She says to herself. She then winces in pain when the parts where Jiro had struck her on her stomach and forehead ache.

She was lying flat on her stomach and tried to sit up only to realize her arms and legs were tied up and her hands were cuffed. "W-what the hell happened?! And where the hell am I?!" Raynare yelled as she writhed on the couch trying to get free.

"Well, someone's quite active in the morning," Jiro said as he walked down the stairs, having just woken up. "You!" Raynare said as she tried to summon a light sword, only to realize she couldn't.

'Are these anti-magic handcuffs?!' Raynare thought to herself. "Good morning to you too." Jiro said as he walked over, picked her up and moved her into a sitting position, believing she might be uncomfortable.

"Where the hell am I?!"

"My house, obviously."

"What do you want from me?!"

To ask you some questions, that's what.

Before Raynare could speak again, Irina came downstairs, yawning, hearing voices. "Oh, good morning. You're just in time. Our guest is awake." Jiro said, noticing Irina.

Raynare looks at Irina and remembers seeing her at the park for a second when she fought Jiro. She looked at Irina for a few seconds and realized she was a pure angel. "Oh, she is awake. Did she try to attack you?" Irina asked, furrowing her eyebrows in slight concern.

"Nah, she can't, not with being tied up and those handcuffs on. Now then, let's ask some questions."

"How do you know she'll talk?" Irina asked curiously.

"I'll make her do it by pulling out her feathers until she does." Jiro said as he grabbed Raynare's right wing to keep her from retracting it, making her jolt while Irina's eyes widened in shock at his statement.

"I-isn't that a bit... harsh?" Irina asked, shakily. Jiro glanced at her.

"Maybe it is... but there's no telling what she might've done in the past, so she might just deserve it. And besides, I'll have you know; to those who threaten to harm my home or those I care about, I show no mercy." Jiro said, his red eyes appearing as though they were glowing under his bangs, making Irina shiver slightly, but look at him in admiration and slight affection, knowing she's one of those people.

"Now then, Raynare, here's the most obvious question first: what is your main goal?" Jiro asked, turning back to her while she glared at him. "Tch, why the hell should I tell you anything?" Raynare said, trying to sound unyielding and defiant despite her slight fear.

"Because when you're on my turf, you follow my rules, sweetheart," Jiro said, glaring at her with a threatening smile as he brought her wing closer and pulled out three feathers.

"Gah, stop, I'll answer, just please stop!" Raynare said, wincing in pain from the action as her wing twitched in his hand. Irina looked on, shivering at the sight. Although she intensely disliked the fallen angel for having tried to harm Jiro, Irina couldn't help but feel some pity for her, knowing how sensitive an angel's wings are.

Raynare recomposed herself the best she could before speaking. "My goal was to find a nun and steal her sacred gear, Twilight Healing, along with finding and killing you," Raynare said.

"Hmph, I had a feeling. Guess that confirms it's Asia." Jiro said, as he turned to Asia who was secretly watching from the stairs. She jolted at being discovered and tried to hide, while Raynare's eyes widened in surprise and anger.

"ASIA?! SO THIS IS WHERE YOU WERE HIDING, YOU LITTLE SHIT!" Raynare yelled, gritting her teeth. Asia, out of view from the others, quivered at Raynare's harsh tone, remembering her aggressive scoldings.

"That's right, Asia is staying with us for the time being. Now then, next question..." Jiro said, making Raynare look back at him.

"...So, who exactly do you work for?" Jiro asked. Raynare stayed silent for a second, not wanting to reveal her commander, but she also had a feeling that Jiro might see through a lie.

"Well? Do we have to do this the hard way?" Jiro asked, glaring at her while gripping three more feathers, making Raynare panic. "N-no, please don't, I work for Kokabiel!" Raynare said, panicky.

"That lunatic? Why?" Jiro asked, raising an eyebrow. Irina's eyes widened, recognizing the name. Raynare glared at him upon hearing his casual insult towards her commander.

"Because that 'lunatic' is my superior, to whom I swore loyalty. Don't you dare insult him." Raynare said defiantly.

"Hey, I'm just speaking the truth. He's a war-mongering lunatic."

"And Lord Kokabiel is someone who has done a whole lot for me. I will follow his beliefs to the bitter end."

"Has he now?" I know how people like him are. You realize he's just using you, right?"

"Maybe he is, so what?"

"So you're... okay with him using you like a tool."

"Yes, I am. I am his loyal soldier. It's only natural that Lord Kokabiel uses me however he sees fit," Raynare said, making Jiro, Irina, and Asia look at her, taken by her declaration. Jiro regains his composure and continues.

"...And... what if you were to be killed... while carrying out one of his tasks? Like trying to kill me for example." Jiro asked, but Raynare remained undeterred.

"If that may be the outcome, then so be it. To be his tool and carry out his orders unflinchingly is the reason he took me in. I would gladly die in the process, if it means he's brought one step closer to his goals." Raynare said, shocking the three even more.

Jiro looked at her for a second, processing her words before speaking. "Can I ask you something?" Jiro asked, making Raynare raise an eyebrow.

"What is it?"

"Is the reason you think that way... because you had nothing and no one for most of your life... and this is your only way of... giving your life meaning?" Jiro asked in a low tone.

Raynare froze

"Let me guess... he said 'follow and stay loyal to me, and you'll have everything you could ever ask for' or something like that, right?"

Raynare trembled slightly and looked at him wide-eyed, shocked. She was in disbelief that he had hit the nail on the head and figured her out so easily.

"S-SHUT YOUR MOUTH, HUMAN! DON'T ACT LIKE YOU KNOW ME SO WELL WHEN YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ME!" Raynare yelled, but there was a hint of vulnerability in her voice. The three of them looked at her, wide-eyed, caught off guard by her outburst. Jiro sensed that he might be moving towards a sensitive subject, so he decided not to keep pushing.

"Alright, I think that concludes our game of questions for now," Jiro said as he finally let go of Raynare's wing, allowing her to retract it. Raynare looked at him, surprised.

"W-wait, that's it? You're going to let me go?" Raynare asked, hopeful.

"Of course not. You don't think you can try to kill me and exploit Asia, and then get off scot-free, do you?" Jiro asked rhetorically.

Raynare's eyes widened in response. "W-what are you planning to do with me? Am I your slave now or something?" Raynare asked, shaking slightly in fear.

Jiro raised an eyebrow in response. "What do you think I am? A high-class devil? I'm just going to keep you here for a while to see whether or not you pose an actual threat. And if you don't, maybe I'll consider letting you go." Jiro said, to which Raynare reluctantly nodded, understanding his reasoning.

"Anyway, we'll be upstairs. Yell if you need anything," Jiro said as he motioned for Irina and Asia to follow him upstairs. They went into his room and closed the door. Jiro sat at his desk while Irina sat on Jiro's bed and Asia on her futon.

"Well, that was certainly something. I think I touched a soft spot at the end there." Irina said, thinking about the whole ordeal.

"I think I did. Even I didn't expect her to react like that. But now we know she's working for Kokabiel. I'll let Rias and the others know later today." Jiro said, getting a nod from Irina.

Irina stays silent, thinking for a moment before speaking. "Maybe you were right. I think I misjudged her. She may have tried to kill you, but she didn't have anything against you; she was ordered to. I'm starting to think she's not all that bad, but... she's just misunderstood." Irina said with a solemn look.

"Yeah, I know how you feel. I'm starting to think the same thing," Jiro said with a contemplative look.

Asia, who was silent the whole time, listened intently to their conversation and then suddenly stood up and left the room. Jiro and Irina looked at her as she left. "A-Asia-chan-" Irina said, but Jiro cut her off.

"Let her go. I have a feeling I know where this is going," Jiro said. Irina nodded.

Asia walked back downstairs with a determined but nervous look and re-entered the living room to find Raynare still tied up and lying on her side on the couch. Raynare, hearing someone approach, looked up at them. "Asia?" Raynare said, noticing who was there.

Raynare sat back up and looked at her. "What do you want?" she said, coldly. Asia fidgeted slightly, still feeling a little scared of Raynare before approaching her.

"T-to do this." Asia said, simply and shakily, as two silver rings appeared on her middle fingers and glowed green. She put her hands on Raynare's stomach and forehead, having noticed the bruises earlier, and healed them.

Raynare's eyes widened slightly in surprise as the slight stinging of her bruises from Jiro's strikes had faded, but she was even more surprised that Asia chose to do so. "Y-you healed me? Why?" Raynare asked, genuinely confused.

"B-because, you were hurt. And as a healer, it's my duty to do so, isn't it?" Asia said shyly, while fidgeting with her fingers.

"But I... forced you to come here, tried to exploit you, and... abused you at times." Raynare said, looking away while furrowing her eyebrows slightly in recollection.

"That may be true, but I know you didn't do so out of a personal grudge towards me," Asia said, making Raynare look back at her. "Well, it kinda was personal to some extent. I just... don't like humans that much." Raynare said in a low voice, catching Asia's attention.

"Is... that so? Jiro-san asked if you've been alone for a long time. Are those two things connected?" Asia asked. Raynare made a 'hmph' sound and turned away.

"Lady Raynare... I know what it's like to be alone and used by others. So you can tell me. I would very much like to know. And talking about it might help you feel better." Asia said with a reassuring smile.

Raynare glanced back at her and sighed in acceptance. "Fine, I'll tell you," Raynare said as she began.

Mini Flashback: almost 5000 years earlier, several years after the end of the Great War and the sealing away of Acnologia

Two fallen angels had recently retired from the Grigori and are now living in a small house in the mountains of Europe, with a small village at the mountain's foot. They chose to live a quiet life together after all the chaos and raise their daughter. However, their peaceful lives would come to a screeching halt.

A small girl lay on the ground as her surroundings were engulfed in flames and rubble littered the ground. She had raven black hair and violet eyes. Her eyes fluttered open, and she took in her surroundings as she shakily stood to her feet. She looked around for a second and saw her mother and father lying on the ground in pools of their own blood. Her face paled as she ran over to them and shook them aggressively.

"M-mother... f-father... n-no." She said as her eyes began to fill with tears and she fell uncontrollably. She held her deceased parents' hands in hers as she sobbed.

After a moment of sobbing, she heard a monstrous roar that created a shockwave of force. She fell backward as a huge creature emerged from the wall of flames, its footsteps shaking the ground as it walked. The monster was a massive, dark blue, humanoid demon. He had a large torso and two large arms that ended in scaly hands. On the left and right parts of his torso, as well as around his neck, he was covered with a series of spikes. It had two large legs, with feet resembling those of a bird, complete with additional spikes on the back. Its hair was mane-like, flowing down to the nape of its neck. It had a pair of horns pointing upwards, jutting from a plate on its forehead. It also had large pointed teeth and two hollow eyes that glowed red.

The little girl's eyes widened in terror as she crawled backwards to get away. The demon looked down, noticed her, and roared once again, almost blowing the girl away as it approached and crushed her parents' corpses under its foot, much to her horror. The little girl finally regained her composure and started running away, screaming for someone to help her as tears fell down her face in sadness and terror.

The demon stomped after her as she unfurled her small black wings and slowly took flight. She flew as fast as she could while the demon swatted at her, trying to catch her. As she flew, she caught a glance at the village at the foot of the mountain.

Much to her shock, the village was completely unharmed. Standing on a large rock outside of the village were a group of figures wearing black cloaks with a purple and black magic circle underneath them. It was then that she realized the truth: the people of the village, the humans, had summoned that monster demon and sent it to attack them.

As her mind was racing, the demon let out another monstrous roar, sending her flying away from the mountain, through the night sky from the force, and landing in a forest below, knocking her unconscious once again. The men in the dark cloaks looked on, having seen her get sent flying by the demon's roar. "She couldn't have survived a fall like that," said one of the men.

The other men nodded in agreement as they dropped their hoods. The one who appeared to be their leader smirked as he turned back to the demon. "Well done exterminating those vile creatures, Deliora. You may now return to your slumber," he said, spreading his arms. The demon was then enveloped in a dark purple light before traveling and being absorbed into a book that was floating in front of the man.

"We're done here. Let's head back home and inform everyone of the good news." The man said, smiling to his companions, who smiled in turn. The magic circle underneath them then lifted them off the rock and descended, carrying them back to their village.

The next morning, the little girl's eyes fluttered open once again, but this time she found herself hanging from a tree by her leg. When she took in her surroundings and started moving around, her leg came loose from the tree, and she fell into a bush underneath it. She crawled out of the bush, dusting herself off as her body ached in pain.

She then remembered what had happened the previous night, and tears began to form in her eyes again. She screamed in sadness and pain as the tears fell from her eyes. She sobbed for several minutes, wanting nothing more than to see her parents again while silently cursing the humans who caused all of it. When she finally stopped crying, she looked around at the plant life, not knowing where she was until she looked up and saw the mountain she was familiar with.

Images of the monster that attacked her continuously flashed through her mind as she looked at the mountain, making her shiver in fear. Not knowing what else to do, she chose to go back up the mountain since it was the only place she was familiar with. For several hours, she climbed the mountain, all the while her stomach rumbled uncontrollably.

When she finally made it to the top, where her home once was, everything from her house, to her playground, to the crop field was crushed and burnt to a crisp, making them almost unrecognizable. As she took in the sight, she felt tears welling up again at her home being destroyed, but not knowing what else to do, she chose to stay there.

Several weeks passed as she tried to survive the best she could. For food, she hunted small animals like rabbits and squirrels with tiny purple light spears and used minuscule light beams on wood to form a fire to cook the meat. At night, she would lie in the burnt ruins of her house and try to sleep through the cold night breeze under a burnt tarp.

One night after she finished eating a cooked dead rabbit, she felt someone was near and summoned a tiny light spear to defend herself. When she looked around and then looked up, she saw a large figure with 10 black wings slowly descending from the sky. The figure approached her and stopped in front of her, looking down at her, and making her tremble in fear as she held up her light spear defensively.

"Hmph, well, well, what do we have here? A little fallen angel in the place where my old colleagues used to live. I'm guessing you're their child." The figure said, in a deep, gravelly voice, to which the little girl nodded slowly.

"I see. I must admit it would be a waste to leave a descendant of two powerful individuals here to die soon, now would it?" He said as he reached out his hand.

"Why don't you follow and stay loyal to me? That way, you'll have everything you could ever ask for, little one." He said, making the girl's eyes widen.

She looked between his face and his hand in contemplation. She then made her decision and slowly placed her hand in his. The figure smirked as he began leading her away from the ruins of her old home.

"I am Kokabiel. What is your name, little girl?"

"R-Raynare"

Flashback end

Raynare finished her story as Asia looked at her, her eyes glistening in sadness and sympathy. "O-oh my goodness... L-Lady Raynare." Asia said while covering her mouth with her hand.

"And that's why I dislike humans. There, are you happy?" Raynare said, trying to maintain her tough, cold exterior while turning away.

Asia looked at her for a few more seconds, then suddenly walked up and wrapped her arms around Raynare's neck while she was sitting down, pulling her into a hug. "W-what the hell are you doing?! Get offa me!" Raynare yelled slightly, caught off guard by her gesture and squirmed around, trying to shake her off since she was tied up and cuffed.

"No, I won't let go. You need this. Lady Raynare... I'm so sorry you had to go through something like that." Asia said, firmly yet tenderly as she tightened her embrace.

Raynare stopped squirming as she began to feel the warmth of Asia's embrace. To her, it strangely... felt nice. She hadn't been hugged in eons, not since she last saw her mother.

"What those people did is awful. They had no right to do that to you, your family, or your home. I'm certain they received divine punishment for that atrocious act even if you were fallen angels. But please, Lady Raynare, don't believe all humans are awful because of what they did. The world may have bad humans in it, but it also has truly kind humans. You just have to not give up hope and find those kinds of humans. You could possibly even form a strong bond with them, if you spend enough time with them." Asia said as she tightened her embrace slightly.

Raynare processed Asia's words, her cold expression softening, then vanishing. Upon hearing Asia's words, in that moment Raynare for the first time in her life began to feel pangs of guilt. Guilt at the way she treated Asia before. Her expression softened even more and she buried her face into Asia's shoulder as a tear fell down her face. Unbeknownst to both of them, Raynare had already found one of those truly kind humans and begun to slowly bond with her.

Jiro and Irina hid behind a wall as they listened in. Irina peeked around the wall and looked at them with a solemn look while Jiro leaned against the wall with a stoic look.

"Raynare..." Irina said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Guess this shows she really isn't a bad person after all," Jiro said in a deadpan, but sympathetic tone.

Meanwhile in the abandoned church

"Well, she hasn't returned or sent a single report. Guess you know what time it is," Kalawarner said to Dohnaseek, Mittelt, and Freed, who nodded in response. She then turned to the small army of fallen angels and stray exorcists.

"Find Raynare and the nun at all costs. We'll go pay those devils a visit. Feel free to destroy the town if you want; I don't really care." Kalawarner said, gesturing forward, making the fallen angels and stray exorcists grin evilly as they flew and ran out of the church and towards the town.

To be continued