Chapter 45: The Invitation

A/N: Fullest apologies, my fever did not end until Saturday, so I was not in writing shape until quite literally two days ago. Did my best to get this chapter out as quick as possible. Luckily, I managed to be on a bout of post-sickness inspiration and Chapter 46 has also started being written. I should have it out by Friday so we'll be back to on schedule. Thank you for your patience!

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The sun over Grevex was just beginning to sink, staining the skies above the sprawling city a bruised violet as Rias trudged home. Her legs ached, her fingers tingled faintly from channeling magic for hours on end, and her pristine white blouse was creased in ways that would’ve made her younger self scream. At least she still had enough dignity left to keep her head high as she walked the winding streets back to their… humble abode.

Humble. That was the nicest possible word for it, she thought bitterly.

Her heels crunched over the cracked cobblestones, the sharp scent of brimstone faint on the evening breeze. Slung over her shoulder was the modest satchel she carried to work at the Red Tower guild. Its faintly glowing sigil glimmered weakly as the magic within the scrolls cooled, though the same could not be said of her temper.

Rias Gremory, once the pride of her family, now spent her days mass-producing generic offensive scrolls like some underpaid human factory worker. Rows and rows of parchment, over and over again: fireball, lightning bolt, arcane shrapnel. It was a wonder her hair hadn’t started falling out yet from the dreadful monotony.

Manual labor. Her.

Oh, the ignominy of it all.

Her one boon at work being the fact that her fellow colleagues treated her like just that, a colleague. No one treated her any differently or gave her any special attention. There were no hordes of admiring young girls calling her one-sama following her around, nor boys waiting around the corner trying in vain to brush up against her ‘accidentally’. Everyone in the Red Tower took their position and studies very seriously; constantly immersed in their work and research. Exhausting as it was, work was proving to be a novel experience.

She was even making friends!

By the time she reached the sagging wooden gate of their residence, she was scowling outright. The plain fence was still missing half a slat on the right side, and the wild weeds in the front yard looked taller than ever.

She stomped through the door without ceremony and spotted Gobdad in his usual spot - hunched over his little ledger at the kitchen table, his bulbous nose inches from the page.

“Hey,” she called out as she dropped her satchel on the counter.

The goblin didn’t even look up. “Loud. Red-Princess always so loud when come house.”

Rias gritted her teeth. She was too tired to argue.

Instead, she stepped over, crossing her arms and watched him scratch away at whatever minor bookkeeping he obsessed over. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you,” she started, tone clipped.

“Mm?” Gobdad’s ears twitched.

“This place,” she said, gesturing vaguely around her. “It’s barely livable. The walls are thin, the rooms are cramped, and the bathroom situation is, well, not ideal is the politest way I can say it. I was thinking we could at least expand the house magically to create more living room? I know a few spells that could double the interior space without changing the outside.”

At that, Gobdad finally glanced up, his yellow eyes gleaming dully. “Need permission.”

Rias blinked. “Permission? From who?”

“Boss.”

Oh.

Of course. She should have known.

“Lord Ichigo owns this place, doesn’t he?” she asked flatly.

Gobdad nodded, scribbling something on the page. “All his property. No change Boss’s property without asking. Even fix squeaky door need Boss’s permission.”

Rias pinched the bridge of her nose. “Fine. Then… can you at least show me whatever lease or renter’s agreement exists? I’d like to know what we’re allowed to do here.”

That earned her a gravelly laugh, though Gobdad didn’t look up. “Hah! Lease? Agreement? You think piece of paper do anything to Boss? Too funny.”

That made her scowl deepen.

Of course, Lord Ichigo wouldn’t bother with anything so mundane as contracts. He didn’t need to. He was the kind of Demon who could make an entire room of Dukes and Lords flinch just by walking in. The ruling Demon Lord who molded the entire realm by sheer force of will. He was above things like renter’s agreements.

Rias huffed, pulling out a chair and sinking into it opposite Gobdad. Her legs screamed in relief, but the tight coil of frustration in her chest remained.

“Is there any way we can get him a message? Or request permission for the magical upgrades?” Rias asked the goblin.

Gobdad briefly looked up in consideration. “Hmm, can try communion?”

Rias blinked at him in confusion. “Communion?”

“Kos!” Gobdod’s small head bobbed up and down vigorously. “Nobles, mages, rich folk: all make communion, ritual sacrifice to pray to Boss. Get Boss’s attention and earn favor.”

“Err, sacrifice?” Rias asked hesitantly. she suddenly had a mental image of tying Gaspar onto an altar.

Gobdad nodded once more. “Everyone offer bloodstones, jewels or magic thingies! Gobdad know secret! Boss like fish eggs from north!”

She stared at the little green figure disbelievingly. Fish eggs? She was supposed to win Lord Ichigo’s favor with fish eggs? What was that even supposed to mean?

“…What exactly do you mean by fish eggs?”

Gobdad looked at her from the corners of his eyes. “Red-Princess not know fish lay eggs? So stupid. No wonder Boss make you live in doo-doo house. Too stupid to live with normal people.”

“Hey!” Rias said indignantly, rising up in her seat. “I know what fish eggs are! But how the Hell do you appease the Crown Prince of Wrath with fish eggs! You’re the one that’s being stupid!”

The goblin rolled his eyes. “Cook eggs, give Boss, Boss eats. Simple.”

“Oh!” Her eyes lit up in understanding. “Food? Like caviar? Why didn’t you just say so?”

“Cabby-what? No, fish eggs. Fiiiish. Eeeggs. Gah, so stupid!”

She felt the corner of her eye begin to tick. Maybe she would have to do two communions. One to obtain Lord Ichigo’s blessing to expand the house and the other to gain his forgiveness after she’s done strangling the little green menace.

“What’s going on?” An all too amused Akeno walked into the kitchen and casually took a cup of yogurt out of the fridge. And that was another thing, they would have to go shopping for soon for food. She and Sona hadn’t realized it before, but their respective peerages were quite gluttonous. “And welcome home.”

Rias shot her a warm smile as Akeno pulled up a chair and sat next to her. Her Queen was dressed in short shorts and a white spaghetti strap. Rias eyes briefly fell below Akeno’s neckline, where her girls were pressed and held up in an impressively tight display. Issei would have quite the visual reward when he came home from a hard day’s worth of work tonight.

“I was talking with the property manager about making some spatial upgrades via magic,” Rias said as she motioned towards Gobdad with one hand. “As it turns out, we can’t do anything to this dump without the owner’s permission.”

As Akeno downed a spoonful of yogurt, she said, “Lord Ichigo?”

“Lord Ichigo,” she answered with a sigh.

The Fallen-Devil girl didn’t look particularly surprised nor put out, merely shrugging her shoulders. “So we get permission.”

“That’s what we were discussing,” Rias said as she leaned back into her chair. Her shoulders were still quite stiff from a long day’s work. Lucifer, could she do with a hot shower right about now. “Gobdad suggests we try for a communion to earn his favor.”

Both of Akeno’s brows shot up. “That sounds excessive. Can’t we just call him and ask?”

Rias gave her a flat look. Honestly, did Akeno think she hadn’t already thought of that? “Do you have his number? Because Sona and I don’t.”

Akeno gave her a questioning look. “Wait, neither of you have his number? Isn’t that a little irresponsible? He’s our legal guardian, we should at least be able to contact him when needed, right?”

Rias merely shrugged. Who was she to question the whims of one of the Ruling Satans? That being said, she did silently agree with Akeno. It would be nice to have her guardian on call if ever needed. What if there was an emergency and she needed to contact him?

Breaking her from her thoughts, Akeno offered her a spoonful of her yogurt which Rias took in single, fluid movement.

Akeno gave her a wink and purred, “That’s right, be a good girl and lick all the white stuff off of daddy’s thing and then swallow it.”

Rias rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help but smile good naturedly. Akeno could be such a goof. But at the same time, her eyes slightly widened.

“Oh wow,” Rias said as the flavors of the yogurt danced across the tongue. “That’s really good!”

“I know right?” Akeno said, taking some yogurt for herself. “It’s called Meridberry flavor, apparently a unique species of berry grown right in the forests outside of Grevex! Anyways, back to our living space problem. Why don’t we just pass a message along through Meril?”

Rias opened her mouth and then promptly shut it. “Huh… why didn’t I think of that?”

“Gobdad be thinking you stupid, that why.”

She scowled at the goblin who was still nose deep into his little ledger. Look, she was tired, okay? She had spent an entire day doing magical and physical labor! Excuse her for not having all of her brain cells not firing off at once after coming home exhausted from work.

Puffing her cheeks out in frustration, Rias childishly put her chin onto interlocked hands on the table with a ‘hmph!’ Akeno reached out with a good-natured chuckle and rubbed her back soothingly.

“But Gobdad,” Akeno then said, “now I’m curious. What does a communion with one of the Crown Princes look like?”

“Eh,” the goblin scratched his bald, green head. “Big, big circle with lots of magic squiggles. Big torch in the middle, filled with curse fire. Throw offering in the fire; boss like, fire turn blue. But most time, Boss just ignore and nothing happen.”

Both of the two she-Devils frowned.

“What happens if he doesn’t like the offering?” Akeno asked plainly.

Gobdad shrugged. “Boss get mad, fire explode, get hurt. Gobdad no recommend.”

“Well, that’s good to know,” Rias said. “I wonder how hard it is to make a communion circle for a Satan?”

Still engrossed in his book, the goblin absently said, “Boss has great temple downtown, no need make yourself. Everyone go there to pray to Boss, but lines long. Best book spot weeks in advance.”

“You seem to know quite a bit about Satan worship,” Akeno observed.

The green goblin made a note in his ledger. “Gobdad work temple maintenance crew long ago.”

Huh, that’s good to know.

The Satans probably made their infernal worship as streamlined as possible. She wondered if there were other temples to Lord Ichigo in other cities? Rias briefly recalled that the Gremory territory had a few cathedrals dedicated to her grandmother, but almost no one, save for the oldest and most fervent of her family’s followers visited them. She briefly shuddered; she couldn’t imagine the distress of having so many different people always calling upon your presence simultaneously. The thought alone gave her a migraine.

Before she could contemplate Satan worship much longer, however, the front door opened without warning and a familiar, icy presence rolled through the threshold like a cold wind.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Meril.

The secretary glided into the room as though she owned it, her crisp navy-blue suit immaculate and stylish to the point Rias couldn’t help but feel uncomfortably aware in her wrinkled blouse. Akeno, in her all too casual home clothes, also seemed to shrink in appearance at the entrance of the fashionably dressed she-Devil. Meril’s expression was as neutral as always, just short of disapproving.

“Good evening,” she said, her tone flat but cutting as she appraised Rias with a single, cool glance.

Rias stiffened instinctively, standing to her feet and straightening her blouse. “Lady Meril. I-we… weren’t expecting you.”

“Evidently.”

That one word made her cheeks flood with warm mortification.

Meril wasted no time, stepping closer and handing Rias a small envelope embossed with Ichigo’s personal seal. “You have been summoned for an audience with Lord Ichigo tomorrow. I will pick you up at the written time.”

Rias blinked down at the envelope, her heart giving a peculiar little flutter despite herself. “I… an audience? With him?”

“Yes,” Meril replied simply. “I strongly suggest you acquire proper formal attire before then. Do not embarrass yourself.”

Rias swallowed, clutching the envelope to her chest. “Right. Understood.”

Without another word, Meril turned and departed, leaving behind the faint scent of frosted perfume and a quiet terseness in her wake.

As soon as the door shut, Akeno let out a snort. “Lucifer, she is such a bitch!”

“Akeno!” She hissed, giving a warning glance at the goblin who may or may not be reporting back on them to Lord Ichigo.

For her part, her Queen dismissively waved her off. “Come off it, Rias. She’s a frigid bitch and you know it. At least Lady Grayfia has the power and station to back it up. Meril’s just a secretary, and given the stick lodged up her ass, you know she’s not getting any from Lord Ichigo.”

“Akeno!” Rias quickly put her hands over her friends mouth and looked around nervously, as if afraid that demonic retribution may fall out of the sky. There was no telling what demented punishments Lord Ichigo may have infused into the house. Best be cautious!

But then Rias let out a small shriek as Akeno began to lick the fingers she had hushed her with. “But, my, my,” her Queen cooed as she reached out and took Rias into her arms giving her a scandelous look. “A private audience with Lord Ichigo? All alone? One-on-one? Whatever could he want with you, Buchou…?”

Rias’s face went crimson as she squirmed in her arms. “Akeno!”

Akeno only tilted her head, her dark eyes glinting with wicked amusement. “Oh, I’m just saying… perhaps our dear Crown Prince plans on making you his concubine? Competition with the legendary Dragon King?”

“I-what-that’s ridiculous!” Rias stammered, clutching the envelope tighter.

But the thought wormed its way into her mind anyway.

She sat back down heavily, trying - and failing - not to imagine what it would feel like to have him push her back against silk sheets, his crimson eyes gleaming with something dark and possessive.

Her cheeks burned hotter, and she buried her face in her hands as Akeno laughed wickedly.

Lucifer help her, this was going to be a long night.

-----

Ichigo floated. Or at least he thought he did.

It was hard to tell anymore where his body ended and where the world began. Time slipped through him like water, each moment arriving out of order and leaving behind ripples he couldn’t quite smooth away. The sky above, if he could even call it a sky, bled a deep violet, streaked with gold fissures that shimmered and crawled.

He could feel Tiamat somewhere behind him, her presence like a glacier pressed against his back. Watchful. Waiting. She didn’t speak. She didn’t need to.

So he breathed and let himself fall deeper.

The Fourth Dimension was a strange place to exist - not a place at all, really - just layers of moments stacked in ways that defied all sense. A memory of sunlight on Karakura’s streets brushed past him. Then a sudden sensation of now, and he stood in a quiet kitchen, and Ichigo stared bewildered at the familiar auburn hair cascading down an equally familiar back. Orihime humming softly as she turned around, looking older, fuller and more mature. Dare he say, motherly, even. He hadn’t seen her in years, but he recognized her instantly. At least, this version of her. She calmly set down a plate of onigiri in front of him. And it was then that he noted in shock her belly rounded and thrumming with life. Her smile was bright and warm as she leaned down and planted a kiss on his cheek.

He blinked. What?

And just like that, the kitchen faded, the warmth replaced by a night in an unfamiliar bedroom, that he somehow instinctively knew was his. And there came Yoruichi, leaning lazily over him, her golden eyes smoldering. She smirked knowingly, running her claws up his bare chest. She fit against him so naturally, so pliant and soft in his arms. Like he had held her a thousand times over in the span of so many years.

Then gone again: and he stood in his old room feeling and looking like a teenager again, Rukia’s tiny form sitting on his bed, her head tilted up as she whispered his name, her hand creeping over his. Worries of the oncoming war with Aizen being smoothed over by her presence, the creeping despair of an uncontrolled inner Hollow slowly being pushed down by the softness she inspired.

A thousand futures and pasts brushed over him like autumn leaves, curling and cracking as they fell away. Each one more vivid than the last. But quickly it became overwhelming, too many possibilities, too many what ifs and could bes assaulting his being and pulling him in an infinite number of direction, threatening to scatter him across the endless threads of Time.

And just as he felt himself unravel at the seams, a pair of claws dug into his shoulders and dragged him back. The violet bled from his vision, replaced by the sharp cold of reality and the cool air of his penthouse in Infernity.

Ichigo staggered slightly, catching himself with a hand on his knee. His breaths came in short, sharp bursts, his head swimming.

“Hmm,” came Tiamat’s voice, cool and clipped, “a marked improvement. You can now make sense of the possibilities you see. Though barely.”

He shot her a look, still breathing hard. “Thanks… I guess.”

The Dragon King stood there, arms crossed over her chest, wild white hair falling down her back and reminding him of sea foam on the beach. Her eyes bored into him with a mix of critique and something darker.

Her lips curled faintly. “But little one, I could not help but notice,” she went on, her tone sharpening just slightly, “that every timeline you managed to glimpse revolved around your life with another woman. How very curious.”

Ichigo straightened and scowled at her. “Stop it,” he said through his breaths.

She raised a single fine, white brow in question.

“You’re trying to get me riled up,” he said as he conjured a cold drink and quickly downed the contents. Not that he needed any sustenance anymore, but the action was familiar and comforting to him.

She tilted her head, predatory eyes gleaming playfully, making his scowl grow deeper.

He rolled his eyes. Their minds were so entwined that Tiamat knew fully well how much he loved her. And he knew that she knew. She just liked teasing him about these things because she thought it was funny.

“Do you not think it merits discussion?” She asked, dark amusement dancing in her eyes. “Almost instinctively, you seem to be drawn to pasts and futures where you had potential partners and lovers. Perhaps your Fate is showing you glimpses of missed opportunities?”

He snorted. “Or maybe Fate is telling me to get a new girlfriend,” he said dryly as he dismissed his drink and fixed her with a challenging look. 

The air around her became charged and her lips curled back slightly, revealing teeth that were beginning to sharpen. The next thing he knew, she had grabbed the back of his head and pulled him into a fierce kiss. “I will never give you up,” she snarled low as she broke away, the air between their lips misted with heat.

Ichigo let out a chuckle as he deftly wrapped one arm around her waist and brought his other hand up and gently cupped her cheek. “Other way ‘round, beautiful,” he said softly. “It’s me who’s holding on to you. And I’m keeping you an eternity more.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly, then softened - in her own way, at least. She nuzzled against his hand and Ichigo leaned forward and softly kissed her brow.

Tiamat let out a content hum. “You are acclimating far faster than I expected,” she said in soft tones. “Within a year, you should be able to fully immerse yourself in the Timelessness without needing me to drag you back into the present. If you keep this pace, you may even be able to exist in multiple potentialities simultaneously, as some of the true immortals can.”

Ichigo frowned thoughtfully at that. “You mean like… the divines? The primordials? You’re telling me a Demon could actually reach that level?”

Tiamat tilted her head, something dangerous and knowing flickering in her eyes. “It is… not impossible. Though it would change you. To fully step out of Time, to see all possible truths and falsehoods at once - it would be to apotheosize. You would no longer be bound to the physical world as you are now.”

He crossed his arms, looking at the floor for a moment. “That’s… hard to picture. Demons, by our very nature, exist inside reality. We corrupt it from within, it’s what we’re designed to do. Removing oneself entirely from reality is anathema to what Demonhood warrants.”

She stepped closer to him, her breasts pushing up against his chest, and she raised a single finger and delicately traced her nail along the curve of his jaw. “As I said, is not impossible. Those young louts, Sirzechs and Ajuka, are already halfway there.”

Ichigo frowned considerably. An apotheosized Demon, a pantheon of Demons. How drastically would that change the status quo of the world? Not only that, with the powers and authority of the divine, could Ajuka and Sirzechs, could he, alter Fate enough where they could change the ultimate destiny of Devils? Could they break free of Lucifer’s pact with Hell and prevent all Devils from being automatically condemned to the First Flame on death?

An afterlife created and ruled by divine Demons… What would that even entail? And then he remembered Amaterasu’s words, her desires for the broken afterlife of the Shinto and the failing strength of the Soul King. A failing he had recently been forced to call into question.

And again, he couldn’t shake the feeling that things were centered around him. As Zangetsu softly thrummed within his soul, he began to accept the very real possibility that Soul Society may still hold some part of his future.

Tiamat gently brushed his bangs away and gave him a kind smile. “The future is still being made, beloved,” she said lightly. “Do not fret over it too much. Here and now.”

He smiled as he nodded. “Here and now,” he repeated, but then, after a tender moment of looking in her eyes, asked in a slightly sharper tone, “Again?”

Her lips curved. “Again.”

And with a deep breath, Ichigo plunged back into Time.

-----

A day had passed since Meril had delivered Lord Ichigo’s invitation, and Rias stood in front of the cracked full-length mirror in the upstairs hallway of the house in Grevex, adjusting the neckline of her rented dress for what felt like the hundredth time.

It was a mermaid-cut gown of deep crimson silk that clung to her frame a little tighter than she’d like to admit, flaring just below her knees in a subtle train. The color was perfect, nothing said “Gremory” quite like a brilliant red. But she couldn’t stop tugging at the hem or fussing with the way it hugged her hips. She’d scrounged together enough of her meager wages from the Red Tower to rent it for the day. A fortune by her current standards, but it would serve her purposes for an audience with Lord Ichigo.

Her cheeks already felt warm with nerves, though the cool demonic air of Grevex helped.

“You look fine,” came Akeno’s sultry voice from where she leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed and wearing a knowing little smirk.

“I don’t feel fine,” Rias muttered as she adjusted the fall of her hair.

“You look more than fine,” Akeno teased, her eyes gleaming. “In fact… maybe you look too fine. You sure Lord Ichigo isn’t summoning you to have his dastardly way with you?”

Rias nearly choked, spinning toward her Queen with a scandalized glare.

“Akeno!”

The dark-haired girl only chuckled; one elegant hand raised in mock innocence. “What? You’re the one who said you wanted his attention. Well… congratulations. You’ve got it. Just make sure to get some better housing for us in between getting him off.”

Before Rias could snap back, Sona’s measured voice cut in from behind them. “Ignore her. You look very presentable, Rias.”

Sona stood on the landing in a crisp blazer and skirt, her glasses flashing faintly as she offered her friend a reassuring nod. “Just… don’t let him see you flustered. Demons don’t respect weakness.”

Rias exhaled through her nose, steadying herself. “Right. Composure. Got it.”

It was then that the door downstairs opened with a faint creak, and they all stiffened as a familiar chill filled the house.

Meril stepped inside, clad in another impossibly elegant business suit, this time a sleek charcoal pencil skirt and blazer over a white blouse, her heels clicking softly against the worn floorboards. As always, her presence was so composed it was oppressive.

Rias felt a wave of envy wash over her. Seriously, this woman and her dress sense were impeccable. Even before being destitute, Rias would have killed to have such a stylish wardrobe. The one downside of living in Japan, the monotony of school dress code often stifled the freedom of high fashion. Oh well, she had years to build back some fortune to create a new wardrobe for herself. She could do it, she would!

Meril’s icy blue eyes fell on Rias and swept over her in one sharp, silent assessment.

For a moment, Rias feared the worst, that she’d look ridiculous in this dress, that she’d chosen wrong, but then Meril inclined her head, ever so slightly.

“You’ve dressed appropriately,” the secretary said, her clipped tone almost… complimentary. dare she say.

Rias blinked, taken off guard. “…Thank you,” she said awkwardly, then quickly added, “You look wonderful yourself.”

One corner of Meril’s lips might have twitched at that, though it was hard to say.

“Come. We’re due at Iravex shortly,” Meril said briskly, turning on her heel and striding back outside.

Iravex?

Rias cast a last nervous glance at Akeno, who only mouthed concubine with a wicked grin, and then followed Meril out the door.

They teleported into brilliance and chill.

Rias stumbled slightly as her heels clicked down on smooth, well-laid grey cobblestones. A cool breeze tinged with sulfur and ozone swept past her, carrying with it the faint scent of something sharp and metallic. She righted herself quickly and looked up and gasped.

The sky stretched vast and storm-dark above, streaked with faint cracks of aurora light and the occasional burst of white lightning.  Far ahead rose towers and spires of black and dark grey, climbing into the clouds. A gargantuan citadel loomed at the center, its silhouette stark and forbidding, a great spear of stone and magical metal, ringed by baleful crimson lights. It reminded her of fairy tale books depicting the fortress of some villainous Dark Lord… but this was all too real, and far, far more brutal.

The path they stood on was flanked on either side by strange trees, their bark shimmering with subtle magic and their leaves glowing faintly in hues of sapphire, gold, and lavender. The air was thick here, heavy, almost humming with the sheer density of demonic energy. Every breath she took felt like it was pressing on her ribs, filling her with heat and pressure.

And overhead shadows moved.

Rias craned her head back and nearly stopped breathing as enormous Reaver Titans circled lazily in the sky, their massive wings stirring the clouds with each beat. They were terrifyingly beautiful, like dragons crossed with gargoyles, and bigger than most living things she had seen. Aptly named titans, she thought.

A small part of her wondered what it would feel like to command the respect and loyalty of such powerful beasts. One day, she told herself, one day I’ll build my own Kingdom. With my own armies and castles and servants to march at my beck and call!

Her hands clenched against the fabric of her dress as she took in a deep breath, the dense demonic magic of the air swirling in her lungs. There was power in this place, tremendous power, infused in every inch of the air and land. Even the magical hub that was Grevex had never felt like this.

Meril glanced at her briefly as they began to walk down the path. “Welcome to sky-island of Iravex,” she said coolly. “The Crown Prince’s stronghold. All of this, including the forests  currently float over the southern reaches of the sea. Though Iravex moves through the skies of Infernity as Lord Ichigo wills. And it is here that Lord Ichigo maintains his personal residence, his most powerful Reavers, and the central staff that oversees his territory.”

Rias blinked slowly. The Underworld had numerous sky-islands, many were even found in the Gremory territory. She silently congratulated Lord Ichigo’s choice in taste in building his home so high in sky. Another she thought to emulate someday.

Two figures materialized out of the trees as they walked - tall, sinewy creatures with onyx skin and featureless faces covered in a glossy, black carapace. She recognized the creatures as the same ones she saw when they had first met Meril in the City of Fellgrand, back when Grayfia-nee had brought them. She felt a tinge of unease as they silently flanked them, moving without a sound, their strange weapons slung across their backs.

“Lady Meril,” she began politely. “I recall such creatures when we first met. May I ask what they are?”

“Reaver Knights, though a different pair from then,” Meril answered smoothly. “They are among the most intelligent and independent Reaver subtypes. You will frequently encounter them patrolling Infernity, usually being the ones to direct the lesser Reavers and High Reavers.”

Above, another Titan let out a guttural roar, and Rias shivered involuntarily.

As they passed a grove of the glowing trees, Meril’s voice carried on, impassive and precise. “These forests were grown from seedlings gifted by Empress Yasaka of Kyoto after they married.”

Rias vaguely recalled rumors that Lord Ichigo was romantically involved with the Empress of Mythic Japan. Though she didn’t realize that it had progressed to the point of marriage. She wondered if the Dragon King then, was also one of the Crown Prince’s brides?

“The Citadel also houses several government offices of the greater Empire, beyond those that are just dedicated to managing Infernity,” Meril continued. “As you may already know, Lord Ichigo oversees both the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Order. With the Ministry of Law: all the courts and legal proceedings that do not directly pertain to matters of the Pillars are headquartered here. And the Ministry of Order, which is the internal police of the Empire, focuses on enforcing and carrying out the laws and decrees made by those very same courts. As such, my master’s word is final in all matters of enforcing and interpreting law outside the Pillars. Do try to remember that while you’re here.”

The path widened into a massive plaza at the base of the Citadel’s outer wall, where two immense Reaver Titans crouched on either side of the gate. Their heads swiveled as they watched Rias approach, their eyes glinting in baleful, dark fire in the dim light.

Yet what drew her attention most wasn’t the Titans.

It was the tiny, ancient figure standing between them.

He was hunched and bald, his skin like crumpled parchment, dressed in a simple grey robe. His eyes were hidden by heavy lids, his wrinkled hands curled around a gnarled staff that he leaned on.

Meril stopped and inclined her head politely. “Gatekeeper Markus.”

The old man didn’t reply. He only raised his staff and swept it once through the air, the end glowing faintly as a ripple of magic passed over Rias’ body.

Then, wordlessly, he plucked a small badge from nothingness and held it out to her.

Rias took it carefully, looping it over her neck as Meril said, “That is your visitor’s clearance. Markus has added your magical signature to the wards temporarily. Don’t lose it.”

“…Thank you,” Rias managed, though the Gatekeeper didn’t so much as glance her way again.

With that, Meril gave a faint nod and teleported them both into the Citadel proper.

They emerged in a quiet hallway of black marble and steel, before a single tall door at the end. The air here was cool and smelled faintly of ozone and paper.

“This is Lord Ichigo’s penthouse suite,” Meril said, stepping aside. “As I have not been granted leave to enter, you shall proceed on your own. Farewell, Lady Rias. Do enjoy your evening.”

And then, without another word, she vanished.

Rias stared at the door, her cheeks warming as Akeno’s teasing words floated back into her mind.

Concubine.

She swallowed hard as a shiver passed through her. Fiditing on spot at the thought that she was about to deliver herself to one of the most eligible men in the Empire.

Rias raised her hand to knock, hesitated, then exhaled and finally let her knuckles rap lightly on the polished black steel door. Her heart thudded painfully against her ribs as she waited, unsure what to expect on the other side.

The door swung open almost at once, and her breath caught, not at the overwhelming presence of Lord Ichigo, as she’d half-dreaded, half-anticipated, but at the sight of a small figure with messy red hair and bright green eyes.

“Auntie Rias!”

Rias gaped in confusion. Millicas?!

Before she could even muster a reply, her nephew barreled into her waist, wrapping his arms around her with a happy little laugh.

“I’ve been waiting forever for you to get here! Come on, come in already!”

Still bewildered, Rias let herself be tugged inside, feeling her carefully rehearsed composure crumble under the boy’s sheer enthusiasm. What in her brother’s accursed name was her nephew doing in Lord Ichigo’s home?

Had he also been given into the Crown Prince of Wrath’s guardianship? As she was most unceremoniously dragged in, Rias looked around her newfound surroundings.

The Crown Prince’s penthouse was… unexpected. The space opened into a vast, modern suite with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a jagged horizon of storm clouds and pale lightning. The decor was sleek and understated, all glass, steel, and light colors, with faint magical sigils etched subtly into the floor and walls, glowing faintly like veins of light. The most striking thing she noticed was the incredibly large geode of sapphire-colored jewels standing several feet tall, giving off a cool blueish glow in the apartment.

It felt powerful here. Like the whole place was alive and pulsing with energy. And yet, it also felt warm and inviting, the comforting and soothing touch of home.

Her heels clicked nervously against the marble floor as Millicas continued to chatter and lead her deeper into the suite. She only realized where they were going when a familiar, warm laugh rang out from the lounge just ahead.

What the-?

As Lord Ichigo sat comfortable with a relaxed smile, opposite him on a soft, white sofa, her brother and sister-in-law were seated, engaged in conversation with him. Grayfia held a glass of wine in one hand, and Sirzechs was motioning with both hands as he told some anecdote. But then their eyes met, and the Crimson Lucifer jumped to his feet with a cry.

“Ah! Ria-tan!”

 Her big brother didn’t even give her a chance to recover before sweeping her into his arms, lifting her briefly off the ground in a crushing hug.

“My baby sister! I’ve missed you so much! If Ichigo’s been making things hard for you, you just say the word and I’ll come put him in-gah!”

Can't breathe!

“Honestly,” came a cool, exasperated voice.

Grayfia’s hand reached out to pinch Sirzechs’ cheek and tug him away from her. He let out a dramatic yelp of pain but finally released Rias, pouting like a child.

And then Grayfia turned to her, her eyes softening as she took Rias gently by the shoulders.

“You look lovely,” Grayfia murmured, planting a kiss on her cheek.

Rias found herself flushing. Grayfia, of course, looked absolutely gorgeous in a flowing blue evening gown adorned with fine jewels and a silvery shawl. Standing next to her sister-in-law, Rias couldn’t help but feel self-conscious about the rented mermaid-cut red dress chosen at the last minute.

Still, she managed to force a polite smile and murmured back, “You’re as stunning as always, Grayfia-nee-san.”

Grayfia smiled knowingly but said nothing, her hand giving Rias’ shoulder a reassuring squeeze before she stepped aside.

“But what are you all doing here?” she asked, wonder filling her at the sight of her family members.

And that was when Lord Ichigo finally spoke from his chair near the window.

“Conjugal visit,” he said casually, as though the words explained everything. He was leaning back in his seat, arms folded, watching her with that faintly amused expression she’d grown to hate and fear in equal measure. “Thought you might want some time with your family. Don’t worry, Sona’s turn will come in a few days time.”

For a beat, Rias could only stare at him, her throat tight. But then her shoulders slumped, and her composure cracked just a little. She turned back into Grayfia’s waiting arms and let herself cry quietly into her sister-in-law’s shoulder.

“Oh, my poor dear,” Grayfia murmured softly, stroking her hair.

Behind them, Sirzechs rounded on Ichigo, his voice rising in mock outrage.

“Ichigo, you heartless wretch!”

“Oh, shut up,” Ichigo shot back without even looking up, and Sirzechs sputtered indignantly.

But Rias ignored it all. The weeks of frustration and anxiety came pouring out as she was held in the warm embrace of her sister. Her life had been turned upside down, she was fraught with apprehension for, not just her future, but for those of her peerage members as well. For the first time in her eighteen-year life, she didn’t know how she was going to get through to the next day.

By the time Grayfia had calmed her down and repaired her smudged makeup with a flick of magic, Rias felt almost herself again. Or at least something like it.

And then a new presence entered the room.

Rias looked up and felt her breath catch in her throat.

The single most beautiful woman Rias had ever seen descended down the stairs, her bare feet creating a soft patter on the wood of the steps. Her wild white hair cascading down like a heavy waterfall, perfectly clashing with her near radiant dark skin. Her sapphire eyes caught the faint light of the room and seemed to burn with something ancient and imperious.

Instantly she knew who this must, because even within the ranks of the supernatural, Dragon King Tiamat was counted as amongst the most beautiful of beings. And in Rias’ opinion, the legends didn’t do her justice. Around her lithe form, a light green Greek dress draped over her figure like spun jade, its intricate patterns catching the glow of the room.

I can’t even be jealous; it’s like staring at a living piece of art!

But the magic of the moment was shattered as Millicas dashed over to her and hugged the ancient being around the waist.

“Auntie Tiamat!” he chirped.

Auntie? When did this happen?! When did Rias suddenly gain such a beautiful sister?!

“Can I come by later for more training?” he asked hopefully, looking up at the Dragon King with wide green eyes.

Tiamat’s lips curled faintly into something almost like a smile. She reached down and touched his hair, but said nothing, her gaze instead sweeping over to Sirzechs.

Her tone when she spoke was sharp, though not unkind.

“As loud as ever,” she said wryly. “Still the same wild boy sneaking into my forest with Ajuka all those centuries ago.”

Sirzechs coughed into his hand, clearly embarrassed, though Grayfia smirked openly at him.

And then, at last, Tiamat’s gaze locked onto Rias.

Rias felt her stomach clench and her hands grow cold as those sapphire eyes bore into her, and an entire ocean’s worth of weight fell onto her shoulder, suffocating the air right out of her lungs. And for just a second, for a meagre a heartbeat, she thought she saw her mother’s face overlap with Tiamat’s, like two halves of an old memory.

The Dragon King’s presence threatened to swallow her whole, but after – what seemed like an hour- those serpentine blue eyes softened marginally, and Rias felt herself breathe again. “Your mother’s blood runs strong in you,” the ancient Dragon said plainly, and then sat beside Lord Ichigo without another word.

Rias blinked, trying to puzzle out what she meant, but her thoughts were interrupted as Millicas eagerly began showing off his lightning magic. Small, crackling arcs danced across his hands and coalesced into thin spears of static in the air.

Tiamat tilted her head slightly, giving him instructions in a voice so low Rias could barely hear it. “The shell is too weak, reinforce the outer layer that you may more pour more power yet retain stable shape.”

Rias watched fascinated as her young nephew’s countenance grew focused and his demonic power moved in subtle waves. With a few patient corrections from Tiamat, Millicas managed to shape his lightning into a single brilliant but short beam that crackled with crimson energy.

Meanwhile, Sirzechs gently guided Rias over to one of the couches and sat beside her, looking nostalgic as he watched his son.

“Feels like yesterday we were his age,” he murmured with a wistful smile. “Getting into trouble. Trying to impress everyone. Those little trips of ours to the Familiar’s Forest… she scared us half to death most nights, but we kept going back.”

Rias nodded faintly, her eyes following Tiamat as she placed a hand on Millicas’ shoulder and murmured some new piece of instruction. Millicas nodded back, and the whole experience seemed so alien and surreal to her as the most powerful Dragon King continued to tutor her nephew in storm magic. It was then she recalled a piece of information her father had let out when Millicas had battled Riser. That’s right, now she remembered… her nephew was sometimes looked after by Lord Ichigo and had been trained by Tiamat herself.

She turned to her brother, “You uh, are acquainted with Lady Tiamat?”

Sirzechs smiled down at her. “Oh, for centuries now. Ajuka and I would always run off on little adventures when were your age, would drive mother spare. As it were, one night, we learned of the presence of the Lady within a certain forest.”

“The Familiar’s Forest?” she asked sharply.

He shook his head. “Not back then it wasn’t, this was centuries and centuries ago, after all. The Forest had yet to be enriched in magic as it is now. Of course, her Ladyship’s continued residence significantly sped up the process. But I digress: Ajuka and I chanced upon the intel of a Dragon King within the Underworld and we could hardly resist the temptation of encountering a legend, so off we went.” Sirzechs then let out a hearty chuckle and said, “She nearly burned us to a pile of cinders that night! We ran away with our tails firmly tucked between our legs!”

Said topic of their conversation looked over, amusement dancing in her eyes. “And yet, night after night, you returned.”

“We’ve always been weak to temptation,” he said with a mysterious smile. “Besides, I think it all turned out well. My lady, admittedly begrudgingly, did open up to us, and we benefited greatly from learning under the wings of one of the most knowledge ancients of the Supernatural. You're instruction was a great boon for us!”

Tiamat let out a very unladylike snort. “I fear what damage I wrought upon this world when I so readily spoke of things that should have remained secret. Never have there been two more unworthy pupils.”

“Now that’s just not fair,” her brother pouted. “I forged an Empire, and Ajuka eventually created the Evil Piece system that saved our species from extinction.”

As Tiamat’s nose scrunched, she let out a low growl. But Rias couldn’t help but feel there wasn’t any true vehemence behind the sound. If anything, she couldn't help but think their was some element of fondness within. “You whelp, you have become even more insolent over the centuries.”

As he let out a low and amused hum, Rias turned towards her brother with a question in her eyes. “Lord Ajuka learned to create the Evil Pieces from Lady Tiamat?”

“Not quite,” her brother said and then tapped her on the nose, much to her irritation. “But that’s a secret for another day.”

Rias then remembered something rather important and quickly shot to her feet, much to her brother’s surprise.

“Lady Tiamat!” And she gave a sharp bow at the waist. “Thank you for saving the lives of me and my peerage from Kokabiel! I owe you a debt great!”

From beside her, her brother let out a deep sigh. What? What had she done? As she looked up, she caught sight of those serpent-like blue eyes staring at her with undisguised humor.

Tiamat’s head tilted, as if she were staring at prey. “It is near comical at how little you resemble this lout. You have none of his deviousness.”

That… was a good thing, wasn’t it?

For his part, Sirzechs pinched the bridge of his nose and shut his eyes tight. “Rias,” he groaned.

“Heed my words, child,” Lady Tiamat said, her eyes gaining a faint glow. “It is never a wise thing to admit a debt to a wyrm.”

“Ah…”

Rias slowly sunk back down onto the sofa. It hadn’t even occurred to her to not admit to being in Tiamat’s debt. Which was true, she had saved them all from Kokabiel. It was only now that Rias was slowly beginning to realize that she was these three walls contained two Crown Princes of Hell, a Satan-class Demon and a Dragon King. The amount of power concentrated here was mindboggling.

“Fret not, young one, my payment demanded will not be a thing egregious.” And Tiamat turned away from her and went back to observing Millicas and the red sparks that flew between his fingers.

For her part, Rias fell into a quiet conversation with her brother, filling him in on the things that had gone on in Infernity for the last few weeks. He had given a word of advice here and there, and she listened raptly, doing her best to cement her brother’s words into her memory. She would need all the help she could get in her newfound life.

But even as she sat there in conversation, something in the back of her mind nagged at her. She looked about the room, briefly disconnecting from her brother’s voice, only to realize that Lord Ichigo and Grayfia-nee were gone!

She frowned ever so slightly and used her senses to find them. And find them she did… alone… in what could only be Lord Ichigo’s bedroom. Her eyes briefly widened as a horrible, dark possibility crept into her thoughts.

Sirzechs looked at her with concern. “Rias, are you alright?”

She strained to give him a smile. “Of-of course.”

But within her mind’s eye, a chibi Akeno danced in a sing-song chant: Affair! Affair! Affair!

The corner of her eye twitched, she had been poisoned by Akeno! Rias swore she would throttle her Queen when she went back!

And it was at that moment her sister-in-law and Lord Ichigo returned and walked down the stairs to rejoin.

“Well,” Lord Ichigo announced, “I guess I’ll get dinner out.”

But his words never registered with Rias… because she was too busy staring horrified at the kiss mark so plainly stamped on Lord Ichigo’s left cheek! A kiss mark in the same shade of color as the lipstick Grayfia-nee was currently wearing!

Rias wanted to scream.