04/11/2012, Kuoh Academy, After School.
The school day is nearing it's conclusion. As the last lesson ends and the bell rings Makoto begins to pack his school bag. "Yuki, can I have some words with you?" asks Sona who was sitting in the desk besides his. "Ok" Makoto nods and follows the student council president.
"Can you tell me what happened yesterday? Rias was very vague about it and only told me to make sure the civilians were safe" Sona asks the blue-haired boy, annoyance in her voice for being left in the darkness by Rias. "A monster attacked Irumi Ito's house. I went there and found Rias fighting him" answers the messiah.
Sona frowns. "Rias didn't mention Irumi Ito was directly involved in this" she whispers. "As far as I know she has been brought to the Occult Research Club for healing" Makoto gets up. "I wanted to go there to check on her before you asked me to follow you" he explains.
"Let's go there together" says Sona decided to fully comprehend the situation. The two teens arrive in front of the Occult Research Club. Sona opens the door without much compliments to reveal a shocked Rias looking at her friend taken by surprise.
"Sona? What are you doing here?" asks the Gremory before noticing Makoto is there too. "Oh Yuki! Thanks for helping Akeno, Elizabeth was so kind to bring her here this morning completely healed. Thank you so much" she says smiling widely.
Sona looks between Rias and Makoto not understanding what she was talking about. "Rias! I want some explanations!" shouts the bespectacled girl. "There is nothing to worry about Sona, everything has been dealt with" says non-chalantly Rias. Sona fumes with rage at Rias' answer.
"Is Ito alright?" asks Makoto interrupting the two devils from fighting. "She woke up during lunch time. Akeno and Koneko are with her right now".
A sound of steps is heard from outside the clubroom. The door is shoved open revealing Irumi covered in bandages, looking at Rias flames in her eyes. "President Gremory! I want to become a devil!" shouts the girl stunning Sona and Makoto while Rias smiles at her. Irumi then notices Makoto.
04/10/2012, Irumu's Mind, ???
'I died?' Irumi asks herself not feeling her body. She looks around only seeing a void space. 'Mom... Dad...' she sobs remembering the sight of her parents' dead bodies.
"You are not dead" says a loud and deep voice. In the void of the girl's mind a giant red dragon appears, his green eyes piercing Irumi. "A-a dragon?" she looks at the giant reptile with a look of fear, shock and awe.
"I am Y Ddraig Goch, the red dragon of domination, partner" says the dragon, his voice booming in Irumi's ears. "Partner? What does it mean? I'm not dreaming?" asks Irumi trying to understand what is going on.
"You are special Irumi Ito, you were born with a great gift. The Boosted Gear, one of the strongest sacred gears in existence and I am the being living in said sacred gear".
"What is a sacred gear? How can I be alive?" asks Irumi scared, but wanting to fight back and not giving up. "The surge of power I gave you when the boosted gear awakened made your body able to resist till help came" explains Ddraig. "As for what sacred gears are, they are weapons gave by the God of the Bible to humans".
Irumi looks at her body floating in the void, she clenches her fists. "What was that monster that killed my parents?" demands the girl, her tone mixed with sadness and anger.
"Partner, not only humans inhabit this world. The monsters and races told in the tales and myths are all real. Gods, spirits and monsters. All of them" says Ddraig using a tone of voice as much calm and soft as possible for a dragon like him in order to not scare even more the already scared Irumi.
The girl silently nods at Ddraig's voice... she feels angry. Why anger? Why so much anger? Iruki asks herself, instead of sadness? Remorse? Non of them, only amger. She's angry for the injustice and unfairness of this world that made her parents die. She felt angry for what she lost. She felt amgry for what she could have done. It's only now, now that she lost everything that the girl understands her life has been great until that monster showed up. She cries, not out of sadness, but out of frustration. "Why did this happen to me!?" she shouts forgetting the dragon's presence or not caring about it at all.
Irumi screams in anger to relieve some stress and frustration. The girl feels like she's losing her mind, even if she's alive what is she going to do from now on? She's alone, her family died. Her dreams with them. Her world with them. She has been ungrateful. What was the last thing she said to them? 'I'm going to school' maybe? This thought aches the girl unlike anything else. "Partner it's a good thing to feel anger, but not like this. You are just doing more harm than good to yourself" says Ddraig.
It takes a while before Irumi can manage to calm her nerves and begin to think clearly once again. She falls on the metaphorical ground inside her mind and looks at the dragon. "I... I don't know what to do..." she says defeated. "Even though you don't have a clear path in front of you, you still have the potential to make everything possible. This is the power of the Boosted Gear, this is the absolute power of a dragon" says Ddraig trying his best to be encouraging.
"But isn't this a weapon? How can I use it?" asks Irumi. "I'm sorry to tell you this, but you will no longer be able to live a life outside of the supernatural side of the world. It is in the nature of a dragon to drag power" Ddraig's answer makes Irumi to frown.
"So I can't even live a normal life even if I try my best? Is this what you are trying to say?" she says annoyed by the dragon's tone. "Yes. From now on you will have a target on your back. Being the red dragon empress means to always fight, you can't hide nor run away".
"At least you are telling me this straightforward" says Irumi between a sigh. The girl stays in silence for many minutes, pondering her situation. If she has to live like that she will do it her way. "I took a decision" she says standing up and looking at the dragon, determination in her eyes. Ddraig looks surprised by the girl's will and listens to her. "What have you decided?" he asks.
"I still have friends I care about. You said you could give me power, right? Ok then, give it to me. I will protect my town. I will make justice for my parents' death myself!" she shouts at Ddraig, making the red dragon of domination to laugh in amusement. "I LIKE YOUR DETERMINATION! I LIKE YOUR WILL TO FIGHT! PROPER OF A PARTNER OF MINE! GOOD! I WILL HELP YOU IRUMI ITO!" shouts the dragon.
Irumi nods at her supposed partner. "Before you wake up there is one last thing you need to know" says Ddraig. "Before you fainted I felt the presence of devils. They were probably the ones who saved you".
However, before Irumi can ask anything else to Ddraig she wakes up.
04/11/2012, Kuoh's Old School Building, Lunch Time.
Irumi jolts from the bed, she quickly looks around herself. The red dragon empress finds herself in a comfy bed her injuries are bandaged and she doesn't feel any pain.
"You finally woke up" she hears a voice saying. Irumi looks up to see Akeno smiling at her. "Senpai Himejima? What are you doing?" asks the girl confused for seeing the popular Himejima Akeno in front of her.
"I was making sure you were fine, now I see you are" says Akeno sitting besides Irumi. The younger girl looks at her senpai, a thought forming in her head from what Ddraig told her before she woke up. "Senpai, are you a devil?" Irumi's question takes Akeno by surprise, but she nods at her. "Yes, I am. How do you know it?" asks back the Gremory queen.
"A dragon told me" answers Irumi. "A dragon you say? How much has he told you?" asks her senpai interested. 'She really has a dragon type Sacred Gear' thinks Akeno barely resisting from giggling in amusement. 'Rias will be happy to know this'.
"He told me that I have a Sacred Gear and also that devils saved me" Irumi tells Akeno what Ddraig told her omitting the name of the red dragon. "I want to apologize Ito, if it wasn't for our carelessness your parents would be alive. I know what it means to lose your parents..." says Akeno, poison in her voice.
"It's not your fault" says Irumi. Akeno then proceeds to explain Irumi the supernatural side of Kuoh Town. "Senpai, you protect this city right?" asks the Magician. "We do our best to protect it, yes" it's the honest answer of Akeno.
"I want to protect Kuoh too! I want to avenge my parents! I want to protect my friends!" shouts Irumi getting up, despite her bandages and Akeno's efforts to hold her down, she looks directly in the queen's eyes. "You mentioned evil pieces, if senpai Gremory resurrects me I will be stronger and I will be able to protect this city, right?".
Akeno smiles and nods to Irumi before making her sit down. "Yes you would become much stronger indeed and you could protect our town" says Akeno, this is a golden choice for them, a peerage member with a dragon Sacred Gear, but the Himejima girl doesn't want to exploit Irumi. "However, this is an irreversible decision, Rias is a wonderful king I swear it" the last part said with strong decision. "But you would still have obligations towards her, it's not something you can decide on the spot" Akeno tries to make her underclassmate to reason, but the girl is adamant.
"It's ok, as long as I can stop another death like the one of my parents I'll do it. I'm ok with it" replies calmly Irumi. Akeno sighs, but inside her she's really happy to hear this. 'We can help you, Rias' thinks the Gremory queen before looking again at Irumi. "For now it's better if you eat something" says Akeno not accepting a no for an answer.
While Ito and Akeno are eating a knock is heard on the door. Akeno goes to open it. Koneko enters the room and looks at Irumi. "Toujou?" says Irumi, surprised for seeing the school's mascot. Koneko looks at Irumi and hums seeing she's fine. "Koneko you don't have to be so cold with Ito here" says Akeno looking at the white-haired girl.
"I just wanted to check on her as the President asked me" softly says Koneko getting a bit closer to Irumi. "Dragon" she points Irumi's arm. "It seems Ito has a dragon based Sacred Gear" comments Akeno and Irumi nods confirming it.
"Toujou are you also a devil?" asks Irumi. "Yes" the rook girl makes for leaving, but Akeno stops her. "Why don't we eat together?" offers Akeno. The three girls eat lunch together talking about more mundane things, their hobbies, likings but also dreams and projects for the future.
After they are done eating and talking Irumi stands up. "Ito what are-" before Akeno can finish her sentence Irumi has already left the room.
04/11/2012, Occult Research Club, After School.
Irumi looks at her senpai not knowing what to do. 'Why is senpai Yuki here? What have I done...' the girl looks at the shocked face of Sona. 'Even the student council president is here... wait, didn't senpai Himejima say she's a devil too?'.
Rias who was beaming happily looks at Irumi. "Ito, I'm so glad you are fine. Let me talk with Sona and Yuki here ok and I'll be right to you" she says before addressing Sona once again. "See Sona? everything is well what ends well, see you!" Rias' answer makes Sona to sigh in exasperation. "We'll talk later" says the Sitri before leaving.
Makoto looks at Irumi. "Are you fine? And what was that thing about wanting to be a devil?" he asks. Irumi stutters some words not knowing what to say. 'What do I do? What do I say?' she asks herself looking at Rias for help 'I really messed up'. "He already knows, Ito" comes the voice of Akeno who followed the girl and was now behind her. "What!? Are you a devil too senpai?" asks flabbergasted Irumi. "No" briefly answers Makoto. Irumi looks at Makoto like she just found a mystery to uncover, but before she can ask anything else to Makoto Rias stops her.
"Sit down Ito" says Rias offering the girl a seat in front of her. "Yuki thank you again for what you have done for us" Rias thanks again the blue-haired boy offering him a smile.
'Universe waiiiit!' screeches Fafnir. 'What's the matter?' asks Makoto. 'I feeel my good old buddy Goch insiiide the Magician' he answers. 'Whoever you are talking about isn't the one you know lizard' says Odin to the metallic dragon. 'Siiilence old man' replies aggressively Fafnir. 'Don't be the same as Lucifer, Fafnir' alerts Apollo gaining an annoyed snort from the Morning Star. 'I just want to seee who is good buddy Goch in thiiis world' says Fafnir. 'Ok' eventually decides Makoto.
"Do you mind if I stay?" asks Makoto. "No, but can I ask why?" says Rias curious. "Someone said Irumi had inside her one of his buddies, he called him Goch" at the mention of the name Irumi looks at Makoto with wonder. "You know him senpai?" she asks getting up shacking the messiah's shoulder. The other devils in the room laugh at Irumi's reaction.
'Partner' says Ddraig in Irumi's mind. 'Ddraig! You can speak to me from outside my mind?' asks the girl still not letting her senpai go. 'Now that you healed I can, but leave him immediately' replies Ddraig sternly. Irumi notices what she was doing and frees Makoto. "I'm sorry senpai" apologizes Irumi bowing her head.
"Let's talk Ito" says Rias between some laughters. "Can I ask you why you want to be a devil?" asks Rias not wanting to rush things. 'Ito has a dragon Sacred Gear, she is my perfect opportunity. I have to play this right' thinks Rias while trying to remain as calm as possible. "I want to protect this town President! I want to make justice for my parents' death" answers the girl proclaiming her new goal.
While Irumi and Rias speak, Makoto can't but clenching his teeth. 'What's the problem Universe?' asks Kohryu. 'If I hadn't used Martyr's Doom maybe I could have saved Ito's parents' says the messiah with regret. 'What is done is done Universe' says Odin. 'What matters is that we are in the good!' proudly proclaims Robin Hood. 'Sssshut up! I'm trying to listen what the Goch's host is saying' creaks Fafnir.
"How does it work?" asks Irumi now watching at the box of Rias' evil pieces. "I just put a piece in you and the job is done you become a devil. Don't worry it's harmless" says Rias pulling out four pawn pieces. 'Only four?' says annoyed Ddraig taking it almost as an offence. 'Is there a problem?' asks back Irumi at her new partner. 'These few pieces from someone like this Gremory girl will never resurrect a wielder of the Boosted Gear, not even the weakest imaginable' explains the dragon.
As Ddraig said the resurrection doesn't work. Makoto looks at the ritual confused. "It didn't work?" he asks. Rias looks at the evil pieces and then pulls out another one. "I may have underestimated your potential Ito" she says smiling. However the resurrection doesn't work even with 5 pieces. She tries with 6, nothing. Seven, nothing. Only with the eighth piece the ritual finally takes places.
The pawn pieces enters Irumi's body and a red light envelops her. After it vanishes Irumi is still sitting on the chair, but with two bat wings spread out. "Congratulations Ito!" says Akeno. "Yes it worked I welcome you to my peerage as my pawn Irumii Ito. I swear on the name of my family to treat you as a family member and not a mere servant" says Rias hugging the younger girl.
'That was boring' says Lucifer. 'What did you expect Morning Star?' asks Apollo. 'Blood, death and fire. That was just a cheap magic trick. I'm utterly disappointed' snorts the Devil. Makoto looks at his Magician. "How are you feeling?" he asks. "Strange, but not very different actually" replies the girl. "Apart from the wings of course" she says after noticing her new pair of wings.
Irumi then raises her hand. "Yes?" asks Rias. "Can I ask some questions to senpai here?" Irumi points to Makoto. Akeno and Rias softly laughs at the question. "You don't have to ask permission for something like that" answers Rias. Irumi nods solemnly like she just received an important order. "Understood".
The Magician turns to Makoto. "Senpai you aren't a devil, but you have a sacred gear too right?" asks Irumi. "From what I understood if humans have power it is from Sacred Gears. Or maybe... you aren't human at all!?" says surprised Irumi. Makoto shakes his head. "Yuki here is quite special we were surprised too when we discovered it" says Akeno hiding a smile. Irumi looks even more confused than before. 'Partner I don't like this boy. I suggest you don't interact with him so much' says Ddraig. 'WHAT?' shouts Irumi in her mind. 'This is a no no, senpai here is a dear friend. He saved my club and he's always nice' Irumi answer doesn't please Ddraig. 'Trust me partner' he says. 'I said no Ddraig' says again the red dragon empress in her mind.
Makoto and the devils look at Irumi who just spaced out. "Is everything alright?" asks Rias. Irumi shakes her head. "No. Senpai you and Ddraig have to talk right now. He says you are dangerous, but I obviously don't believe him" Irumi then tries to summon Ddraig. "Ddraig?" says Akeno. "The red dragon of domination?" continues Rias mouth agape. "You are the red dragon empress of this era!?" both Rias and Akeno shouts. 'This is what I needed! I can't believe my luck' thinks Rias sighing in relief. An heavy weight leaving the Gremory's entire body as she relaxes herslef on her armchair.
'Ehy Ddraig how do I summon you?' asks Irumi to the dragon. 'If you insist so much on me talking to this... boy, ok' the red gauntlet of the Boosted Gear appears on Irumi's arm.
"Greetings" says Ddraig's voice from the jewel at the center of the gauntlet. "I'm Y Ddraig Goch and who are you blue-haired human?" asks Ddraig not hiding his hostility.
Rias and Akeno look at Makoto not understanding what the red dragon of domination could want from him, someone from another world. 'Goch spoke let me speeaak too Universe pleeeaase' begs Fafnir. "I'm Makoto Yuki, I think there is someone who wants to talk with you" says Makoto. "Someone?" says Ddraig confused. Makoto just nods and pulls out his evoker.
"Senpai what are you doing with a pistol?" asks concerned Irumi. "This is not a pistol" answers Makoto pointing the evoker to his head and pulling the trigger, summoning a smaller version of Fafnir tha could fit in the room. The metallic body of the persona appears behind Makoto. The bulky robotic figure of the dragon stands in the middle of the room, the black horns of the helmet that contains his head scratching the ceiling.
"I am Thou, Thou art I. From the Universe in thy Soul I'm born. I am the screeching sound of infernal machines. I am the greed who doomed the dwarves and made Asgard tremble. I am Fafnir and I have come to salute a deeaar buddy" the last part said by a Fafnir who could barely contain his joy which was showed by the display on his chest where is heart should be that was flashing in a yellow light.
"Another dragon!?" shouts Irumi as she looks at the cybernetic dragon body of Fafnir. Akeno and Rias look at the dragon, shocked by his sudden appearance, but they have already understood that with Makoto normality wasn't a thing.
Fafnir's metal jaw tries to smile. He lowers his head and looks at the gauntlet. "Hiii Goch, have you missed good old me?" he asks trying to mantain a normal voice which was almost impossible. Ddraig doesn't answer for a while. "Ehy Senpai you could have said that you had a dragon Sacred Gear too!" shouts Irumi.
"Haaa Haaa" chuckles mechanically Fafnir. "I liiike you Magician. It's good that a buddy of mine is with a buddy of the Universe".
"Fafnir? What happened to you?" asks Ddraig shocked by Fafnir's metallic body. "After Siiiegfrieed killed me the Collective Unconscious decided to shape my body like this Goch" says Fafnir.
"What is the Collective Unconscious?" Ddraig's question makes Fafnir to puff a great deal of smoke. "I gueeess you are not the Goch I know then" with that said Fafnir disappears.
"Fafnir come back! I have not finished with you! Do you at least know how much time has passed since I spoke with a dragon without we were trying to kill each other?" Fafnir doesn't comes back nor he answers. "I guess he had enough" says Makoto. "Wait!" say both Irumi and Ddraig. Makoto looks at them.
"That was not a Sacred Gear how can you summon Fafnir?" Ddraig's question stops Irumi from saying anything. "It wasn't a sacred gear?" she says looking at Rias and Akeno who nod in confirm.
"That was a persona. Fafnir's a persona" answers Makoto. Expecting other questions Makoto explains what he had already said to Rias and Sona.
"Is there a me persona?" asks Ddraig. "Probably" asnwers Makoto. "This was much to hear. I'm going to sleep" the gauntlet then disappears from Irumi's arm.
"Well thank you again for coming here Yuki, you are welcome whenever you want but I really have to speak with Irumi now" says Rias.
04/11/2012, Velvet Room, Evening.
"Welcome back" Elizabeth greets Makoto as he opens the Velvet Room door. "Hi, Liz" Makoto sits next to her. "You have the omnipotent orb with you right?" asks the boy. "Oh I forgot to give it back to you" says the woman giving the sphere to Makoto. Makoto thanks the attendant and begins to cook something for dinner.
"I organized a meeting for you tomorrow, the Councillor wanted to speak with" says Elizabeth while they are eating. "Ok, do you know where is Ryoji?" says Makoto noticing his absence.
"He's out" Elizabeth briefly dismisses the question. "The Councillor asked to meet him at the church where you fought his shadow" explains Elizabeth.
"Why there?" the woman just shrugges at Makoto's question. "Ok, I'll meet him tomorrow"