Chapter 31: Of Wisdom and Recovery

 "I don't get it," Issei said as he pinched his chin and looked up at the sky with confused and furrowed brows. "I thought the whole point of gods was that they couldn't die?"

From within the recesses of his soul he heard a deep and guttural snort from Ddraig. Actually, how did Ddraig manage to make his voice sound so deep? He didn't even have vocal cords! He was just a disembodied spirit sealed in his arm. Wait, didn't Akeno-san say something about Dragons not having souls? Then how was Ddraig sealed in the Boosted Gear?

Ah, he should have paid more attention to Akeno-san. But it was hard to do so, especially because every time she turned around to write on the board her long hair would swish past him, filling the air around him with the wonderful aroma of her shampoo.

She smells so nice.

Issei smiled lopsidedly as he imagined Akeno bathing, her long hair heavy and wet as she motioned seductively for him to join her while playfully blowing soap bubbles at him.

Akeno-san in the shower. What I wouldn't give to play with her boobs all day in the water. I wonder if they float?

"Your thoughts are as chaotic as ever, whelp."

Issei jumped on the spot. "Gah! Ddraig!"

A deep growl reverberated in his mind. "Would that your desire for power be half your desire for the females around you: you'd be unchallenged."

"Heh heh," Issei scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.

"And you are wrong in thinking that death and destruction are so easily avoided."

Issei blinked in confusion. "Eh?"

Another contemptuous snort. "Those things you call gods are not truly such. It is an arbitrary word given to a host of underserving spirits. From meagre nymphs of rivers and stone to the very stars themselves. They are no more eternal than you and I."

"Hmm. So, all those stories Buchou talked about, they're not real?"

“Myth and metaphor have power, but that does not supersede eternity."

"Uhh, I don't get it."

He could hear Ddraig's sigh from within his own mind. Again, how was the ancient Dragon doing that? He had no lungs, where was the sound of air coming from? Was it a mental thing? Wait, did that mean he could change the sound of his own internal voice? Could he have a mental conversation with Ddraig sounding like Darth Vader? Heh - Princess Leia in a metal bikini. Did Luke ever have to call her Onee-sama? He wished he had a super-hot, bossy twin sister in a metal bikini. He'd happily call her Onee-sama.

A dangerous snarl tore through his mind.

"Err, sorry Ddraig."

Another tired sigh quickly followed by an angry "Don't!"

"I'm paying attention! I'm paying attention!"

Finally, Ddraig continued his explanation, and Issei did his best to focus on the Dragon's words. "As you know, the bulk of this reality is experienced through four dimensions."

Issei crossed his arms. "Wait, I didn't know that! That's not the kind of thing they teach in school!"

There was a heavy pause before Ddraig’s rage washed over him. "Yes! They do! It was quite literally your physics homework from earlier in the semester! Length, width, height and time! You exist in the three spatial dimensions and experience them through the fourth dimension of time!"

"Oh, uhh, right. Heh, sorry Ddraig." Issei gave a nervous laugh. Homework wasn't really his thing. Academics were hard, boobs were easy!

Ddraig's grumblings flitted across their shared mental space. "Of all the billions of mortals across this wretched planet, I get stuck with the primitive monkey who only knows how to dry hump a body pillow."

"Hey! That's supposed to be a secret!"

A scornful growl answered him back. "You forget the unfortunate reality that I observe all that you do."

"Oh right," Issei said dejectedly. Then his face grew pale as a certain horror dawned on him "Wait...Lucifer, does that mean you're going to be watching when I finally lose my virginity!?"

"Spare me," Ddraig's voice echoed disdainfully. "There's a better chance I'll be in a new host before you convince a female to lay with you. Least you finally give into your bestial urges and force yourself on one."

"Hey!" Issei shouted affronted as he shook his fist at empty air. "I would never do that! I'm not a criminal! ...well, not that kind of criminal..."

"Moving on," the Red Dragon said with no small exasperation. "The physical world is grounded in four dimensions. Or rather, it is grounded in the three spatial dimensions while experiencing it through the fourth dimension of time. And before your, what is it that the hatchlings lost in their phones say? Smooth brain? -

"Hey!"

-mind asks, you do not fully exist in the dimension of time because you cannot truly interact with it. Anything within the spatial dimensions can be interacted with, but time is out of your reach. Thus, you, and the rest of mortality, are three dimensional beings experiencing reality through the fourth dimension of time."

Issei rubbed his chin. "So, gods are like... higher-dimensional nerds who can peek at the whole movie instead of just watching it scene by scene?"

"Clever," Ddraig said smoothly, filling Issei with pride at having impressed the ancient Dragon. "But you are half correct. And I reiterate: they are no more gods than you and I. But those so-called divinities are beings of great power attached to a broad and well-defined precept, while existing in the dimension of time. A three-dimensional being experiences reality moment by moment. They cannot touch the past, but they can influence the future in a limited fashion. You can crush an egg in your hand and watch as the yolk drips to the ground. But you cannot crush the egg in your hand and find yourself holding a newborn star.

“There is an order to reality. A long chain of cause and effect. This is linear causality. A being of the fourth dimension, however, is not bound by such limitations. They see all of the past, every moment of the present, and all that will and will not be of the future. How much of it they can influence and control is directly proportional to their own power. When they do decide to directly alter the linear progression of time within the physical world; you mortals often refer to such phenomena as miracles. But miracles of significant consequence require substantial power, and they are not easy to do. Not to mention the competing wills of other fourth-dimensional beings that may prevent such things. Understand this too - because of the lack of true linear direction and causality, the fourth dimension is one of complete and utter chaos. It is absent of any true direction, form or any sort of permanency. It simply is."

Issei stood with his arms crossed, his expression one of deep thought. "Hmm, I see."

There was a long pause before Ddraig slowly said, "You haven't understood a word I've said, have you?"

"Uhh, maybe half?"

Ddraig let out a tired sigh. "Far better than I had hoped."

"But Ddraig," Issei started as he put his hands behind his head and began to walk away from the ruined Occult Research Building and back to where the rest of his fellow peerage members were waiting out the storm, "if they're that powerful and can do so much, how come you don't consider them gods?"

"Issei," and there was something in the way that the Scaled Emperor said his name, or maybe it was that the fact that his name was said at all, but it made him walk a bit straighter, "I have seen these self-proclaimed gods fashion firmaments. I have seen them forge empires across universes. I have seen them be the adoration of billions upon billions of souls. And I have burned them all the same. Would you worship ash?"

Issei shook his head. "No way. I'm pretty sure I'm allergic to ash. Remember great-aunt Tsukiko's funeral? I couldn't stop sneezing in that funeral home. Oh, but Kyoko-onee-san looked so sexy in her funeral kimono. College girls are the right blend of cute and sexy. Second cousins don't count as incest, right?"

Ddraig let out a mournful groan.

___________________________________________________________

Rias observed the devastation of the Kuoh, of the place she had called home for the last few years. In the long hours since the battle, the sun had come up, and though the Dragon King’s storm remained, the clouds grew lighter, allowing the sun light to break through. Break through, and reveal the full carnage wrought upon her territory.

It’s gone, she thought to herself. A pang of sorrow ringing through her heart.

“You know,” Akeno said quietly, as she came beside her, “I used to love the view from here.”

Rias followed her gaze to where once verdant mountains stood tall and beautiful. Now, only a gaping and sunken wasteland of cinders and ash that stretched for miles and miles remained.

“It can be rebuilt,” she said sadly, even as she understood how prevalent the decimation was. And though the wind howled through the ruins of Kuoh, the silence of the town itself felt deafening. No laughter. No traffic. No voices drifting through open windows. Just... nothing.

Akeno shook her head, her long ponytail flailing in the strong winds. “Not the people though. Not the..feel of the town. Kuoh will never be the same again.”

Thoughts churning melancholy, Rias’ eyes turned towards their giant wolf of a guardian, who had coiled up and lain down. Rias briefly wondered if the powerful beast was merely napping, but wisely decided against checking. Some things were better left undisturbed. Long years in the Underworld had well thought her to let sleeping beasts lie.

“So,” her single Knight’s voice came from behind, causing the two of them to turn towards him as he walked to them, “what do we do now? Do we return to the Underworld”

Rias momentarily frowned, unsure of exactly what to say.

“We wait,” Sona said as she walked to join them, accompanied by Tsubaki. Slowly, the two peerages began to congregate around their Kings. “There’s not much else we can do. I’m sure we’ll receive orders soon enough from our respective Houses. Until then, we wait. And recover.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Rias said with a nod. And honestly, there wasn’t much else they could do at the moment.

“In the danger of sounding dissenting,” Tsubaki started slowly, “where exactly are we supposed to wait? Here?”

They all blinked at Sona’s Queen.

Akeno nodded in assent. “Fair question. We need shelter. And I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’d like a warm bath.”

There was a collective mummer of agreements from the groups, particularly from the female Devils.

“Is there even running water to be found?” Kiba voiced skeptically. “I suppose if you’re desperate enough you could try the river…provided it hasn’t been vaporized.”

“Oh my,” Akeno said with a mischievous glint in her eye as she hugged the blonde Knight’s arm to her chest, “trying to get your onee-sama to go skinny dipping with you?”

“A-Akeno!” Tsubaki protested from the side.

Rias rolled her eyes as Akeno easily slipped into her playful flirting, but was forced to quickly drop her mouth in shock when her Knight responded with a thoughtful, “Maybe?”

Everyone gaped at Kiba, utterly surprised at his single, non-committal declaration. And why wouldn’t they? Rias knew these two people better than anyone else on this, or any other, Earth. While Akeno habitually flirted with everyone, her Knight would mostly ignore it, acting as the perfect gentleman and simply accepting it as one of Akeno’s personality quirks. He had never entertained or responded to her before. And while not to the same enthusiasm Issei would, that he even considered it was still baffling. Akeno was of the same mind it appeared, because she gingerly took a step away from him.

“That’s surprisingly out character for you,” with genuine concern coloring her voice, Akeno put the back of her hand on Kiba’s forehead, trying to check his temperature. “Are you feeling unwell?”

For his part, Kiba gently brushed Akeno’s hand away. “I’ve killed the man who kept me captive and used me in barbaric magical experiments most of my childhood, I’ve fought to the death against an army of feral Cerberi, I was nearly ground to dust by the sheer presence of an insane Cadre of the Grigori, and I’ve seen my home town torn apart under the rage of the most powerful Dragon King in existence. And the cherry on top, this was all in one day.” He gave a careless shrug. “I think we’ve all earned the right to be a little out of character.”

Rias’ eyes softened considerably. “Oh, Yuuto.”

Koneko stood in front of her peerage opposite and opened her arms. “Hug.”

Kiba gave a good-natured chuckle and opened his arms, allowing the small Yokai-Devil to snugly wrap her arms around him.

“Yes, hug,” Akeno agreed as she also wrapped her arms around the pair. Rias quickly joined them and gave her knight a soft peck on the cheek.

“Are you having another hug-fest?”

Rias rolled her eyes before saying in irritation, “Shaddup, Sona! Don’t be jealous because my kids actually like me!”

“Hey! We love Kaichou too! She just hates PDA!” One of Sona’s servants yelled out.

At the same time, Issei was having conniptions as Asia eagerly joined the group hug. “Gah! Damn pretty boy! I also want to be smothered by cute girls!”

“Issei,” Rias chided, “stop being childish and give Yuuto physical affection.”

Her Knight’s protest came in a weak voice, “Uhh, wording please?”

Issei hmphed and turned his head away. “Best you’re getting from me is handshake.”

“No thanks,” Kiba immediately replied. “I know where that hand’s been.”

“Hey!”

“Excuse me…am I also supposed to be hugging?” Rias looked up and peered over the heads of her peerage towards the blue-haired former exorcist hesitantly raising her hand in question. For all the mess that the Excalibur fragments and Kokabiel were, she got herself a new Rook out of the deal! With everything she knew and believed in dashed, the wielder of Durandal was easily corrupted into becoming a Devil. Durandal, one of the great holy swords! And it was in her peerage now! Rias was practically giddy over her most recent acquisition!

“Of course, you’re family now,” she said with a warm smile, raising an arm towards Xenovia invitingly.

Things would be alright, she just knew it.

___________________________________________________________

It had been several hours since Tiamat’s victory over the Fallen Lord, and the night had given way to the first light of daybreak. But Ichigo had been busy coordinating things as the point of contact between the Underworld and Yasaka’s Court. So, it was only now he could actually come to Kuoh Town and take in the battlefield with his own eyes.

He stood in the sky, frowning as he looked below and took in the devastation wrecked in the consequence of Kokabiel’s incursion.

Entire mountains had been reduced to molten slag. Dozens upon dozens of square miles of forests blasted and reduced to charred cinders. And the human town of Kuoh had been devastated as numerous buildings, residential and business alike, had been left ruinous.

More troubling still, was the sheer loss of human life. According to the data that had been forwarded to him from the Underworld, Kuoh had a population of just under forty thousand people. And given the amount of debris he was observing, a significant casualty count was to be expected.

Somber eyes fell onto the remains below. Among the rubble of countless homes, he spotted a half-crushed tricycle, its frame twisted beyond repair. A child’s doll lay nearby, scorched black.

Ichigo closed his eyes in a silent sigh.

Mountains and forests could be restored. Buildings and homes rebuilt. But the lives lost? Irreplaceable. And in Japan, where mass resurrection was beyond any possibility, that truth was even harsher.

Yasaka is gonna be pissed. Amaterasu too.

“Nihil,” he quietly commanded, and a baleful shadow manifested behind him. Ichigo could feel the creature’s barely restrained anger simmering beneath the surface.

“Get me a fatality count of all the humans that died.”

The air festered behind him, but Ichigo sensed Nihil bow at the waist before descending back into the human town.

Far above him, at the heart of the tempest, Tiamat still sailed amongst the furious gales. Their mental bond had been a constant stream of shared memories as soon as the battle was over. And from her memories, he had gleaned the most troubling matter out of this whole wretched affair.

Rhongomyniad.

Even in the Supernatural world, the King’s Spear was a myth, something never confirmed to have ever existed. And yet, out of myth, Kokabiel had brought it forth from the deepest vaults of the White Citadel. And didn’t that raise even more questions?

Not only had Japan’s barriers been deactivated from within Takamagahara itself, but even the most secured and locked down vaults of Heaven had been broken into. Just how deep did this conspiracy run? A part of him regretted Kokabiel’s death, and the lost chance to interrogate him, but keeping a Cadre captive would have been more trouble than it was worth. Things were already too damn tense in the Underworld, and the shared border the Devils had with the Fallen was seeing more military buildup than it had in centuries.

Lunatic that Kokabiel was, Azazel would never allow for one of his Cadre to be held captive.

Still, he understood now Uriel’s zeal. Rhongomyniad was not something that could ever be allowed to wander openly in this, or any other, world. The weapon was simply too dangerous. Honestly, in Ichigo’s opinion, it should never have been created in the first place. Regardless, Uriel had quickly swept up the apocalyptic weapon and wordlessly sped back to the White Citadel. Hopefully, this time, the Angels would hide away the spear where no one could find it.

Ichigo let out a tired sigh and swept a hand through his hair which whipped about in the strong winds. He cast a glance at Tiamat’s shadow gliding through the storm clouds and sent her a quick mental probe.

“You alright there, beautiful?”

“Annoying scratches,” she growled into his mind. “The bleeding has stopped, but my scales will not mend. The spear’s power is interfering with my recovery.”

Worry washed over him like cold water, quickly being replaced by a burning fury. Damn Kokabiel. The Cadre was fortunate that he was already dead, otherwise Ichigo would have personally dragged him into Hell. Ichigo’s eyes lit with hatred at the thought of his wounded Tiamat.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly, knowing full well, that she could pick out his voice through the rumblings of the storm. “I should have fought the bastard myself.”

He felt her cool touch in his mind, equal measures amused and irritated. “I do not need you to protect me, beloved.”

Ichigo snorted, dry mirth lacing through his mind. “What? Two plus years in my head and you still haven’t figured me out? I want to protect you.”

Phantom arms encircled his neck, and the salt of a sudden sea-breeze kissed his lips. He allowed himself to be immersed in her love for the moment, enjoying her tender affection. But he quickly let out a tired sigh and murmured, “Back to work.”

Together, the two of them pushed their senses wide, a supernatural net that stretched over hundreds of miles.

“You getting anything?” he asked via their familiar bond.

“Curious and fearful denizens, naught else. None worth our attention, at any rate.”

Ichigo hummed in agreement.

There was no chance in Hell that Tiamat’s rampage against Kokabiel and his legions went unnoticed. Yasaka would have already mobilized a containment field, keeping humans oblivious and supernatural interlopers at bay.

Which meant, that Yasaka’s court, along with whatever responsibility the Devil Empire had to claim, could clean up the mess that was the Kuoh Valley now. Well, at least until after the Shinigami came and ferried all the dead. It was impossible for Soul Society to not notice such a massive influx of recently dead. And not just them.

Hollows.

The humans snuffed out in the battle all died with fear and violence. These pained deaths would attract Hollows in hordes. Ichigo gave a long-suffering sigh at the oncoming headache the next few days would be.

Shaking his head, he brought forth a swell of demonic power and pulsed a wave of unseen vile energy over the entire valley. His Hell-infused presence would deter Hollows for the time being, at least until he could afford to recede back into the Underworld once the Shinigami came pouring in.

“We should be secured for now,” he mused to himself.

And then Ichigo took out his phone and hit a number on his speed dial. He only had to wait for one ring before he got an answer.

“Greetings, my Prince.”

“Situation’s contained for now. I’ll give the all-clear once I know everything. No one comes in or out until then,” he said, and then promptly hung up the phone. “Now to find out what those damn kids have to say.” And he stepped through the folds of space towards the two Devil heirs.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rias’ breath froze as a dreadful wave of dark power crashed over her, surging into the broken valley beyond.

Issei looked side to side in a hurry. “Did anyone else feel that?”

Sona’s lone pawn snorted, even as he looked shifty eyed towards the sky. “A blind, deaf, lobotomized, comatose patient could have felt that, idiot!

Issei began to aggressively point towards Sona’s Pawn. “Who you calling an idiot, Saji?!”

“I’m calling the idiot an idiot!”

But before either of them could go any further, both she and Sona snapped at them. “Boys!”

“Sorry,” they both chorused with their heads down.

At the same time, their enigmatic wolf protector bound to its feet and let out a guttural growl. Yet, it did not sound threatening, at least to Rias’ ears. If anything, the beast seemed excited. The wolf’s head snapped to the side and a stillness settled over all the gathered Devils. The wind, the energy in the air - it all seemed to shift, bending toward something.

No.

Someone.

Before anything else could be said or done, Rias’ senses were overwhelmed as a veritable font of demonic power came into being. Her neck snapped in the direction of the massive influx of might that had magically appeared.

Her eyes went wide, as she beheld a distantly familiar figure. One that elicited memories of a gathering in the Underworld years past. A tall young Devil, his messy orange hair spilling past his shoulders: it was her brother’s former Pawn.

The Crown Prince of Wrath.

Crimson eyes passed over her, and her peerage, and from deep within her very soul, Rias felt a horrid dread rise like bile in her throat. The sheer weight of his existence demanded submission, and she could feel it in her blood - the urge to fall and crawl at his feet. His aura pressed in on her like invisible tendrils, thick and choking, curling into her lungs and wrapping around her spine. Her demonic senses howled with primal warning.

As the world seemed to darken and the colors of the Earth fell muted, she felt tremors flow up her arms, and a dryness in her eyes. Rias could feel herself on the edge of hyperventilating. The sight of Kokabiel had driven her to accept death. But the presence of one of the Crown Princes of Hell promised something far, far worse.

And suddenly, the giant wolf raced towards the Crown Prince and began rubbing and bumping its head against him. The Demon Lord laughed openly, and just like that, the vile enchantment that had taken a strangle hold on her broke, and Rias could breathe again.

She blinked twice as the sun seemed to right itself and the hues and pigment of nature brightened once more.

She watched, mouth parted equally confused and amazed, as Lord Ichigo ran both his hands through the white fur. It was almost comical, as the beast’s head was taller than him. Yet, he did not move an inch as it continued to rub itself and butt against him.

“Yeah, I missed you too, girl.” He laughed, and the wolf let out a low growl.

After several moments of the Demon Lord and the giant wolf having a makeshift cuddle session, he returned his attention to them, though this time, Rias noted his eyes were now of a warm brown color.

“Rias Gremory,” he said looking directly at her. “Been a long while.” And then he turned his attention to Sona. “And you must be Sona Sitri, Sera’s little sister.”

Sona immediately fell to one knee and loudly declared, “I humbly greet the Crown Prince!”

Rias quickly followed in suit, as both their peerages did. Although Rias’ knees groaned in protest. Even after Asia had managed to heal most of their injuries, she was still magically exhausted, and her body stressed beyond its supernatural limits. She felt about as good as she looked and - oh my Lucifer – she looked like a complete mess!

Her hair was frazzled and wild, her clothes were torn and in shreds, and she was covered in blood, ash and dirt! This was not the impression she wanted to make after meeting Lord Ichigo after all these years!

He was the Sin of Wrath!

The youngest Satan in all of history! Devils, by nature, found power to be the most attractive quality and he had powers in spades! Not to mention he belonged to the same generation as she did! He was easily the most eligible bachelor of their Empire.

Rias snuck a glance up from where she knelt. The Crown Prince smiled like the sun, his hair tussled in the wind while a single hand playfully rubbed the white fur of his wolf’s lower jaw.

He’s a total hottie!

Lord Ichigo waved them off.

“No need for that. But damn, you kids look like crap.” Rias wanted to crawl in a hole and cry. “Any injuries?”

The white wolf let out a growl, but it went unheeded by the Crown Prince who simply continued to pet it.

“Nothing serious, my Prince,” Sona answered.

Rias spoke up, “My Bishop has the Sacred Gear Twilight Healing. We’re more tired than injured.”

“That’s good, but I’m going to have all you of checked out just in case.” He then held up his phone and showed them the continuous barrage of notifications. “Sirzechs and Sera have been bombarding me with calls all day.”

Both she and Sona gave long suffering sighs.

“We’re sorry,” they both chorused with bowed heads.

“It’s whatever,” he said dismissively. “At this point I’m used to it. Can’t go a single meeting without those two breaking out photo albums stuffed with baby pictures or progress reports of what you two have been up to.”

“I’m going to kill him!” Rias muttered darkly under her breath as her ears burned hot. Off to the side, Sona was making similar threats about her own elder sibling.

The wolf let out another low growl.

“Uhh, I think your dog is angry.” And as everyone looked at him and the giant wolf bared its teeth and let out a snarl, Saji clasped both hands over his mouth before letting out a muffled, “Sorry!”

“She’s a wolf, not a dog,” Lord Ichigo said dryly. “And if you call her one again, she’ll eat you.” Saji audibly gulped. “And she’s not angry. Wolves have different tells than dogs. A low, deep growl is her vocalizing joy.”

As Sona gave her pawn a hard glare, she bowed an apology and asked, “My Prince, if I may…I’m curious as to who your wolf is?”

“Well, for starters, her name is Saviġuk. It means ‘ice crystals in the air’ in Inuit. Pretty name for a pretty girl.” Lord Ichigo leaned over and gave Saviġuk a kiss on the snout. “And she’s my Knight.”

Rias’ brows went high. “Inuit? I’m not familiar with the Inuit mythos.”

Lord Ichigo let out a hum. “Most people aren’t. Saviġuk is an Amaroq, a rare mythical wolf alternatively known as the Hunter of the Night, Soul-Taker and Lord of Strength. And those eyes of hers,” and is if on cue, golden eyes turned towards them and Rias felt herself shiver at their intensity, “they can see through anything, physical or magical. There’s no hiding from her, not one bit.”

“Anyways, why don’t we-” however, Lord Ichigo cut himself off as both he and his Knight, turned away from them. Following their gaze, Rias noted two magical circles appear not to far off on the ground. She recognized the crimson colored one immediately, it was her brother’s personal Demon seal. As for the other one, the bright and boisterous pink mark could only belong to Serafall Leviathan.

However, it was not the two Satans that emerged forth. From her brother’s seal came an incredibly tall horse-like creature with a dragon’s head, it’s entire body covered in scarlet scales. It was Enku, her brother’s Qilin who served as one of his Pawns. From Lord Serafall’s seal emerged a less fantastical being: instead, a tall pale woman with long, blonde hair that appeared to be quite wet. She wore a white trench coat and a wide brimmed white hat.

“Kosara,” Sona exclaimed softly from beside her.

Ah. Now Rias remembered. This was Lord Serafall’s Bishop. She was a Rusalka, a vengeful water spirit belonging to the Slavic mythos.

“I distinctly recall saying no one was allowed in until I gave the all clear,” Lord Ichigo’s voice came out dry, obvious aggravation lacing through his tone.

Both newcomers bowed and Enku said softly, “Apologies, but you know how incessantly Lord Sirzechs worries.”

Kosara smiled and threw out a peace sign as she said in a bubbly and cheerful voice, “Totes same! Lady Sera can’t stop worrying about our little princess! Lady Sera also has a message for you!”

Lord Ichigo raised a single, unimpressed brow.

“She told me to ask, and I quote, ‘What’s the point of having a phone if you’re not going to answer it, berry headed dipshit?’ End quote. Err, respectfully, my Prince!”

Rias’ secondhand embarrassment forced her cheeks red and hot as Sona dropped her face into hands while a low groan.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” the Crown Prince said as he rolled his eyes in exasperation. “Tell you what, you go and fix up one of the buildings and take care of the girls and their peerages. I’ll catch up with the rest of you after I’m done giving the two siscons an earful.”

“Yes, sir!” Kosara said with a cheeky salute.

As he took his phone out, Rias saw Lord Ichigo glance at Enku. “Good to see you again, Enku. Been a while.”

“And you, old friend,” Enku said with a bow as he passed the Satan by. “Thank you for keeping our Lady Rias safe. I owe you a great debt.”

“No debts between family,” Lord Ichigo said, even as his face fell into a scowl, and he put his phone to his ear. “Yeah, it’s me, you sister-stalking piece of crap. What part of ‘no one comes in or out until I say so’ do you not…”

Enku gave a chuckle as Lord Ichigo’s voice trailed off as he walked away. And Rias couldn’t help but pinch the bridge of her nose at her brother’s antics. She’d die of embarrassment because him before any real enemy killed her!

As Enku neared her, she noted a sadness mixed with relief in his eyes. “Oh, my dear Princess, you have been through too much. I am so relieved to see you safe.”

“Enku,” Rias said assuredly, even as she threw her arms around the Qilin’s neck and gave him a tight hug. The tension and despair of nearly dying melted away. Finally, safety felt a real thing to her, and the shadow of death lifted from her heart.

As she pulled away, Enku said, “Come, let us get all of you tidied and healed up.”

Sona pulled away from Kosara and their siblings’ servants led the two peerages away. As usual, Rias and Sona were at the front of their group with their Queens right behind him.

As they walked toward the broken Occult Research Club’s building, Sona leaned in conspiratorially towards her. Curious as to what she wanted to say, Rias bent her ear.

“Why didn’t you tell me he was so hot!”

Before she could even respond, Akeno jumped in. “I know, right! Uh, that hair? That smile? And he looked soo cute cuddling with his wolf!”

“The wolf that was about to eat Sona’s Pawn,” Rias reminded her with a dry twist of the mouth. Though she agreed with all of Akeno’s points. Lord Ichigo was a Bonafide hottie.

“He is quite yummy,” Tsubaki said quietly.

Akeno sighed dreamily. “Even lovestruck Tsubaki has fallen for him! Do you think he’s open to having an affair?”

Rias rolled her eyes. “Please don’t provoke the Dragon King that just annihilated an entire army like it was nothing.”

“I-I also thought that the Sin was quite good-looking. Is that wrong of me?”

Akeno laughed. “Asia, sweetie, as far as I’m concerned, that man’s smile is a sin. And I’d love to indulge.”

“He was quite pleasing to the eye,” Xenovia said bluntly.

“Pfft, he’s not that good looking!” Issei exclaimed angrily from behind. To which, immediately, her Knight responded.

“For the love of Lucifer, Issei, please do not go and piss off the literal embodiment of anger.”

As the boys of her peerage fell into a childish argument, Rias couldn’t help but smile. Things were falling right back into place. Everything would soon be norm-there was a tug on her skirt.

Rias looked down to see Koneko’s petite arm.

“Buchou?”

“Hmm?”

“We forgot something.”

She blinked, her brows furrowing in confusion. “What did we forget,” she asked inquisitively.

Kokeno shook her head. “Don’t remember.”

Rias shrugged as she patted the young girl’s head. “Then it must not have been that important.”

Thus, the Devils merrily made their way.

___________________________________________________________

In the basement of the Occult Research Club, beneath fallen steel and cement, there was a lone cardboard box that wailed in despair.

“Buuuuuuchouuuuuuuu!”