05/04/2012, Grigori Headquarters, Morning.
Makoto has decided to visit the HQ of Grigori by invitation from Penemue.
"And this is the cafeteria of the Ministry of Defense," announces the Secretary of Grigori, concluding their tour of the facility. "Though, in hindsight, we probably should have shown you around a bit sooner, Messiah," she adds, her tone tainted by a mild embarrassment.
"I see... thanks for the tour Penemue" says Makoto.
'I hoped thiiis place to be more interestiiing' screeches Fafnir. 'I wonder what is you definition of interesting' snorts Odin. 'Whaaat? Do you want to fiiight old man?' creaks the dragon.
A notification is heard from Penemue's tablet. "Oh, I am sorry Messiah it seems Azazel needs my assistance... again" says the woman. Makoto looks at the technological device in the fallen angel's hands. "What is that?" he asks.
"I had forgotten you're unfamiliar with Grigori's technology" Penemue reminds herself, gesturing to the device. "It's similar to a human phone, but far more advanced and woth more functionalities"
Suddenly, she glances down at the tablet's screen, her eyes widening. "Ah! Azazel says, and I quote: 'Contact the Messiah immediately. The matter is urgent.' Oh heavens, Messiah, we need to hurry!" Her voice sharpens with urgency, the earlier calm replaced by a frantic edge.
"Ok. From the little I know of Azazel he doesn't seem the type of person to take even official things much seriously. I'm following you" says Makoto earning a small laugh from Penemue.
"I would say you already know him well enough. That's basically pretty much all of Azazel's personally" jokes the woman while rushing towards Azazel's office. "Luckily I called you this morning!" sighs to herself Penemue.
"Did Azazel mention anything?" asks Makoto.
'If it was the Azazel I know I would bet the urgent problem he might refer to would be a decreasing in the cases of heinous murders made or ordered by him' says Lucifer.
'How many time do they have to repeat you this isn't that Azazel' says Leviathan awakened from his deep sleep by Lucifer's words.
Penemue and Makoto finally arrive at the entrance to the Governor General's office, a space that typically sits empty, as Azazel spends most of his time holed up in his laboratory, getting out of it only for matters that are, more often than not, entirely unrelated to governing the Grigori or his other duties as the Governor.
This time, however, the office is a hive of activity, bustling with an energy that feels almost foreign.
Inside the room there are old faces, Azazel and Shemhazai, along with new ones. One of them is the one who brought this problem to Azazel's attention: Tobio Ikuse, the leader of the special team Slash/Dog. A young man in his early twenties, probably around the same age of Makoto if it wasn't for him becoming the Great Seal that caused his body to stop aging.
Tobio stands a few centimeters taller than Makoto, his jet-black hair framing sharp grey eyes that gleam with quiet intensity. Clad in a sleek, form-fitting stealth suit completely made of black fabric, tailored for silent movement and covert infiltration. He carries an imposing scythe strapped to his back, its blade hinting at lethality, even more proved by the red runes engraved on it beneath its polished surface.
Beside him stands Lavinia Reni, his second-in-command and a fellow member of Slash/Dog. A human just like Tobio, she matches his age and, her presence elegant. Her hair, a cascade of golden blonde, falls like sunlight down to the small of her back, contrasting strikingly with her piercing glacial sapphire eyes, their color reminiscent of crystal ice.
Penemue knocks on the door, interrupting the discussion between the four presents.
"Finally you are here Penemue... Yuki" says Azazel forcing himself to not say 'Messiah' when greeting Makoto.
"You must be the new agent Val spoke so much about" says Lavinia her voice sounding like a charming song. "My name is Lavinia and this gloomy guy right here is Tobio".
"Nice to meet you, Yuki, right?" briefly says Tobio with a polite smile and a nod of acknowledging. "Makoto Yuki..." says instead the blue-haired boy.
"Mes- ehm, Yuki" Azazel begins, his voice uncharacteristically hesitant, "sorry for summoning you so abruptly, and thank you for coming on such short notice" his tone, laced with an unusual awkwardness, draws puzzled frowns from both Lavinia and Tobio, who exchange a quick glance. Sensing the tension, Shemhazai clears his throat and subtly elbows Azazel in the side, a silent nudge to regain his composure.
"What Azazel is trying to say is that he wants to update you on that project you were working on" says Shemhazai winking his left eye so fast that no one, not even Tobio, can notice it, no one but Makoto.
Lavinia sighs. "Mr. Azazel are you once again busy with your experiments?" she asks looking at the Fallen Angel with a disappointed look. "Azazel. The Outcasts of Yomi are starting to become a real menace, they have made allies with the extremists of the Five Principal Clans, especially the Himejima".
The mention of the Himejima's name resounds in Makoto's head. 'Himejima? Like Akeno's family name?' he thinks.
'Yes. In this world there are five main human families which have the blessing of the shinto gods and their four sacred beasts, plus the successor of the Huanglong' explains Izanagi, telling the information he learnt on his visit at Takamagahara with Elizabeth.
'Now that you remind me of it. I remember Ddraig calling me the third dead dragon god' says Kohryu.
'What is important is that the Outcasts of Yomi are backed by Shadow Izanami' eventually tells Izanagi.
"Yes I understand!" says Azazel playing Shemhazai's game. "I promise you I'll give it the proper attention after I am done with Yuki".
Saying this and ignoring Tobio and Lavinia, Azazel takes Makoto to his laboratory. When they are inside he closes the door behind him.
"Sorry for the inappropriate view Messiah... I owe Shemhazai one for this save" he says.
"What is Nyarlathotep doing?" Makoto demands, cutting straight to the point. Azazel's expression darkens as he responds, "So my suspicions are correct, the Outcasts of Yomi are being backed by Nyarlathotep. I had a feeling. There's no way a faction could gain so much power and influence in just a few months without some kind of... external support".
'Izanagi what else do you know about them?' asks Makoto. 'Nothing else, Susano'o stormed their only known hideout, but when he was done with it every hint was gone. They evacuated in instant'.
'Now that the Universe is done babysitting the Priestess we can get this done before Nyarlathotep creates another Shadow Self' declares Odin. 'That's a bit rude All-Father, but you aren't wrong' agrees Cendrillon.
"I understand. What about these Five Principal Clans?" Makoto returns his attention back at Azazel.
"The Slash/Dog team which the two guys you saw before were part of, reported many suspicious activities from the radicals of said clans. Their activities focused around the volcanic areas of Japan, the available fallen angels I sent were quickly disposed of by our enemies and sending more of them could create tensions with the Shinto Pantheon. And I am not even considering Kokabiel's situation as I have to keep an eyes on him too".
"Kokabiel?" Makoto asks, curiosity piqued by the unfamiliar name.
"Yes" Azazel replies, his tone growing even more serious. "Another Cadre, like Shemhazai, me or Penemue. But unlike most of the Grigori, and the rest of us Cadres, he's a warmonger. His sole desire is to reignite the Great War. Because of this, he's the only Cadre who doesn't know your true identity as the Messiah" Azazel concludes, exhaling a sigh.
"Ok, thanks for the information Azazel" says Makoto. "Ah, you are more than welcomed Messiah. Having someone with whom I can say everything and anything who are not Shemhazai Baraqiel or Penemue is refreshing" says Azazel.
"What about Vali? Where is he, I thought he would immediately come seeking for me the exact same time I would step in the Grigori".
"And that's the final reason I called you here. Vali might have discovered another Shadow Self". Makoto jolts at the mention of it.
'Since when? How fast can Nyarlathotep create Reverse Personas and Shadow Selves? Shadow Izanami, Shadow Azazel, the Reverse Phoenix and now another!?' says Kohryu shaken by the information.
'The Star might be in danger, hee hoo' alerts Jack Frost. 'If the Star dies the consequences will be catastrophic' tells Yoshitsune. 'We must hurry'.
"Who? Where? And what is Vali even doing in the jaws of the enemy!?" asks Makoto walking closer to Azazel as to hear sooner his answer.
"It's a long story. Vali is a spy for us inside the Khaos Brigade, a faction of rebels and terrorists who want to bring chaos in the world" starts Azazel. "However this is being his mission for almost an year as of today" a pause follows then both Makoto and Azazel say in unison:"Nyarlathotep infiltrated in the Khaos Brigade".
'Universe, I remember the Attendant speaking with Death about a certain Ophis and her being affiliated with the Khaos Brigade but not remembering anything after being attacked by Nyarlathotep' informs Apollo. 'Sorry for interrupting you Apollo, but I must ask you how can you know it?' asks Cendrillon, the curiosity taking the best of her.
'Let's say while I was training the Hanged... I took a pleasure trip' admits Apollo. 'It doesn't matter, go on' insists Makoto.
'The Attendant sent Horus to monitor Ophis' interjects Apollo.
Makoto sighs, a tiny bit of frustration simmering beneath his words. 'Liz hides things from me again, underestimates the crisis, and then leaves me to clean it up' he replies mentally, while rubbing his temples.
'Such is our lot, Makoto' offers Messiah with a wry sense of comedy, his tone tinged with camaraderie.
'I can't blame her entirely…' Makoto concedes, his irritation softening being Elizabeth the one they were speaking about.
'This life she is having, unchained from the rules of the Velvet Room, freed from being all alone with Igor must feel like paradise to her. A new world to explore… I get it, and that's also why she drags me or even Rias on her whirlwind tours of every alley and shop in Kuoh Town'.
"Azazel, do you know someone named Ophis?" Makoto's question, though seemingly innocent, strikes a chord within Azazel. His expression tightens, and after a brief pause, he replies. "Ophis... is the supposed benefactor of the Khaos Brigade. For reasons unknown, she's aligned herself with them" His tone is measured, but the weight behind his words hints at the gravity of the situation.
Makoto curses silently. "Nyarlathotep attacked her and stripped her from her memories".
"Shit".