Peerage Girl Quest

Author's Notes: Alright, so I actually wrote this a long time ago. I remember stumbling across a Naruto/Highschool DxD story, and being disgusted with it as even though it had a character named 'Naruto', the character did not act or resemble the character at all. Different background, looks, powers, history, etc. It was basically a new character that was just named Naruto, probably to try and bring in an audience that they new they couldn't get if they had used an OC in the first place.

This was my response, and was meant to be just a short example of how you could fuse elements of one story into another with careful adaption, maintaining the integrity of the original characters while simultaneously adapting them to new fandom.

Anyway, it was a lot of fun, and I just kept writing it until I had actually finished it. Then I just kind of sat on it for a few years, picking it up every once in a while and catching spelling or grammer errors (despite the fact that I was ALWAYS sure that THIS time I had cought everything) and tweaking it until finally I thought, what the heck, might as well publish it.

Also, yeah, it's been a really long time, hasn't it?

Life 0

Grayfia strode through the halls and corridors of the Gremory ancestral home, and though she did not reveal it she felt a certain satisfaction as the other maids and butlers and various servants all sprung to attention when they realized her presence. The servants of the Gremory family were well trained and efficient, an aspect that she, as the head maid, took pride in. But even the most efficient servant would put a little extra effort into their job when confronted by the sight of the ice maid as she prowled.

Where Grayfia strode, efficiency and order followed in her wake.

Just the way she preferred it.

She had always taken a certain pride in her duties. Before, when she had been a warrior full time, she would never have imagined assuming such a role. Afterwards, when she married her husband, rather than simply assume the role of mistress of the house, she had decided instead to take the mantle as head maid.

Grayfia had never cared for a leisurely life. She was a woman of action, and even if that action was simply seeing to the affairs of the household, she still found herself enjoying it.

Keeping busy helped keep her focused. It kept her from drifting into thoughts less pleasant, times back before peace had settled in the underworld, back when war had been between the Satans and God, and after that between the Old Faction and the New Devils.

Back before, when they were all still together…

She pulled herself from her thoughts. It didn't do to linger over old memories, no matter how bittersweet they might be.

Instead, perhaps as a way to help banish those thoughts completely, she decided to go check on her son. If ever she needed a reason for fighting as hard and as long for what she believed in, in the things she had done in the past, it was Millicas. No matter how much some things lingered, just the sight of him was enough to put her at ease.

It was late, when Grayfia felt the urge to check on her son, so she made her way towards his sleeping quarters. She was able to identify just which of her husband's servants was with him rather quickly.

The fire giant never could keep his voice down.

"Gahahaha! Bocchan! You're so quick to get ready for bed! Why, you'd hardly think you to be a child at all!"

"Unlike you, you loud fool," a second voice scolded the first, and Grayfia nodded as Okita Souji's voice revealed his presence. She could rely on the calm swordsman to keep the boisterous Sutr from getting too out of hand.

"Ah, Okita-san," the voice of her son was enough to make her heart melt. Her heart, but not her face, as she maintained her cool demeanor. "Sutr –san is just being enthusiastic. There's no need to scold him!"

"Oh, for Bocchan to come to my aid! I suppose we know who the real favorite is! Gahahaha!"

"Isn't it more the pity of a child than anything else?" Okita's dry voice responded. At Sutr's sudden 'urk', Okita continued. "Now. Millicas-sama. Everything seems in order. Is there anything else you require before you take your rest?"

Grayfia once more showed no expression, but inside her heart perked. She found herself hoping for her son to express some desire to see her.

"Surtr-san, if it's alright, could I have you tell me a story?" Millicas' response would have made her sigh. How like a child to request a bedtime story. She was nearly at his door, and decided that she would make her presence known to remind the fire giant that one story might be fine, but not to let it get out of hand.

"Of course! What story are you wanting, Bocchan?"

"I want to hear about the Six Great Devils!" Millicas voice was eager, though still polite.

Grayfia, with her hand outstretched for the door, found herself frozen on the spot. Even if she wanted to, she found she couldn't move.

To hear that story again… for her son to request it…

"Of course!" the fire giant laughed once more. "Once, in the time when devils still fought against the heavens, there were six great devils that rose up! First against God, and then after when the ceasefire began, they fought for devil kind everywhere! There was the wise Ajuka Astaroth, the cunning Falbium Glasya-Labolas, the powerful Serafall Sitri, the menacing Grayfia Lucifuge…"

"Mother!" the boy cheerfully piped in, prompting another laugh from the fire giant.

"Of course! And I'm sure you know the brilliant Sirzechs Gremory…"

"Father!"

"Good lad! And finally, there was the last member, the implacable…"

'Don't say that name!' Grayfia swore to herself, closing her eyes and not letting herself hear that name. Anything but that name.

"Hmm! But was there really one of the Phenix clan who was once a great devil?" Millicas asked, even though he had no doubt heard this story a thousand times by this point. It was one of his favorites, Grayfia knew.

"Aye! Even though he wasn't a full member of the house and couldn't be one of the pillars, he was still a son of the Phenix. Together the six of them were invincible, fighting angels and rebels alike!"

"What happened?" Millicas excitedly asked, though he maintained a level of courtesy that was hard to expect from a child that age. "Where is he now?"

"Well, after the fighting was done, and peace was brought about, it was time to decide who would be the next of the four Satans. When your mother decided to marry your father, she passed on the right. That left five of the Great Devils still there. When he saw that there might be more fighting for the title, even though he was a hero, the young Phenix decided that in order to help preserve the peace that he would step down from devil society. In order to keep anymore strife from happening, he left the Underworld, looking for new excitement and adventures all over!"

'If only that was it,' Grayfia couldn't keep her eyes from closing, and only her icy self-control kept her from grimacing. 'If that was all, than he wouldn't have left. But we wouldn't let well enough be, and in the end, because of us…'

"Do you think he's still out there, having adventures?" Millicas demanded with the excitement of a child. Grayfia could imagine her son, the way his eyes would light up as he beamed upwards at the much taller giant.

"No doubt! Why, someday, you might even get to meet him!" Surtr laughed. "All of the Six Great Devils were comrades! Why, it wouldn't surprise me if he was friends with your parents!"

'Not anymore,' Grayfia couldn't stop the grimace. 'Not after…'

"What was he like?" Millicas asked.

"Unfortunately, regardless of what that flame headed idiot says," Okita interrupted dryly, "he never met the Phenix. Remember, waka-sama, that this was all before the Evil Pieces system was finished by Ajuka Beelzebub after he inherited the title. Though I'm sure, if you asked politely, your parents might be able to tell you something."

"I wasn't gonna make anything bad up," Surtr grumbled sheepishly. "I'd heard most of the stories too, you know…"

'No,' Grayfia realized she was shaking slightly. 'No you haven't…'

"It is hard to hear, isn't it?" the soft voice that came from behind her made her jump, the surprise enough to undo even her normal calm. With slightly widened eyes, she turned to find her husband, Sirzechs Lucifer standing behind her. She realized that she hadn't heard him approaching, but if he was this close than he too must have heard the story his rook had been relaying to their son.

"Maou-sama," Grayfia began softly, only to stop when an arm went around her shoulder.

"Come on," her husband told her softly. "If Millicas were to see you like this, he would grow worried for his mother."

"What kind of face am I making?" Grayfia asked softly as her husband engaged the teleportation magic, taking them directly to their room. She must be quite a sight, she realized, if her husband worried enough to take her so directly to keep any of the staff from seeing her.

"A face much like the one I am, I imagine," Sirzech sighed, and Grayfia only then saw the regret, the shame, and the loss that colored his face. Immediately feeling ashamed of her own selfishness in allowing her professionalism as a maid to slip, and she embraced her husband.

"We should not have pressed like we did," Sirzechs confessed. "We should have respected his wishes."

"Nobody thought it would grow so heated," Grayfia reassured her husband. "Nobody intended for it. But we were young, and still too proud. Nobody was willing to compromise. Even if we can only see that now, if he hadn't left when he did, things might have turned to violence, not against god or devils, but against ourselves, and our friends."

"And so he settled all the problems himself by leaving," Sirzechs scowled, glowering at the ground. "And even if we might have cooled our heads and came to terms, he still won't show himself to let us apologize."

"He was always rather stubborn like that," Grayfia pulled back, brushing some of her husband's hair back from his face. It was one of the few shows of affection she allowed herself even when she was performing her duties as a maid.

"Do you think he's still alright?" Sirzechs asked softly, worry there, even if their last meeting had not been a pleasant one. "It's been nearly three hundred years now. Three hundred years, and no one has heard from him, even his family." He sighed briefly. "At least not that they told us. Before he left I would never have believed a family famed for its flames could grow so cold so quickly."

"He's fine," Grayfia declared, and she believed it. "He's strong. Even if he did end up in trouble, he is an immortal, after all." She found herself straightening, the reassurances both of them had been giving each other helping her get her icy façade back up. "And the marriage between Rias-sama and Riser-sama will help repair that."

"I still disagree," Sirzechs shook his head, though he also had regained his composure. "It isn't right to force my mistakes on my sister. She should get the right…"

"Your parents have made their choice," Grayfia reminded him, straightening his collar absentmindedly. "And even if you were born a Gremory, do not forget you are a Lucifer now. If you were to meddle too strongly…"

"I know, I know," he sighed, letting himself get henpecked and relaxing at the familiar lecture as it continued.

"Wherever you are," he murmured to himself under his breath, "I hope you're well, Lu-"

*Scene Break*

"Achoo!" a figure sat up abruptly, sneezing so harshly he ended up waking himself up. He sat up, rubbing his nose as he sleepily blinked, his eyes adjusting to the darkness as he glanced around, wondering what had happened.

Until he felt something slap him against the back of his head, and he closed his eyes with a sigh and a smile.

"Shut up," a stern voice told him bluntly. "Sneezing like that? What are you going to do now, having woken me up?"

"Sorry," he apologized with a smile, feeling his lover's body as it moved against where it wrapped around him. "I guess maybe someone was talking about me?"

"That silly superstition?" the voice grumbled. "Don't make me laugh. If something like that were true, than I would never stop sneezing. After all, someone as wonderful as me is no doubt gossiped about all the time. Right now, I'm certain that somewhere, some jealous tart is muttering…"

"Of course, of course," he soothed her, already knowing that letting her go on would just end up taking the rest of the night. His lover never lacked in self-confidence, that much he was certain of. Much like his old comrades…

"You're thinking of them again," his lover accused him, her voice a hiss in the dark. He started slightly, before smiling a bit.

"I suppose," he admitted with a sigh. "Though it's funny. Three centuries ago, I would have been angry. Now, I just feel a bit nostalgic. I guess time does change things, doesn't it?"

"Hmph," his lover grunted, and he felt her body tighten around him. "You know. I don't like it when you think of anyone but me. Shall I take the moment to remind you who you belong to?"

"You're just hungry and you know it," he told her, still smiling as he shook his head at his lover's jealousy. Then he grunted as she squeezed harder.

And when a lamia squeezed, especially when you were already wrapped in her coils, you definitely felt it.

"You've been getting impudent lately, Luka," the snake woman declared as she appeared above him, pale blue skin of her human torso blending into the soft purple of her scales, all revealed to his eyes as she reared over him like a serpent above a mouse, wearing nothing but her tattoos and her hair. Despite his increasing peril of being taken quite thoroughly by his lover, Luka Phenix smiled again.

"Well, are you going to do anything about it, Alice?" he challenged her back, smile growing as Alipheese Fateburn XVI, the Monster Lord forced him back onto their shared bed.

"I think some more training is in order," she declared, already pressing her human torso down against his as she claimed his lips with imperious pose. Letting himself be claimed, Luka spared one last thought to his former comrades.

'It's been a while now. I wonder how the Underworld is doing? Maybe it's time I looked into it again,' he thought to himself, and was surprised when instead of the anger and betrayal such thoughts used to bring, he found himself strangely nostalgic at the memories.

Then there was only room for Alice in his mind.

Life 1

"So this is your ancestral lands," Alice huffed slightly, arms folded under her breasts as she walked beside her lover. "I commend you. It is nearly comparable to my own."

"Well, it's part of it," Luka shrugged, taking in sights he hadn't seen in literally centuries. It was strange, how much had changed. And yet, despite that, so much of it was familiar as well. "We have a couple hundred kilometers in this area, and if things haven't changed much, we should have another couple hundred lakefront properties."

Alice was quiet at that for a moment, before flatly declaring, "My kingdom measures thousands of kilometers in area, and is populated by hundreds of species. My subjects are more numerous than the stars in the sky."

"Of course, Alice," Luka very carefully suppressed a smile. "And you rule them with an iron fist laced with velvet, and are beloved by all."

"And don't you forget it," she nodded imperiously. She had taken a human disguise, and she marched forward with the air of a queen on a stroll through the less affluent parts of the earth, and Luka was content to hide a smile.

He knew better than to tease her when she was feeling jealous. He had mentioned before, idly, how the Phenix family was in fact quiet affluent, but in the decades that he had known her he had always been a wanderer and a vagabond, so he supposed she might not have necessarily believed him.

Before he had left, the Phenix family had been quite wealthy. Phoenix Tears, which could only be produced by his family and which could heal any wound save death, were quite sought after, after all. Especially in the times of war he remembered the underworld most strongly at. They had been his source of funds back when he had been traveling.

"And what is with this reception?" Alice continued, muttering as the two made their way up the paved road that led to the Phenix Mansion. "The prodigal son returns, and they cannot even spare a carriage? Or a proper greeting by the servants? How debase! You would think they would spare more attention to this momentous occasion."

"To be fair," Luka offered idly, waving a hand bearing the Phenix crest on it idly to a pair of guards that had been hurrying to approach the two, "I never sent word I was coming back." The guards saw the sigil, and hesitated, before slowly returning to their post. It was plain that they didn't recognize him, but Luka supposed that was to be expected. It didn't change the fact that he bore the family crest, and they most likely assumed he was some distant member of some branch family. "And it looks like they already had some sort of party underway."

"And what occasion could be more important than your return?" Alice declared, narrowing her eyes at the suspected slight on her lover. If there was one thing that always set Luka back, it was how quickly Alice always acted on anything she even thought to be a slight to him. After centuries of simply being a wanderer, Luka had long since gotten used to being disregarded, and often preferred that kind of response. For Alice though, a slight on him might as well be a slight upon her, and Alice suffered not a slight to go unpunished. "You there," she called at a passing maid imperiously. "Lowly servant. What is the nature of this festival?"

"Lowly servant?" the maid repeated, sounding completely flustered. She seemed like she wanted to take offense at the abrupt form of address, but it also looked like she hesitated to call someone who would speak that way so easily on the insult. Luka supposed that a good servant generally came to understand that if someone you didn't know in the manor of one of the seventy two pillars spoke to you like that, there was a good chance that they were important enough to get away with it. "If I may ask…"

"Here," Alice brusquely lifted Luka's arm for him, drawing both a squawk of surprise and a flare from his crest as she displayed his credentials for him. "Now. My question."

"Ah," the maid began, taking in the crest on the unfamiliar devil before her, and upon establishing its authenticity even if she didn't recognize the owner, she gave a professionally pleasant smile. "It is a ball to celebrate the engagement between Riser of House Phenix and Rias of House Gremory."

"An engagement?" Luka repeated, frowning in surprise at the arrangement. He hadn't been up to speed on many of the ongoings of the Underworld, but it seemed that his leaving hadn't affected the two households to much if they were still close enough for engagements. Then again, his mother and her husband had always had a good eye for business. Perhaps this was some sort of attempt at bringing the houses closer together?

"An engagement? With that despicable household?" Alice at least wasn't pleased, judging from the way her eyes narrowed as she drew herself up. "Has your family no shame, Luka?"

"If that is all," the maid began, before she froze as Alice glared at her.

"It is not. You say this is a ball?" she demanded, and when the maid nodded hesitantly Alice continued. "Then direct me to the dining hall immediately. You may leave once you have."

"Is my cooking not good enough anymore, Alice?" Luka asked, smirking slightly, and was in turn treated to a similar glare by his lover.

"That is that, and this is this," she sniffed. The maid seemed puzzled by the change in topic.

"Um, if it is not unwise to do so, may I ask with whom I'm speaking?" the maid asked cautiously.

"It is, so you may not, but since I am generous I shall answer that I am a traveling gourmand," Alice declared.

It was while the maid was puzzling over that response that Luka caught sight of a great deal of movement from the manor proper. It was from a bad angle, but since the windows were well lit he could make out a great many shadows and other shapes moving as though in great agitation from the ball room. Even as they did, Luka caught sight of something else. It appeared…

It appeared to be a griffon, and on its back were two figures. Luka could barely make out the brilliant crimson hair that marked House Gremory from one of them. His eyes narrowed as he failed to discern anything more before they swiftly flew too far for him to make out any further.

"Luka?" Alice prompted him, her voice cautious as she followed his gaze. "What is it?"

"I'm not sure," he began slowly, "but if I'm reading the situation right, it looks like if this was an attempt to draw the two families closer, it might just have backfired."

*Scene Break*

"Lord Phenix, I'm very sorry that the engagement turned out like this," the lord of the Gremory family was apologizing, his eyes closed as he grimaced. "I know that it is rude, and that there is no excuse for such a thing-"

Rassele Phenix, the lady of the Phenix household, had already tuned the man out.

Even as her husband grimaced as well, accepting the apology with poor manners, she had already written yet another thing to answer for from the Gremory on the list she had engraved in her heart. Again, despite their history during the wars and the civil unrest that followed them, despite the bonds and support that had once been directed to them, the Gremory again failed to display the respect due to the Phenix.

Again, the Gremory interfered with the legacy of one of her children.

"For a family that is so renowned for their ideology of love and family, the Gremory certainly do not hold those same ideals to those outside of their own," she heard her second son, Ruval, speak up. Normally, she would call him on his tone, would scold him over his rudeness towards another of the seventy two pillars.

Normally, he wouldn't have been talking to a Gremory, and thus, normally he would not have been so rude.

Thus, Rassele decided to ignore her son's impropriety.

"Ruval," Rader, her third son spoke up softly, reaching out to try to take his older brother's arm, to try and settle him. "Perhaps you should…"

"Perhaps I should what?" Ruval spoke harshly as he shrugged off his brother's arm, but paused, grimacing as he calmed himself regardless. "Perhaps I should yet again overlook a slight by the Gremory? Perhaps I should again turn away as they show that the only 'love' or 'family' they care for is their own? Again, they show their colors, and again, they show that the crimson they boast so proudly of is nothing but the color of betrayal!"

Despite the overwhelming rudeness being shown to him, Lord Gremory remained silent, merely bowing his head in regret. Near him, also equally regretful, her husband also was silent.

Ruval had been young, but not too young, when the rift between Phenix and Gremory had been born. He had been there when his brother was betrayed, and had wept when his brother had left. For her youngest three, Rader, Riser, and Ravel, the knowledge that they even had a fourth sibling was something that had only been relayed to them in part. They couldn't be told the whole story, and to them the slight of the Gremory family was something mostly academic.

For Rassele though, and for Ruval, there was nothing academic about the wounds of the past. They still stung, every day while her son and his brother was gone was yet another dousing of salt on that old wound. For them, it was just more tinder for the fire.

Rassele had never found out just what it was that Sirzechs Gremory-now-Lucifer had done, nor how any of the other Maou might have contributed, but the last words to her from her son had been, "If I don't leave now, civil war still might continue. They will decide who shall bear which title themselves."

She had had such faith in them, too. They had seemed to truly care for her poor, lonely child. She had thought her Luka had finally found his place among his comrades. And this! This is how they show that comradery, by driving him away? And for what reason? Because of his heritage? Because they could not agree to let someone like her Luka claim a title as Maou? Was that the reason?

She had not spoken her suspicions to anyone. She had let the rumors of him leaving to appease the masses lie.

But they were devils, and a society of devils, creatures that existed around and within desire, there were those who suspected. Rumors about how the Gremory had done something to the son, had betrayed or blackmailed him in some manner to get him to leave in order to secure the title of 'Lucifer' for their own lingered. In time, they grew. The truth of her son's heritage was whispered at, and used to fuel even more rumors.

Even though her husband and the Lord of the Gremory House were friends that knew the truth, even though her husband had done his best to try and preserve face as those rumors spread and had fought to maintain at least a professional relationship with his old friend, this was too much at last.

Those rumors, combined with this latest slight, would be the last straw. In the eyes of devil society, there was no way house Phenix would be able to stand by and remain with their old allies. If they didn't retaliate in some way, if they didn't strike back, they would look weak.

And the desires of devils wouldn't stand idle in the face of weakness.

Despite the imminent loss of the bond between House Phenix and Gremory, Rassele fought to suppress a smile of triumph. At last. At last! The wounds dealt to her firstborn son would be avenged! Wherever he was, if he was still alive as she desperately prayed late at night, with this, whatever suffering he had been enduring, whatever pain lingered in his heart, would at last…!

"Hello, mom," a voice from behind her said pleasantly, warmth in its tone. "It's been a long time. I hope I'm not interrupting anything?"

Rassele quite suddenly lost her train of thought, the glass of champagne in her hand slipping from her numb fingers as a voice she hadn't heard in three hundred years spoke up behind her.

"Mom?" Ravel demanded, her precious daughter pulling herself upright as she glared with the grace of a princess at something behind her. Rader seemed similarly confused. On the other hand, Ruval was as shocked as she was, his face turning white as he clutched at his chest in shock. Even her husband's eyes were widened in surprise, and if the situation was anything different from what it was, Rassele might have savored the whiteness of the Gremory Lord's expression. "Who are you to address my mother, the Lady Phenix, so abruptly!"

"Well," the voice behind her began slowly. "If she's your mother too, than I guess that would make me your older brother. I have a sister now. Somehow, of all the things I thought might happen, I never really thought of that…"

"Luka?" Rassele whispered, wanting to turn around and confirm that her son, her firstborn son so long gone, was really behind her. But she was afraid. Afraid this was just another dream, just another nightmare she would wake up from.

"Yes," the voice behind her confirmed, strangely hesitant, so similar, so unbelievably similar to his voice in her memory. "It's been a while, but I've finally come home."

Slowly, she turned, hoping against hope that this wasn't just another bad dream. And then she saw him.

He looked the same as the last time she saw him. He looked so young, barely older than Ravel. Devils could control their age at will, and though most female devils preferred to maintain their youth, many older male devils enjoyed looking their age. Luka was one of the few males that chose to stay in their younger years. He was dressed casually, none of the gaudiness or garishness that most high class devils affected. Just simple pants, a coarse linen shirt, and that ridiculous red scarf he never quite grew out of.

Slowly, as though to make sure, once and for all that this wasn't a dream, she cupped his face with her hands. When she felt warm flesh on her fingers, she couldn't stop herself.

"Luka!" she cried out, already crying as she embraced him. They were nearly the same size, so even if she wanted to pull his head to her chest and hold him there she ended up instead nuzzling his neck as she wept.

"Brother!" Ruval also seemed overwhelmed, forgetting his earlier anger at the Gremory. He was taller than Luka now, Rassele realized giddily. Just because Luka chose to remain young, Ruval hadn't, and his much older and taller frame nearly knocked the two of them to the ground as he grabbed both of them, lifting both mother and brother up to spin them giddily.

"This," her husband breathed softly, "this changes everything."

"Yes," the Lord of the Gremory agreed, though his voice was far grimmer. "It does."

Rassele didn't even care at that moment that the changes the two spoke of might be for the worst. The worst, in her eyes, had already happened. Her beloved son had gone. Now that he was back, she didn't care what it meant for the rest of devil society.

*Scene Break*

"Y-y-y-you're my brother!" Ravel tended to stutter quite heavily when she was truly shocked or surprised. Rassele promised herself that she would work on that with her later. That could wait. A lot of things could wait.

"Yes," Luka admitted, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. "Though I've been gone for some time now…"

"It doesn't matter," Ruval declared boisterously. Rassele could see the way Rader gaped as his usually stern and serious brother seemed so relaxed, so exuberant. It was a side of him that hadn't been shown casually for many years, and in the eyes of his siblings it must be a sight bordering on the ludicrous. Rassele welcomed it. It was a return to the time back before. "What have you been up to? Come on, bro, you have to tell me!"

"Er," Luka began, sipping his tea awkwardly, spilling a bit as he did so. "That is…" he trailed off as she quickly moved in with a napkin to clean his chin. "Well, I've been doing things. Mostly traveling, just acting like a tourist, but occasionally something would come up, and I'd get involved in on goings…"

"This is the brother that disappeared so long ago?" Ravel huffed, folding her arms as she glared at the sight of her mother doting on the young looking devil before her. I-I-I-It wasn't like she was jealous or anything! She was getting too old to have her mother look after her so thoroughly. "You disappeared for so long, worried mother and father, and abandoned the fortune of the Phenix family as a whole! And then you just walk back in, a penniless pauper with not a thing to his name but the clothes on his back, expecting…!"

Ravel had spent much of her life hearing about the brother she had never known. When she was a child, she had listened as her mother had told her stories about her brother Luka, and how he had fought in the wars alongside all the current Maou, how he had been brave and strong. But, that was only what her mother told her.

Those rumors about why her brother had left, about how he had been a shame to the family name that had disappeared in order to keep that shame from lingering, rumors about how he had been exiled due to his attempt to take one of the positions of Maou himself, and a dozen other flavors and tastes of shame and dishonor that colored his disappearance.

When she had been younger, and her mother's word was law, she hadn't allowed those words to dissuade her. But time and repetition had left her wondering just what was the truth, and what was the illusions her parents gave her as a fairy tale.

And now, here he was, giving such a weak story of how he had spent the entire time he was gone, the time her mother had spent crying for him, worrying for him, and he was just brushing it off!

"Well, I did get involved with a few fights with a few angels before," Luka offered slowly, sipping his tea as he shifted awkwardly. "And a couple conflicts with some fallen as well. Nothing to really speak of…"

"Brother," Ruval began slowly, and Ravel nodded at hearing even her eldest, er, second eldest brother speak up at this sham! He had always been the staunchest supporter of the missing first son of the Phenix household. If even he was doubting…! "What did you do?"

Wait. That didn't sound like doubting at all, to Ravel's ears anyway. That sounded more like nervousness.

"Well," Luka began slowly, fiddling with his teacup. "I suppose I might have gotten into a bit of trouble a couple of times…"

Ravel scowled again, feeling thoroughly disillusioned by this long lost sibling of hers. So. That was it. He vanishes, and when he finally finds himself in over his head, he comes back, looking for the family he abandoned to help bail him out?

"Listen, you good for nothing brother," Ravel began, standing upright, only to jerk to a stop as she felt the top of her head hit something soft above her. What on earth…?

"So," an unfamiliar voice began above her, and quite suddenly the pressure on her head increased as a pale arm reached down to put a plate with a small pile of bones on it on the table before her. Ravel squawked as she realized that there was someone behind her, that they were leaning over her, and apparently the heavy things pressing down on her were actually…

She refused to believe it! Nothing that big and heavy could possibly be what she was thought they were!

Then the weight lifted and a new figure walked casually into her line of sight, and Ravel knew despair.

They really were that big!

"So you finally stop your sniveling and return to your family, and this is how they greet you?" the newcomer declared flatly. Ravel only needed a look at her before she decided she hated this new girl on sight. Tall, thin waist offset by ample curves at bust and hip, exotic features, erotic clothing and tattoos…

"And just who are you?" she demanded as she glared at this newcomer, instantly disliking her. "And what do you think you're doing here? This is a family matter! Get out at once!"

"This," the girl began, giving Ravel a flat look. "This is a sister, I'm assuming?"

"Yes," Luka admitted with a sigh. "So far, things haven't been going very well, Alice."

"I assume you know my brother?" Ravel declared, scowling at this 'Alice'. "Well, if you're the measure of the company he's been keeping while worrying his family, than I shall have to scold him even more!"

"Charming," Alice declared flatly, before simply dismissing her completely. Oooh! Ravel was a Phenix, and she wouldn't stand for this kind of thing! Even as she gathered herself up to put this… this… this harlot in her place, said harlot turned to look at her mother instead. "And I assume this one is the same as well?"

Rassele, who had currently been fussing over Luka's plate to make sure he got the proper amount of vegetables paused, turning slowly to give an even eye at this newcomer.

"Actually," Luka instantly spoke up, "this is my mother."

Ravel had a moment to appreciate the confusion that appeared on Alice's face.

"Mother?" Alice repeated slowly, giving a doubtful look at the other woman.

"You know how devils can control their age like I do?" Luka offered quickly. When Alice nodded slowly, Luka hurried to continue. "Well, many female devils do the same…"

"What a handy trait," Alice murmured, standing still as she and Rassele continued to match gazes. Finally, the newcomer seemed to come to a conclusion.

"My apologies for my earlier brusqueness," Alice continued in a polite, well mannered, and entirely cordial tone of voice. "I have eagerly been waiting the chance to meet you, mother."

"Mother?" Rassele repeated slowly, giving her son a probing look. Sheepishly, he rubbed the back of his head.

"This is my lover, Alice," he introduced the other girl, and Ravel huffed, crossing her arm. Of course a worthless brother would have a worthless lover! What a shameless pair they must make!

"I see," Rassele repeated slowly, giving the newly revealed lover a probing look. "Forgive me for being blunt, but what makes you think that you have qualifications to be with my son? What sort of history do you have with him?"

Alice cocked her head to the side, giving Luka a flat look, one he returned with a shrug as though to say 'up to you'. Then she nodded.

The change happened rather quickly, though Ravel wouldn't have been able to do anything besides gawk even if it had occurred slowly. One moment there was a pale skinned humanoid in front of her, and then her legs began to glow and lengthen and her skin began to change color. When it was done, Ravel found herself looking up as Alice pushed herself upwards on her tail.

"My full name is Alipheese Fateburn XVI," the newly revealed lamia declared, "the Monster Lord. During the Angel Wars, your son came to the aid of the Monster nation and fought with much valor. Afterwards, during the Reaping Times, he similarly conducted himself. We became lovers during that time, and once the conflict was over he became my official consort in the eyes of the Monster Nations."

Ravel found herself twitching slightly as many of her preconceptions quite suddenly upended themselves.

"You… you fought ANOTHER war with the heavens," Ruval began slowly. Previously, he had been merely giving the admittedly attractive woman his brother had brought in a measuring eye. Now, he was turning to stare blankly at his older brother. "And then, a war with the fallen angels as well. During a time of a ceasefire between the three forces."

"Well, in order to keep the devils from being involved I did seal away my demonic powers," Luka hastily explained, and Ravel and her mother both twitched simultaneously, one at disbelief over a devil willingly weakening themselves like that and the other at the thought of her son doing something so dangerous. "I'm absolutely positive that no one from the other factions realized I was a devil at all…"

Ravel began to realize that those legends about her eldest brother's strength and prowess might be the real rumors she should have been paying attention to.

*Scene Break*

"You don't do things by halves, do you Luka," the Lord Phenix sighed. It had been a few days since the prodigal son's return, and he was only now having the chance to greet him properly. His wife had been quite content to monopolize her returned son, and it had taken him actually scheduling an appointment before the Lord had a chance to talk with him directly.

"Not really, Lord Phenix," Luka admitted, and the Lord sighed softly. Luka had never called him anything besides his full title. While Phenix understood the reasons for that, he had long since come to think of Luka as his own son, and wouldn't mind be called 'father' even if it was just in private. "I hope I haven't caused undue stress to the family…"

"Not really," Phenix admitted, stroking his chin. "Once word gets out that you've returned, it will help boost the status of our family. Having one of the Six Great Devils will help our appearance of power. And your relationship with the Monster Lord will help us strengthen our ties with the Monster Nations. If we can get the media to focus on it, we might be able to brush the whole engagement fiasco under the table."

"Just what did happen?" Luka asked, curious about the events he had arrived in the middle of. "Nobody will really tell me much. And I haven't even had the chance to meet my final brother, Riser. The doctors say he still needs rest."

"Well, Gremory and I had hoped that we could mend some of the damage between our families by joining them," Phenix sighed, rubbing his forehead. "But the Gremory daughter is willful. She apparently used the Sekiryuutei to call the whole thing off."

"Sekiryuutei?" Luka broke in sharply, and Phenix gave him a cautious look. Luka had narrowed his eyes, a complicated look on his face. "I see. So that boy was Ddraig's new wielder."

"Is there some history between you and the Sekiryuutei that I should know about?" Phenix asked him, and Luka seemed to come out of his thoughts, before smiling sadly.

"I was familiar with one of the past users," he admitted. "I would like to meet the new one some time, maybe talk with Ddraig a bit about the old days."

"I see," Phenix sighed in relief. Things were already tense enough as it is. The last thing he needed was for the estranged son to do something to a member of a Gremory peerage. If he was ever to mend ties with his old friend's family, not having things escalate into violence was paramount. "Well, now that you've returned, have you given any thought to your future? Perhaps you'd like to try your hands at the Rating Game? It would be a good way to reintroduce you to devil society."

"Rating Game?" Luka repeated duly, never having heard the phrase before. "What is that?"

Phenix grimaced, realizing just how out of touch his returned family was, and set about explaining some of the changes in devil society to him.

*Scene Break*

"Evil pieces, huh," Luka mused to himself, taking in the decorated box that he had received. Inside it were fifteen delicately carved chess pieces. Most of them were black, but surprisingly there were a smattering of oddly colored ones, red so deep yet vivid they almost seemed to glow.

"Amazing," Ruval whistled, taking in the pieces as well as he sat with his brother, his mother, and his sister. "Mutation pieces are so rare, and yet you managed to get one from every class! And you even managed to have a Queen as a mutation piece. Whoever you choose will have to be quite powerful."

"I see," Luka pursed his lips, taking in the pieces cautiously.

"Do you have anyone in mind?" Ravel spoke up, pursing her lips as well. She still wasn't sure just what she thought of her brother, but after spending a few days with him she was at least starting to get to know him as a person. He was very different from her other brothers. Ruval, Rader, and Riser were all quite proud, with aristocratic demeanors. Ruval and Rader tended to be very serious, taking their duties as high class devils seriously and putting a lot of effort into the Rating Game as well. Riser was serious too, but only in regards to his harem. They blended in to high society quite well, and Ravel had put a lot of effort to preparing herself for a similar role in the future.

Luka, on the other hand, looked more like he should be attending a school somewhere out in the country where everyone was always relaxed and friendly. His choice of simple clothes and to show his youth made seem out of place in the family manor. He was also friendly and very informal.

It made her wonder if he really was one of the Six Great Devils. Then again, from what she knew about the personalities of the other devils and how eccentric they could be, maybe he really did fit in with the others.

"Luka," a new voice broke in, and Ravel scowled a bit. Her again! She caught sight of Alice as she slithered in, the snake woman scowling slightly and serious, despite the fact that she was carrying a platter with a complete three layer cake on it that she had apparently been eating. "What's this I hear about you receiving those 'Evil Pieces' I've heard so much about?"

"Brother was just talking with his family about forming his peerage," Ravel declared, emphasizing family as she scowled at the lamia. This girl! The more Ravel had to put up with her the less she liked her! She was so rude, and every time Ravel laid eyes on her it was to find her stuffing her face with some treat or another.

While she was starting to warm up to Luka, she had also began to suspect that he might be unlucky with choosing his woman. If he stuck around with a girl like this he'd end up being talked down to by a fat old lady when all the eating finally caught up with the deplorable snake woman.

"So I see," Alice nodded, before casually reaching out, taking the Queen piece, and pressing it to her chest. Ravel barely had time to squawk in indignation at such a rude and unbelievable action before it had already started to glow and sink into the lamia's chest. "There."

"Alice," Luka sighed, but was interrupted as Ravel leapt to her feet.

"You! How dare you steal my brother's piece like that!" she stomped her foot angrily. "It was a mutation piece, so he would have been able to acquire someone really powerful for the game! Just how low are you going to go to sink your claws in him!"

"A mutation piece you say," Alice nodded seriously. "What luck. If it wasn't so, it might not have been enough for me." Then her eyes narrowed as she glared at Luka, putting the plate aside as she folded her arms. "And what's this about you thinking of another as a Queen? Have you dared start considering infidelity?"

"No," Luka shook his head earnestly. "When I thought of a Queen, no one but you would come to mind. We probably are lucky it's a mutation piece, otherwise it really might have been a problem."

"Good," Alice told him flatly, folding her arms and lifting her nose. Ravel felt like hissing like a snake herself at the shameless hussy as she spoke down to her brother. Near her, Rassele and Ruval also seemed annoyed and outraged. To simply take another devils piece and use it, without so much as word was beyond outrageous! At least, Ruval started that way. Then his eyes moved, and he blinked, looking honestly surprised by something.

"Though it's too bad," Luka continued with a dramatic sigh. "That you just took it like that. I was even thinking of asking you romantically from down on my knees. Well! At least this settles things! Good thing you moved so fast, Alice!"

Ravel started to get even more outraged by the thoughtfulness her brother was showing in the face of this rudeness, but then she hesitated as she realized her mother had also seemed surprised by something. Rassele had a considering look on her face as she studied Alice, and when Ravel gave the lamia a look she realized that the snake woman had gone unusually stiff.

"Anyway," Luka continued grandly, "now that that's done, what say we all…"

"Luka," Alice interrupted abruptly. "Just because it's done doesn't excuse you from asking."

"But Alice," Luka declared innocently. "What's done is done, after all. Just because you moved in haste and missed your opportunity…"

"Luka. I'll get mad," Alice said flatly.

"Why-!" Ravel began, only to be interrupted as her mother put a hand on her arm without warning. When Ravel glanced, she saw Rassele nod in a particular direction. When Ravel looked, she realized that what her brother and mother were both staring at was none other than the tip of Alice's tail.

"Er," Ravel blanched, staring as the proud and abrupt snake woman's tail wagged slowly. "That can't be…"

"Alright, Alice," Luka gave in, and Ravel realized that for all her brother might be nice and polite, he too could tease or ruthlessly take the upper hand in a battle of wits. She watched as he indeed went to his knees before Alice, looking up at her with a smile. "Alipheese Fateburn XVI. Would you stand beside me, as my queen? To again be my partner in whatever battles might come, just as you have in the past? To spend the long life of a devil with me, never leaving my side?"

"That sounds like a marriage proposal!" Ravel whispered, before catching sight of the now wildly wagging tail. Despite the limbs exuberance, Alice remained perfectly straight-faced.

"I'll consider it," she finally declared as she turned her head to the side with a sniff, disregarding that she had already taken the Queen in the first place and that the entire question was entirely moot at this point.

It was at that point that Ravel finally began to feel like she had a handle on the lamia's personality. Rassele also seemed to reach a conclusion, and had her hand up to cover a smile, while Ruval just grinned and shook his head.

"He always had a thing for the straight-faced ones," Ruval muttered.

"So," Alice's voice brought Ravel back to the scene before her, and she blinked in surprise as she realized within the few moments she had been distracted, Luka had returned to his seat. More than that, at some point Alice had wrapped herself around him numerous times, her coils across his shoulders, his chest, even his legs, as her torso took its place in his lap. Looking quickly, she found the tip of Alice's tail, and discovered that it had wrapped loosely around Luka's wrist. Even though he was a step away from being bound and was literally draped with his Queen, Luka seemed completely at ease with the situation.

"So, what Alice?" Luka prompted her, settling back against some of her tail, turning his attention back to the box holding the remaining fourteen pieces.

"So have you considered whom else you might want in your peerage?" Alice said with a sigh, as though it was obvious what she meant.

"Well," Luka began slowly, fingers tracing over the pieces. "Knights, Rooks, Bishops, and Pawns. Altogether there are four classes…"

Ravel watched carefully, not sure what her brother was referring to, but whatever it was Alice seemed to get it. She straightened abruptly, looking down at Luka with a searching look. Then a slow, snake like smile split her lips.

"Interesting," she hissed. Ravel had a sudden premonition that whatever it was the two were contemplating, it would probably not spell good for anyone else in the near future.

Life 2

Hyoudou Issei, or just Ise as he was known for short, was shaking as he watched his destined rival, Vali the Hakuryuukuu began to walk away. The day had started so well, with him having the chance to go to the pool with his Buchou, and he had seen so many oppai. Even if things at the pool had gotten out of hand, it was still a memory he was planning to save to his hard drive forever.

And then, while he was heading to the campus afterwards, it was to find this grey haired pretty boy standing in front of him. Normally, that would be enough for Ise as it was for him to dislike the other boy, damn handsome that he was.

But this wasn't just a pretty boy like Kiba. This was the Hakuryuukuu, the Vanishing Dragon, who had previously defeated with ease a fallen angel he and his entire fellow peerage couldn't even scratch.

"I didn't come here to fight today," Vali declared as he began walking away. "I just wanted to see the school I already visited in the light. I was bored of just escorting Azazel around Japan. I won't fight the Welsh dragon here. I still have a lot of work to do."

Helpless, Ise could only shake as he watched his destined rival start to walk away. It looked like the confrontation was over when a new voice spoke up.

"Welsh dragon?" Vali paused as he turned, realizing that someone else had arrived. "So the Sekiryuutei is here after all. And that must make you the Hakuryuukuu then?"

"More enemies?" Kiba hissed, the blond swordsman gripping his sword tightly as he turned to keep both Vali and the newcomer in his eyes. Ise also started to turn, but froze halfway through.

Oppai! What a splendid pair! Ise could almost feel his nose starting to bleed as he saw the woman who had arrived. What enormous breasts, and in such an erotic outfit! She was wearing what looked like some kind of cosplay item, a bikini top and a strange skirt! Ah, what a splendid onee-chan!

"And who are you?" Vali asked, turning to face the woman, and Ise realized that there was someone else there with her. He looked to be about their age, with oddly colored hair that looked almost purple but with a spattering of blond in it, casual clothes, and a long red scarf for some reason. He was smiling politely, though the woman standing next to him had her arms folded and was scowling.

"Ah, don't mind me," the newcomer hastily lifted a hand up in a disarming gesture. "I was just here to meet the Sekiryuutei. If you're done, don't let me stop you from leaving."

"You," Vali began, ignoring the boy's words. "You look familiar. Could you be…?"

"Vali," a new voice interrupted, and Ise jumped as he watched a gem appear on the pretty boy's hand. "Don't. You might need to get ready to run."

"Albion?" Vali sounded surprised as he looked to the gem that Ise realized carried the opposite of his own dragon, Ddraig. The other boy seemed surprised that his dragon was warning him that he might need to flee.

"Albion? Is that you?" the boy spoke again, leaning forward slightly. "It's been a while. How have you been?"

"Well enough," Albion sounded reluctant to speak, but unwilling to just ignore the boy. "From your tone, I take it that you don't hold a grudge?"

"Not against you," the boy shook his head. "I've already settled all debts, in my book anyway."

"Albion, what are you talking about? Who is this one?" Vali still sounded confused, but also curious. "From your tone, have you two fought before? Is he strong?"

"Don't think about it, Vali," Albion chided his wielder sternly.

"You should listen to your dragon," the boy added, nodding as he did so. "I'd hate to have to kill another of his hosts."

"Interesting," Vali just seemed excited at the prospect, and Ise shivered. Who on earth actually got excited about talking to someone who admitted to having killed someone before? And if he killed someone using the dragon, it must have been another Hakuryuukuu! "And just who are you?"

And he had already said he was looking for him too! Ise felt like pulling his hair. Why do all the strong people keep coming after him? He just wanted to live a life full of oppai, and to become a harem king!

"Ah, forgive me," the boy bowed politely. "I forgot that we hadn't been introduced yet. I'm called Luka. Luka Phenix."

'Oh god, another Phenix!' Ise wailed in his head, now having to physically suppress the urge to do that hair pulling. 'What if he's here to get revenge for that Riser bastard?'

"The Luka?" a gasp at his side caused him to turn to check on Rias. Ise was worried that his Buchou might be in danger of another engagement, but when he saw her he was surprised that it wasn't fear or anxiety on her face, but awe instead.

"The Lost Sixth," Akeno murmured, and Ise realized that it wasn't just Rias that was affected by the newcomer's name, but all of his fellow devils.

Well, all of them but Asia and Xenovia. It looked like whoever this Luka was, he was famous among devils.

"I see," Vali also seemed interested. He smiled slightly. "I hope to meet you again then, Luka."

And just like that, Vali turned and continued to leave. Ise felt his tension rise even more as the newcomer turned to face him directly.

"So then," Luka began, only to pause as the woman next to him coughed. "Alice?"

"Didn't you forget something?" the woman asked flatly, glaring at her companion. Luka blinked, cocking his head to the side.

"Um, what do you mean?"

"My introduction," the woman declared, tapping her foot slowly as she scowled.

"Sorry," Luka rubbed his head sheepishly. "But there really wasn't an opportunity. That kind of scene…"

The woman's eyes narrowed, and Luka hastily coughed into his hand, turning back to Ise and the rest.

"W-well!" the boy declared loudly, obviously changing the subject. "Hello! Like you heard, my name is Luka, and I was looking for the Sekiryuutei. I don't suppose you have some place quiet that we can make introductions in?"

*Scene Break*

"Thank you," Luka said politely, smiling as Akeno provided tea for him. They had retired to the Occult Research clubroom, and even as Ise fidgeted, the rest of the peerage seemed on edge as well, even if for different reasons.

"It is no trouble," Akeno smiled politely. "To think, that after so long Luka of the Six would reappear, and that we would be able to play host to him! It is an honor."

"Um," Asia spoke up, the blonde former nun sounding confused. "I'm sorry, but since I'm a new devil, I'm confused. It seems that Luka-san is someone really important?"

"During the wars, there were Six Great Devils," Rias explained, not just to Asia but to Xenovia and Ise as well. "After the war, four of them, my brother included, took over the position of 'Maou'. The fifth, Grayfia, retired to marry my brother. But when the fighting was done, the sixth great devil, Luka of the Phenix, simply disappeared. It has been nearly three hundred years, and no one had heard anything about him. Though, I had heard rumors that he had reappeared…"

"Yes," Luka admitted, taking a sip. "I've only recently returned, so I'm still unfamiliar with many of the changes that have occurred in devil society. Please, if I make any mistakes, forgive them."

"Of course!" Rias declared enthusiastically. "It is an honor to have the Lost Sixth before us! Brother and Grayfia-san have spoken much about you, so I'm eager to meet you!"

"Oh, have they," the woman declared flatly, before reaching out to spear a toothpick that had been provided into one of the sweets on the table. As she did so, Koneko twitched for some reason, before taking her own sweet as well. For a moment, the two paused, eyes narrowing as they met. Then, almost in sync, they both took another sweet.

"Well, actually, no," Rias deflated slightly at the other woman's words. "Actually, whenever I ask, they change the subject, or just tell me to ask later."

"It doesn't surprise me," Luka sighed, looking into his teacup. "It wasn't well known, because at the time the new devil society was still too young and fragile that we didn't want to risk upsetting it, but we actually didn't part on very good terms."

"You parted on bad terms?" Kiba repeated politely, sounding surprised at the confession. Luka nodded.

"Those were different times, back then," Luka sighed a distant look on his face. "Even if we had managed to win and secure the future of devil kind through the ceasefire, we were still prideful and quick to anger. And we disagreed on many different choices which could affect the future of devil kind. Eventually, it reached the point that in order to prevent bloodshed I left, hoping to remove some of the reasons for conflict," Luka confessed, startling Rias even further. Luka seemed to notice that, and paused, smiling gently. "I'll admit to having been a bit angry myself back then, but I've calmed down much since then, and it seems so did they. Though now that it seems things have been resolved, I'd still rather not see them, at least not so soon after returning. If you could let them know that, I would appreciate it."

"I see," Rias actually stammered, wondering desperately just what had happened between her family, or even all of the current Maou, and the missing devil. This was not the kind of meeting she might have envisioned when daydreaming about meeting the sixth!

"Um," Ise sensed the tension, and decided to change the subject, raising one hand slowly. "Um, Luka-san. I'm sorry, but I'm a bit confused. You did say 'centuries', didn't you? But you don't look much older than any of us."

"Ah, you must be one of those reincarnated devils," Luka nodded, studying the other boy for a moment. "It must be a lot for you to take in all at once. Devils have the ability to control whatever age they appear. I just prefer to look young."

"Mostly, it is the women who make that choice and the men look their own age," Akeno murmured into Ise's ear, "but sometimes the opposite happens too."

"Don't worry," Luka reassured the other boy with a smile. "I've been gone so long, that a lot of things have changed for me too. Oh!" He blinked, remembering something. "I forgot. Isn't it polite to introduce your peerage as well? This is Alice, my Queen. Is this a safe place for her to change back to her original form?"

"Original form?" Rias repeated absently, before shaking her head. "Ah, yes. This clubroom is restricted only to those who know about those kinds of things. If you don't mind me asking, just what is…"

Rias trailed off, eyes widening as without further prompting Alice changed, and Ise gaped as the lamia's tail spread across the room.

"Don't think you can get away with such a meager introduction," Alice declared sternly, though her attention remained on the sweets. Every time she speared one, her eyes narrowed a bit more as Koneko also sped up to try and consume as much of the sweets as possible.

"Ah, it seems she wants a proper introduction," Luka rubbed the back of his head. "Her full name is Alipheese Fateburn XVI, formerly the Monster Lord and newly reincarnated devil."

Koneko froze when Alice's title was revealed, and Alice shamelessly sped up her consumption rate, taking advantage of the lull.

"Monster Lord?" Ise repeated, feeling a little helpless as more and more titles and backstories were revealed. Why couldn't any of them be based around oppai! Then he was sure he would be able to remember everything perfectly!

"I can explain, if you like?" Luka offered, seeing as most of the room was now busy focusing on Alice as she continued to stuff herself. "Though the faction you belong to as a devil is known as the 'Three Great Powers', in truth many other mythological figures and gods exist. The different types are known as the 'Pantheons'. So for instance you have the Norse Pantheon, the Greek Pantheon, the African Pantheon, and etcetera."

"Oh," Ise nodded, relieved that Luka appeared to be quite good at making explanations understandable. "So which pantheon do the monsters belong to?"

"None, actually," Luka continued. "The Monster Nations are the name for the various other creatures and powers that don't really owe any homage to any of the pantheons but exist anyway. Things like Youkai or other creatures that exist."

"So than the snake nee-san?" Ise began, trying to puzzle out just what her actual position is.

"Snake nee-san?" Alice muttered, turning a glare at the other boy, even as she finished the rest of the snacks.

"Was the former ruler of all the other Monster Nations, the one who stands at the head of all the various kingdoms and countries comprised of monsters, whatever their species," Luka confirmed. "However, since she reincarnated as a devil, it looks like a new Monster Lord will be announced soon. They just have to finish the succession rituals."

"Though I doubt that any of the favored candidates will end up with the title," Alice added, sounding amused about something.

"Anyway," Luka continued, sipping his tea again. "I hope you don't mind, but the reason I came here was to speak with the Sekiryuutei. Well, not exactly. I was hoping to speak with Ddraig for a bit."

"Ddraig?" Ise parroted, looking down at his arm, sounding confused and wary. "But why would you want to talk with him?"

"Not him precisely," Luka admitted. "A long time ago, I met another Sekiryuutei. Since the consciousnesses of the hosts are preserved in the Boosted Gear, I was hoping to be able to speak with her again."

"I thought that might be the case," a new voice interrupted, and Ise jumped as just like with Vali a jewel appeared on his hand. "So. You again. It's been a while, hasn't it, Luka?"

"Hello, Ddraig," Luka simply addressed the jewel. Ise thought he must have been really familiar with Sekiryuutei if he was able to talk to a rock so easily. "How have you been?"

"Well enough," the dragon answered easily. The rest of the room, barring Alice, all seemed interested, peering at the jewel carefully. Most of them hadn't even realized that the Boosted Gear had a consciousness, much less that it could speak in the real world to people besides its host. "My newest host is an interesting one."

"I hear he's considered the weakest host in history," Luka nodded seriously, and Ise slumped at such a famous devil calling him weak. "I don't mean to be abrupt, but is she…"

"Don't worry about it," Ddraig didn't seem to take offense at the conversation being cut short. "But I'm sorry. I can't help you. Her voice is hidden too deep, and I can't reach her. Unless she wants to come out, there's nothing I can do."

"I see," Luka made a pained face, sighing. "Elsha. Even now, you won't speak to me?"

"Hmph," Alice grunted, folding her arms as her tail coiled under her.

"If you don't mind me asking," Ise began, looking between Ddraig and Luka carefully, "just who is this Elsha?"

"The strongest female user of the Sekiryuutei in history," Ddraig answered easily. "Though I suppose Luka could tell you more about her. They were lovers once."

"Eh?" Ise wasn't the only one to gape at the declaration. Alice's eyes just narrowed even further.

"It was…" Luka began softly, before pausing as something constricted around him. "Alice?"

"What?" the snake woman asked flatly, making no indication that she even noticed the way her tail had started to coil around him.

"Never mind," Luka just sighed, dismissing his Queen's possessiveness. He was used to it. "It was a long time ago, shortly after I left the Underworld. We started out as enemies, and became rivals after that. It was many years, but eventually we stopped being rivals, and became…" he trailed off, letting the room make the logical conclusion.

"I see," Rias nodded slowly, filing away this information into her knowledge of the lost six. Her curiosity was nearly burning, with his earlier declaration of a falling out between him and her brother and sister in law. She was genuinely curious for more, wanting to get as much information as she could, before she spoke to her family about what had happened. "What happened to her?"

"Ddraig ate her, of course," Luka declared flatly. "Like he does all of his hosts."

"W-wait!" Ise yelped holding his arm away from his quickly at the declaration. "What do you mean ate her? Is he going to…?"

"Not like that, partner," Ddraig sighed. "What he meant was that she was drunk on my power, and ended up destroying herself. Just like all the hosts who use me end up."

"She left me one night, without a word," Luka elaborated, a distant look in his eyes as he thought back to the memory. "To go fight the Hakuryuukuu, just like all Sekiryuutei do. The grudge those two dragons have for each other is never satisfied, no matter how many times they kill each other. And just like how all the hosts eventually end up, she was killed." Luka sighed. "Even if I tracked the Hakuryuukuu down after and killed him for it, it doesn't change what happened."

"I see," Ise swallowed slightly. This young looking devil, sipping tea, had killed the user of one of the heavenly dragons, creatures so powerful that the god of the bible had to seal them into Sacred Gear so powerful that they could even kill other gods. And this boy had killed a user, the user who had been strong enough to kill even one of the strongest of the Sekiryuutei.

At least Luka didn't seem to want to fight him! Ise absolutely did not want to fight him! He would die! He couldn't die until he had taken Buchou's virginity!

"They say you're the weakest Sekiryuutei in history," Luka continued, eyes closed with a bitter smile. "Good. I'm happy for you. Maybe finally, one of you will find some way not to be consumed by rage and drunk on power. I'll let you know now, I'm rooting for you, Hyoudou Issei."

"Right!" Ise declared, launching himself to his feet as the words of his senior devil struck him. "Not only will I be the strongest pawn, but I'll be the first of the Sekiryuutei not to destroy themselves! Just you wait, Buchou, Luka-sama! I'll show you both!"

"Hmph," Alice sighed, shaking her head. "It would figure you two would get along. A Fake Hero and a Fake Dragon. Of course the two would get along."

"Good spirit, Ise!" Rias beamed at seeing her pawn in such good spirits. Even if the meeting with Luka was unexpected, he seemed like a nice guy and decent devil at least. "But don't forget you'll have to work hard! Even if you become the strongest in the future, you're still the weakest now!"

"Buchou," Ise slumped, fighting back tears as he was struck by her words, tiny arrows appearing in his heart.

"Well," Luka began, cocking his head to the side. "You seem concerned about the future. I tell you what. In thanks for allowing me to speak with Ddraig, even if I didn't get the answers I wanted, how would you like to come with me? I've only just received my Evil Pieces, and I was considering going to speak to a candidate now."

"And why would that help me with the future?" Ise asked, perking up slightly at the offer but still confused.

"Because the one I'm going to go see is the youngest and newest of the seven dragon kings," Luka admitted, shocking everyone in the room to silence once more.

Except for Alice, of course.

"Now," the lamia began, "I believe that as hosts, you should be bringing out more of those cakes, shouldn't you?"

*Scene Break*

"Where are we?" Rias was the first to speak up, looking around after the teleportation magic ended. It had been a crest she hadn't recognized, probably a personal one for Luka rather than the Phenix family crest.

"The alps," Luka squinted his eyes looking around. "Around Germany. This is where the newest dragon king prefers to make their home. If I remember correctly, the caves should be somewhere around here…"

"What is this new dragon king like?" Akeno spoke up, glancing around quietly. Kiba was nearby as well as Koneko, though both of them looked a little cold. They were high in the mountains, surrounded by white capped mountain tops. It was very majestic, a place far from the civilization of others.

"And where is he?" Ise chimed in, shivering as he looked around. Why was it that only he looked like he realized he was standing in freezing weather, he wondered to himself. Even Alice seemed perfectly fine, and she was wearing practically nothing!

"Ah, here we are," Luka nodded, promptly leading the group towards a nearby cave. "This way."

"What is the new dragon king like?" Alice repeated, sounding amused. "Let me tell you a story. Do you know how it is that the Monster Lord is selected?"

"Er, is it in the family or something?" Ise scratched the back of his head, glancing around to see if he was the only one who wasn't already aware. Judging from the look of it, he wasn't, which made him feel much better about himself. Why was he always the one who didn't know what was going on!

At least, he was feeling better until an enormous dragon came charging out of the cave! It was huge, Ise realized, at least fifteen feet long! Was this the Dragon King they had come to see? With a mighty roar, the dragon leapt at them, and Ise tried to call his Sacred Gear in time to get between it and his Buchou when…!

"Oh, terribly sorry," the dragon stopped, apparently recognizing the group. "I didn't realize it was you, Lord Luka, Monster Lord."

"Former Monster Lord," Alice corrected.

"Actually, I think the term is 'Fake Monster Lord'," Luka offered, grinning slightly, only to receive a quick whack on the head from his Queen.

"Of course, of course," the dragon nodded, scratching his chin. Ise tried to decide if a dragon scratching its chin was weirder than the dragon talking, and found himself unable to decide. "Go right on in. I'll just resume my watch."

"So, that wasn't the dragon king?" Ise finally offered, nervous as they made their way past the big beast.

"No, no, that was just the sentry," Luka shook his head. "These caves harbor an entire clan, after all."

"Please, if you don't mind, Fateburn-sama," Akeno spoke up. "You were saying about how the Monster Lord is selected?"

"By a tournament, of course," Alice picked up where she left off. "It's only natural. The one who would rule over all Monsters must be strong. Monsters are naturally proud, and won't follow another easily. When it is time to select the new Lord, all monsters are allowed to compete, so that there can be no complaints afterwards."

"Then, the Fateburn name doesn't necessarily hold the title?" Rias asked, pursing her lips in thought. It was a bit different from how devils worked. Their titles and offices were frequently transferred through inheritance.

"There has never been any other Monster Lord besides the Fateburn," Alice declared, before pausing. "Or there wasn't until me. Even though the tournament remains, no one in my family has ever lost. However, when it was time for the last Monster Lord to be selected, there were four other challengers who entered. Each of them had power that was equal to my own. In the end, it was I who won, but any of those four would have had the strength to be the Monster Lord on their own."

"Interesting," Kiba mused, stroking his chin.

"Afterwards, the four pledged their loyalty to me, the Monster Lord, and were known as the Four Heavenly Knights," Alice continued regally. "And Granberia the Dragon King was one of them, the Knight of Fire."

"Power that rivals a Monster Lord," Ise was awed. Surely, a dragon like that must be a huge and majestic…

As though summoned by his thoughts, a new dragon emerged. It was even bigger than the last one! It must have been twenty five feet long! With a roar that shook the cave, it came charging, and Ise screamed as it…

"Oh, good day, Lord Luka, Monster Lord," the dragon cut himself off, speaking with a British accent. "Come to see Granberia, have you?"

"Eh?" Ise gaped at the polite dragon.

"Of course, of course," Luka simply nodded, still leading the group on. "I take it they're in the arena?"

"Of course," the polite dragon sighed. "I do wish that every once in a while the Dragon King would give other duties the same regard as combat, but…"

"I know," Luka smiled reassuringly, leading the way. "But you know how Granberia is…"

"Of course," the dragon sighed again. Ise felt kind of bad for how obviously put out the huge dragon was. "Well, good luck to you, Lord Luka."

"So that wasn't the Dragon King either?" Ise demanded, staring at the huge dragon as it lumbered by.

"No, that was just the butler," Luka told him. "Come on, we're almost there."

"Luka-sama," Rias began slowly, moving to walk alongside the other boy. "If you don't mind me asking…" she swallowed concerned about the answer she might get. "Was the fight you had with the other Six… with Onii-sama and Grayfia-san… was it really so terrible that you had to leave for so long?

Luka hesitated, eying the crimson haired girl for a moment, before sighing gently. "In part. But there were other factors as well…"

"Like what?" Ise asked cautiously, picking up on the way his Buchou hesitated.

"I'm a bastard," Luka admitted.

"Well, so far you've seemed like a pretty nice guy," Ise honestly disagreed, wondering why the other boy had such low self-esteem. "You've been really nice, actually, so I wouldn't go so far as to…"

Luka stared at Ise for a moment, and then broke out into loud laughter.

"Ah, Ise-kun," Kiba began quietly, "he means that he was born out of wedlock, that he doesn't officially have a father."

"Oh!" Ise blushed. "Er… sorry?"

"It's fine," Luka finally got himself back under control, brushing away a tear after how hard he laughed. "I was born before my mother married the current Lord Phenix. She was actually considered a disgrace for it, and was sent into exile on the family lands. However, that was back when the war with heaven was still fierce. There was a battle, and many of House Phenix was lost. Because of that, even though she was disgraced, she ended up being the one most suitable for marrying the newly appointed head of the house."

"I've never heard that before," Rias admitted, honestly fascinated by the glimpse into forgotten devil history.

"Well, originally, the house kept it quiet to avoid any shame," Luka admitted, shaking his head. "But the war was still fierce back then, and they needed warriors. When it was discovered that bastard or not I was quite powerful, than I was quickly pushed to the frontlines. Eventually, I became so famous that most people just overlooked the fact that I was a bastard. But when the war was over, and they were deciding who the new Maou would be, then it came back as an issue."

"Why's that?" Ise asked, scratching his head, and Rias winced at her tactless pawn.

"My father wasn't of the seventy two pillars," Luka admitted. "Because of that, I can't be considered a pure devil, a member of the pillars either. There were some who wanted me to be one of the next Maou, but many of the more traditional ones were absolutely against the thought of an unpure devil holding the position."

"So in order to make things simpler, you decided to leave," Rias nodded, understanding in part the hidden history behind the Lost Sixth.

"That's so selfless!" Ise was not crying, not crying at all at hearing such a tale of bravery and self-sacrifice! It was just sweat from his heart, that was all! "So then- Aaaaahhh!"

Ise cut himself off, screaming as the tunnel abruptly opened into a vast cave. There! That had to be the Dragon King! It was huge, over fifty feet, and was covered in spikes and black scales! Such an enormous and terrifying dragon had to be the one who was nearly the Monster Lord! Even as he watched, the great beast breathed fire, another sure sign of its nobility, though even while he watched there was a sudden movement and-!

The huge dragon's fire was cut off as something hit it in the face, knocking its head to the side. Ise gaped as the dragon promptly fell over, rolling onto its back unconscious.

"Well," a stern voice called out, "are there no other complaints?" When no one answered the challenge, the voice, a female voice Ise realized, continued. "Well then. That ends today's training. I expect each of you to improve before the next matches!"

So many dragons, Ise realized, staring around as dozens of dragons started to fly around, or walk out tunnels. They were all shapes and sizes, and there in the middle-!

Oppai. Not as big as his Buchou's, but they looked well shaped, and perky! But.. but… they were scaly? And covered in a breastplate? What was…?

"Granberia," Luka called out, and Ise gaped as the oppai he was staring at turned to face him. They were on a body that looked almost like a human, but had scales, and was that a tail? Was it a woman or a dragon?

"Human shaped dragons," Akeno hummed to herself, rubbing her forehead. "I had heard that the more powerful of their kind could take human shape, but I had never actually seen it…"

"Eh?" Ise gaped again, pointing at the oppai approaching. "But… but! But weren't we going to see a Dragon King? That's a girl!"

"For dragons', King is just a title, and gender has nothing to do with it. After all, Tiamat is a female too, and she also holds the title of 'King'," Luka told him, before raising a hand in greeting as the Dragon King reached them. "Granberia. It's been a while. Have you been well?"

"Luka," Granberia declared, smiling slightly as she drew to a halt, sheathing an enormous broad sword on her back as she did so. "Come, it's been too long. There is no need for formality between the two of us."

Saying so, she smiled, holding out her arms to him and Luka smiled back as he embraced her.

"Eh?" Ise said again, mouth still open as he watched the two hug. The dragon lady was taller, so he watched with awe and envy as Luka ended up pressing his head against the oppai of the dragon! "But…" he turned to look at Alice, wondering if maybe he had been wrong. He had thought the two of them… but the snake nee-san didn't look upset at all! She was even smiling slightly.

"I'm so confused," Ise finally admitted, slouching as he gripped his head, trying to make sense of a world that just loved to throw too many curveballs at him.

*Scene Break*

"I see," Granberia nodded slowly, one hand rubbing her chin as she considered everything that Luka had told her. "So you've returned to your family at last, and are now seeking to find members for your peerage?"

"But is this alright?" Kiba worried, looking between Alice the former Mosnter Lord and the Dragon King as he considered the politics of the situation. "There have been Dragon Kings in the past that have become devils, but they were forced to give up their position as Kings. More than that, if this was another contender for the Monster Lord title, than won't that also take her out of the running as well?"

"Of course I accept," Granberia didn't even seem to hear the Knight as she simply nodded seriously. "Did you bring the necessary things?"

"Eh?" Ise gaped again at the dragon lady so casually throwing everything away to join Luka's peerage. "But is this really alright?"

"And who are you, boy?" Granberia asked, turning cool but hard eyes towards him, and Ise gulped at the feeling of a Dragon King addressing him directly.

"I-I-I am Hyoudou Issei!" he yelped, straitening up and bowing jerkily. "Though I am inexperienced, I am the current Sekiryuutei! Luka-sama said that I might be able to meet the Dragon King, and maybe learn more about what it is to be a dragon, so he invited me along! P-p-pleased to meet you!"

"Hmmm," Granberia hummed to herself, and Ise began to sweat as the dragon started circling him slowly, studying him carefully. "Weak, still, but I see that you've been training well," she finally concluded, nodding seriously at the boy. "Whoever has begun training you has done well. If you continue as you are now, there is no doubt that you will become strong someday. Even I had to train myself before I was able to reach the strength of a Dragon King."

"Is that so?" Ise felt a swell of hope. Even if she wasn't like he thought she would be, he could still feel the strength of a Dragon King coming from the lady in front of him. It made him shiver to be next to something so strong, and the thought that that kind of strength could come about because of training invigorated him. "How long did you need to train for?"

"It wasn't until I was five that I started training, and I wasn't able to become a Dragon King until the time I was twelve," Granberia admitted, and Ise stared at her.

"Rather than being comforting, the thought that by twelve you were a Dragon King is actually discouraging," he was not crying again. "What was I doing at twelve? I think that was when I found my first porno mag… It's no use! The difference between us is too great!"

Rias winced at her pawn carelessly revealing his lechery in front of what amounted to royalty of another species, and then blinked when rather than being offended Granberia just stroked her chin thoughtfully. "It is true, that different people take a different amount of time to come to their true power," Granberia offered thoughtfully. "It seems you are an honest and earnest boy. If you'd like, I can impart to you one of the ancient dragon training methods, passed down from generation to generation."

"Oh!" Ise gasped, clenching his fist. "I thought you might be scary, but you're actually a nice and kind Dragon King!"

"Of course," Luka agreed, smiling as he did so. "Granberia is one of the most noble and chivalrous people I know."

"A-anyway," Granberia continued, and Rias felt a little lightheaded when he realized that the Dragon King was blushing slightly. Wait, just what kind of relationship did those two have…? "This training is one that has proven again and again to have the most effect. Basically, it is to engage a more powerful dragon in combat, with the full use of even lethal techniques allowed, and then attempt to evade the dragon by any means necessary. There is no limit on the terrain, so you may travel as much as you wish. Since I've no doubt that you have other plans for later in the day, we shall limit this to only an hour or so."

"Oh!" Ise was feeling fired up! He lifted a fist in the air as he began to prepare himself for the training that will make him strong! "Let's do this! Basically we're going to…" he trailed off, blinking as he realized something. "Er, wait," he began slowly, still thinking about what Granberia had just told him. "That sounds like you're just going to try and kill me while I run away…"

"Indeed," Granberia nodded. "You have a keen grasp on understanding situations. I shall give you a few moments to prepare yourself before we begin. May I advise that you make your way to the tunnels? It will limit my angle of attacks."

"Eh? But?" Ise started to sweat, frantically looking around him at the rest of his peerage.

"Good luck, Ise-kun!" Kiba offered him happily.

"…don't die," Koneko advised him.

"Show me your manly spirit, Ise-kun," Akeno purred at him.

"All of you…!" Ise was not crying, he was not crying, he was not crying. "Buchou!"

"Make me proud, Ise!" Buchou cheered for him.

"Wait, wait!" Luka suddenly intervened, and Ise turned with wide, grateful eyes to his savior when, "before you go, let's go ahead and finish making you a member of my peerage."

"Ah, of course," Granberia nodded, looking slightly embarrassed. "I was so eager to help this young boy I nearly forgot. Proceed, Luka."

"Don't make her stronger right before she tries to kill me!" Ise yelled.

"Here we are," Luka nodded, and Rias eyes widened as she saw him take out not just one, but two rook pieces, one of them even a mutation piece.

"Wait," Rias began, staring at the sight as Luka moved closer to Granberia. "Two pieces? And one a mutation piece? Is such a level really necessary?"

"Hmm," Luka hummed, holding the pieces one at a time to Granberia's chest. "No reaction. Yes, it looks like both are needed." Rias gaped, wondering just how powerful the Dragon King really was. "There. Finished."

"Yes," Graneria took a deep breath, eyes closed as she felt the pieces settle in her. "I can tell." With a nod, she faced Luka directly once more. "With this, you have my loyalty, Luka-sama. The only one besides you whom I shall obey is Alipheese."

"Granberia?" Alice seemed surprised by the declaration, and Granberia turned to give her a serious look.

"Long ago, it was not the post of Monster Lord that I pledged my loyalty to, but you, Alice. It should be no surprise that I shall hold that pledge, even now."

Alice gave a small smile at that, and simply nodded. Satisfied, Granberia turned back to Ise.

"Now," she began, drawing her sword. Ise gulped as it suddenly erupted into flames so hot he could feel sweat break out all over him. "I commend you on taking the initiative to remain behind. Remaining so close to danger voluntarily speaks much of your will to grow strong. Let us begin!"

"Buchou!" Ise cried piteously as he turned to flee, Granberia following after him.

"I think she's taken a liking to him," Luka remarked to Alice.

"Indeed," she nodded. "Good for him."

Life 3

Carlamaine sighed as she pulled at her arm, stretching lightly as she made her way out in the predawn of the Underworld. It had been nearly a month by now, and so far her master and King, Riser, was still refusing to leave his room. This was a far cry from the strong and proud King that she had fallen for so long ago when she had agreed to join his harem and peerage as a Knight.

She was honestly uncertain just what she should be doing. At this point, the young mistress Ravel had already left, having been traded to her mother in return for an unused Bishop piece. Carlamaine had originally hoped that the thought of being able to go out and find a new girl for his harem might have been enough to shake Riser out of his funk, but even the thought of womanizing didn't seem enough to motivate him anymore.

And so, because she didn't have anything else to do, she had decided to focus on training. Even with the speed of a knight, a true swordswoman never stopped sharpening their skills. It almost made her wonder how that young boy she had fought a while back was doing. The one from the Gremory peerage, what was his name… Kiba something or other?

Carlamaine had never truly gotten used to the way humans so casually had multiple names. And they all put them in different orders too. She was happy that she was simply Carlamaine of House Phenix, even if she was from one of the branch families that had bred with unpure devils in the past. Even though she used the title of Phenix, she was unable to produce tears, or to heal herself as quickly as the pure blooded devils could. To be taken as a knight by one of the family of the house head was an honor, one she intended to repay with only her most valiant of service.

So, she made her way to the training ground early to begin her daily training, but when she arrived it was to find, to her surprise, that she had already been beaten there.

By a dragon, of all things.

Carlamaine bit her lips, watching the green scaled figure as she cut through the air, wielding an enormous cleaver like sword as though it were made out of paper. This was…

If rumors were correct, this was the former seventh of the Dragon Kings. And if rumors were also correct, than she was the newest rook, spawned from two pieces, one of them a mutation piece at that, of the newly returned young master, Luka-sama.

Carlamaine was, to this day, still uncertain how to respond to the newly returned Lost Sixth. She had heard the rumors, many of which were cheerfully relayed by none other than Ruval Phenix, a peerless King who was rumored to be considered for Ultimate Class Devil, and a master of the Rating Game. But even then, she still had trouble believing some of the stories that were being tossed around about the young looking Phenix.

She had even met him once, and he had been so polite and cheerful she had trouble believing he had ever seen combat before.

Still, this was a chance, at least. Holding back, she decided to watch and maybe try to judge for herself the power of this supposed Dragon King, when…

"Come out," Granberia declared firmly. "It is unchivalrous to spy on others. If you wish to use the field, then do so where you can be seen."

Carlamaine took a sudden breath. Interesting. To have been found so easily, even though she had been sure she had approached unnoticed? More than that, to be lectured about chivalry as well!

Carlamaine was a firm believer in such things, even if many of her fellow devils were firm believers in avoiding the same things. If the other swordswoman also followed those ways…

"My apologies," she apologized, coming forward immediately. "I had merely hoped to see with my own eyes your skills before revealing myself."

"Hmm," Granberia declared, studying the knight carefully. Finally, she nodded once, accepting the apologies. Without another word, she turned back to her own training. Not having anything else to say, Carlamaine began her own as well.

Even as the two worked in silence, Carlamaine found herself glancing at the dragon from the corner of her eye. So far she seemed skilled. The way she used her blade, the quickness of her strikes, the surety of her swings, all seemed to reveal a high level of skill. Despite herself, Carlamaine found herself growing curious.

"You have something on your mind," Granberia once more spoke up abruptly, sheathing her blade as the Dragon King turned, folding her arms under her chest as she gave a direct look to the Knight. "By all means. I'm certain I already know your wish."

"Ah," Carlamaine blushed slightly, uncertain just how the other swordswoman had found her out so easily. "Ah, yes. I didn't wish to be rude, but perhaps we could have a match, before we concluded our training?"

Granberia smiled.

*Scene Break*

"Ah!" Carlamaine gasped, coming back to consciousness. Quickly, she looked around, trying to figure out what had happened, only to gasp as pain hit her.

"Be still," a voice brought her attention back to one of the others present. "It seems I underestimated my new strength. Luka should be bringing you some Tears shortly."

"Ah," Carlamaine sighed, letting herself take in the sight of the infirmary around her. As she did so, the memories of the fight came back to her.

And with them, any doubt of the power of the creature standing over her was shattered.

Granberia's skill was the real thing. No matter the speed her knighthood granted her, Granberia had matched it. No matter the skill of her strike, Granberia blocked it, sometimes even dodging by no more than the smallest of margins as though it was simple. And when she struck, her power had been enough to rock her, no matter how she braced herself.

"Amazing," Carlamaine finally confessed, awe in her voice. "To think that a swordswoman of such power would appear before me. I shall have to train again, before I challenge you once more!"

Carlamaine couldn't wait! This opponent, she was marvelous, a true example of what a swordswoman should be! Even more, she had cared for her opponent afterwards, even going so far as to request her King to help heal her once she fell! At last, another in the family followed the rules of chivalry!

Granberia smiled, looking amused at the thought of a rematch. "I see that you too take great pride in your skills. I look forward to the time you think you are prepared to challenge me. Perhaps, if you wish it, I could ask Luka to indulge you as well."

"Luka-sama?" Carlamaine repeated the name cautiously. "I've heard the stories, but even if he is strong, it is skill in the sword that I seek to challenge, not just power."

"Then you would need not worry about disappointment," Granberia frowned slightly at her. "As he is my rival in blades. Indeed, only he and Alice have ever taken victory over me."

"Truly?" Carlamaine started. While the stories of Luka were common, she had heard nothing about the strange serpent woman who had taken to slithering through the halls. So far, the only thing she had ever seen Alice do was lounge about or bother the chefs! "Even she?"

"She was not called 'Monster Lord' for nothing," Granberia snorted. "I shall see if Luka has arrived."

Carlamaine stared at the ceiling, a feeling of unease starting to form in her.

Luka Phenix, the one who might have been a Maou, Granberia, the one who had been a Dragon King, and now, if the dragon could be believed, Alice as well, who had once been the Lord of all Monsters.

Just what kind of team was her King's brother putting together? Just how strong would they be once he was done?

Carlamaine shivered slightly, and resolved that once Riser was recovered, she mention that it might be best to just throw any matches they might have with his older brother.

*Scene Break*

"Astonishing!" Ravel couldn't help but gasp slightly, staring at her older brother as he sipped tea, Alice lounging casually against him. "To think, that you would manage to get even a Dragon King in your peerage! Something like that hasn't happened since Tannin-sama joined the Underworld!"

"I've known Granberia for years," Luka admitted, shrugging a bit. "Though the relationship was a bit rocky at first. We fought together in the Angel Wars, as well as during the Reaping Time. Still, I wasn't certain if she'd join or not, so I'm happy she has."

"I've heard mention of them before," Ravel began slowly, blinking slightly as she chewed her lip. "But, just what were these Angel Wars? Are you talking about the war with heaven?"

"Not quite," Luka scowled, and Alice snorted, a vicious sound even for her normally vitriolic self. Ravel puffed her lips at it, but she was getting used to dealing with her brother's Queen by now. "The church has always been primarily concerned about humanity. When the war with ceasefire was called, one of the great Seraphs, Illias, decided to launch her own private campaign to destroy Monsters."

"Why would she do that?" Ruval spoke up, the other Phoenix sounding concerned. Nearby, where their Mother sat, Rassele also leaned in, interested in learning more of her son's adventures.

"It is no secret, but there are many types of monsters that pray on humans," Alice answered easily. "Though there are many more who are peaceful and live beside them. When I began my reign, I had ordered that humanity be left alone, but there are always those who disobey."

"So then the Angels were acting in their own self-interest to preserve their followers?" Ruval pointed out, sounding like he was trying not to antagonize her. Alice didn't seem to care about the unspoken accusation, merely shaking her head.

"Though they were not without their own reasons, they didn't stop with just targeting monsters that preyed on humanity. Many peaceful monsters, and even those who helped humans, were targeted as well," Alice explained, pausing to take a large slice of cake.

"I traveled with Alice for a bit in the beginning by chance, when she was investigating those rumors," Luka took up the story. "In the end, when the Angels began moving en masse, I decided to join their cause. Though back then it would be bad if a devil were to fight an angel, so I disguised myself as just a human. By the end of it, we had managed to push Illias back, but then…"

"Then what?" Ravel asked, leaning forward eagerly, actually growing excited at the story. She paused when Luka scowled.

"As an angel, she didn't take too well to failure, especially since she was a Seraph," Luka explained in a low tone. "And when angels grow too upset or unstable…"

"She fell," Alice declared flatly, also scowling. "Once she did, she disappeared for a while, gathering her forces. But when she returned, that was what we called 'The Reaping Time'."

Ravel shivered, honestly a bit scared to ask just what such an ominous title could mean. As though sensing her discomfort, Rassele clapped abruptly.

"Well, enough of such dreary talk," Rassele began in a stern voice. "Luka, I would like to have words with you about endangering yourself so shamelessly! What did you think you were doing, fighting against a Seraph without your demonic powers?"

"Er, well I did have my Sacred Gear," Luka pointed out, tugging at his scarf as he shrank a bit beneath his mother's glare.

Ravel was about to ask just how he managed to have a Sacred Gear, when she noticed a shiver go through her second oldest brother, her mother, and even Alice. It was interesting to watch just that much snake flesh shiver, actually.

"Wait, what kind of Sacred Gear do you have?" she asked cautiously, and Luka perked at the question.

"Oh, I have a holy sword!" he declared proudly.

"Holy he says," Ruval muttered.

"That cursed thing?" Rassele agreed.

"Even a Monster would think twice about using something like that," Alice declared flatly. Luka scowled.

"You guys!" he huffed. He held his hand out, and a shimmer came into existence, Ravel watching carefully as it took shape. "Look! Clearly it's holy! It's made out of the melted body and souls of six hundred and sixty six angels! It couldn't be anything but holy with that!"

"Melted?" Ravel repeated, horror and disgust growing in her as she took in the blade which looked like nothing more than it was composed out of dozens upon dozens tiny angels, their bodies wracked with pain and despair. "What is that?"

"It's called Angel Halo," Luka explained cheerfully. "See? Even its name is holy!"

"It's terrifying!" Ravel declared, shivering. Luka looked like he had taken a blow.

"What?" he pouted, not understanding why no one else seemed to be as fond of his sword as he was. The sword growled, letting loose an indistinct yet deep sound. "There, there, Halo. I'm sure they're all impressed. They just don't know how to show it!"

"Wait, is that thing alive?" Ravel whispered, glancing at the rest of the room, only to find everyone looking away while seeming very uncomfortable. "Er, Luka, why don't you put that away and tell us about your plans for the day?" she offered quickly.

"Well," Luka was still pouting as Angel Halo disappeared. "I was thinking of approaching the next person I wanted to ask about joining my peerage."

"So you decided on her first?" Alice frowned slightly. "She might be harder to convince than Granberia was."

"Still," Luka nodded even as he disagreed. "I think I have a way to convince her. If not, well, she could always just try for the Monster Lord position. Though it might be problematic for humanity if she got it…"

"Who is it?" Rassele asked, frowning slightly. "They must be strong, if they could be a contender for the Monster Lord. And why would it bode ill for humanity if she received the title?"

"Because she hates humans," Alice shrugged as though it wasn't any concern of her.

"The Knight of Water, Erubetie," Luka elaborated.

*Scene Break*

"Eh?" Ise began, staring blankly at water pool in front of him, feeling the drool begin to form. "You say Undine will appear here? The cool, beautiful water spirits of healing! Oh! This is the best! My fantasies, one of my fantasies, it's going to come true!"

When Rias had mentioned that a conference between the three powers was being scheduled and that it was time for them to have familiars, Ise had been confused. He hadn't really thought of things like a familiar before, even if only he, Xenovia, and Asia were missing them out of the group.

But then the thought of a beautiful spirit with great big oppai occurred to him. And he was sold.

So, with high spirits, he had gone with the rest of the group to the Forest of Familiars.

So far, the situation hadn't been quite what he was expecting, what with having to convince Buchou that no, Tiamat the Dragon King would not make a good familiar. Maybe if he was someone like Luka-sama, or if the other female Dragon King had chosen to take a human form like Granberia had, than he might consider it.

Especially if she ended up having aforementioned big oppai!

"Shh," Satooji, their rather odd guide to catching familiar shushed him. "Quiet! If you talk too loudly, you'll just scare…"

"Oh?" a new voice spoke up, and Ise straightened just like the rest of his peerage as they glanced over to find an unexpected person behind them. "Is that Ise-kun and Gremory-san? What a surprise to see you here!"

"Luka-sama!" Rias blushed, embarrassed to have been snuck up on. "Fateburn-sama! What a surprise!"

"Oh my," Akeno also seemed a bit confused. "To have two meetings, two days in a row. How shocking!"

"It is a surprise," Luka smiled at the group, "but it's a welcome one. How have you been?"

"Ah, just fine, Luka-san!" Asia chirped, smiling at seeming a lot more relaxed around the other devil than she had the day before. "How is Granberia-san doing?"

"Adjusting well," Luka offered, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly.

"If you call nearly killing every other devil that can handle a sword one after the other in training 'well'," Alice snorted.

"That doesn't surprise me at all," Ise shivered, his eyes going distant, haunted, to a place where only fear remained in his memory. "Granberia-san is nice, but scary! So scary! Even if she's a bishojo, she's still too strong!"

"Oh, by the way, she mentioned that if you ever want another lesson, she'd be happy to help," Luka offered with a smile. "She really took a liking to you."

"Oh, the chance for more training from a Dragon King," Rias declared proudly, puffing her chest at her Pawn's good fortune. "Of course, my Ise will be happy to accept!"

"Buchou! Don't agree for me for that kind of thing! I'll die if I do it again, I'll really die!" Ise wept, partly overjoyed at his King's dedication to helping him be strong, but mostly succumbing to despair at how quickly she threw him into danger's way.

"Your dedication is great, Ise," Xenovia stated in her normal serious tone. "I wouldn't dare try such training. Surely it is just too frightening. But to willingly do it again…" she shook her head. "I'll be sure to pray for you. Oh, Lord…!" she cut off quickly, grasping her forehead in pain.

"Don't just kill me off in your head!" Ise snapped at the swordswoman.

"Oh, quiet," Satooji, began, wondering just what was going on, but noticing the glow starting to form from the lake. "The undine is appearing!"

"Eh?" Ise began, perking as he spun, prepared to be greeted by the sight of a beautiful woman water spirit, wrapped in see through closing and with blue hair. That was the famous water spirit of healing of his dreams! "Dine-chan! Oh, your oppai will be… will be…"

Ise trailed off, before finally continuing in a dead sounding voice. "That is…"

"An undine," Satooji nodded proudly, gesturing at what had appeared.

"That's not a kindly spirit of healing and water!" Ise began to cry, clenching his fist at the injustice of it. "That's a creature meant to kill! Look at its biceps! Clearly, it knows martial arts! It could challenge the world with its fists! A man of valor!"

"But that's a female type," Satooji sounded confused, looking at the undine. He ran through the checklist in his head: bulging biceps, five o'clock shadow of a beard, massive muscles, and pure eyes. Yup, definitely a female undine.

"It definitely looks like a Japanese type Undine," Luka scratched his chin idly. "I hear they're very proud of their martial heritage. The ones in northern Europe prefer to focus on support and spells. That's the kind I have myself…"

"Eh?" Both Satooji and Ise snapped up, surprised by the declaration.

"Here," Luka offered, closing his eyes for a moment. The air around him thickened as…

"Oooooh!" Ise snapped his finger up to point at the water spirit that appeared before him. "That light blue skin, the body of a mermaid, that gentle expression, and those oppai! That's what an undine is supposed to look like!"

"Luka," the undine began, giving Ise a flat look as she covered her chest with her arm protectively. "I am very uncomfortable at this moment. May I return?"

"It can speak?" Rias gasped, staring at the water spirit in front of her in surprise. "She must be quite powerful…"

"Of course, of course," Luka nodded, and Ise started to cry as the spirit disappeared before him.

"How weird," Satooji muttered, before clapping Ise on the back cheerfully. "Now, let's get you your new undine, alright! This one looks like it specializes in punching! Perfect!"

"Nooooo!" Ise wept to the skies, refusing to look back at the undine that was now sporting body builder poses for some reason. "Buchou! Northern Europe! We must leave immediately!"

"She has such pure eyes," Asia noted, staring at the undine as it grappled its foe with unyielding determination with a doe like expression. "I'm sure she must have a pure spirit too…"

*Scene Break*

"So, Luka-sama," Rias began, awkwardly patting Ise's back as they made their way deeper into the forest in pursuit of a sprite dragon. "It is quite a surprise to see you here."

"My fantasies… give me back my fantasies…" Ise was crying as they walked, something which his own peerage seemed quite used to ignoring, so Luka decided to do the same.

"Are you perhaps here for a familiar as well?" Kiba asked politely. He was coming to think highly of the young looking devil, and so he wanted to make sure he maintained the proper decorum.

"Not quite," Luka shook his head. "I'm actually here searching for someone for my peerage."

"Eh?" Satooji seemed surprised. "But not many people come out here unless they're familiar trainers like me. Are you looking for a trainer type for your peerage then? If so…"

"Er, not quite," Luka shook his head. "Actually, I'm looking for another monster, like before with Granberia."

"Oh?" Akeno spoke up. "Ara, ara. Luka-sama seems quite fond of monsters."

"I've spent a lot of time among them," he admitted. "And I think the people I trust most in the world are some of the monsters I met."

"Ah," Ise started to come out of his funk a bit, giving Luka a careful look. Just like Kiba, he was really starting to admire this other devil, both because he knew Ddraig and was strong, and because he seemed like a nice guy. "So then, what type of monster are you meeting now?"

"We're looking for Erubetie, the Knight of Water," Luka admitted. "We'd managed to hear she would be in this area for a bit, so we headed over. As for what type of monster, she's actually the…"

"Eeek!" the sudden sound of Asia screaming interrupted, and Ise spun, eyes wide as he prepared himself to protect the beautiful former nun from any harm when…!

"A slime," Satooji muttered with a sigh, staring at the gooey creature that had stuck itself to Asia. Ise worried that she was in danger when suddenly something amazing started to happen.

"My clothes!" Asia moaned, as before Ise's wide eyes her clothes began to melt off! When a few more feminine screams started, he turned, blood dripping down his nose to see that more of the slimes were coming, and they were landing on all the girls as well!

"Their clothes! Their underwear! It's all melting," he cheered happily, before doubling over as Koneko punched him in the gut.

"…don't look," she warned him afterwards, covering up her blue polka dot print panties even as they started to dissolve.

"This is…!" Ise began, eyes wide as he saved the image of the naked bodies of his fellow club members. Then, as though it wasn't enough to fulfill his faith in the fantasy world, tentacles started to appear as well! "Those are!"

"Eek!" Rias let out a girlish scream, as one of the tentacles started to worm its way down and under her dissolving bra!

"Eh," Satooji shrugged, not particularly overwhelmed by the attack, though just like Ise he had a trail of blood down from his nose. Ise could hear Kiba, apparently blinded by one of the slimes and swinging his sword around wildly behind them. "They're just slimes and tentacles. The slimes tend to just melt clothes, and are a real pest. The tentacles like to eat the secretions of women, but aren't really any danger either."

Ise stood frozen, a statue, both at the marvelous words coming from Satooji's mouth, as well as the wonderful sounds and sights from his club mates as they wiggled, trying to pull the slimes and tentacles away, even as more and more of their clothes succumbed to the dissolving abilities of the slime…

It was then he realized that he had been born to meet these monsters.

"Buchou!" Ise declared passionately. "I will use these slimes and tentacles as my familiars! Melting clothes, eating women's secretions… These are the familiars I want!"

It was then, Ise remembered that there were more oppai present! Unable to resist, he turned to see how Alice was holding up, only to discover that no slime had gotten within two meters of the lamia.

"Pervert," Alice told him flatly, catching his look.

"But why are none of the slimes approaching you, Fateburn-sama?" Akeno asked, pulling free the tentacle that had snaked down the back of her panties.

"Because they know better," she said as though it was obvious.

"Well, it's not like they're rare," Satooji finally put his duty before his desire to enjoy the sight before him. "And they're a real nuisance if you're trying to explore the forest. It's best to use fire on them…"

"What?" Luka interrupted, straightening at the declaration with a concerned look. "What are you talking about? You've been using fire on the slimes? Are you insane?"

"Eh?" Rias managed to get out, pausing while starting her own flames up. "Luka-sama, you can't mean?"

Did the Lost Sixth actually… was he more like Ise than he let on?

"Oh! Luka-sama! I knew you were a true man, a devil I could look up to!" Ise wept in joy at having a supporter in his quest for the safety of his new familiars.

"I mean, on the tentacles, sure," Luka corrected, destroying Ise's hopes as well as the vast majority of the assaulting tentacles with an ease and control of the fire of a Phenix that made Akeno draw a breath in awe. "But the slimes, pick them off carefully and set them aside. By now they should have had their fill."

"Eh!" Ise gasped, reaching out a shaking hand towards the burning tentacles. "No! Shokushokumaru! Noooo!"

"He even named them already?" Akeno struggled to pull off one of the slimes, wondering just what Luka was thinking in keeping them from destroying the pests. "Oh dear…"

"At least I still have you, Slataro-kun!" Ise cried, holding the slime he had pried off of Asia to his chest and crying. He managed to protect it, even as a bolt of lightning struck him, proving that the sprite dragon they had been tracking had decided on Asia as its new owner.

*Scene Break*

"Er, Luka-sama," Rias began, holding the briefest remains of her panties up, and covering her breasts with her other hands. Around her Asia and Koneko were performing similar maintenance on their remaining clothes. "Is there really a reason for this…?"

Xenovia and Akeno, on the other hand, just stood normally, something which prompted an explosion of blood from Ise's nose when he caught sight of the nude women standing without a care. Much of that blood ended up on the newly named Slataro, causing the slime to wiggle.

"Hmm," Alice seemed interested, leaning over to study the slime briefly. "Interesting."

"No! Back away from my familiar!" Ise yelped, worried that Alice might try and take his newly beloved friend from him. So far all of the rest of his club had, but he would stand firm! "Slataro, I'll protect you until I die!"

"Ise-kun," Akeno sighed, honestly worried about the continued health of her club mate. To be so taken with just a simple slime. "To show such a thing in front of Luka-sama…"

"It's fine," Luka shook his head, smiling fondly at Ise. "I admire your dedication, Ise-kun. Actually, I'm here to see a slime myself, so I can understand."

"Eh?" the cry came up from most of the gathered group, one of confusion and disbelief for many.

"Man, to see two devils that would go so far just for some pesky slimes," Satooji declared, scratching his head in confusion. "The world really is a strange place."

"You mean, you want a slime for a familiar too, Luka-sama?" Ise began, staring up with adoring eyes at the Phoenix. "We… we really are similar!"

"As a familiar?" Luka cocked his head to the side. "No. I'm here to invite her to my peerage."

"Invite? Her?" Rias repeated, now wondering at the sanity of the Lost Sixth, only to jump in surprise as Alice suddenly straightened, chewing on something idly.

"She's coming," the lamia noted, and Luka nodded.

"Yes, I can feel her," he began, before pausing. "Alice… are you eating a burnt tentacle?"

"It has the texture of squid, but with a taste surprisingly like pork," she reported seriously, causing Luka to shake his head and sigh.

"Who's coming…?" Akeno began, before freezing, the feeling of an enormous pressure, of a power that was different from that of a devil but was nearly suffocating for its presence.

"Devils?" a soft voice greeted them, and Ise eeped as he tried to figure out where it was coming from. Then he saw it. "Devils again. Come to kill more of my kin, have you?"

Rising out of the cracks in the ground was a slime. It was different from the ones before, a pale blue, and the way it moved was with none of the clumsy flopping that the other slimes, even dear Slataro, demonstrated. It flowed like sentient jelly, more and more of it coming until it was a mass as tall as a man.

Then it jiggled once and shifted.

A single drop of blood went down Ise's face. It was the precursor to the geyser like eruption that followed immediately after he had confirmed what his first glance told him.

Oppai! Huge, and jiggling! And so firm! And naked! The slime had become a naked woman!

"Luka-sama," he began in a shaky voice. "Is this heaven? Did I really die? Is that what happened?"

"Oh!" Satooji looked like he was about to have a seizure. "What is this? Is it some kind of rare slime? Or is it even a legendary one! I want to catch it!"

"Answer me, devils," the newcomer declared. It was shaped like a woman, blue and translucent, though dark lines laced her side, tracing images and shapes like a tattoo. "Did you kill any of my kin?"

"Eh?" Satooji was so excited he didn't even think of it. "You mean those common slimes? Sure, but don't worry, a rare slime like you…"

It was the last thing he ever said as a wave of blue viscous liquid simply erupted from the otherwise human form. It struck him hard, closing him off before he could even scream, and through the clear liquid the rest of the group could watch as first clothes, then skin, and then faster muscle and flesh all dissolved in the liquid.

Asia gasped, eyes wide, and she fell to her knees to cover her eyes so she wouldn't have to see it as their guide died in front of them. Rias froze as well, as did most of her peerage, the sheer unrelenting violence and lethality of the attack enough to stun them, even if they were devils and used to violence.

"Devils," the blue thing declared, turning to face the rest of them, and Ise swallowed, a cold shiver of fear at the emptiness in those eyes. "And you? Did you kill my kin as well?"

"N-no!" Ise stammered. "I would never! I love slimes!"

The thing's eyes narrowed for a moment, but then Luka stepped up grabbing her attention.

"It's good to see you again, Erubetie," he greeted her with a happy smile.

"Erubetie?" Rias hissed, disregarding her modesty as she raised her hands to prepare demonic arts if she needed them. "Then this is…!"

"The Knight of Water that Luka-dono was coming to meet?" Xenovia finished, eyes narrowed as she prepared to draw her holy sword if she needed it as well.

"Luka Phenix," the named slime greeted softly, in a low contralto. "And Alice as well. Why have you come here?"

"It's actually a bit of a story," Luka shrugged, completely at ease despite the creatures tone. "Do you have a moment?"

Erubetie seemed to consider his question briefly, before nodding. "Yes. I can spare some time for both of you. However, there is one thing I need to do first."

Luka looked confused, and Ise was absolutely positive that he had no idea what was going on. Then he proceeded to gulp as Erubetie turned to focus on him again, swaying forward in a motion that wasn't quite walking but wasn't quite flowing either.

"No! Ise!" Rias began, only to stop when Luka motioned at her abruptly. She swallowed, worried to the depth of her heart over the safety of her pawn, but just the feel of the power of this slime was enough to throw a chill down her spine.

She had never heard of a slime that could grow so strong, but this thing…

It frightened her.

"You said something earlier, boy," Erubetie began, looking down at the kneeling Ise. "That you loved slimes…"

"Y-yes!" Ise's voice stammered, but then he drew strength from his convictions. "Yes! It's true! I love slimes! I think they're amazing! And I want this slime to be my familiar! Slatarou! I choose you!"

Erubetie was silent, her gaze like an executioner's ax, before she looked down to the slime in his lap. Suddenly, Slatarou began to wiggle, slipping out of Ise's grasp.

"No! Slatarou-kun! What are you…" he trailed off as rather than flee, the slime he had been cradling began to wiggle in place.

"I see," Erubetie nodded seriously, apparently understanding the fellow slime despite it doing nothing but jiggling. "Boy. I see that you acted to protect my kind, even when others tried to stop you. Your actions have touched the heart of this young slime, and now it wishes to serve you with all its heart. On behalf of the slime kingdom, I thank you. You shall be our ally, evermore."

"Eh?" Rias couldn't really think of anything else to say, just staring blankly at her pawn and the creature that had just casually killed their guide as they apparently became friends.

"Did Ise-kun just…" Kiba began, honestly at a loss for what was going on.

"..unbelievable," Koneko added her own disbelief.

"Thank you!" Ise leapt to his feet, overwhelmed with the offer of friendship from the creatures he so loved and admired. He bowed deeply to the slime queen. "From this day forward, I will look after him with all my heart!"

"This young slime has asked that I assist it, so that it can serve you more fully," Erubetie went on, before a tendril of slime bent down and connected to Slatarou. Ise watched with wide eyes as it began to grow, taking some of Erubetie's mass.

Then, a miracle happened.

"Purururu!" the slime declared, as it grew to the size of a teenage girl. In front of his amazed eyes, it took a human shape as well! It was a girl! A girl with long hair that fell in her face, and enormous jiggling oppai! "Purururu!"

"Slatarou…" he whispered, staring at his familiar and the way her hair fell over her eyes. And her oppai. "No, I was wrong! Your name shall be Sladako!"

"Pururu!" the newly named Sladako declared before throwing its arms around its new master. "Puru!

"Sladako!" he called back happily, eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Wait! My clothes!"

"Oh my," Akeno finally declared, feeling completely lost about what had just happened.

*Scene Break*

"I see," Erubetie nodded slowly, peering at Luka through her dripping bangs. "And you too, have stepped down, Alice?"

"It can't be helped," Alice shrugged briefly, showing no indication whether or not she regretted the loss of her title.

"And you have come here to ask me to join your peerage as well, Luka?" Erubetie turned to the devil, frowning slightly. "Do not think that our past relation will influence me. With the position of Monster Lord open, if I were to take the throne I would at last be able to wage war on both humans and devils for what they have done to my kind."

"Yes," Luka nodded, face serious. "I know. And if anyone has the right, it would be you, Erubetie."

It was true, and that much Luka could admit. Slimes have always been troubled by the other species. In the human world, the damage to the water ecosystems that humans so casually committed had made it all but impossible for them to breed properly. And in the Underworld, devils would so casually label them pests and slaughter them wholesale without a second thought.

It took many years of growth before a slime could assume any shape but their initial blob form. And as more and more time went on, less and less slimes lived long enough for them to have the ability to take a human form at will, like Erubetie or the newly named Sladako…

"Eek! Sladako! I'm happy to meet you, but you have to stop hugging me! M-m-my panties!"

"Ooooh! Asia! Sladako just wants to be your friend! She can't help what she's doing!"

"Er, Ise-kun, I think she's about to try and hug me too…"

"Wait, stop Sladako-chan! If you hug Kiba, it'll end up with a guy being naked! That's a no-no!

"Purururu!"

"They seem awfully excited," Alice noted with a sigh.

"The boy has pure eyes," Erubetie just nodded slowly. "I see he will be an ally to slimes everywhere, in the future."

"Erubetie," Luka began slowly. "I have a proposal, if you're willing to listen. It's one I think you might enjoy."

"And that is?" she prompted with narrowed eyes.

"A preserve for your species," Luka answered directly. Erubetie shifted, looking confused. "A while back, when it looked like many of the dragon species might become endangered, the Dragon King Tannin joined a devil in return for receiving enough land for him and his people to live on. What I'm proposing is the same: the Phoenix estates are enormous, and much of it is unused. We can find an area which suits you, a mountain or a forest, and then make that area off limits to any but your species. Within, the slimes can live knowing that their water supplies will remain untouched. And since they will be your land, if anyone attempts to trespass, how they would be dealt with would be up to you."

"I see," Erubetie narrowed her eyes, stroking her chin carefully.

"More than that, as a member of my peerage, we would be competing in the Rating Games as well," Luka went on seriously. "Those who win in the games enjoy immense prestige and power. If we were to do well, you could use that influence to try and change the way devil kind acts around slimes. We might even be able to extend that to the human world as well. Things like using the wealth to clean up water supplies and promote safer practices. We would have to do well, but it's a chance that you might be able to change things."

"You've become unexpectedly sly, Luka," Erubetie remarked, thinking seriously about his offer. "This preserve… can you promise it to me?"

"Yes," Luka nodded his head immediately. "If it comes down to it, I'll offer up my private lands themselves." He wasn't certain how much influence he had with his family, but even if he couldn't convince them to set something up for Erubetie, he could always just use his own personal estates.

"Very well," Erubetie finally conceded. "Do you have what is necessary?"

"Of course," Luka pulled forth the pieces he had chosen for the slime queen.

"Oh, so she agreed to join…" Ise had been paying attention at least as he watched his new idol, the amazing Luka-sama, talk to the naked slime-nee-chan from before. His eyes widened as he took in just which pieces were being offered. "W-wait! Is that… all eight of his pawns!"

"And a mutation piece as well," Rias noted, before eeping and ducking to avoid Sladako as she tried to hug her once more. So far, the slime had displayed a rather cheerful nature, even if her accidental exuberance was a threat to modesty everywhere.

"It fits," Alice nodded at the selection. "Erubetie is the collected consciousness of the ten thousand women she's absorbed over the years. She would probably need that many pieces to cover them all."

"Ten thousand…" Rias swallowed at the ridiculous loss of life the creature in front of her that was absorbing piece after piece represented.

"Oh my," Akeno said once more, casually folding her arms and cocking her head, no trace of modesty on her as Ise caught the jiggle of her oppai the action prompted. "Is it just me, or is Luka-sama drawing some truly outrageous people to his side?"

"Well, I suppose it would be expected from one who could have been a Maou," Rias finally made the excuse in her head, only to pause at the sight of Akeno smirking slyly. "Akeno, what are…Eeep!"

"Buchou!" Ise's nose exploded as Akeno gave a playful tug at his Buchou's panties, tearing them off and causing her to squeak as she joined the ranks of the naked.

- Unrisen Phoenix

Riser groaned as he woke up. His room was dark, and though the maids made their best effort to keep it clean, lately his room had taken on a slovenly air. Dishes were set aside from where he had his meals in his room, and the substitute Rating Game games that he had taken to playing with tutors that he hired were scattered about.

Riser couldn't bring himself to care.

He had lost.

It wasn't just the rating game he had lost either. His pride, as a Phenix and an immortal had been challenged. His confidence had been stripped from him. His surety of his own skill in the Rating Games had taken a hit. His pride was gone from him as well.

And more than that, more than anything else he had lost, he had lost the chance to take Rias of the Gremory's virginity!

Oh, how he had wanted the Gremory heir! Even at only eighteen, she was a gorgeous woman, her long hair luscious and the color of deep flames, her poise and bearing noble and regal…

And her breasts were freaking enormous!

In a few years, that beauty would only have matured, and with her as the crowning piece of his harem, he would have been able to rest easy, knowing that he had accomplished a dream that would send any other man to the pits of envy, just like it had that useless pawn…

That pawn…

No. That dragon.

At the word Riser shivered, fear striking into him. That boy, with only a few months, had been able to use the power of the dragon to defeat even him, who had lived a century and a half. How strong? How strong would he be in a few years? How long until he mastered that power even more? Dragons… were all dragons like that?

Even now, he could see that armor, shaped like the dragons he now feared, as it powered into him. He could see it in his eyes, and in his dream that armor would open its visor, and instead of a face there would be teeth, and it would bite…!

No! Riser shook himself. He couldn't think about it! No, he wouldn't let himself think about it!

Clenching his resolve, Riser realized that if he didn't leave the room now, than he might never fully recover to what he used to be. So he had lost. So what? Was this how a High-class devil, no, a Phenix, no, a Harem King acted? How could he just stand here, moping, when he should be planning his triumphant return!

With a renewed sense of purpose, he glanced at the table taking in the thing he had put there. It was a bishop piece, the one he had traded to his mother for his sister.

There! That was the perfect course to take to help get himself back on track.

And so, with the piece in the pocket of his freshly changed clothes, Riser departed his room, heading into the manor properly. Internally, he was debating whether or not he should first visit his peerage, to assure them he was starting to recover and perhaps indulge himself bit, or should he start his search for his final member first, and surprise his girls when he introduced their new harem-sister to them? Actually, hadn't he heard that his long lost brother was back? Maybe he should make introductions finally? It would be interesting whether his brother, Luka, was the type that would just shake his head at Riser's antics like Ruval so often did, or would he be the type to succumb to envy like that pawn had? Maybe Luka would even be the type to compliment him on his choice, and then talk about his own harem as well?

It would be nice to have some family that shared his interests, Riser could admit to himself. His father and mother just tended to sigh and shake their heads at him, and his sister would often scold him. His brothers were too focused on the Rating Game and job to enjoy life properly, but his half-brother had been gone for so long, maybe he had developed a similar hobby?

It was with these thoughts in mind, that Riser abruptly found himself pulling up short in shock as he turned to corner to find something both alarming and intriguing.

"What have we here?" Riser murmured to himself, letting his eyes drift up and down on the creature before him. The creature before him was blue, and he had trouble understanding just what it was. It was translucent, and from all appearance looked to be made out of some kind of liquid. For the life of him, he honestly thought it resembled a slime, but its appearance…

"Well," Riser smirked, taking in the naked blue female in front of him, her body so ripe he could feel his mouth watering at the thought of tasting it. "Perhaps it will be simpler to use this bishop then I thought."

Riser neglected to notice the way a group of servants appeared at the other end of the corridor. He also didn't notice the way the two maids gasped, and the way the butler quickly grabbed both of them to drag them back out of sight. He was too focused on watching the swaying woman approach him. She had narrowed eyes, and her expression was one of distaste.

"You there," Riser began, using the tone he had perfected from years of practice, one that reeked of confidence, touched with arrogance, and projected an image of both superiority as well as desirability to women who appreciated strong men. "I don't recall having seen you…"

"Quiet, you trash," the creature told him, her voice soft and low. Riser would have found the voice as intriguing as her body if it wasn't for her words. "I've had enough of devils for one day."

"Now see here, you insolent…" Riser began, drawing himself up as he narrowed his eyes. Even if he intended to make her his, that kind of tone and dismissal from a… a whatever this creature was, wasn't something he, as an aristocratic High-class devil of House Phenix could…

"I said quiet," the creature said, and that was all the warning he got before a wave of something blue and liquid struck him. Riser gasped, suppressing a scream of pain as his body started to melt, only his regeneration as a Phoenix keeping him from succumbing to his wounds then and there. The creature didn't even notice, and simply continued past him, a half swaying half flowing state that Riser would have appreciated if he wasn't writhing in pain.

"I thought the staff had been warned to avoid her," a new voice began, one that sounded slightly aggravated. "And I thought Erubetie had also promised not to kill anyone while she was here." Riser struggled to finish his healing, the new voice greeting his ears as he closed his eyes and concentrated. "Oh?" the voice continued, sounding surprised. "You're healing. So you're one of Luka-sama's family then? How do you do? We have not yet been introduced. The one you just met is Erubetie, our King's Pawn. My name is Granberia, his Rook."

Riser was honestly uncertain of how to respond as he finished healing. On one hand, he was absolutely furious that he had been attacked so unexpectedly. However, a part of him couldn't help but feel hope for his brother too. That creature, Erubetie, had been absolutely gorgeous! Riser couldn't help but feel a little jealous at the sight of her! He supposed he could forgive her actions. His own harem tended to act violently if anyone besides him tried to lay a finger on them, so it wouldn't be unlikely that maybe Luka's harem had similar, if somewhat more extreme tendencies. Now, to open his eyes and see just what other type of girl his brother's tastes lied in…

Riser opened his eyes, and froze.

"Hmmm?" Granberia cocked her head to the side, looking concerned. "Are you perhaps feeling unwell…" she began, but was interrupted as Riser thrust a hand out towards her, pointing with a shaking finger.

"Dragon!" he screamed, deep shakes wracking his body. No! Not now! Not here! Even his own home wasn't safe! That's it! He was never leaving his room again! "Hiiiiii!"

And so, with an unmanly scream, Riser returned to his darkened room to bury himself under his blankets.

Life 4

"What an unpleasant creature," Rassele decided, narrowing her eyes as she contemplated the now departed Erubetie. The lady of House Phoenix couldn't quite decide how she came down when it came to the Queen of Slimes. On one hand, she hadn't even been aware that slimes could grow that powerful, and she had no problem admitting just how strong Erubetie was. As his mother, she was glad that Luka had started to gather such powerful creatures to his side. A Dragon King, a Monster Lord, and now a Slime Queen, all creatures of immense power that would serve him well both in the Rating Game and as guards for his safety in the real world.

However, that didn't change the fact that Erubetie was just unpleasant to be around. Her obvious hatred for all other creatures, her willingness to crush anything that so much as looked at her wrong, and her complete disregard for all aspects of the devil lifestyle were very bad habits, and she couldn't help but worry about how her actions would affect her son's standing in high society.

That, and she had begun to notice a trend in Luka's choices. While all the monsters he was associating with were powerful, they also tended to be female, and quite attractive. Besides that, the only one who seemed to put any effort into wearing properly decent clothes was Granberia. Alice tended to wear rather revealing and inappropriate garments, and Erubetie had been flat out naked.

She had rather hoped that Riser would be the only of her children that would be so concerned with having a harem.

"Erubetie has many issues," Luka apologized awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. He at least seemed to understand her concerns enough to try and make excuses for his pawn. "And her attitude isn't completely undeserved. She does have the future of her species to worry her…"

"I see," Rassele decided to let the issue drop. Ruval on the other hand was just shaking his head, hand on his chin as his eyes narrowed in thought.

"She would be terrifying to meet in the Rating Games," the second son sounded like he was deep in thought. "To be able to travel through cracks and either spy or launch surprise attacks and ambushes…"

"If only she would wear some clothes!" Ravel on the other hand had her own concerns about the newcomer. She was flushing bright red at just the thought of the creature's casual nudity. Did she have no shame!?

"Well, in her defense, if she tried to wear any they would just melt," Luka pointed out bluntly. Ravel just blushed even more, tugging at the dissolved edge of her dress that had gotten a little too close to Erubetie when she had brushed out of the office.

"Once negotiations are finished things will be easier," Alice didn't seem the least bit concerned on her part. Instead, she was simply munching on one of her ever present platters. The chefs had started to get accustomed to her constant demand for new and exotic entrées, and the staff was getting used to having a rotating butler or maid on hand to both take her old plates and supply her with new ones. "Erubetie will be too busy managing her territory and helping her kin to visit too often."

"I think having her own place for slimes will help calm her down a lot," Luka agreed. So far, negotiations for a preserve were coming along nicely in his opinion. The chance of having secured the alliance with a species that no one had ever suspected of having the potential of being so powerful had appealed to the Head of the house, and now they were simply trying to find the best land for the preserve to be set in. Erubetie's demands had been a little difficult to meet completely, especially her condition that all flowing water have its source in her territory so that no pollution from upstream would end up affecting her kin.

"It's true," Alice decided, nodding her head eventually. "I've rarely seen her in such a good mood. It's not often Erubetie is that happy."

"That was happy?" Ravel felt like rubbing her head, as yet again she felt the beginning of a headache that dealing with her brother so often spawned. Why did all the truly powerful devils have to have such odd personalities? Why couldn't he just get a normal Sacred Gear user instead of all these monsters?

"Anyway," Luka continued, stretching a bit as he did so. "With the negotiations going so well, I think it's time to go greet the next potential member of my peerage."

"Hmph," Alice grumbled, folding her arms and looking displeased. "So we're going to that place again…"

"Alice," Luka began, giving her a careful look. "You promise to behave, don't you? I don't want another repeat of that incident…"

"Of course," Alice's smile seriously undermined the assurance in her words. "I promise. My absolute best behavior."

Ruval, Ravel, and Rassele, all had come to know Alice well enough to know that smile meant nothing but trouble.

*Scene Break*

Rias Gremory was not jealous. She was not nervous. She was definitely not pacing at the foot of the stairs leading up to the shrine. And she was most certainly not chewing her nails while she tried to decide if that had been enough time for her beloved Ise to receive the sword Ascalon, but not enough time for Akeno to try and initiate an affair.

And so when a voice called out to her from behind, she most definitely did not jump up in the air with a squeak.

"Luka-sama!" Rias began, turning as she was greeted once more by the now somewhat familiar sight of the other devil and his Queen approaching her. "What are you doing here?"

"Ah," Luka began, rubbing his head with a sheepish grin. "Actually, I was wondering if Ise-kun is around."

"Ise?" Rias began, frowning slightly as the famous devil once again sought out her Pawn. "But why would you be looking for him?"

"Well, I was about to go try to get another member of my peerage," Luka began, sounding embarrassed, "and I thought I'd offer Ise the chance to come along once more. He was there for the other two, after all, and so far all my friends have taken a liking to him, so I thought I'd just keep the pattern going."

"Just because he was already there?" Rias repeated, once more wondering at the carefree nature of the Six Great Devils. Just like with her brother and Serafall, it seemed that Luka really was just that casual in real life. Maybe it was just because they had enough power not to worry about as many things as other devils did?

Also, she hoped this wouldn't mean yet another strange addition to her own peerage. So far, Sladako had been getting along with everyone well. Too well, actually.

Rias was sure that someday Sona would forgive her for not stopping the introductory hug between the two. It probably hadn't helped that the cheerful slime had hugged her right in front of that pawn of hers, Saji. Rias had already promised to buy a new school uniform, so that would probably help too.

Then Rias immediately perked as a realization came to her.

"Right! Of course, Luka-sama," she declared already starting up the stairs. "I'll take you there immediately!"

She was definitely not using the Lost Sixth's presence as an excuse to barge in and interrupt any potential affairs being initiated by Akeno. She was just being helpful!

Also, when she threw open the sliding door to find her precious Ise getting a lap pillow from a half dressed Akeno, her pulling her Pawn's cheek was also just her being helpful.

"Bu'ou, id hurds! (Buchou, it hurts!)" Ise declared, crying as his cheeks were distended, though Luka at least seemed to find the sight amusing.

"Good afternoon, Ise," Luka began, before pausing. When Rias heard him take a slight breath of surprise, she glanced up to see what had caused it and immediately felt as though a cold pail of water had been doused on her. "I see…"

Akeno flinched, and as though to hide her shame, the one devil wing and one fallen wing that she had been revealing instantly disappeared. "Luka-sama, I," Akeno began, giving Rias a betrayed look. Rias flinched at it. If she had known Akeno would be revealing them to Issei, she would have given her time to conceal them before someone as important as Luka could see them. Rias suddenly felt a great deal less helpful. Akeno continued to glance away, a bitter grimace on her face as she tried to explain away her greatest shame. "That is… these wings…"

"So you too?" Luka asked gently, and Rias blinked, Akeno trailing off in surprise as neither of them understood his words.

That lasted as long as it took for a full six black wings of his own to erupt from his back.

Rias felt very dizzy at that moment as it was revealed that one of the greatest devils in recent history also had fallen angel blood in him.

*Scene Break*

"This explains a lot," Rias couldn't help but murmur to herself as she kneeled alongside her own peerage that was still present at the shrine, just Akeno and Ise at the moment. Opposite them, a sheepish Luka also knelt, Alice curled up around him as she once more took her lamia form. "If word got out that one of the Great Devils, a contender for the rank of 'Maou', was half fallen angel, the chaos that would emerge…"

"Quarter," Luka corrected with a sigh. Rias blinked, trying to do the math in her head as the percentage of his blood was revealed. "My father was the child of a fallen and a human."

"Er, so that makes Luka-sama half devil, quarter human, and a quarter fallen angel?" Ise finally spoke up, his face scrunched up in confusion. "That's such a rich heritage…"

"Well, it's definitely an odd one," Luka agreed. He took a sip of his tea as he continued. "My mother had no idea what my father was. She had thought he was just a human. It turned out that my father had no idea that my mother had been a devil either. Even if he was half fallen, he didn't even know his own heritage. It was just after my mother had given birth to me, that my father's father, the fallen, revealed himself to him. My grandfather was outraged at the thought of a devil having fallen blood, and ordered my father to kill both me and my mother. He refused, but when my father fought back…"

"I see," Akeno's voice was soft, and lacked much of her usual poise. Ise could only give a surprised look as one of the 'two great onee-samas' of Kuou Academy sounded more like a confused girl her age. "Judging by your wings, you've chosen to use the power?"

"In the beginning, no," Luka sighed again, thinking back to the old days. "When I was fighting in the Underworld, I made sure no one would know besides my comrades. But after I left, there was a time when I had to conceal that I was a devil. I fought mostly as a human back then, using my Sacred Gear, but I also began to experiment with the angelic powers as well. By the time I could unlock my devil powers, I had grown wings like this."

"How could you?" Akeno demanded, though her tone had a desperate curiosity to it. "How could you use that tainted blood! Fallen angels… they should never be forgiven!"

"I thought like that once myself," Luka admitted. He had a faraway look in his eyes. "I suppose, once I left the Underworld I started experimenting with the power as a way to distance myself from my past. After a while, it just became as natural to me as my devil power. But nowadays, in a time when the three great powers are coming close to peace, maybe it wouldn't be bad to reveal this power in the future. It might serve as proof that the powers can coexist with each other…"

Rias took a breath at that; the idea never having occurred to her. He was right, she realized. If peace really did come about, than having the existence of half devil and half fallen angels around might become a symbol of the future. Just like Luka had once been an existence which inspired others in time of war, he might well become a similar icon in the upcoming peace.

"I, I don't really understand much of what's going on," Ise admitted, rubbing his head in embarrassment, "but just like with Akeno-san, even if I have a grudge against fallen angels, I can't really bring myself to dislike Luka-sama. I admire him too much to."

"Hmph," Alice added her own thoughts to the subject. She had wrapped Luka completely by this point, and her human torso was hovering over his shoulder as she rested her elbows on his head while she drank her tea. "Foolishness. Matters of breeding and ancestry are pointless. Monsters are far above devils when it comes to these matters."

"That's because many monsters breed with all kinds of species," Luka pointed out dryly, not bothering to move her elbows. He could feel her tail as it encircled his wrist, the only gesture of comfort over his past that she would ever reveal without burying it under miles of typical Alice tsundereyness. "Some kinds of monsters don't even have males or females of their own species and have to breed with humans."

"See?" Alice nodded as though Luka had proved her point. "Far above."

"I'm sorry," Akeno disagreed, still sounding bitter. "But I can't agree with such a stance!"

"That's fine," Luka shrugged at her choice. "How you choose to deal with it is entirely up to you. If you ever change your mind though, let me know. I've picked up quite a bit about how to use the power of the fallen, and I'll be happy to share it with you."

Rias was slightly moved by that confession, and even if her Queen had no desire to do so now, she, as the King, would make sure to approach the other devil if that were ever to change. Akeno on the other hand just scowled, turning away from Luka.

It was Ise, who couldn't stand the thought of the two great one-samas continuing in this atmosphere, decided to do something to change the mood.

"Ah, so Luka-sama," he began, raising his hand slowly as he did so. "I understand that you were coming to see me?"

"Right," Luka shook his head, before smiling at the other devil. "I was just on the way to extend an offer to join my peerage, and thought I'd see if you'd like to come along. You were already there for the first two, after all."

"Ah, and just who or what are you going to see now?" Rias cut in, frowning slightly as she did so. She remembered all too well just what the last member of his peerage had been like. Even if it had ended without the loss of anyone important, (besides that one guy, the familiar trainer. What was his name again? Ah well, it probably didn't matter) if Luka was going to see someone like that again, it might be best if she and her peerage stayed out of it.

"The Tamamo-no-mae, the nine tailed fox," Luka offered, and Rias cocked her head to the side as she tried to place that name.

"Wait!" Ise began, sitting up stiffly. "You mean the Tamamo-no-mae, the fox that once tried to kill the emperor?"

"That's her," Luka confirmed, and Rias shook her head, half appalled and half astonished as yet again the devil in front of her was reaching out to someone so outrageous to join his peerage. She opened her mouth to politely decline, but was interrupted by her Pawn once more.

"I accept!" Ise declared instantly, and Rias sighed, palming her head, wondering just how much trouble her Pawn would get her into one of these days.

*Scene Break*

"So where are we now?" Ise asked excitedly as he, Rias, and Akeno all looked around them. They had just finished teleporting, and were now in some kind of forest. It looked so old, and the underbrush was thick. Ise couldn't help but feel that wherever they were, it was somewhere far, far from modern civilization.

"Just outside of Kyoto, in the Arashi mountains," Luka explained, and Ise felt like face planting.

"W-wait? There's some place like this someplace like that?" Ise asked, glancing around in surprise. "And we're in Kyoto? Can we stop for souvenirs afterwards?"

The school was already planning a trip to Kyoto for his grade later in the year, but if he did some exploring now, when the trip came he might be able to act as a guide for the others! Oh, the chance to look cool in front of Asia was too much to pass up!

"Luka-sama," Rias began, also perking at the thought of doing some shopping, though she was more concerned about other things. Like not causing a war. "Kyoto has many different holy places. If we, as devils, come here without permission, then it can cause a great deal of trouble…"

"It's fine," Luka reassured her, leading them as he started to walk. "This area is different from the rest. This is the secret realm of the foxes, a different dimension from the rest and located far on the outskirts of the Inner City where the Youkai make their home."

"Inner City?" Ise repeated, scratching his head.

"Ara," Akeno leaned over, having regained her composure after the revelation of Luka's heritage. "It is like the dimensions that we devils use for the rating game. The youkai use that dimension as their home, a city that occupies the same space as the rest of Kyoto, but is still separate."

"Er, I think that might be too much for someone like me to understand," Ise admitted sheepishly. Beside him, Rias smiled.

"That's alright," she assured him, though she frowned slightly. "Though, Ise. Why was it that you wanted to come so badly? Even if Luka-sama says it's alright, this still could be very dangerous. Especially meeting someone like that…"

"You don't understand, Buchou," Ise declared, fire coming to his eyes. "It's because it's someone like that that I absolutely must come!"

"Ise, I'm glad you decided to come, but I have to admit I'm a bit confused," Luka confessed, giving the other devil a curious look. "Why is it because it's someone like that that you absolutely have to come?"

"Because of her oppai!" Ise declared passionately, and Rias sighed while Akeno began to giggle at his shameless confession. "The Tamamo-no-mae was supposed to be an incredibly beautiful woman! A woman like that must have had wonderful oppai! More than that, as someone so evil, she must have a dark and seductive atmosphere! I, Hyoudou Issei, could not pass up the chance to meet someone like that!"

Ise could see it! He could see the oppai in his mind! She would be tall and thin, and wearing seductive clothes that revealed much of her body! She would have an aura of seduction, but one that was also dark and dangerous! He would bear witness to such an onee-san, with his grandfather in heaven as his witness!

"Pervert," Alice told him flatly. Then she began to smile slightly for some reason.

"Er, Ise," Luka began, only to stop as Alice shook her head, still smiling. "Well. I guess we better hurry up then," he gave in, though he was starting to smile a bit too.

"Halt!" a new voice chimed in, and the group watched as a young looking girl with fox ears and a tail, dressed up as a kunoichi appeared. "Who dares enter… Luka-sama! So you decided to visit! Welcome!"

"Ooooh! Kunoichi Kitsune!" Ise declared passionately, taking in the sight of the cute fox girl. "It's perfect! It's something right out of a theater village! Is this the power of Kyoto?"

"Alice and I are just here to see Tamamo," Luka greeted the other fox, and suddenly the fox froze.

"A-A-Alice-sama?" the kunoichi stuttered, looking around nervously. Rias found herself wondering just why the fox would be acting like that, when Alice appeared from behind the fox.

"Heeee!" the kunoichi screamed as Alice grabbed her tail, and began to pull it, lifting the fox girl off the ground. "Wawawawa! My tail!"

"Ara," Akeno began, watching as the former monster lord started to tie the tail to the branch of a tree, leaving the wailing fox girl hanging as Luka sighed and continued on. "Why is Alice-sama…"

"Er, Alice has something of a grudge against foxes," Luka admitted. He sighed again. "She promised that she wouldn't let it get out of hand this time. However…"

"Oh!" Ise declared, as they broke into a clearing to find a village of old looking houses. "It really is like a theater village! And look at them! So many foxes!" His nose started to bleed as he took in all the cute fox women. So many of them had such enormous oppai! It was fantastic. Then his eyes latched onto something and the blood only increased. "A geisha! A Geisha Kitsune! Things like that really exist!"

"Greetings, Luka-sama," the geisha fox greeted with a well-mannered tone. Rias couldn't help but feel the power of the Japanese culture emitting from her as she took in the fox dressed in a formal kimono and wearing geisha make up. Behind her, three tails were wafting about. "Tamamo-sama has been informed of your presence. Please, go greet her at the shrine."

"Thank you," Luka began, before a gleam appeared behind where the geisha was seated in the doorway of an old style house. The gleam revealed itself to be Alice's eyes as they caught the light.

"Ara!" the Geisha moaned as Alice captured each of the three tails, and began to braid them. "My tails! Stop! They're so sensitive…!"

"Ah! Tails really are sensitive! I want to pet them too!" Ise was panting hard as Rias dragged him after Luka who had decided to just ignore Alice as she continued to bully random foxes that they came across.

Ise couldn't believe it! This! This really was the best! This was what he imagined when he thought of a fantasy world! All of these people, they were foxes! There were guy foxes, yeah, but all of the girl foxes were bishoujo! And they were all dressed up in old fashion clothes! This was a world that didn't betray his fantasies! He gasped as they arrived at their destination, a set of stairs leading up to a shrine.

"A samurai! A Samurai Kitsune!" he declared giddily. "I want to catch them! I want to catch them all! I'm getting 'Get Daze'!"

"Luka-sama," the samurai snapped to a smart salute, though she was glancing around, constantly on edge. Her seven tails were puffed as though she was alarmed or on edge as they stood out straight behind her. "Word has reached us of yours and Alice-sama's arrival. The lady Tamamo is waiting for you. Please go on ahead."

"Thank you," Luka began, before something grey dropped from above the samurai, falling on her shoulder. Shakily, the fox looked up to discover that the grey thing was Alice's hair from where she was hanging from the shrine gate above the samurai fox.

"Eek!" the samurai screamed as Alice grabbed her by her tails, and began tying.

"T-that! That's the legendary 'Tortoise Shell'! Such things really do exist!" Ise's nose was a geyser at this point as Alice completed using the fox's tails to tie her in the traditional bondage style, leaving her hanging behind them from the shrine gate like a BDSM model.

"Alice," Luka began, before trailing off hopelessly. Talking with her would be pointless at this point. It was better to just reach their destination and let things sort themselves out on their own. Similarly, Rias had decided that the best option she had for keeping Ise in control was to just lead him via pulling on his cheeks at this point.

"A miko! Miko Kitsune!" Ise declared, or tried to declare around Rias' pinch as they entered the shrine on the top. Then he froze, counting the tails behind her. "Nine… so this is the legendary Tamamo-no-mae!"

Ise was conflicted by what he saw. This miko was gorgeous! She had great features and enormous oppai that peeked out from beneath her shrine maiden outfit. But even if she was a bishoujo and felt powerful, there wasn't any of that aura of seduction he had been expecting! She just looked like a normal priestess with nine tails! Maybe she was disguising it?

"Yasaka," Luka greeted the nine tail, and Ise sighed, relieved that even if this was a nine tail, she still wasn't the legendary Tamamo. "How's Kuno doing?"

"Ara," Yasaka greeted back with a smile. "My daughter is quite fine, thank you. Would you like to visit with her, after you're finished your business? She still remembers you fondly from when you would babysit her."

"If we have the time," Luka promised, before palming his forehead as one of the tatami mats behind where Yasaka was standing started to lift, revealing Alice as she had snuck under the floor, preparing to pounce upon her newest victim of tail harassment when…

"Alice," a new voice cut in, and Ise shivered at it. It sounded stern, but wise and powerful. It was coming from the next room in. More than that, to his shock, the moment Alice heard the voice she froze. "What dost thou think thou art doing?"

Alice made no response to that, but instead slowly started to lower herself back down, replacing the tatami and disappearing altogether.

"I tried to stop her, Tamamo-chan," Luka offered with a wry smile. "But you know how she gets sometimes…"

"Tis no worry, Luka-chan!" the voice had changed, sounding incredibly cheerful, and Ise blinked, glancing at Luka in surprise. Luka-chan? So familiar! Was it perhaps that Luka and the Tamamo were good friends? Or maybe the Tamamo was just like Serafall in that she was casual with everyone, regardless of rank?

The door began to open, and Ise braced himself for the revelation of the Tamamo-no-mae in all her fiendish glory when…

"A loli! A Loli Kitsune!" he cried out, shocked by the new fox that came in. Maybe she was the handmaiden of the Tamamo… Then he finished counting the tails. "W-wait! Don't tell me…!"

"Tamamo-chan," Luka began, smiling in amusement as he watched Ise's mouth gape and his finger point as he was shocked speechless. "Please meet my companions. The gawking one is the Sekiryuutei. He was very eager to meet you apparently."

"Oh?" Tamamo grinned, playing with a fan with one hand as she flashed a 'V' with the other. "Then I shall oblige most happily!"

"Noooooo!" Ise cried out to the heavens as yet again, fantasy betrayed him.

*Scene Break*

"Hehehe!" Tamamo giggled as she poked the frozen Ise with a fan. "Tis most amusing! Thou, thou certainly finds the most intriguing of people, Luka-chan!"

"My fantasies… give back my fantasies…" Ise was not crying. It was simply sweat from his heart, once more gracing his eyes! It had to leak out somewhere, right?

"Ara, ara," Akeno was smiling as she gently patted his head. "There, there."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Tamamo-sama," Rias began, making sure to try and at least maintain the image of proper courtesy in front a powerful creature, and as she had just been informed, the ruler of an entire species. "I am Rias, of the Gremory Clan."

"Gremory?" Tamamo pursed her lips, tapping her fan gently with it. She glanced at Luka, a surprisingly shrewd look for the otherwise small and cheerful girl. "I see… so, Luka-chan. Has thy feud at last been satisfied?"

Rias stiffened, glancing carefully at Luka. She had been told that he and her brother hadn't parted on good terms, but it surprised her that the fox would go so far as to classify it as a 'feud'. The fact that Tamamo even knew it, and was actually surprised to find Luka in the presence of a Gremory, indicated that Luka's earlier statement of an argument bordering on the spilling of blood was more serious than she had originally thought.

"Enough time has passed for me to set it aside," Luka simply smiled slightly, the expression touched with both old bitterness and a strange nostalgia. "Three hundred years is enough time to cool anyone's blood. Besides, what I found while wandering made all those years' worth it."

Behind him, where she had taken to cowering in order to avoid receiving another stern glare from Tamamo for all the mischief she had wrought, Alice smiled, though no one could see it happen.

"Well said, Luka-chan," Tamamo also seemed pleased by the declaration, though she covered her smile with her fan. "So, word has reached me from afar, but I would hear thy request from thy own lips."

"Of course," Luka nodded, taking out two pieces from his pocket and placing them before him. Rias' took in the sight of the two bishops, and was shocked that yet another one of them was a mutation piece. To have received three of the ultra-rare pieces in his set…

"Tamamo-no-Mae, Nine Tail and High Priestess of Foxes," Luka began as he bowed formally. "Would you consent to joining my peerage as my Bishop?"

"Of course!" Tamamo chirped easily, showing none of the formality that her soon to be King had displayed. Rias was once again a bit dizzy at the sight of the carelessness of a powerful leader. If she started to act like that too, would her power as a King increase? "Yasaka, I leave the clan to thou! Get on with it then!

In front of Rias eyes, without further ceremony, she bore witness to Luka gaining the fourth member of his peerage.

"I can't accept this," Ise wept into his hand. "I just can't! Why! Why would an evil fox be a loli! The legends… they say that the Tamamo was the most beautiful woman in the world! That everyone loved her! So why! Was everyone back then a lolicon? Has one of the lost secrets of the world been revealed before us? What sort of time was it like back then? If everyone only loved lolis, did that mean there were no oppai to be found? I can't imagine it… so dreadful a history should disappear!"

"Ise," Rias sighed, before she was interrupted by a giggle.

"Oh? Is that what thou was worried about, boyo?" Tamamo was stretching her small arms, shifting back and forth as though to adjust to her new status as a devil. "Then, perhaps I should show you what I looked like back then."

"What you looked like back then?" Luka perked, sounding surprised. He cocked his head to the side, obvious confusion in his voice. "Wait, did you ever look different from the way you do now?"

Behind him, Alice poked her head up too, just as surprised as Luka was at this revelation. For all her life, she had only known Tamamo as she appeared now.

"Of course! Thou devils are not the only ones of the races that can control their appearance," Tamamo chided them. "Did thou forget the kitsune too are shape shifters? Behold!"

Rias watched in wonder as a secret of the Kitsune race, the ability to change their bodies, was revealed to her. Ise started to look up as Tamamo glowed briefly, her outline changing, though his expression remained that of one betrayed.

Then he froze.

"Ara," Tamamo cooed, her tone much lower than it had been before, closer to Erubetie's own contralto. Where once her kimono had hung off her tiny frame, in front of Ise's widening eyes it now stretched to hold back her considerable figure.

"O-o-oppai," he whispered. What incredible oppai! The nine tails, now her hair was slightly darker, and her body was like that of someone in their twenties! Her eyes were narrow, and looked cruel! She was laying against a pillow, her legs stretched beside her, and they poked out of the slit of her skirt! Ise felt himself shiver, at the evil looking fox-onesama before him!

Then, as he watched, he saw her pull a pipe out, and began to smoke it slowly, blowing a smoke ring.

"Perfect!" he shouted at the sight of a cruel, dangerous, and beautiful woman before him. Then his nose exploded, sending him backwards into unconsciousness.

"Did you know she could do that, Alice?" Luka found himself asking, his lips pursed as he took in the change.

"…No," Alice finally admitted dryly.

Life 5

Ravel sighed as she leaned against the window frame. She looked out upon the dark purple sky, taking in the sight of the Phoenix estates as they spread before her.

"Another one," Ravel muttered to herself as she let her head rest on her folded arms. "This guy… just what sort of brother is he!"

Lately, there were two people that were prominent in her thoughts. The first was, naturally, her new brother. Considering the chaos that seemed to follow in his wake, it wasn't any surprise to her that she would frequently find herself thinking of Luka.

He was just so different from the rest of her family, from what she was used to. She was starting to get used to it, the casual and cheerful way he dealt with everything in life, but it didn't change the fact that different was different. She just didn't know how to deal with someone like him, even though she wanted to get to know him more.

And that was only compounded by the fact that there were so few chances to actually spend time with him. With him alone, anyway.

She was beginning to suspect that Luka had more in common with that lazy Riser than she had originally thought. So far, every one of his peerage had ended up being a woman, er, female at the least. However, unlike Riser, it looked like Luka at least chose quality in his servants.

Ravel had spent some time with his Rook, Granberia, and so far she approved of what she saw. Even if she was a humanoid dragon, Granberia had shown herself to be a powerful, skilled, polite, and genuinely chivalrous person. In their few conversations, the Rook had been the soul of courtesy, and both Ravel and her mother were equally impressed with her. The Dragon King would have little trouble adjusting to life as a devil.

The Pawn on the other hand, was someone that Ravel had decided to avoid as much as possible. Erubetie had not eased up on her dislike for anything and anyone who wasn't a slime. So far Luka had twice had to provide Tears for servants that the Slime Queen had assaulted. It was Ravel's opinion that the only persons in the world that Erubetie apparently didn't hate were her fellow servants, and her King. It was only to them that Erubetie ever managed to even show the slightest courtesy. Though, in Luka's case, that courtesy felt a little deeper. Maybe it was something in their history together, or maybe it was just the fact that Luka was working almost as hard as she was to provide a safe haven for other slimes, but Ravel had the impression that the slime's feelings for Luka were somewhat more than just courtesy…

But the implications of that was downright disturbing to Ravel as well. After all, Erubetie was someone whose body could melt someone else's in seconds. If it was more than just courtesy, if the two of them were like Riser and his peers…

Ravel was a somewhat sheltered girl, but one of her brothers did have a harem, so she knew her fair share about what a man and a woman got up to late at night and behind closed doors. She did not want to imagine those kinds of mechanics with her brother and an acid slime monster!

And then there was Alice.

Enough said.

Ravel couldn't suppress another sigh, and wondered what the newest servant would be like. She had already heard that her brother's latest quest to finish his peerage had been fruitful, but she couldn't bring the motivation to try and meet the newcomer. Somehow, she couldn't help but feel that her expectations that she had been building for her brother would both somehow be met, and somehow be disappointed, both at the same time.

Though, it did lead her often to think of the second person that occupied her thoughts…

Hyoudou Issei… Just what kind of man was he really?

Could he be the hero she had dreamed about as a child?

"Oho? Such a heavy sigh for one so young," a new voice cut in, and Ravel blinked, not recognizing the speaker. "Does thou have some concern, young lady? If so, then perhaps I might be able to relieve them!"

"And you are?" Ravel began, turning to face the speaker before pausing as she took in the sight of a young looking girl dressed in a kimono. Ravel almost thought that perhaps she was some daughter of a visiting noble, before she caught sight of the nine tails weaving behind the newcomer.

She knew then and there that without a doubt, this was the newest member of Luka's peerage.

"I am thy brother's newest servant, the Bishop Tamamo," the fox girl confirmed for her, though Ravel was at least relieved that someone besides Granberia that her brother had picked up could at least manage courtesy. Tamamo bowed while holding her fan, a polite gesture that helped set her at ease. "Thy father and mother have spoken to me of thee, as has Luka-chan. I sought thee out so as to introduce myself!"

"I see," Ravel began, before getting ahold of herself and assuming a more regal posture. "Well then. I am Ravel, of House Phoenix. It is a pleasure to meet you. However, I'm afraid this meeting shall be cut short. I'm afraid I have lingered too long, and should be reporting to my tutors soon…"

"Indeed," Tamamo chirped, concealing a smile with her fan. Ravel had a sudden impression that whatever was about to happen next would no doubt be very amusing to the fox while simultaneously distressing for her. "About that…"

*Scene Break*

"They seem to be getting along well," Rassele was actually surprised by that fact as she watched her daughter Ravel and her new tutor go through their lessons. She had been watching in secret for a bit now, and though Ravel had initially started the lesson leery, as it progressed she had gotten more and more drawn in by it.

Rassele still couldn't believe that the tiny fox woman was that good of a teacher.

"Tamamo is one of the oldest foxes alive," Luka explained, smiling as well as he watched his Bishop and his sister actually getting along. "And she has extensive experience as a teacher. She even trained Alice, back when she was a child."

"And suddenly, my doubt at her qualifications returns," Rassele noted dryly, watching as the snake woman tried to sneak up on Tamamo, hands reaching out to grab her tails.

Five minutes later, when Alice was sulking, literally sitting in a chair facing the corner of the room, and Tamamo was nodding in satisfaction as she turned back to her lessons, Rassele's smile widened.

"I withdraw those doubts," she decided. Luka's smile was unusually sly for his normally innocent features.

"Alice never can win against Tamamo," he elaborated. "Even if she acts that way, it was Tamamo that took care of her when she was young. Alice respects her immensely, and she is one of the few creatures Alice looks up to."

"Took care of her?" Rassele prompted, frowning slightly, and Luka grimaced as though realizing he said too much.

"Never mind," he shook his head. "Anyway. Looks like I'm almost done gathering my peerage."

"I assume that you are intending to complete the set then?" Rassele prompted, raising an eyebrow in dry amusement at her son. So far he had managed to lure away the Monster Lord, as well as three of the four Heavenly Knights to his side. It should be pretty obvious who the last one would be.

"I'm going to make the offer," Luka admitted readily enough, "but there's no guarantee she'll agree. She's always been a whimsical one, and she might decide that accepting would only impede on her lifestyle. Well," he rubbed his head again as he admitted the real reason he hadn't already went to try and recruit her, "that and I have no idea where she is right now."

The Knight of Wind was as free roaming as her element, after all.

*Scene Break*

It was as Ise was coming back from his work as a devil that it occurred to him.

Ise was fine with admitting that he was kind of dense. He wasn't an idiot, by no means, but he wasn't exactly a stellar example of intellectual exhibitionism either.

He didn't even know what two of those last three words meant for that matter.

However, he was someone who could notice things, and as he watched Rias stare at the desk in front of her, he realized that he had seen that kind of behavior before.

"B-Buchou," he began, suddenly nervous, calling the attention of the rest of the peerage as well. Akeno had been preparing tea, while Xenovia and Kiba had been discussing swords. Asia had been sitting near Koneko.

And in the corner, the newest member of the peerage, or rather the one that had only just been revealed, Gasper, started, making the cardboard box he was hiding in jump slightly.

Ise considered the fact that he had gotten Gasper to join the meeting at all to be a victory in his book. Now if he could just get the cross-dressing vampire boy to actually leave the box without wearing a bag on his head.

"Ise?" Rias began, confused by why her beloved Pawn would so suddenly speak up.

"You've got another engagement, haven't you!" Ise declared, pointing a shaking finger as his club president. For a moment, Rias could only stare at him blankly.

"What?" she finally asked, honestly trying to understand how he had come to this conclusion and failing miserably. "Ah, thank you Sladako," she said a moment later, watching the jiggling slime carefully as it offered her a tray with a cup of the tea Akeno had made on it.

"Pururu!" Sladako informed her cheerfully. Rias sighed in relief when no hug appeared forthcoming.

"You don't have to hide it, Buchou!" Ise continued, nodding as he went over the facts in his head. "The last time you were this distracted, it was right before that Riser bastard showed up! Well don't worry, Buchou! This time I'll beat them up twice as fast!"

"I'm not getting married," Rias finally understood why Ise had said something so unreasonable. It was true, she guessed, that she usually was more composed around her peerage, and that the last time she had been so distracted it was because of her impending marriage. "Rather, not yet. I've already decided, after all…"

Ise nearly asked, 'Decided what?' but his denseness made itself known. That, and a small scar on his heart that would linger for some time more when it came to women, a scar left by a fallen angel who had killed him.

"Then, why are you so down, Buchou?" he instead asked, relieved that his beloved Buchou was safe for the moment.

"If you think about it, it should be obvious," Kiba pointed out gently with a sigh. Still, he smiled, happy that even if he was wrong at least his fellow peer member had his heart in the right place.

"The conference is tomorrow, Ise-kun," Akeno explained more fully, and Ise nodded, grimacing.

A conference between the three great powers, about the incident that had occurred at this very school nearly three weeks ago. A conference that could decide the very fate of the world, one way or the other.

"Oh yeah," Ise rubbed his head sheepishly, embarrassed that he hadn't considered other reasons that Rias might be distracted. "Well, at least it's just that and not Buchou getting married."

Despite herself, Rias smiled slightly at how much more Ise prioritized her than he did the safety of the world. That kind of thing tended to make an impression on a girl.

"Marriage?" a new voice chimed in, and the Gremory group turned with various degrees of surprise to find that once more Luka Phoenix and his Queen Alice had graced their presence.

"Luka-sama," Rias greeted him warmly, though cautiously.

Ever since Tamamo had revealed just how much hostility had once been between him and her brother and sister in law, she had been trying to find out more about the source of their falling out. She had turned first to her brother, and then to Grayfia. And from both of them all she had managed to get was bitter smiles and, this surprised her immensely, shameful winces.

Even her father and mother could give nothing more. While the knowledge of the falling out was only known to those who had been close, the true nature of the rift that had formed between the Six Great Devils was something only they knew, and that if she wished to know more she should wait until Sirzechs or Grayfia would speak of it.

"Hello, everyone," Luka greeted back, smiling at the room in general.

"Ara, ara," Akeno was already starting to pour another two glasses, while Koneko was similarly increasing the pace that she consumed the tea cakes. Alice noticed that last bit, and with narrowed eyes she accepted the challenge. "Have you come again to invite Ise-kun along?"

"Sort of," Luka admitted, taking a seat at once of the couches.

"Is it right to assume that your new target is the final member of the Heavenly Knights?" Kiba added, politely interested in the conversation. From what he knew, there was only one piece type left for the other devil, and he found himself somewhat interested in who Luka had selected for his own Knight class.

"That's the plan," Luka admitted, shrugging briefly as he did so. "However, the problem is finding her. Alma Elma, the Knight of Wind, is something of a drifter. I was actually planning on doing some investigating to see if I could track her down, but when I considered where I would be going, I thought that Ise-kun might like to come along as well."

"Er, why's that?" Ise began, feeling somewhat awkward. He really admired Luka, he really did! He was a man who was nice even if he was strong. More importantly than that, he was someone strong who didn't want to fight him! And even more importantly than that:

Oppai!

So far, every time Luka had shown up and invited him, he, Hyoudou Issei, had been exposed to yet a new element of the world of oppai! Dragon oppai! Slime oppai! Erotic fox oppai! Oh! What would be next? He couldn't imagine! Had Luka saved the best for last?

"Because of where I'm going," Luka had a crooked smile on his face. He could already guess what would happen when he finally announced his location. He waited until Ise was taking a sip of tea before he finished. "Succubus Village."

Ise froze. His tea didn't.

"Er, Ise-san?" Asia began, watching with concern as the hot tea continued to pour down onto his lap.

"Fufufufu," Akeno giggled as she too watched Ise's delightful reactions.

"Ah, Luka-sama," Rias began, suddenly feeling very, very nervous. Had she been wrong, about the potential good influence of the Lost Sixth? Was it only now that he was revealing his true colors?

More importantly, could she stand to let her precious Ise go somewhere and be surrounded by those, those, those harlots!

The answer was no! Definitely no! There was no way anyone was going to get to Ise's virginity before her!

"Maybe it would be…" she began, trying to swiftly but politely decline, however her pawn recovered from his earlier paralysis too quickly for her to finish.

"Luka-sama," Ise interrupted, launching to his feet with blazing eyes. "Of course I will go! I must go! As a man, I cannot not go! No, more importantly, are you god? Are you Buddha? Are you the savior given form? Please tell me, Luka-samaaaaa! I must know how I should worship you!"

"Ise-kun," Kiba sighed, though he was chuckling softly. Ise whirled upon him, pointing a shaking finger as he snorted in rage.

"Shut up, you damn handsome!" Ise shouted. "Even you should know better than to resist the chance to go to a village of succubuses! It's the dream of all men! No, if you don't go, you can't call yourself a man! Of course you will be…!

"I'll pass," Kiba cut him off, still chuckling.

"…Kiba-senpai isn't a pervert like you," Koneko added, sniffing as she did so.

"Kiba, how dare you turn your back on the dream of all men!" Ise fumed, honest indignation and the righteous wrath of every red blooded male who had ever imagined such a paradise burning through him! "You! To not go see all those succubuses… er, succubae! Or is it just succubus…?"

Ise trailed off, blinking as he started to scratch his head.

"It's succubi," Luka offered with a grin. "Trust me, I had to look it up too."

"Really?" Ise asked, perking at the quick answer.

"Yes," Luka confirmed with a smile. Nearby, where she was currently engaged in a staring contest with Koneko, Alice smiled, and if Ise had seen that smile, he most likely would have had second thoughts about agreeing with Luka's next question. "So how about it? Would you like to go visit Succubus Village?"

"Of course!" Ise shouted, snorting at the nose like a bull. Rias sighed, feeling very uneasy about whatever was about to happen next, but knowing that there was no way in hell she was letting her Ise be anywhere near one of those sex demons without her around to protect his chastity.

"Excellent," Luka smiled benevolently, proving that even if he was normally a nice guy, he was a devil in the end.

*Scene Break*

"Ise," Rias began trying to calm down her Pawn by putting a hand on his shoulder. "Perhaps you shouldn't get quite so excited…"

"No! Buchou! You… you don't understand! My fantasies! My fantasy world! This… this is something I was never worthy of even dreaming about! And now…" Ise trailed off, words failing him as he did so.

"Ara, ara," Akeno began, sounding honestly surprised. "Are you crying, Ise-san?"

"Well then," Luka began, and Kiba felt a moment of doubt as he watched the rest of the Occult Research Club gather, preparing to go to Ise's Shangri-La. He felt a moment of doubt, wondering if maybe he shouldn't join after all.

While he doubted he would get nearly as much joy over the experience, a small part of him had to admit that Ise was perhaps, and this was only a maybe, right about this being a once in a lifetime opportunity, the idealization of the romance of men…

No, Kiba decided. He smiled as the others left, Gasper heading back to his room to continue the devil's work and Sladako 'purururu'-ing away to continue her own work. This was fine. He was fine being nothing more than a sword for his King. Relationships between men and women, maybe someday he'd be interested in them, but for now it was more important to grow stronger.

Though now that his comrades had been avenged he was more peaceful, in the end, Kiba Yuuto was a warrior, his King's Knight, before he was anything else.

A knock at the door to the clubroom brought him out of his thoughts. Assuming it was just one of the student council coming to consult about the upcoming meeting, he answered it without a second thought.

"Oh," he began, blinking at the stranger that appeared before him. "Can I help you?"

"Perhaps," the one at the door smiled coyly at him. "It looks like I just missed him. Could you maybe keep me company until he gets back?"

"Er?" Kiba managed to get out as the newcomer stepped in, shutting the door behind her. "Company?"

"Exactly," she smiled at him.

*Scene Break*

Ise was trying to remain calm, as the teleportation magic finished. He was trying, but it was so hard.

'Oh! Grandfather in heaven! Watch as your grandson accomplishes the dream you most likely always had but never had the chance to fulfill!' he declared in his head as the light dimmed.

"Right," Rias declared out loud, tone serious. "Now, Akeno, you take the front. Xenovia, the left. I'll handle the right. Koneko, you'll be the rear guard. No succubi are allowed to get within arm's reach! Be prepared to restrain Ise if you need to!"

"Right, Buchou!" Akeno agreed, though she was smiling as she did so.

"Understood," Xenovia narrowed her eyes, ready to reach for Durandal if she needed to.

"…roger," Koneko even gave a little salute, though she was eying Ise as though she was looking forward to the restraining option.

"Ise-san!" Asia had wide watery eyes as she watched her hero clutch his chest and take deep breaths. "Is it really that exciting?"

"Asia-san! Don't look at me!" Ise wept, wanting to be strong in front of the nun, but unable to restrain his entirely debatably healthy male urges. "I'm sorry for being such a sukebe, but…"

And then the teleportation finished, and Ise got his first look at the fabled Succubus Village.

"Gah!" he declared, as the first woman he laid eyes on turned out to be old! She was so old, her skin was wrinkled! And she had saggy oppai! Frantically, he turned to try and get the horror away from him, and then he staggered. "Guuuu!" he clutched his chest! No! This one was overweight! And she had acne! And buckteeth! Still reeling, he stumbled, only to find his eyes on yet another one! "Aggggghhhh!" This one had a face like a horse! And she had no oppai at all!

"L-Luka-sama! Did something go wrong?" he shuddered, trying to recover from the unexpected blows against his fantasies! No! They weren't just blows! They were daggers! His fantasies! Someone was stabbing them! And setting them on fire! "This can't be the legendary Succubus Village, right? Something went wrong right?"

"No," Luka smiled at him. Alice was concealing her mouth with one hand, but that wasn't enough to cover her snakelike smile. "This is definitely the place."

"Noooooo!" Ise fell to his knees, weeping. "It can't be! So…. It was all lies all the time! These are what succubi really look like! This is wrong! This is an injustice! My fantasies… my fantasies…!" Suddenly, Ise cut himself off, staring with the horror of one who is about to break. "M-Mil-tan? I-Is that you?"

"Devil-san? Nyo?"

"So… so this is it…" Ise collapsed finally to the ground, his life draining out of him. "This is how I go… Oppai…. I shall miss you. Everyone, please, don't look at the porn I have stashed beneath my bed…"

"Ise-san!" Asia cried out, green coming from her hands as she tried to heal the pervert's heart. "Be strong!"

"It seems that succubi might have been greatly exaggerated over time," Rias noted, rubbing her chin thoughtfully as she watched the villagers come and go peacefully. It was true that most of them were women, but it was also true that most of them weren't very attractive. Despite herself, Rias felt relieved.

"No, not really," Luka explained, trying to suppress the laughter he was holding back. "And no, these aren't succubi. These are actually cambion."

"Not succubi?" Ise perked, his spirit that had been escaping from his mouth starting to seep back into him as his dreams started to knit back together. "Cambion?"

"Yes," Luka began, offering Ise a hand as the young pervert started to regain his feet. "Everyone, how much do you know about how new succubi are born?"

"Ara," Akeno began, though she was also suppressing giggles at Ise's overreaction. "I would imagine it would be much like all other creatures are born…"

"Not quite," Luka shook his head, leading the group of now relaxed girls and listless Ise through the village. It was a rather rural village, though it looked more high-tech than the fox village had. Ise could only glance around occasionally, unable to take in the sight of his betrayed dreams. "You must remember, succubi are demons that feed on sex, draining the seed and the life of their partners. Because of that, if a succubus were to get pregnant easily it would only get in the way of their feeding, and the world would quickly see far too many of them as more and more are born."

"I see," Rias nodded slowly, frowning as she thought of it. If it was easy to get a creature that literally needed to have sex pregnant, than yes, there really would be a lot more of them, wouldn't there? "So then how does a succubus breed?"

"Succubi can get pregnant, but it's very, very rare," Luka continued the explanation. "Most would only have a child once ever decade or two. And if the child was born a succubus as well, that would be dangerous. After all, a baby or a child wouldn't be able to feed like a normal succubus. It would be dangerous for them, in many ways. So when a succubi has a child, it isn't really a succubi yet. It's instead known as a cambion, and cambion are identical to humans in all but one way."

"And that is?" Rias prompted, genuinely interested in the unexpected lesson on such a strange species' biology.

"That if the right conditions are met, than they can become a succubus, kind of like the way a caterpillar can become a butterfly," Luka continued. "Most cambion never become a succubus. They just live as normal humans, but if they have children of their own, than those children also can carry the genes of a succubus and be cambion themselves. Succubus Village is one of the few places where cambion can undergo that evolution."

"So then all these girls," Akeno began, her mouth opening as she understood.

"Came here in the hopes of becoming succubi someday," Luka nodded. Despite himself, Ise began to nod, understanding coming to him.

"I see," he seemed to be coming back to himself. "So then, all these girls, dissatisfied with their appearance have come here, like Mil-tan, in the hopes of being reborn as a magical girl. Hmmm… I suppose I can understand and approve of their quest…"

"Well, the Purple Sabbath can only be performed once every hundred years," Alice shrugged, and Luka had a moment to wonder how she had gotten her hand on a thing of cotton candy. "The last one was sixty years ago, so they will have to wait at least another forty years. However, keeping so many cambion together is something succubi do in order to keep track of potential recruits."

"Exactly," Luka nodded, opening a door in front of them. "Which is why Succubus Village also has a true succubi population on hand to keep things in order."

"True succubi…" Ise began, entering behind his idol only to freeze as he set eyes on what awaited before him.

"My, my," the erotic creature behind a desk smiled. "If it isn't Luka-sama? Come to take us up on our offer?"

"Luka-sama, which are you? God or Buddha? I would like to pray. I would like to pray to you in thanks," Ise whispered. At his side, Rias eyes narrowed, and she made sure to pinch her Ise's cheeks quite fiercely.

The creature that was sitting calmly at a desk was gorgeous. Blonde hair, wide gorgeous eyes, beautiful features, enticing skin, and enormous oppais. Ise could tell this, because it looked like at some point someone here had reinvented his skill 'Dress Break', and had used it on her recently and she hadn't bothered to get dressed afterwards.

But more than that, the creature had wings and horns coming out of its head.

"This is it," Ise breathed a sigh of relief as reality once more proved his fantasy world to be the correct one. "With this, I can be complete."

Succubi really were that gorgeous.

"Quick!" Rias ordered, "back to positions!" Immediately, her peerage returned to their assigned positions around Ise.

"You really do look tense, Luka-sama," the succubus hummed, standing, and Ise fell to his knees at the sight. She even had a spayed tale! Grandfather! Grandfather in heaven! Watch meeeeeee! "If you'd like, we could retire to the more personal rooms, and I could…"

"Thank you, but no," Luka smiled as the succubus trailed off, sweating and swallowing nervously as Angel Halo appeared beneath her chin. "Are the twins available?"

"Er, could it be you still have a bit of a grudge?" the succubus laughed shakily. "Because if you do, I would like to say it was all the soothsayer's idea…"

"Twins," Luka just continued to smile politely, and even though it wasn't directed at her, Rias felt herself swallowing nervously at the expression. "Now please."

It seemed even Luka could carry a grudge.

*Scene Break*

"Ah… Miss, did you want some more tea? I don't really know when the others will be back…"

"Hmmm, tea would be fine. But, why don't you sit next to me and drink with me? I feel so lonely, drinking by myself…"

*Scene Break*

"O-o-oppai…" Ise could only sit, paralyzed, as he watched the two succubi twin sisters, Lilith and Lilim, as the two lounged against each other. "So much… oppai…"

"Ise," Rias sighed, reaching out to pinch yet again. This time, Koneko joined her. She also glared at the sight before her.

"Oh my," Akeno, on the other hand, was just studying the room around her carefully. "How daring… perhaps for an affair…"

"No," Rias told her bluntly, reaching out to pinch her Queen's cheek too.

"Awawawa," Asia's eyes were spinning, and even Xenovia was looking a little out of sorts.

It wasn't hard to tell why. Apparently, much to Ise's bliss, Succubus Village really was more than just a place for cambion to gather hopefully. It was also home to a healthy succubi population that tended to stay out of sight.

Well, out of sight of the rest of the world. Once you were in their territory, they rather tended to try and stay as much in sight as possible. And most of the population was here, in a private bar that seemed to be attached to the mayor's office in the back, replete with stripper polls and what would probably be a really impressive sound system if it was booted up.

They were sex demons, after all.

"So," Luka began, and Ise could only stand in awe at how polite he was being, even in the face of overwhelming oppai. Everywhere he looked, lounging about, more oppai. It was… it was the fields of oppai-syum. "I did mention I was looking for any word of her presence. Do you have any reports?"

"We're sorry, Luka-sama," Lilith began, very carefully eying Angel Halo as it tapped thoughtfully in Luka's hands. That sword… she shivered. "But even though we have started to look, we still haven't found anything."

"You know how she is," Lilim added, also swallowing at the sight of that sword.

"Sadly," Luka sighed in resignation, "I do."

"Who are you talking about?" Rias finally felt the need to ask, wondering just why they had to come to a village filled with succubi to hunt down the legendary Knight of the Wind. It wasn't like…

"Alma Elma," Luka elaborated for her absently, "the Empress of Succubi."

"But," Rias began, wondering why they were looking for this Alma Elma person when Alice spoke up.

"Alma Elma is the Knight of the Wind," she added, looking unperturbed by the conversation in general. Well, her human half. Her tail was currently snaking around Luka's torso, and occasionally violently shaking like that of a rattler snake at any succubi who got too close.

Rias was actually secretly glad that the lamia was also showing concern in the face of so many sexual predators. It meant her own defensiveness wasn't uncalled for.

*Scene Break*

"Ah! Miss… I don't think… I don't think this is appropriate…"

"Shhhh. Be a good boy… Don't worry. Your onee-chan will take it nice and slow, okay? Now…"

*Scene Break*

"I bet Kiba has no idea what he's missing," Ise could only manage to whisper. The oppai. So much oppai. Is this… is this the fabled oppai overdose he had heard about? He'd heard stories about how too much of a good thing could be bad for you. So… such a condition could also happen as a result of oppai. The world of oppai was deep, and mysterious…

He would have to train himself if he were to venture further…

"The Empress of Succubi," Akeno repeated the title carefully, caution in her tone. "But to think, that a creature such as a succubus could have such a power…"

"Just because they're succubi isn't any reason to look down on them," Luka frowned sharply, turning to give a stern look at the younger girl. "Power is power. Just because they get their power through a method different from you is no reason to underestimate that power. Alma Elma had the strength to fight for even the throne of Monster Lord. Underestimate her, and you'll pay for it."

"Well said," Lilith smiled at hearing the former consort of the Monster Lord speak so earnestly about her race. "It is good that Luka-sama doesn't underestimate us succubi. Though if he were to put that sword away…"

"Still not underestimating you," Luka told her, though he gave a crooked smile as he did so. Despite herself, Lilith found herself suppressing a giggle.

"Unfortunately, though we wish we could be of help to you, so far we have heard no word of Alma Elma," Lilim picked up, though now she sounded less nervous and more relaxed as she did so. "We have spread word to all other succubi to pass on a message if they find her, but so far no one has heard from her."

"What sort of person is this 'Empress of Succubi'?" Rias couldn't quite contain her curiosity at the Knight of Wind's character.

"Alma Elma is the strongest of succubi, but also the most flighty," Luka sighed, scratching his head with Angel Halo idly. The sword made a groan at him for some reason, and Rias joined most of the room at shuddering at the sound. She still didn't know the story behind that strange sword that Luka had pulled from nowhere, but she knew in her heart that she was probably happier that way. "Though she has the power to compete for Monster Lord, she has no interest in fighting, or even the ruling of her people. She prefers to just wander, going wherever she wants and doing whatever she wants. The only person that she ever was obedient to was Alice…"

"The Monster Lord-sama," Lilim added quietly, "and Luka-sama."

"She's probably out somewhere, corrupting some poor innocent," Luka finally concluded, sighing. "It would be just like her."

*Scene Break*

"Miss! I'm not sure... I'm not sure we should be doing something like this! This is…!"

"Don't worry. Is it your first time? I'll be gentle…"

*Scene Break*

"I'm sorry you weren't able to find anything about Alma Elma," Rias apologized awkwardly from where she was dragging Ise by his cheek as the group made their way back to Luka's spell marks. The fact that she was several dozen paces in front of the rest, and had started tapping her foot impatiently as she waited to get the hell out of there wasn't lost on most of the group.

"It's fine," Luka shrugged halfheartedly. "I didn't really expect to find her that easily. Really, I just wanted to see Ise-kun's face when we first arrived."

"Fufufu," Akeno began to giggle herself, recalling the horror struck look on her kohai's face when he first came to look upon the cambion. "Luka-sama. It seems you have a bit of an 'S' streak yourself…"

"Hmph," Alice seemed amused too. "He hides it well, but when it comes out, it is worth it."

"Alice-sama!" Akeno's eyes widened at the roundabout declaration, before they narrowed deliciously. "If it wouldn't be impertinent, perhaps we could have a private meeting to discuss such things sometime? I too sometimes wonder what it would be like to be devoured…"

"Devoured?" Asia repeated, eyes still spinning as Xenovia led the overwhelmed girl along gently. "'S side'? These words? I thought 'Language' interpreted everything. Why don't I understand…?"

"It's fine, Asia," Rias gently comforted her surrogate sister, resolving to help further her education later. It was her responsibility as the King to make sure her servant got the knowledge she needed.

"Well," Luka sighed, "I guess it's time to get back."

"Kiba will never understand just what it was he missed," Ise added on his tone dreamy despite his pinched cheeks. "Now… how to flaunt this in front of Matsuda and Motohama…"

"Anyways," Luka continued, not knowing who these 'Matsuda' and 'Motohama' were but judging that they were probably annoying in some way, "Let me drop you all off at your clubroom…"

Ise was content. He had done it. He had satisfied the dream. Succubus Village. Ah, grandfather in heaven. If only you could have seen it. You had to work your way to the secret level, but once you were there…

Ise's contentment came to a rocky halt as the teleportation magic finished and he found himself staring at a scene he could not comprehend.

"Ah!" Luka sounded happy as he spoke up. "There you are, Alma."

"Oh!" the gorgeous one-sama said, sitting upright from where she had been leaning forward. "Luka-chwan!"

Boing.

That was all Ise could comprehend. It wasn't a word, or a sound, it was just a sensation.

Boing.

That was the impulse which covered the massive, perky, unbelievable oppai as they bounced. Oppai. Pure oppai. Uncovered oppai. Oppai with such pert, shining nipples, glistening in a sheen of sweat.

They… they were even at a level where they could compete with Buchou's oppai. No… It felt like betrayal, but even Buchou's oppai were under these oppai.

Slowly, Ise took in the rest of the scene. Those oppai… they were on a beautiful woman. A woman, who was, currently, wearing nothing but a thong. Her body… the body of this onee-sama, it was unbelievable. Gorgeous long purple hair, unbelievable bust and waist, a face that would haunt his dreams forever…

Wearing nothing but a thong…

And sitting on top of a Kiba, who was wearing nothing but his boxers, and looking dazed and confused.

Kiba… That DAMN HANDSOME!

"You. Kiba. You," Ise whispered, staring with dead eyes at the Knight as he shook his head, looking like he was coming out of a daze. "You. You didn't come to the Succubus Village. You. You had a girlfriend all this time. A girlfriend like this. And you kept it a secret. So when we left, you decided to call her over…"

[Partner… what are you doing?]

Ah yeah. Ddraig. Ddraig will help.

"…senpai!" Koneko couldn't help but sound shocked at the sight before her.

"Oh my!" even Akeno couldn't quite reconcile the sight of the straight laced Kiba being caught mid coitus.

"Yuuto-kun!" Rias couldn't believe her eyes herself. That Yuuto, with a strange woman, in the clubroom while everyone was gone... Than the name Luka had greeted her with stuck like a lightning bolt. "W-w-w-wait! That is…!"

[Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker!]

The sudden shout came from nowhere, and Rias turned in shock at the noise, only to find that Ise had apparently reached Balance Breaker then and there. The sight of him in his armored form, the red and glistening scales covering his form brought a thrill to her spine.

"Kiba," Ise began, his voice dead. "In the name of all unpopular people who are deceived by their popular friends who have secret girlfriends, I shall have to punish you now."

"Er?" Kiba finally seemed to regain enough of himself to look around. "Where are my clothes… Ise-kun? Is that you? What's going on?"

"Quick!" Rias decided, not quite sure what had happened, either with Ise or Kiba, but knowing that if they didn't stop Ise quickly than things would get ugly quickly. "Someone…"

She trailed off as the moment Ise started to move, he suddenly tripped as something wrapped around his feet. She could only blink in uncertain awe as Alice of all people started to wrap herself around the armored body of the Sekiryutei in Balance Breaker form, and seemed to be able to restrain him easily despite his strength.

"Shhhh," Alice said imperiously. "You're interrupting my snack time." With a huff, she started to sample the platter of snacks that had been resting on the table when they arrived.

*Scene Break*

"I am ashamed of myself," Kiba admitted, blushing furiously as he stared at the ground in front of him, unable to meet the eyes of anyone else there.

"Don't be," Alma Elma smiled, though she was now firmly settled in the lap of Luka. Rias couldn't help but notice that she was still wearing just the thong, even though Kiba had reclaimed his discarded clothes at this point. "You were cute."

"I don't think that's what he's ashamed of," Akeno noted dryly, though she seemed unable to keep her eyes completely away from where Luka and Alma were seated. If anything, Rias noted that her face was unusually red, a slight blush she couldn't quite get rid of.

"Er," Ise began nervously, looking at Alice cautiously as he shifted, still wrapped up in her coils. His armor had vanished, and he was starting to feel kind of like a small mouse wrapped in her coils. How did Luka-sama put up with this all the time! "I don't suppose you could get off of me now…"

"Are you going to do something to interrupt my snack time?" Alice asked back directly, narrowing her eyes at the young man.

"Ummm," he gulped nervously, and Alice decided to interpret that as a 'maybe'. Ise gulped nervously as the coils around him just tightened.

"I'm not usually like that," Kiba went on, feeling frustrated and unnerved as he ran his hand through his hair. Frustrated, unnerved, and a little disappointed, as well as a bit curious…

What would have happened if his peerage hadn't come back when they did, he couldn't help but wonder.

"That's normal," Luka reassured the young man gently. "It should wear off in a few hours. Just make sure you get plenty of sleep, and eat a healthy breakfast."

"Is this really something that should be brushed aside so easily?" Rias couldn't help but ask, feeling more on edge than she had even when she was thinking of tomorrow's conference. "Yuuto-kun, why on earth would you do something like that?"

Her knight. Her pure knight. The one she least expected these kinds of antics out of. And she had found him… almost found him…

Who was this slut to touch her little brother!

Oh. Right. The Empress of Succubi. Rias had an intellectual understanding of what the beings 'Succubi' meant, but to come face to face with one in the act…

Maybe she had been underestimating what the species represented as a whole.

"I don't have any excuses," Kiba admitted, sounding ashamed of himself. "Gremory-sama… I…"

"Sure you do," Luka corrected him dryly. "You met Alma Elma. That should be the only excuse anyone needs."

"Gremory?" Alma Elma suddenly spoke up, and the tone of it quite frankly unnerved Rias. The succubus turned slowly, smiling slightly as she faced Rias directly. She gasped as sudden warmth flooded through her, a pulsing, throbbing, urgent and undeniable NEED that started to unwind in her. "Oh… Now this might be satisfying…"

That NEED… it started to grow, and Rias couldn't do anything to stop it, didn't want to stop it. It was worming into her, reaching deep, deep to parts of her she had only begun to realize, and quite suddenly the room was hot, too hot, and the touch of her normally comfortable uniform was becoming unbearable, so she started to try and take it off…

"Buchou?"

The voice cut through that sudden NEED, and Rias gasped, only then realizing that she had begun to unbutton her shirt. Shocked and embarrassed, she glanced around to see if anyone noticed, and was again shocked when she realized that she wasn't the only one to start stripping.

"That is…" Akeno gulped, and then quickly pulled her already fully opened blouse closed.

"…dangerous," Koneko whispered, starting to put her top two buttons back together.

"Alma, what are you doing?" Luka's voice was enough to shake Rias from her daze completely, and she found the other devil looking surprisingly serious as he narrowed his eyes at the strongest of succubi.

"Getting your vengeance on the one who stole your rightful title of 'Lucifer', so long ago," Alma smiled cheerfully at the man she was straddling. "Taking his sister seems to be a good enough way to do it!"

Rias froze.

Wait.

What?

"Alma," Luka began, and Rias realized that at some point the other devil had begun to pinch Alma Elma's cheek, pulling hard on it.

"Id hurds, Luga-saba…! (It hurts, Luka-sama!)" Alma Elma moaned. Her tongue came out to trace her lips with a shock of bright red. "I lige id! (I like it!)"

"Of course you do," Alice sighed, though she sounded amused. Rias felt even more vertigo over the fact that Luka obviously had another woman in his lap yet Alice was doing nothing. In fact, Alice just seemed content to squeeze Ise even more, the young boy glazed in the eyes at whatever Alma Elma had been doing earlier, despite having managed to call out to Rias earlier.

"My apologies," Luka spoke to the room at large, even as he continued to pinch. Alma didn't seem to mind at all. "Please remember this is the Empress of Succubi. Her powers of seduction are on a level I don't think anyone of your ages could even hope to stand against. If you find yourself uncomfortable in her presence, that's probably the reason why."

"Mmmm," Alma Elma hummed happily and rubbed her cheeks as he finally released her. "Luka-chwan. You're still so mean to me." Again her tongue came out to trace her lips. Rias tried not to watch it too hard, blushing all the while. "You know how much that turns me on!" She pouted as she turned to nuzzle against his neck, pressing herself all along him. "And what's this I hear about you arranging a harem without me! Oh! If you keep being this mean, then I'll cry! You better take responsibility!"

"Ha…rem?" Ise latched onto that word like fish taking bait. Slowly, he turned his head from Alice, than to Alma. "My god… he really is… oh… I dreamed of being a harem king… but to see one who surpasses even that…what do you call that? Is he a bodhisattva? A harem master? Does he have a shrine? Wait, as a devil, will I be allowed to pray there? Grandfather… help your foolish grandson…"

"Oh?" Alma Elma turned enough to give the still bound Ise a seductive smile. "I smell someone very satisfying over there… Mmmm, what great lust, and power too… tell me boy: would you like to taste the pleasures even heaven can't match?"

"What are you… to my Ise… while you are…!" Rias found herself sputtering, trying to deal with the arousal, the threat to her Ise's virginity, and dealing with a species that seemed to encompass everything perverse and erotic in the world as it ran rampant straight through her clubroom!

Also…

Rias felt something harsh, deep in her stomach. The words the succubus had spoken. About her brother.… her accusations about what he had done…

Rias didn't know what to think anymore.

"Ah! I don't know what is going on anymore!" Ise sweat the sweat of his heart from his eyes as he came to the same conclusion as his King unknowingly. Alma just grinned.

"Then here…" she offered, before from her otherwise smooth back two sets of wings, greatly resembling devil wings in their shape erupted. And from the small of her back…

A tail. A spayed tail. And then, that tail opened.

"You can taste my tail, while Luka-chwan makes me his loyal love slave!" Alma Elma offered, as she turned back to the devil she was straddling.

Rias would never be able to remember how that night ended. All she would know is it would end with several tail shape hickeys on places she wasn't comfortable showing to others, Ise having sworn off succubi forever, and Alma Elma completing Luka's peerage by consuming his last two pieces, again, one of them being a mutation piece as well.

And the fact that she found herself desperately needing to have a conversation with her family that she could no longer allow to be brushed aside.

Life 6

Rassele heaved a sigh as she patiently took in the sight before her. Finally, she came to a conclusion.

"I can already tell this will be problematic," she concluded.

"Proof that you have common sense, mother," Alice nodded, sipping her tea as she took in the sight before her. Nearby, on the other side of her mother from the lamia, Ravel could feel her eyes twitching, though whether it was at the scene before her or Alice's choice of title to address the elder devil not even she was certain of.

"He's even worse than stupid Riser-onii-chan," the girl concluded glaring at the final member of her returned brother's peerage.

"And like I said," Luka explained patiently, though he had his arms folded and was tapping one foot slowly. "No matter how cute they are, you are not allowed to wear one. If you approach a guest like that, than they might get the wrong idea, and that kind of service is not offered by the Phenix maids."

"Ah," Alma Elma pouted, twirling as she displayed the outfit she was wearing. It definitely resembled a maid outfit, but had also definitely been altered to make it more appropriate to a bedroom than to actual work. Carelessly, she began stripping, revealing the brief leather garments she had on underneath, and Ravel twitched as Alma simply carried on once she was finished, not bothering to put anything else over the skimpy garments. "Luka-chwan used to be more fun!"

"Well," Ruval began, and it looked like even he was having trouble deciding how to feel about the final member of the Heavenly Knights and his brother's peerage. "Well, she should have no trouble with the devil's work," he finally offered. There were plenty of devils who specialized in that kind of summons, after all, and it was a perfectly acceptable contract, though the ones who specialized tended to be a little odd. "And I've no doubt she will be a big draw in the Rating Games…"

"Though I doubt children will be allowed to watch those matches," Rassele murmured, sighing as she did so. "Luka, I love you dearly as my child, but I must insist that you ensure your latest… servant refrains from interfering with the duties of our household."

"Of course," Luka nodded, agreeing easily with his mother's decision. He frowned slightly as he continued. "Some basic house rules should be set."

Rassele nodded, content that her son still retained his common sense. Even if his choices for his peerage obviously had some lecherous influences, she had already resigned herself to that kind of thing after her fourth son started his own harem. At least with Luka he chose to emphasize power as well as comeliness. So long as it happened behind closed doors it didn't concern her what Luka and his new succubus got up to…

"First off, no lethal feedings," Luka continued, "my family hired these servants, and the surrounding population is our responsibility, so no hurting any of them."

Rassele blinked. That seemed to imply that it wouldn't be just Luka that Alma would be with. Certainly, he can't mean to allow others…

"Second, no using any enchantments or enthrallments on them," Luka continued, raising another finger. "I'm sure you won't have any problems, but it would be bad for morale if the servants felt they were being taken advantage of unfairly."

"Hmmm," Alma hummed, tapping her chin thoughtfully. She had leaned back against a table, her newly altered devil wings folding around her like her old succubus wings had, and her tail snaked behind her, wrapping and unwrapping around a table leg. "So it's to be a challenge, is it? Well," she smiled deviously. "Not much of a challenge, but this could be fun too…"

"Also, try to spread it around so that you don't tire any particular one out," Luka nodded as he elaborated. "I don't want anyone to be fired simply because you took a liking to them and wore them out so much it affected their work."

"Variety is the spice of life," Alma accepted easily, hoping as she thrust a fist into the air cheerfully. Her grin grew wider as she turned, and suddenly Ruval found himself being studied in a way which made him very, very uncomfortable. "Now… about your family?"

"Y-you can't be serious!" Ravel squeaked, unable to believe the brazen nerve of this hussy! She was as much as propositioning her master's family, and right in front of him! Surely even Luka wouldn't stand for…

"Hmm," Luka rubbed his chin, thinking. "Well, if they approach you, that's fine. Also, one of my brothers has a harem of his own. No poaching, though if they invite you that's acceptable too."

"Luka," Ruval began holding his hands out in front of him in denial. "You can't think that I'd ever betray your trust like that, would you?"

"It's fine, Ruval," Luka smiled, not looking at all offended as his younger brother tried to insist that he wouldn't ever infringe upon his older brother's territory. Ravel started to sputter, her hand coming up to point in outrage as Luka continued to set terms for his servant to sleep around, without even the grace to attempt to do it behind his back! The movement caught Luka's eyes, and he frowned suddenly. "Also, Alma, my mother and my sister are strictly off limits."

Ravel squeaked as Alma turned a sultry gaze upon her, and the young devil suddenly realized that she too was considered viable prey in the eyes of the other creature. Ravel began to blush very red, and hunched down, trying to make herself as small a target as possible. Alma's grin just grew at the sight.

"Are you sure, Luka-chwan?" she purred, leaning forward seductively and pursing her lips as she studied Ravel first, and then Rassele found herself blinking as a smoldering look of challenge was turned on her too. "After all, if they approach me…"

"I-I-I-I would never…!" Ravel began to screech, embarrassment making her voice high, before she was cut off. She tried to swallow, but found herself frozen, unable to move, as power filled the room. It was thick, so thick it seemed to make the air hard to breathe, and even though it only carried the faintest sense of warning rather than anything truly hostile, it was the first time Ravel had ever experienced such a feeling. At the same time, a heat began as well, making the room even more stifling, as though she had suddenly been transported into a furnace that was just beginning to be warmed to the inferno it could be.

"It's been so long," Ruval whispered, and Rassele also straightened. Ravel could only turn her eyes to look at the source of the power.

Luka was standing calmly, his face unchanged, but the air around him was roiling with the heat emanating from him. The carpet around him was starting to blacken in a widening circle.

This, Ravel realized was what it meant when it was said her brother was one of the Six Great Devils. She'd heard stories, about how Serafall Leviathan's ice magic could destroy small countries, or how Sirzech Lucifer's Power of Destruction could cut down armies.

This was a flame that would not lose in power to even that of the four great Maou.

"Alma." That was all Luka said.

"Luka-sama," Alma Elma whispered, and Ravel realized she didn't look intimidated, or frightened by the show. Instead, she seemed excited, smiling as though she was basking in that heat. One hand went to her chest as she bowed. "As you wish, my King."

And like that, the power vanished, and Luka smiled happily back at his Knight. Ravel gasped, staring in uncertain shock at the capitulation.

"That was rather easy," Alice noted, and Ravel snuck a look at her, and found that the lamia was just smiling knowingly.

"Ahahaha!" Alma giggled, and began to blush girlishly, putting her hands to her cheeks as she wiggled in excitement. "How can I resist when Luka-chwan is showing off his manly side?"

"Luka," Rassele began slowly, her eyebrows furled as she tried to find the right way to express what she was thinking. Any concern she had about her son being able to control the wild creature he had brought in had vanished only moments ago at both the display and the succubus' reaction to it. It appeared the Knight genuinely held loyalty to her King. What concerned her now was the lassitude he was giving his servant, and the affect that might have on his appearance in high society. "Might I have a word with you?" Rassele gave a pointed look at Alice and then at Alma. "Just family?"

Alice's eyes narrowed briefly, before she cocked her head to the side and turned to Luka. The young looking devil frowned a moment, before nodding.

"Well, well," Alma hummed, still smiling as she shrugged as well. "I suppose I'll just find some way to…entertain myself." With a quick peck on Luka's cheek, the succubus sashayed out, a sway in her hip and a flick of her tail the last thing anyone saw of her as she left.

"I shall see to the disposition of the kitchens," Alice announced as she slithered her way out. "Rest assured, mother, Luka, there will be no slacking there. Do not worry, there is no need to recompense me. I consider it a sacred duty."

"Just don't fill up before dinner," Luka told her dryly, and Alice scowled.

"I am never full," she declared sternly. "And I resent that uncalled for accusation to my very core."

"That girl," Ruval sighed, though he was smiling as Alice departed. Ravel glared at both the departing lamia, and then at her second oldest brother. Ruval was still slightly red from Alma's rather open inquiry about him being an acceptable target, and was shifting awkwardly at Luka's casual confirmation that it he had no issues with it. "Brother, you sure now how to pick them."

"Indeed," Rassele agreed with a sigh. "A fact which I wish to talk to you about, Luka."

"Whatever do you mean, mother?" and it was the honest confusion in his expression that caused her to pause. It seemed he really didn't have any idea why anyone would have found his conversation with Alma to be strange at all.

"She means just what do you think you're doing, reincarnating a hussy like that!" Ravel shrieked, stomping her foot repeatedly as she finally succumbed to frustration and sank into her 'spoiled princess' mode. "Every, every, every time! Every servant you pick is rude, or violent, or homicidal, or just plain whorish! Why! Why are you so concerned about having a harem that you had to choose all these weirdoes!"

"Harem?" Luka repeated, sounding amused. The word had come up before, when Alma had first caught up with him, and the Sekiryutei kid had latched onto it as well. At the time, Luka had just brushed it off, but now even his family apparently thought that that was his goal. "I wouldn't use that word around where any of them can hear you," he cautioned. He could already guess what his peerage's reaction to it would be.

"And how else is society supposed to think about your choices?" Rassele posed the question, trying to impart to her son just what the consequences of his choices were. "While your selections have been unique, and powerful so far, it does not change the appearance given to others. With your pawn, many will wonder about whether you taken concern for the safety of others into account. With your bishop, many might wonder about your… tastes," Rassele offered delicately, remembering the youthful appearance of the Tamamo-no-Mae. "And now, with your Knight, many will wonder at your ability to control your own peerage." Then she sighed briefly. "There will probably be many who will seek her out, simply to make a cuckold out of you. Luka, you must be more aware of devil society since you returned to it."

"You think there will be people who will sleep with Alma just to try and embarrass me?" Luka mused thoughtfully, though he was smiling slightly. "And I noticed that neither of you actually ever brought up Granberia. Or Alice for that matter."

"Because I don't know where to get started with that snake woman," Ravel huffed, puffing her cheeks out as she scowled at the many, many personal idiosyncrasies of the lamia.

"Point," Luka chuckled ruefully. He smiled gently. "Though it's been so long, I suppose I'd forgotten it: the selfishness of devils."

"Selfishness?" Ruval repeated, frowning at the slight at his entire species. "Aren't you a devil too?"

"Only mostly," Luka corrected, and Ruval winced at the reminder of Luka's ancestry. "And I've seen how devils can be so full of themselves that they refuse to view others for what they are. Even then, in the centuries I've wandered, I've seen many, many things. I've spent so much time around other creatures, other cultures, that I've come to realize: devils need to be shown that there is more to the world than just the three powers."

"What do you mean?" Rassele asked cautiously. This was not the response she had been expecting at all.

"If we're covering your concerns, then I think one of the big things that you're worried about is Alma's bedroom habits, right?" Luka asked, and Ravel huffed at even having to have that point clarified. "You're forgetting one important thing."

"And that is?" Ravel demanded, snorting at the thought that any sort of excuse could justify such behavior.

"Alma Elma is a succubus," Luka said plainly. "She doesn't have sex for pleasure, or for affection. Sex is just food to her. She has the same amount of interest in it as any of us might have in dinner, or a late night snack."

Ravel blushed at the blunt statement, but Rassele found herself frowning as she considered it. Ruval on the other hand seemed bemused, scratching his chin slowly.

"So what if she has other partners?" Luka continued. "Being upset about that would be like being upset at someone for eating at one restaurant instead of another. She isn't looking for partners, she's looking for prey. And if someone does try to get at me through her," Luka's grin turned a little malicious; "than I have little doubt she will destroy them completely."

Ravel felt a little chill at the surety of her brother's words, and realized that he wasn't just making excuses for his Knight. Whatever it was he was referring to, he had seen it happen before.

"Erubetie too," Luka continued. "You keep looking at her and seeing someone who won't hesitate to attack a fellow devil, who's aggressiveness is uncalled for and a sign of instability and reflects badly on her in the eyes of society. But when I see her I see the Queen of Slimes, defending herself and her people at all costs. Slimes are hunted and harmed by nearly every other species on the planet: calling them pests and burning them out of hand, or even just polluting the waters they grow in out of ignorance. She has been fighting a war against the world to protect her kind, and she's been losing. Of course she's hostile, it's the only choice the worlds given her if she's going to protect her species.

"As for Tamamo-chan," he continued, "she's a kitsune. She enjoys pranking, and being mischievous, and her appearance, as I've recently learned, can be called one of the greatest pranks she's ever played," Luka gave a wry smile. "I've only just gotten in on the joke, actually. But even if Kitsune can be mischievous, once their loyalty is won they never turn their back on the one who won it. She can be counted on."

"I think I see," Ravel finally frowned, rubbing her chin. She was the youngest one there, and she had the least time to become set in her ways, or to become to ensnared in devil pride and tradition. She still didn't like the succubus or the slime, but listening to Luka's reasons behind their behavior she could almost come to understand them, if only a bit. "What about Granberia?"

"She's the one who stands out the least, probably because you, as a devil, are already the most familiar with dragons," Luka pointed out. "With Tannin, a former Dragon King himself, having turned into a devil and so many other of his species already living in the underworld, you already know a lot about how dragons are: powerful, aloof, favoring combat but capable of reason as well. Most of the higher ranked dragons tend to have quirks of their own, but Granberia's hobby is just working on her sword skills, so even that isn't hard for devils to deal with. But if you weren't so used to dragons already, would you all have been so forgiving? Granberia has regularly been putting most of the guards and just about any member of anyone else's peerage who will agree to a match with her in the infirmary on a pretty regular basis."

Rassele was simply frowning, and Ruval looked troubled. "My knights have been a little reluctant to come to the main manor recently," he admitted sheepishly. "Though my rooks and my queen have been enjoying the matches. I think they're trying to find a weakness in case they ever have to meet her in the games."

"While I acknowledge that many of your peers come from very different cultures," Rassele finally admitted, "there is no reason that they cannot make a minimal effort at the least to adopt to devil society. They are new low class devils, after all…"

"And before they were devils, they were a King of Dragons, a Queen of Slimes, a High Priestess of Foxes, an Empress of Succubi, and the Lord of Monsters," Luka countered gently. Rassele grimaced at the reminder of the former ranks that all of Luka's peerage encompassed. "Even if they are devils now, they still hold high standing with their former species. I have no intention of keeping them from interacting with their old people. In fact, I want to encourage it, even help Erubetie to reestablish her people here, in the Underworld. The ties we make with them can help bring devils and many other species closer together. I've made ties with many other types of monsters too, over the years, and it wouldn't do to neglect any of them, either."

"You can't mean," Rassele sat up straighter, eyes widening as she realized what her son was saying. Luka grinned as he continued.

"That's right. We are at a time of ceasefire with the other two powers," he went on. "And if rumors about what the conference occurring today is about are true, than it may even go as far as peace soon. And if that does happen, than why not take the opportunity and extend that peace to other species? Think about it: a lasting peace between the Three Powers, and with the Monster Nations as well."

"I see," Ruval breathed softly, taking in his excited brother as he described a future that he was even now making efforts to achieve. "You always did prefer peace to war, brother."

"With the five here, interacting with devils, they could stand both as a way for devils to learn about the other species as well as act as proof to the species that they can live peacefully and fruitfully with us as well," Rassele found herself growing excited as well, her smile growing as she considered what Luka was proposing. "And it would begin here, in Phenix territory…"

Rassele decided she would have to have a long talk with her husband in the near future. Business opportunities beckoned, after all.

"And there is one other reason I chose who I did for my peerage," Luka continued settling back.

"And that is?" Ravel prompted, gnawing on her lip as she tried to keep up with the high level conversation around her. This conversation had so far proven to be a revelation to her. The chance for peace to expand relation with other powers out there, the culture shock of dealing with vastly different species lifestyles, even her brother's vision and foresight for paving the road ahead. So much of what she had thought she had known had been turned over on her, and she suddenly felt rather small in the face of it all.

"Long before we were anything else, every one of them was my comrade," Luka smiled softly in remembrance. "I've crossed blades with all of my peers in the past, and then I have ended up fighting beside them as well. When the situation looked hopeless, I've trusted my back to all of them, and had that trust rewarded. I would not hesitate to do so again."

"Alright," Ruval laughed, throwing his hands in the air as he gave in. "I give up. Congratulations, brother, on completing your peerage." His eyes narrowed as his grin turned sharp. "But don't think that the Rating Game will be so easy, just because you've gathered a strong team. I look forward to showing you there is more to the Games than just power, when we end up having a match."

"We'll see," Luka's own grin was sharp too as he let himself get drawn into the challenge. Rassele sighed, though she was smiling at the childish rivalry of her boys. Her worries had been addressed, and she was willing to accept her first son's choices.

"What about Alice?" Ravel finally spoke up, unable to suppress her curiosity. Luka blinked, and looked at his sister in surprise.

"What about her?" he prompted, and the princess of House Phoenix explained.

"You explained why Alma Elma, Tamamo-sensei, Erubetie, and Granberia all act the way they do," she continued, tapping off on her fingers as she his peerage in turn. "But what about Alice? Is she the way she is because that's what all lamia are like…?"

"Most lamias are polite, friendly creatures with a high emphasis on respect towards authority and a tendency towards pure romance," Luka declared dryly. "Please do not take Alice as any kind of representative of her species as a whole. It will lead to a very wrong first impression."

"Er, really?" Ravel blinked, trying to reconcile her image of Alice with her brother's description of Alice's species. "But, she's so different…"

"Alice counts as a whole other species in my book. I'm proud of my abilities to interact with the various monster races," Luka admitted, "but even I have to admit that Alice requires her own special set of skills to understand." He smiled softly as he continued. "But honestly, I wouldn't have her any other way."

Ravel took in that smile, and had no other choice but to accept the fact that she would be dealing with the snake woman for a very long time, judging by the love and affection even she could see in her brother.

"Well, fine," she finally huffed, folding her arm. It didn't mean she had to like it though! She was the sister-in-law, so it was okay for her not to get along, after all!

That was the scene that Lord Phenix came across as he entered the room: his wife looking contemplative, his two biological children looking amused and resigned in turn, and his surrogate son looking satisfied.

"Well," the Lord Phenix began, pleased that the reintegration of the Lost Sixth seemed to be going so well. "It is good to see everyone in high spirits," he decided.

"Father," Ruval greeted, a bit surprised by the other devil's appearance. "Why are you here? I had heard you were to be part of the guard at the conference…"

"Indeed," Lord Phoenix nodded grimly. The Kuoh Conference could decide the very fate of their species, and thus most of the Seventy Two pillars that still existed had a pure member of their family present to lead a troup as either honor guards, or the spearhead of the assault if hostilities began again. "However, I was sent back with a request from the Maous Leviathan and Lucifer."

"A request?" Rassele repeated, frowning. Luka's eyes narrowed as well, and he grimaced at the names.

"Luka," Lord Phoenix began, turning an empathetic but firm gaze to his prodigal son. "They're requesting your presence, and the presence of your peerage at the conference proper."

"I expected as much," Luka murmured, standing as he did so. "I guess it's time for a long overdue conversation…"

*Scene Break*

Nobody would ever accuse Sona Sitri of being overly casual. She was well aware of her own nature: disciplined, ordered, and perhaps a bit too idealistic for her own good. She had grown up in high devil society, after all, and she knew her dream of opening a school for mid to low class devils to learn more about the Rating Game would be viewed less that optimally by that high society.

Still, she persevered, her time as Kuoh Academy President valuable training for the time when she opened her own school, and she was reasonably proud with how that training was paying off.

All that aside though, she didn't think an experience like this would be particularly useful for her dream.

How did holding a conference for the heads of each of the Three Great Powers to react to a violation of the ceasefire and to potential see a permanent end to that ceasefire, one way or the other, hold any practical experience in education, after all?

Even if she didn't show it, she could feel her own tension racing through her, and she wished that she could have more members of her own peerage present as she glanced over at her oldest friend and rival, Rias Gremory, as she sat stiffly nearby as well. Even that Hyoudou Issei, arguably the most inexperienced and unprepared for this scene was feeling the tension, judging from the way he was swallowing.

Sona and her fellow young devils sat to the side of the room, against the wall, while dominating the room was a massive table. Representing the devils were none other than Sirzechs Lucifer and Serafall Leviathan themselves, and Sona couldn't suppress a sigh of relief that even her sister was aware enough of the atmosphere not to make a scene like she usually did when they met up. On the angel's side of the table were none other than Michael and Gabriel, both of the Seraph rank. Sona could recognize the beautiful female angel quite easily, seeing as Serafall had several pictures of her with the words 'My Rival!' and 'One day, I shall defeat you!' scrawled on them. And finally, on the side of the fallen were Azazel of the Grigori and Vali, none other than the Hakuryuko himself.

And not to forget, poised outside, were legions of all the races, poised to take action if negotiations failed.

"Puru?" and also not to forget, were the ones offering refreshments. Grayfia was present, performing her duties as a maid, but she had been joined by another to assist her.

"No," Azazel laughed as he waived off the jiggling slime girl who had molded her body into none other than a maid outfit. "Ha ha! What interesting help you've managed to find!"

"Pururu!" Sladako chimed happily already jiggling over with the tray to the angel side, beaming happily as she did so. Even as Michael smiled and declined, Sona glared at the newest mascot of the Occult Club. When Grayfia had taken the slime under her wing and started training her, Sona had had her doubts. Sladako had proven to be adorable, and willing to help, but she'd also ended up proving herself to be a bit of a dojikko.

Maybe Sona was holding a bit of a grudge, but the ONE time she falls to temptation and tries to wear underwear that was more erotic than pragmatic had been the time she had been introduced to the slime girl and discovered her love of clothes dissolving hugs.

She couldn't face Saji for a week!

For Ise, on the other hand, he was suppressing the desire to make a victory fist. "Fight-o, Sladako-chan!" he whispered, rooting for his adorable familiar. Prove to them all the power and charm of the Slime race!

Rias suppressed a wince at her Pawn's brief slip, but let it pass. Instead, she just reached out and took his hand. When he glanced at her in surprise, she just whispered, "I'm gathering courage from my Ise."

"Right, Buchou," Ise whispered nodding as he gripped her hand and smiled.

"Ara, ara," Akeno decided to get in on the Ise-lovin' and took his free hand. "If Buchou can get courage, then so can I!"

Rias glared at her, and Ise's hair started to rise as sparks flying between the two started generating static electricity.

Not quite sure why he was suddenly feeling like he'd stuck his hand in an electric socket, he tried to defuse the situation by whispering, "But Buchou, why are we waiting? Isn't everyone here yet?"

"Not yet," Sona whispered in place of Rias. With a glare of light she adjusted her glasses. "It seems that another party with interests in this conference has been invited. Their invitation was last minute, and thus we must wait for them."

"Other party?" Ise asked, confusion obvious in his honest face. But weren't the leaders of all the powers already here? Who else could be coming?

"I understand you're already familiar with them," Sona gave him a quick look, before blinking in surprise at the grimace on Rias' face. "It's…"

She was cut off as the door to the conference opened, and Luka Phenix and his peerage swept in. Ise started to call a happy greeting to the group, before he remembered he wasn't supposed to interrupt. Then he took in the sight of the group and swallowed.

Luka had always been so laid back, that seeing him serious was a shock to the other boy.

Unlike the rest of the leaders, Luka was still wearing rather informal clothes, just simple unadorned shirts and pants, though his scarf for some reason was heavily embroidered and looked like it was of a much higher quality than his usual one. Similarly, his peerage was dressed in similar styles to their normal outfits, though they looked higher quality and had additional tassles or decorations in various places. Ise blinked at the expensive ribbon that had been wrapped around Alice's tail, and it looked like Granberia's armor had been polished to a high sheen. Tamamo's kimono was much more elaborate than it usually was, and even Alma Elma seemed to be wearing more clothes than Ise had ever seen her in.

Erubetie was still naked, though, and Ise had to fight back the urge to bleed from the nose. Oppai!

"You're late," Azazel pointed out, sounding more like he was taking the chance to complain than that he was actually upset. "Though, I still can't help but wonder at why we should…"

Whatever he was about to say was cut off by a loud, "Pururururu!"

"Sladako-chan?" Ise gulped as his familiar bounced over to where Erubetie was glaring at the room in general. When the slime queen took a quick look at her, Ise worried that his familiar was about to be the reason for negotiations falling when suddenly…

"Is she… dancing?" Rias asked in a strange tone, feeling a little put out.

"Pururu!" Sladako declared, as she began to wave both her arms to one side excitedly as she wiggled in place. "Pu-RUUU-ruru!" she then added, switching the sides she was waving her arms on. "Puru puru!" she continued, and began waving her hands above her head as she spun in a circle. "Puru!" she declared as she struck a pose, pointing at her face as she smiled from beneath her long bangs.

The entire room stared for a moment, with varying degrees of confusion as Erubetie nodded.

"Thank you for your report," Erubetie declared solemnly, before turning to Ise. "It seems that this young slime has nothing but good words to speak of you, Hyoudou Issei. You continue to prove yourself a friend of the slime kingdom."

"That was talking!" Ise gaped, surprised at the revelation. So! Slimes could talk! And they did it by dancing! No, wait, maybe it was by jiggling, and it just looked like dancing! Or maybe it was code! The newly discovered language of 'Purunese'!

"Ho?" Granberia also spoke up, smiling slightly. "For Erubetie to speak well of one besides Luka-sama. It seems I was right to put my faith in you. I shall train you again as a show of gratitude."

"Erk," Ise gulped, remembering the last time he had been trained. He didn't want to! He'd die! He'd really die!

"Hyoudou Isse," Xenovia began to pray, "may you rest in peace and may God have- herk!"

"Stop killing me in your head," he snapped back at the holy sword user.

"Thou art a popular guy, art thou not?" Tamamo giggled playing with her fan. Ise tentatively smiled at her, not sure how to greet the loli that could become a menacing onee-chan, only to gulp and shrink back as he caught sight of Alma Elma behind her, smiling as she caressed her tail slowly.

No to tails! Tails weren't erotic! They weren't erotic at all! Why did succubi have to have a tail like that! His fantasy world never included anything like that!

"You know we are in a meeting to determine the survival of all our powers, don't you?" Azazel pointed out, though he was grinning while he did so. Ise jerked and glanced around guiltily, only to find Michael smiling and Gabriel holding a hand up to suppress a giggle. On the devil side however…

Sirzechs, Grayfia, and Serafall only had eyes for one.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?" Luka greeted the two quietly, his expression somber.

"Luka," Serafall sounded conflicted, but she grit her teeth and put on an expressionless face. Sirzech only closed his eyes in regret. Grayfia seemed about to reach out, either to her husband or her old friend, but caught herself and resumed her stance as a maid.

"So," Azazel continued to prove to be the driving force behind the meeting as he spoke up again. "Is there any reason why the great 'Flames of Wrath' has been invited? Four of the Six Great Devils are here, you know. Isn't the devil side showing its force a little too much?"

"You misunderstand," Luka responded calmly as he and his peerage approached the table. Sona noted how they did not approach the devil side, but rather the final free space that had been left open. "I'm not the one who was invited."

"Greetings," Alice began and Ise blinked as she slithered her way to the table, coiling herself at it once she arrived and assuming a patient position. Rather than join her, Luka joined the rest of his peerage in standing behind her, as an attendant himself! "I am Alipheese Fateburn XVI. Though I have retired from the position of Monster Lord, in order to see to the interests of my former subjects, I have been called as an outside observer. Please, if needed, I shall act as a mediator in any disputes that might arise."

Ise gaped as Rias gasped softly at the revelation. That, and the poise and dignity that Alice was showing.

"Pururu?" Sladako offered tea and some cake, and Alice shook her head calmly.

"No, thank you. I shall refrain from refreshments during the negotiations," she informed the slime.

A chill went down Ise's back. Alice. Not eating.

It was then Ise finally came to terms with how important this meeting really was.

"Speaking objectively, Heaven has no issues with a mediator being present," Michael spoke up, regarding the lamia calmly. "However, there is the issue of the mediator being a devil as well…"

"If there is any worry about prejudice being displayed, please set it at ease," Alice responded. "Though I have recently changed into a devil myself and no longer hold the title, my loyalties to my former subjects as the Monster Lord still take precedence even now. And if it is issues of prejudice, then bear in mind that most other mediators that might be selected would have a similar prejudice to the forces of Heaven under normal circumstances. However," Alice paused, narrowing her eyes. "It is the Monster Nations that have dealt with unfair aggression in the past by not only devils, but also angels, and the fallen too," she turned her eyes in brief to each of those forces, and Michael glanced aside with a regretful look while Azazel snorted.

"In the Grigori's defense, even we want nothing to do with that crazy bitch," he calmly waived off the unspoken accusation.

"Furthermore, if it comes to loyalty to devils, there is only one that I hold any respect for," Alice continued, and this time it was the devil's side to look uncomfortable, "and he has been absent from devil society for many centuries now."

"Please, regard my presence here as in my capacity as the consort of the former Monster Lord," Luka spoke up as well, his tone calm. "As a King, regardless of how my Queen decides, I trust her objectiveness and will abide by her decision. Or is there any reason to doubt my word on this?"

"No," Michael offered, shaking his head slowly. "Though fearsome as an enemy, Luka of the Phenix has proven himself to be honorable in the past."

"None here either," Azazel shrugged, before giving another roguish grin. "Though the offer I made before still stands…"

"Thank you, but no," Luka declined politely. "I'm afraid I have no interest in joining the Grigori, even regardless of technically meeting the requirements."

Sona stared in confusion at the words, before their meaning hit her and she gasped softly. She had heard the rumors before, but for it to be confirmed that one of the Six Great Devils did in fact have fallen blood in him was nearly as great a shock to her as hearing of God's death.

The confusion lingered in Sona throughout the conference, and even the fact that Azazel himself eventually proposed peace, that seemed a distant thought to her as she surreptitiously stared at the Lost Sixth.

She was still feeling confused when the world around her, and then herself, was frozen.

*Scene Break*

Ise watched as Vali launched himself from the window, his white armor glowing as he threw himself at the gathered magicians. He couldn't help but feel awe as he watched his destined rival tear apart the gathered terrorists like it was nothing, though even more came after despite their losses.

It had been an unbelievable past few minutes! The negotiations had been going well, though he really didn't understand a lot of the complicated stuff that they were talking about. Every once in a while, Azazel would say something that would cause the room to freeze, but Ise had the feeling he was doing it for fun. Despite that, Alice would immediately speak up, and then everyone would relax.

Ise had a new respect for the snake-nee-sama! Even if she was really casual when she was in private, and even if she never seemed to stop eating, when it came time for her to be serious she was amazing! Luka-sama had really found himself a great Queen! Even Buchou seemed surprised at times.

Finally, it had been Azazel who had proposed peace between the powers, and even though Ise didn't really understand a lot that happened, he still couldn't help but think that he was watching something amazing! And afterwards, Ise had a chance to ask Michael and Azazel about Asia, and about him.

And Azazel had even shown him the true path. Peace! Peace was best! With peace, even he would be able to sleep with Buchou!

But then, just when it looked like peace and Buchou were within grasp, they were attacked by terrorists! Ise scowled, furious at the thought of his Kohai, Gasper, and those terrorists forcing him to stop time so they could try to assassinate the leaders of the Three Factions! Damn them, for getting between him and Buchou, er, peace!

Soon, Buchou would have the technique that would let her switch with her rook piece at the Occult Research Clubroom and they would be able to save Gasper, and stop the terrorists. But in the meantime, Ise could only watch as Vali continued to cause a distraction and take down the enemy magicians.

"Azazel," Sirzech's continued, the Maou in full business mode as he kept his attention on the Director of the Grigori. "Continuing our conversation from before…"

"Yeah, what is it?" Azazel asked, sounding like he didn't have a care in the world. Then he frowned, turning to look over at where Grayfia had originally set up the snacks while waiting to serve them. "And weren't you going to refrain from refreshments?"

"Negotiations are over, so now there is no more need to hold back," Alice declared, before taking another bite of shortcake.

"Thanks for all your hard work, Alice," Luka told her dryly. Despite the attack, Ise saw that the young looking devil appeared just as relaxed as the rest of the big shots. His peerage seemed restless though, with Granberia's hand resting on the hilt of her sword and Tamamo'ss fan open and concealing her mouth beneath narrowed eyes. Erubetie was scowling, though Ise already could guess that was just her normal expression.

Then Ise realized that there was someone missing, and when he turned to look…

"Eh!" he gulped pointing over at where Alma was leaning against the blonde angel! It was erotic! The erotic picture between succubus and angel!

"I can't help myself but be fascinated," she purred as she trapped the flustered Gabriel by leaning on her from behind. "When I look at you, I realize just how true the rumors of angels' beauty truly are. Your hair, your eyes, your lips… I can't help but want to taste them, and everything else about you…"

"Elma-san," Gabriel managed not to stutter as the succubus' hands started to trail down her shoulder. "This is most inappropriate! Should we not be more concerned about the attack?"

"When times are dangerous, my heart just beats faster," Alma whispered softly, one hand coming up to Gabriel's chin as she started to guide her chin upwards. Ise gasped, and blood began to drip. They were going to kiss! The two bishoujos! They really were going to kiss! Oh? What was happening to the angel-nee-chan's wings? Were the edges starting to flicker? "It makes my body hotter… please, help me to cool…"

"Alma," Luka interrupted, reaching out to pinch the succubus cheek and pull her away from the blushing angel. "Not the time. Really. Not the time."

Noooo! Ise felt his hopes shatter. Grandfather! Grandfather in heaven! Why was this wonderful scene stopped!

"So is that what tempts one of the great Seraphs?" Azazel snorted, having caught witness of the scene. He leered at the red faced Gabriel. "You know, there are many beautifies among the fallen…"

"Don't change the subject," Sirzechs told him dryly, shaking his head in either disbelief or amusement. "What are you doing collecting Sacred Gears? You even started gathering Longinus users. Did you intend to kill God, even though God doesn't exist anymore?"

"It's to prepare," Azazel admitted, shaking his head as he did so.

"Prepare?" Michael asked, before glancing to the side and shifting as he noticed Alma eying him with a devious smile. "That is the kind of talk that incites uneasiness, even though you reject war."

"Am I so looked down on that even though I proposed peace I'm still distrusted?" Azazel snorted. "And no, just because I don't want to go to war with you guys, it doesn't mean that self-defense isn't necessary. Rather, should I say we weren't preparing for an attack from you guys."

"Then who?" Sirzechs prompted. Azazel closed his eyes with a sigh, and then opened his mouth to speak when…

"Khaos Brigade." Azazel blinked, and turned to the one who had spoken.

"Khaos Brigade?" Sirzechs asked, frowning as he turned to face Luka as well, the gravity of the situation enough for even the regrets of the past to be set aside. Luka nodded seriously.

"A group made up of devils, angels, fallen, magicians, even humans; just about anyone who is dissatisfied with the current state of the powers is welcome to them," Luka went on. "From what I've seen, they even have Sacred Gear users with Balance Breaker among them."

"Oh?" Azazel seemed impressed. "So you've heard of them too?"

"They've been gathering dispossessed devils to their side," Luka elaborated. "Many of the Old-Maou faction have joined them. They've even approached me, seeing as I was in self-exile from the Underworld."

"And your response?" Sirzechs frowned, narrowing his eyes.

"I sent back the messengers' ashes in a tasteful urn," Luka admitted, his tone flinty as he gave a hard smile. Ise shivered at the sight of the normally laid back devil being so serious. "I fought too hard and too long for the ceasefire and the devil's society that we created, and this eventual peace, to let a few disgruntled has-beens endanger it."

"Ha!" Azazel threw back his head and laughed. "When you say no, you sure do it with style, 'Flames of Wrath'!" He snorted. "Did you really use an urn?"

"It was quite a well done piece," Alice confirmed, pausing to swipe a strawberry from a different slice of cake from the one she was eating. "The granite base was well polished, and the gold inlay was quality workmanship."

"Though it looks like at least one of their members has a sense of humor of their own," Luka admitted, frowning. "They sent a 'thank you' note in return, complimenting me in my choice of work. It was signed with a cartoon monkey giving me a thumbs up."

Ise found he really didn't have a response for that. Most of the room seemed to feel the same, judging from their expressions.

No one else seemed to have a response either for a moment, before Azazel started laughing again, throwing his head back as he guffawed uproariously.

"Well, that isn't something you see every…" the leader of the fallen began, before Ise jumped as the shine of a magic circle appeared. It wasn't one he had ever seen before.

"So they're coming?" Sirzechs grunted, before his eyes narrowed. "Grayfia! Send Rias and Ise-kun immediately!"

"Wha-" Ise yelped, wondering what had upset the Maou so much, only to yelp again when Grayfia pushed him and Rias to a corner, activating the technique to send them to save their Kohai.

*Scene Break*

Yuuto Kiba was suppressing a scowl as he watched his King and his friend disappear.

It wasn't due to ill will towards either of them. Kiba was genuinely grateful to Rias for having saved him and given him the chance to live. And even towards Ise-kun, Kiba could never feel anything but warm camaraderie; the pawn had been the one to stand beside him while he searched for vengeance against the Excaliburs, who had helped and supported, and in the end reminded he, Kiba, of where his true loyalties lay.

No, he was scowling because he was overcome with regret that he could not go with them.

Neither of them, so long as Kiba of the Holy Demonic Sword was in their presence, would ever fall.

Though even if he was scowling, he was also keeping a very, VERY close eye on Alma. Thankfully, the succubus seemed to have given up on seducing him in favor of more cunning prey.

If Kiba was the praying type, he'd offer them up to the two angels, who Alma was still watching very closely even as the new magic circle shimmered into being.

"The magic circle of Leviathan," Sirzech declared, explaining just who it was that was coming to visit them, and despite his regret and his caution, Kiba felt a chill go down his spine.

Leviathan. Even Serafall, despite bearing that name, still used the circle of the Sitri. The fact that the original seal of house Leviathan was here, now, meant that one of the descendants of the original four Maou was arriving.

"How do you do, current Maou, Sirzechs-dono?" the devil that arrived greeted smiling fearlessly. Kiba couldn't help but wonder how Ise would have reacted if he was still here: the woman who had appeared was definitely beautiful. She was dressed in a low cut dress with slits up the thighs, and she had a menacing air to her. Kiba had heard about Ise's response to Tamamo when she had changed forms, and even though he never particularly cared for those kinds of things, Kiba had little doubt Ise would be crowing in delight at the newcomer's appearance.

A sudden movement occurred, something that he only just caught from the corner of his eyes. Even as Sirzechs identified the newcomer as Cattleya Leviathan, and the devil of the Old-Maou faction began to elaborate on her reasons for joining the newly revealed Khaous Brigade and their intentions for taking advantage of the lack of God to create a new world, Kiba glanced at the movement that had caught his eyes.

It was Luka's Queen, Alice.

Kiba's eyes narrowed as something ominous made itself known to him:

Alice had stopped eating.

The fork was right at mouth level, and it was loaded with delicious looking cake, but she had turned away as though right in the middle of the bite, and she was searching with narrow eyes in the direction of the battlefield.

Kiba had only known Alice for a short time, but just like Ise, he had come to realize that a not eating Alice was an indicator of something important happening.

"Cattleya-chan!" Serafall was calling out to the other devil, but Cattleya just scowled and snapped at the current Leviathan.

"Serafall! How dare you call out to me, whose title you stole just to live a shameless life!" the other devil growled, glaring as she did so. Serafall flinched, and didn't look like she had a response. "I will kill you here, and take back the title of Maou Leviathan as its rightful owner!"

"So," Azazel grinned roguishly as he began, but Kiba had noticed a change settling down over the other new devils in the room. With growing concern, he realized that it wasn't just Alice that was staring out into the battle field. Granberia had straightened as well, her sword nearly an inch out of its sheath, and Erubetie had let her arms drop to her side, the mass of viscous liquid that marked where her human shape ended quivering. Tamamo had folded her fan, her hands tucked into her sleeves. And even Alma Elma…

Kiba felt the urge to sigh and blush in remembered embarrassment as he realized that Alma Elma was stripping. It was only the additional clothes she had apparently put on for the sake of ceremony, leaving her in her brief and bordering on indecent normal attire, and she was doing it with a serious expression as well, but stripping was stripping in the end.

"We will destroy the world as it is now," Cattleya boasted, gesturing widely. "And we will remake it, as our own! It's time for this decaying world to be remade!"

"Decaying?" Azazel snorted. "Aren't things prospering now more than ever? Your goals are too cliché! Oi, Cattleya, those are the words of a villain about to die, you know that?"

"Azazel," the Leviathan growled, but he just strode forward fearlessly, with a smirk on his face as he did so.

"Sirzechs, Michael, you mind if I take care of this myself?" the Governor of the Grigori didn't really sound like he was asking, more just stating the way things were going to be.

"Cattleya, you have no intention of surrendering, do you?" Sirzechs seemed resigned in Kiba's eyes, even as the Maou gave one last warning to the other devil.

"Correct, Sirzechs," Cattleya declared easily. "You were a fair Maou. But you weren't the best Maou."

"I see," Azazel raised a hand glowing with power towards the wall leading to the courtyard, but he stopped in surprise as a hand gently pushed it back down. "Oi? Luka? Didn't I already say not to interfere?"

"My apologies, Azazel," Luka said softly, though he was focused entirely on Cattleya. "But surely you've felt it already, the power attempting to conceal itself in the background?"

Kiba sucked in a breath, not having felt any such power himself, and heard Xenovia shift beside him at the declaration. Azazel just shrugged, picking at his ear carelessly.

"Yeah? So?" he demanded. "Whoever it is, it's not like I wouldn't be able to escape a surprise attack. Why, do you want that one? You can just go out and pick your own fight while I finish mine."

Luka glanced at him for a moment before focusing on the rebelling Leviathan.

"Your goal is to destroy the world and remake it in your image, was that correct, Cattleya?" Luka asked her, and she scowled at him.

"Hmph. The so called 'Lost Sixth'? You should have joined us while you had the chance," she declared. "You could have had a chance to claim the glory you were denied when you were driven out all those years ago. Instead, you can perish with the current usurpers!"

"Destroying everything that displeased her," Luka just continued. "There was another that me and my peerage had met in the past that had the same goal. With your goals clear, it's no surprise that she would wind up with Khaos Brigade." Cattleya's eyes widened briefly as she realized what Luka hinting at. His just narrowed in return. "Sorry, Azazel. But it looks like I've got an older grudge to settle with this one, and the one who came with her."

"Tch," Azazel tsked, looking disgusted as he realized something. Kiba could barely keep up with the conversation at this point, just glancing around the room to try and take stock of everything that was going on. Luka's peerage had drawn closer, arrayed behind him as though to back him up, and Kiba realized that Michael had closed his eyes and was making a regretful face even as Gabriel put a hand to her forehead as though in resignation. "That crazy bitch? Fine. Go wild. I've lost my taste for a bout of Armageddon."

As though his words were the cue, the wall behind where Cattleya was standing was sheared off, an explosion of light and force that made Kiba wince despite the fact that Grayfia had placed a defensive shield between where the explosion had occurred and where they stood.

"I told you this wouldn't work," the voice came from the newcomer that was hovering outside the new hole. Kiba's eyes managed to focus on her as the smoke and rubble cleared: a woman, blonde with blue eyes, and a lush figure. She was lovely, Kiba noted, and was dressed in a white toga with gold jewelry.

And from her back sprouted twelve dark wings, as many as even Michael, Gabriel, or Azazel had out.

"Illias," Gabriel whispered, pity in her voice as she looked upon the darkened Seraph. "Have you fallen so far?"

"Quiet, you fool," Illias snapped at her former comrade. Her tone made Kiba nervous, put him on edge: unlike the gentle tones that the representatives of the angels tended to use, or the brash and sardonic one that Azazel favored, or even the haughty and cultured one that Cattleya used, this newcomer, this Illias, had a cold rage to her voice, the sound of someone on the edge of violence that could erupt at any moment from any provocation. "I've no use for the weak or the blind."

"It was not weakness that caused us to stay our hand when you asked us to aid you in your crusade," Michael spoke up, and Kiba realized that even the angels might have had issues within their own organization. "Nor was it blindness that caused us to decide to stop."

"Quiet, you fool," Illias snapped, one hand coming up to clutch at her chin. Kiba grit his teeth at the tenseness in her knuckles, or the lines around her eyes as she glared hatefully at the leader of Heaven's forces. "You can't see, can you? Even now, with the truth staring you in the face, you can't bring yourself to look. What's this?" the fallen continued, turning to run a hate filled eye over the group. "Have you actually considered joining forces with those abominations?" She started to chuckle. "If there was ever proof needed that this world had become corrupt, than this would serve as enough!"

"So this is the fallen Seraph Illias," Sirzechs noted, frowning at the newcomer. "I see rumors of her personality have not been overly exaggerated after all."

"Like I said, even we want nothing to do with the crazy bitch," Azazel drawled.

"Oh, and what have we here?" Illias continued, turning that sharp edged glare towards one in particular. "Is that you, Alipheese? Nothing to say to the one whose life you've ruined? Nothing to say to your executioner?"

"No," Alice responded, her tone flat. Without a glance, the lamia began to approach, dark power starting to gather in her hands. Kiba sucked in a breath as the air nearly thickened around him as the lamia prepared for battle. "I'll save any words for when I stand over your grave."

"Ah! Hahahaha!" Illias began to laugh wildly, throwing her head back as she did so. "You think you stand a chance against me? You and those filthy Knights? The thought of you being able to even scratch me is so deplorable it makes me want to vomit!" When she finished laughing she still had a maniacal grin as she glared at the former Monster Lord. "But don't worry! I'll ruin that pretty face of yours before I kill you! And I brought some playmates as well to deal with the other filthy monsters too!"

"Luka-sama," Granberia spoke up, her tone serious but controlled.

"I see them," Luka nodded. He lifted his hand to the side, and Kiba drew a startled breath as a sword started to form there. "Please, all of you. Be careful."

Careful of…! Kiba began to wonder what they were talking about, but then he managed to make them out: even as magicians continued to descend from their teleportation seals, there were four silhouettes arranged across the building tops, strange looking shapes that couldn't be human at all.

Then Kiba caught sight of the sword Luka had summoned and he shivered.

"Angel Halo," Michael sounded equally unnerved. "An evil sword, perhaps the only blade in existence to possess the trait 'Holy Slayer'. How many angels has it cut down…?"

"Hey," Luka pouted briefly at the words. "I keep telling people: it's a holy sword, a holy sword! I mean, it's even made out of angels…"

"Our kin," Gabriel had a conflicted look on her face. "Even now, they suffer… I can hear them…"

"Fine," Luka huffed, before turning back to Cattleya. Even the Leviathan seemed cautious.

"To think," the descendent of the first Leviathan sounded somber, "the blade that was hailed as the greatest of demonic blades would one day be pointed at even me…"

"That's it, I'm done talking now," Luka finally growled. "So, that's how it is Azazel. I'm afraid that this fight isn't something my comrades can turn their backs on, so it will be me fighting beside them, not you."

"Yeah, yeah, right," even Azazel was leaning back, giving Angel Halo a complicated look. "So hurry up and go. And take that thing with you."

"Some Sacred Gear enthusiast you turned out to be," Luka muttered, before turning back to his opponent.

And then the world erupted with light and force, and Kiba was nearly battered back in the half moment that it took for Grayfia to once more erect a barrier.

*Scene Break*

They had done it! Somehow, they had managed to save Gasper and Koneko-chan, and Ise gave a secret 'guts' pose as he and Rias raced back to the battlefield. With this the time stop would be over and everyone would be alright!

"Quickly, Ise!" Rias ordered, pushing herself as hard as she did her pawn to try and get the two of them to the battlefield. The building around them shook again, something that had been happening with unnerving regularity since they had managed to save Gasper and Koneko. "We have to return to the others and see how we can help!"

"Right, Buchou," Ise declared, getting a serious expression usually reserved solely for oppai. Rias tried not to blush at seeing the lecherous Pawn in his serious mode. "There's no telling if they'll need help…" He trailed off for a moment, blinking in sudden confusion. "Hey, isn't it getting kind of warm in here?"

"We don't have time to be worrying about things like… that…" Rias began strongly but trailed off, finally making it back to the courtyard and suddenly loosing track of what she was saying as she took in the sight that awaited her.

"Hi-Hi!" Alma chirped at them, waiving cheerfully from where she was perched on a shattered piece of wall casually. "Things are just wrapping up here. Did you manage to get your friends?"

"Er?" Rias managed to make a small noise of confusion as she took in Alma Elma, Granberia, Tamamo, and Erubetie all lounging around on the far side of the courtyard. Despite their casual posture, the school around them had been devastated, whipped nearly flat from whatever struggle they had already finished. There were scratches and tears on their clothes, and a few wounds on each as well, but they all seemed to be in good condition.

"They thought those pitiful creations would be enough?" Erubetie sneered, giving a scornful look at what appeared to be a pile of bodies, monsters of some kind that Ise couldn't identify but who had apparently at one point been the opponents of the Heavenly Knights. Judging from the state of the bodies, it was pretty obvious how those fights had gone.

"Do not speak ill of the dead," Granberia cautioned the Slime Queen, eyes closed as she waited patiently with her arms folded. "Though they were not honorable, they were still our opponents, and chivalry requires courtesy to them, even in death."

"Saa, saa," Tamamo chirped as well. "They were quite strong, Erubetie-chan. Whoever made them made them well. Their creator just didn't take into account how our own strength would increase as devils! Tis a case of them underestimating us!"

"Hmph," Erubetie didn't look like she cared enough to continue the conversation, instead turning to look to the sky.

Ise glanced around hesitantly. "Er, it looks like we just missed what was probably a really intense battle, doesn't it, Buchou?"

When Rias didn't respond, he glanced at her to find her also looking to the sky. Ise followed her gaze and gasped.

"Oh! Another evil nee-chan!" he gasped, taking in the sight of Luka fighting some other devil. If he hadn't already seen Tamamo-san, he might have been impressed, but whoever the evil looking nee-chan was, she had forgotten the pipe, even if she had gotten everything else right! She was shooting long stretchy hands at Luka, but he kept blocking them with a scary looking sword. All around them, magic sigils were appearing all over the place. Streams of light kept appearing, only to be met by fire. Actually, there was so much fire that it looked like it was daytime! No wonder it was so hot!

"It seems you have not been languishing, Luka Phenix of the Great Devils!" the woman declared, panting as she adjusted her glasses. "Nor has the legend of your demonic sword been exaggerated."

"I'll say it as many times as it takes!" Luka declared, scowling. "It's holy. HOLY!"

"Still," the woman declared, straightening. "It appears that the battle is lost today."

"No!" another voice made Ise blink and look to where another fight was going. "It's not over! Kill! Kill them all! Kill every last one of them!"

"How the mighty have fallen," Alice declared back coldly. Ise blinked and rubbed his eyes as he watched the snake woman fly, dodging spears of light that yandere-looking fallen lady was throwing at her. It was like watching an eel swim! "This is the end for you, Illias."

"No! No! Die! Die!" even as the woman was screaming, Ise gasped as she started to change. Starting at her wings, her body was slowly starting to turn to stone!

"My Eyes of Petrification were strong, even before I became a devil," Alice stated softly, and Ise gulped at such an unfair technique. "I have been practicing them in secret, ever since I became a devil. For the crimes you have committed against monsters everywhere, I will have you turn to stone. Spend an eternity imprisoned in it."

"No!" Illias didn't seem to even notice and just kept trying to attack. Ise gulped. Definitely a yandere! How scary! "No, no, no, no-"

Ise watched as the fallen finished changing to stone and fell to the ground in the courtyard. He still wasn't quite sure just who that was, he had to admit to himself, scratching his head as he got the impression something important had just happened, but whoever she was, he took a moment to save a picture of her stone oppai to his hard drive!

"It's just you now, Cattleya," Luka declared, lowering his sword as he spoke to his opponent. "It's not too late. Surrender, and let your power be sealed, and you will be treated fairly."

"Even if I cannot grasp victory, I can at least see to it that I don't go down alone!" Cattleya leered, more and more of those hands shooting out suddenly and grasping onto Luka. He started trying to break free, only for her to drag herself closer to him. "Die!"

"Uwaaaaaaa!" Ise shouted as the lady exploded. "Buchooooouuuu!" he shouted, throwing himself over Rias to protect her from the shockwave. It seemed to go one forever, but when it was finally done, he looked up. Luka-sama! Was he okay? Who would he pray to for a harem if he wasn't!?

At first he couldn't find him, but then, in the empty air, a spark erupted. It kept growing and growing, and Ise watched, jaw dropping as the flames seemed for one moment to take the shape of a bird made of flames with vast pinions trailing behind it, before the fire seemed to condense, so bright he had to cover his face. Finally, it started to dim, and he could see what was causing it.

Luka, looking untouched stood in the air. Behind him, sprouting for dozens of yards from his back two enormous wings of white hot fire flapped. Embers scattered down from them, as though a rain of fire had begun, and the heat of it bellowed down, grass and debris beneath him starting to shrivel and then smolder as it did so.

"The power of the Lost Sixth," Rias whispered, gazing in awe at a sight that hadn't been seen in centuries. She found herself at a loss for any further words at the sight of one of the strongest devils resplendent in their power.

It lasted as long as it took for Alice to finish scrawling the words 'psycho' on the statue of Illias forehead before she gave him a brief look and snorted. "Honestly," she muttered, "what kind of idiot uses a suicide attack on an immortal?"

Then she turned back to scrawling further graffiti on her own defeated foe.

Luka gave a sharp look at his Queen, before he closed his eyes and seemed to relax. His wings flapped once more before the fires started shrinking, leaving just a normal set of devil wings instead. Finally, he opened his eyes and smiled, sighing as he did so.

"Alice, she could have done it to try and keep us from interrogating her," he reminded her, descending back to the ground as he did so. "I'm sure she had some sort of reason for doing so…"

Even as he started to chide his Queen, he interrupted himself, twisting to the side and putting Angel Halo in front of him in time for him to meet the descending fist of the hakuryuukuu.

"Quite impressive," Vali declared, his voice coming out of his armor. "Albion, have you finished analyzing his power?"

"Yes," the Vanishing dragon answered calmly. "Vali, are you sure about this? The Flames of Wrath aren't an opponent you can fight against casually."

"Ah, this isn't a fight," Vali answered back. "I'm just using this opportunity to make a declaration."

"Betrayal?" Granberia declared, straightening and drawing her sword as the rest of the Heavenly Knights started to prepare themselves as well. "In this late hour?"

"Please, calm yourselves," Vali declared, not following up on his first sneak attack. "Like I said, I have no desire to fight any of you, today at least. It's simply time for me to be leaving, and I thought I'd take the chance to test the readiness of the Flames of Wrath. The only person here I'm interested in fighting today," he lifted a finger to point at Ise; blinking, Ise lifted a hand up to point at himself as well in confusion, "is my destined rival."

"Eh?" Ise began, not quite sure what was going on but getting the suspicion that he wasn't gonna like it when he figured it out.

Then he figured it out.

"Ehhhhh!" he yelped again even louder. Wait, was this okay? Really okay? Was Vali really betraying them? Was he really going to have to fight his rival? Surely, Luka-sama won't just let the Hakuryukuu do as he likes, right?

"Ah, well, if that's the case," Luka declared, nodding as he put away his scary sword. "Don't let me get in the way of your destined battle."

"It will be good to see how he has progressed," Granberia agreed, also sheathing her sword.

"I have faith in the champion of the slime kingdom," Erubetie offered easily.

"Do thy best," Tamamo chirped as well.

"Hmmm, two strong, sweaty men, grappling each other, rubbing against each other," Alma Elma purred. "I approve!"

"Whatever," Alice simply shrugged, busy painting exaggerated and silly looking makeup onto the statue of her former persecutor. A note that said 'Kick me' was already clearly scrawled on the statues back, as well arrows pointing towards the statue's chest that declared 'totally fake'.

"Don't look down on my Ise!" Rias similarly declared, pointing confidently at the still floating Vanishing Dragon. "Ise! Go and blow your rival away!"

"Everyone," Ise sweat the sweat of his heart, "stop picking fights for me!"

*Scene Break*

"I thought I was going to die," Ise finally whimpered after his epic fight with Vali. He and the rest had made their way back to where the gathered heads of the Three Powers were waiting, already organizing the necessary repairs to Kuoh Academy.

"There, there," Rias told him, rubbing his back in sympathy. "You did very well, my lovely Ise."

"Buchou!" Ise wept at the kindness of his beloved Buchou. It had been hard, so hard, but when Vali had started to talk about killing his family Ise had exploded with rage. He had never felt that angry before, not even when his mom had thrown out his oppai magazines! And then, his hated rival had threatened to half his beloved Buchou's oppai! It had been the final straw, and though he was exhausted now, Ise was proud to have defended not only his Buchou's breasts, but also Akeno's, and Asia's as well! Xenovia's bust was safeguarded too, and even Koneko-chan's future breasts would be safe to grow freely!

"And that's the sum of it," Luka finished his report to the gathered heads about what had transpired.

"Hmph," Azazel snorted, taking a look at the statue of Illias, being toted along firmly wrapped in Alice's coils. "Well, at least I don't have to listen to that crazy bitch anymore. Give her here, and I'll finish making the arrangements…"

"No," Alice told him, tightening her coils. "I will see to what happens next."

"Really?" Azazel asked skeptically. "I mean, I was going to put her in the Cocytus. What are you planning to do with her?"

"I'm going to put her in the garden of my castle, and then run a hose through her so that she will make an acceptable fountain," the snake woman declared. Azazel blinked, and Ise felt himself going cross-eyed as he tried to imagine the mechanics. Wait, wasn't she still alive in there? Then how would they run the water through her….

Ise got a mental image, and promptly buried it deep in layers after layers of denial.

"You don't have a castle anymore," Luka reminded her dryly. "Remember, that belongs to whoever the new Monster Lord will be."

Alice was silent for a moment, before turning to level a serious look at her King. "Luka. I will be requiring a new castle to establish as my permanent residence. See to it at once."

"Haha," Luka just laughed softly, shaking his head as he did so. "Right away. I think we have a few spare ones laying around somewhere."

Ise boggled again. Spare castles? Really? He'd known the Phenix were rich, but he was beginning to suspect he didn't quite realize just how rich. And wait, weren't the Gremory supposed to be really rich too? Had he unknowingly become part of something a lot bigger than he had thought?

"Well, I suppose that's everything," Luka began, before he was interrupted.

"Luka-chan, you know that's not everything," Serafall Leviathan interrupted. Ise perked, surprised at how serious the Maou Shoujo sounded. Wait, wasn't it something like Luka-sama having some kind of grudge against the Maou? Was something serious about to happen?

Luka hesitated, glancing away briefly. "What do you mean, Leviathan?"

"We will have to talk about it sometime," Serafall insisted, bunching her hands in fist as she spoke. "The sooner we clear the air, the sooner we can move on."

"I," Luka hesitated, before he finally nodded, turning to face where the two Maou and Grayfia stood. "You're right."

Rias tensed; eyes wide as she tried not to lean forward. Was this it? Were her brother and his wife finally going to reveal the source of the grudge between them and the Lost Sixth? Would they finally reconcile? Would devilkind be able to welcome its lost hero back into its fold?

Nearby, even the angel and fallen delegation seemed to be interested. They probably knew even less about the circumstances when one of their old enemies disappeared, and they all appeared intrigued to finally have the mystery cleared up.

"Luka," Sirzechs was the one to speak up softly. He had been quiet so far, but now he appeared to be gathering courage. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry that we drove you away. It wasn't worth it, being so long without you. Not for something as worthless as a title."

Rias sucked in a soft breath, a pang of bitter acceptance going through her. So. It was true. Her brother had driven away the Lost Sixth in competition for the position of Maou….

"I'm not without blame myself," Luka admitted gravely. "I was the one who allowed things to grow so heated. And I was the one to leave. Maybe if I had stayed, maybe some compromise could have been reached, maybe something that could have avoided these three centuries. I'm sorry as well, Sirzechs."

"It's just," Sirzechs continued with a sigh, "you would have made such a GOOD Lucifer. I really thought that out of all of us, you were the right one to take the position."

Rias paused. What?

"I know, right?" Serafall chirped, sounding more cheerful now that reconciliation appeared in sight. "Out of all of us, Luka-chan was definitely the right one for 'Lucifer'!"

Rias had the distinct impression that the floor had just dropped out from beneath her. So it wasn't that her brother and the Lost Sixth had been fighting over the title, but rather that they were fighting for the other person to have the title? That was caused their century long fight?

"Er," Ise began, similarly confused. "So if the Maou had their way, it would have been Luka-sama as Lucifer?"

"I disagree," Grayfia spoke up, reminding Ise that even if she dressed as a maid, she was still one of the Great Six herself. "I truly believed that Luka would have been better as the Leviathan."

"I agree," Luka nodded eagerly. "After all, the Leviathan handles foreign relations. Look," he pointed at his peerage, "I obviously have diplomat qualities! If I had been the Leviathan, than I bet we would have much better relations with the other Pantheons!"

"By sleeping with them?" Sirzechs asked curiously, rubbing his chin as he took in Luka's peerage and made an obvious conclusion. "I don't think that would have worked too well when it came to negotiations with Heaven though…"

"No!" Serafall declared immediately. "It's the job of a Magical Girl to promote peace and love! I was perfect for the position! Besides, if you had become the Lucifer, we could have called you Luka-fer! Think about it! Luka-fer and Levia-tan, leading the underworld to peace!"

"Eh?" Ise managed to get out, feeling like he wouldn't be able to close his gaping mouth for a while due to excessive shock. These. These were the reasons Luka-sama left? Because they wanted him to be the Lucifer so they could give him and Serafall matching nicknames?

He whimpered. Why! Why were the great devils so at peace! Why were they like this! This…. This exceeded even his wildest imagination! Just how casual were these super devils!?

"Hoo?" Azazel chimed in, and Ise turned to see how the Director of the Grigori would react to such a ridiculous thing. Surely someone like him would see how silly this is too, right? "Luka-fer and Levia-tan… What a terrifying combination it would have been. It seems we of the Grigori lucked out those centuries ago…"

Stop! Stop acting like it's a big deal! Ise felt like crying as he remembered just what Azazel was like as well. Why! Not just the leader of the devils, but the leader of the fallen too! Why was the world like this!

"It's not too late," Sirzechs went on hopefully. "We could still have you instated. It might cause a bit of a fuss with some of the higher ups, but even they would have to see the advantages it brings to the table…"

"Nonsense," Grayfia interrupted her husband, pinching his cheek. "It would be better if Serafall were to step down. Afterwards, if she were to take up duties as a maid as well…"

"Stop trying to hook the two of us up, Gray-chan," Luka sighed, palming his forehead in frustration. "It was a one night stand, and that was it. We both agreed we were better off being friends…"

At this, it was Sona, unpetrified and listening in on the conversation as well, who found herself feeling like crying. She did not need to know those kinds of things about her sister! Nearby, listening in seriously, Alice straightened, and slowly turned to stare at the other Maou. Luka had never mentioned THAT before.

There would be words, later that evening. Not many before they dissolved into moans, because Alice's favorite method of dealing with her jealousy and possessiveness issues tended towards reminding Luka just who he belonged to via depraved acts of copulation.

"But you two are so cute together," Grayfia continued seriously, leveling a stern look between the two. "And you match so well. Fire and ice… and if another of the Six becomes a maid, it will cement maids as creatures of authority in the eyes of the people…"

"No!" Serafall began stomping her feet childishly. "Just because you always had a thing for maids, doesn't mean I do! I've had my uniform for centuries! I've finally managed to make it popular too!"

"You always did say that someday you would make your battle uniform into the standard for love and justice," Luka mused thoughtfully, and Ise felt his eye twitch.

Wait. So, it wasn't just a recent thing, Serafall's obsession with Magical Girls? She'd been dressing like that for centuries? Wait, did that mean all the magical girl shows that came out are because of her influence? Just how much did this girl like Magical Girls, this Maou Shoujo!

"When we first saw the dreaded uniform of the Leviathan being displayed in the human world, it caused quite a stir among the forces of heaven," Michael added seriously. "We've always suspected infernal influence, but we were never able to root it out. At last, we have proof…"

Wait! Even the angels are taking these things way to seriously! Stop it! Stop it! Ise felt like clutching his head and shouting! Were even the angels this casual? Wait, where was…

"So much tension, wouldn't you agree, Gabriel-chan," Alma Elma whispered, the angel once more bright pink as the succubus nuzzled against her side. "I've always had a favorite method of dealing with tension like that. Would you like to hear, my sweet dove?"

"S-sweet dove?" Gabriel began before Alma Elma began to whisper something in her ear. The level of her blush brightened even more. "H-how is s-something like that even physically possible?!"

"I'll be happy to show you, if you like," Alma purred tugging gently at the beleaguered angel's hand in an attempt to lead her out of sight. She was stopped as the nearest broom closet had Luka between her and it, and without even appearing to notice he reached out to start pinching her cheek as she tried to seduce the Seraph.

"Luka!" Sirzechs shouted as the argument continued. Streamers of the Power of Destruction that he wielded so deftly started to appear around him. "Accept your role as the new Lucifer, and lead the devils to a glorious future! I will see you in the position, even if I must give it to you through force!"

"Never!" Luka declared back, Angel Halo appearing in his hand as wave after wave of heat started to bellow out from him. "You cannot force me to bear the nick name Luka-fer! You have grown lax over the years, while I have only grown stronger! I'll use that strength to keep you in your position as the Lucifer, like I should have all those years ago, Sirzechs!"

"Magical Girls!" Serafall shouted, ice starting to blossom around her as she leveled her wand at her own opponent.

"Maids," Grayfia narrowed her eyes and declared back, leveling a feather duster as her demonic power started to increase.

"A battle to decide the future of the underworld," Azazel declared solemnly. "Truly, we are witnessing history twice over today."

"We are blessed to have this opportunity," Michael nodded gravely.

"Buchou," Ise began through his tears. This, this was too much. "Can I go to bed now? I'm… I'm so tired for some reason…"

"Ahh," Rias declared also slumping, all of her energy mysteriously drained from her. "Let's go to bed, Ise."

New Life

"What's wrong with you today, Hyoudou?" Matsuda asked, leaning over to poke Ise. "Were you up too late last night with your porn?"

"I can appreciate your dedication, Hyoudou," Motohama continued, adjusting his glasses. "In the pursuit of porn, there can be no compromises!"

"Perverts," several of the girls around the three muttered. Ise didn't even react, simply continuing to rest his head on his desk.

"Mah, I'm just so tired," he moaned. "Peace, peace is best. But sometimes, too much peace can be just as bad." It was the day after the conference, and Ise still couldn't seem to recover his tension. Was that what waited for him some day as well? He was the weakest Sekiryuutei in history, but what would happen if he became strong? Would he and Vali someday end up so casual, doing something like maybe watching porn together or something and then having an argument over something stupid and spending centuries fighting over it?

Saa. For now, Ise was determined not to end up like that! Somehow, even after he got strong, he would not end up that peaceful! Surely, the path of oppai will not end at that destination. Oppai would never betray him!

Then Ise yawned again. Even if he was low tension from the way yesterday had ended, he was also really tired too. He had been up all night, and fighting in Balance Breaker took a lot out of him! He would have preferred to just call in sick, but Buchou wouldn't let him since she lived with him and all.

Maybe he could get a nap during lunch. Or if he propped his book open, then maybe he could sleep behind it or something.

Ise was just getting ready to try his plan, when the homeroom teacher came in. Even as the class president called the order to stand and bow, Ise was already considering whether he could boost and then transfer the power to sleeping, when something unexpected occurred.

"Now class, I have several announcements to make," the teacher declared. "An unexpected event has occurred, and I'm afraid I'll be transferring to another nearby school soon. Fortunately, new arrangements have already been made. Let me introduce you to your new home room teacher…"

Ise was only half paying attention, but when the new teacher came in his jaw dropped and he stood up to point at them. "Ehhhhh!"

"Hyoudou-kun," the old homeroom teacher snapped, "what is the meaning of this interruption?"

"It's fine," the low smooth voice of the new teacher declared, and Ise, along with most of the class as well shivered. "I've made Hyoudou-kun's acquaintance previously though I did not mention that I would be transferring to his school as a teacher. He is most certainly just surprised."

"T-T-Tamamo-san?" Ise finally managed to get out. How! It was her! The Tamamo-no-mae! The evil fox that had almost destroyed Japan! And she was in her evil mode as well! The short skirt, the dark leggings, the coat! Even the choker and the glasses! It was an evil teacher! Teacher Kitsune, get!

"Well, surprise or not, sit down Hyoudou-kun," the old teacher instructed him, and Ise did, still not sure what was going on. As the introductions continued, Matsuya leaned over to whisper him.

"Hyoudou! What's wrong with that teacher?" the other member of the perverted trio asked urgently.

"Er, do you mean how do I know her?" Ise whispered back, sweating as he tried to make up some kind of story.

"No! I mean, there's something wrong with her!" Matsuya whispered back, sounding unnerved. "I mean, my loli-radar keeps going off, but she's clearly not a loli! What's happening?!"

"Er," Ise began, sweating even more as he remembered Tamamo's real form. Of course! Matsuya, a professed super lolicon would be able to pick up on it! What a remarkable power, his friend had!

"Now class," Tamamo began, giving a sharp look that made most of the class shiver again as she pulled out a pipe, sitting on her desk and crossing one leg over the other sensually. There it is! Perfect evil sensei! The pipe and the flash of leg! "It is a bit sudden, what with my new appointment, but I'm also happy to inform you that we have some transfer students arriving today as well."

"Er, Sensei," the class rep began nervously, raising her hand and standing shakily. She swallowed at the sharp look Tamamo gave her. "It's just, er, you can't smoke in school…"

Flash! A flash of light off Tamamo's glasses! Ooooh! How evil can you be, kitsune-nee-san, Ise wondered?

"I'll be good!" the class rep squeaked, hurriedly sitting down and trying to make herself a smaller target.

"Good," Tamamo purred. "Now, as I was mentioning, the new students." As if on cue, the door opened and three more students walked in.

"Ehhhhhhhhh!" Again, Ise stood up, pointing with shaky fingers.

"Ah," Luka began happily, smiling at him. "Ise-kun. It seems we're in the same class after all. It's good to have a familiar face when at a new place." It was Luka-sama! In a school uniform! But still wearing a scarf! Actually, Ise realized, it looked pretty natural on him, despite him being a centuries old Maou-leveled devil. Like he really fit in despite who he was.

"Oh," Alma Elma nodded cheerfully, though her gaze was already sweeping across the room as she licked her lips slowly. "This school year is going to be a treat, I can tell already." She was in a school uniform as well, though somehow she had managed to make it erotic! Ise would normally be excited at the new bishoujou, but then he remembered just who she was.

No to tails!

"Hmph," the third new student just grunted, scowling, and Ise blinked at her, not recognizing her and wondering why she was with the other two. She was in a school uniform too, and was also beautiful even though she was scowling. Her hair was a little strange though. Ise hadn't actually seen anyone with dreadlocks before… "At least there will be one human I can tolerate in this class."

"Erubetie?" Ise gaped, finally recognizing who the new girl was. But how could she be like this? Erubetie was a slime, like Sladako-chan. But wait, didn't Alice have a way to change into a human as well? So Erubetie could do that too?

Ise almost said it out loud, but caught himself at the last moment and thought it instead. 'So THAT's what she looks like wearing clothes!'

*Scene Break*

"Just what's going on?" Ise moaned as he got ready for lunch. He wanted to ask Luka-sama what he was doing here, but so far there hadn't been a chance. Every break, the three new students had ended up surrounded by their classmates. Well, Luka had been surrounded. Alma Elma kept disappearing during breaks, and though several people had tried to talk to Erubetie, she had just glared at them until they started to get nervous and backed off.

"We'll be able to explain it later," a voice answered him, and Ise glanced up to see Luka and Erubetie standing next to him. "Do you mind if we sit with you for now?"

"Ah," Asia declared, smiling politely as she sat down near Ise, her friend Kiryuu in tow. "Please, Luka-san."

"Ooooh?" Kiryuu began, glancing between everyone. "So I take it you know these transfers, Asia-chan?"

"Mmmm," Asia began smiling at her friend. "I've met Luka-san and his friends before. Luka-san is very nice, and, er," Asia's smile twitched slightly, and Ise remembered just what it was that both had happened the first times Asia had met either Alma Elma or Erubetie, "and Luka-san is very nice after all."

"Enough wasting time," Erubetie broke in, and Asia hunched over a bit. Ise frowned, and was about to say something when the Slime Queen continued. "Hyoudou. I need to speak with you about the process for setting up a club."

"Err, a club?" Ise began, wondering why she had come to him of all reasons. He had been a firm member of the 'go home' club until he had joined the Occult club. "Actually, I do have some experience trying, but the school would never let me set up the 'Porn appreciation club'," he recalled briefly. "What kind of club were you thinking about?"

"Pervert," Kiryuu giggled. She looked towards Erubetie, probably expecting some kind of feminine disgust and blinked when the new girl didn't so much as blink at the confession.

"Environmental conservation, or possibly a water reclamation club," Erubetie declared, and Ise sighed, reminding himself that he really should have seen that coming.

"Environmental conservation? Water reclamation?" Kiryuu repeated, pursing her lips. "Those seem like pretty specific clubs. It might be hard to find members. Are you sure that you want to make clubs like that?"

Erubetie began to scowl, but Ise beat her to it, standing up and firmly placing his hands on the table. Kiryuu and Asia both jumped slightly at the sudden sound. "No, Kiryuu," he began seriously. "No, Erubetie is right. Those are important clubs, for good causes. In fact, it's an outrage that those clubs don't already exist!"

"H-Hyoudou?" Kiryuu stammered, leaning backwards in shock as one of the perverted trio actually showed motivation for something besides their lechery.

Internally, Ise was berating himself! How! How come he hadn't already started something like this himself! Well, he was busy with the devil's work, but it was no excuse! Right now, hundreds, even thousands of slimes were in danger! Danger of being wiped out! That was hundreds, maybe even thousands of potential oppai that would never grace the world! Slimes deserved their chance! More of the likes of Sladako must walk the earth! It was essential! Not only did they have oppai of their own, but their hugs destroyed clothes! Imagine! Hundreds or thousands of oppai bearing hugs, all of which in danger!

"I know the basics of setting up a club," he declared to Erubetie, who was nodding in approval, something approaching a smile as the ally to her people began to put his admittedly meager talents to her people's cause. "I can do a little more research about it too. In fact, I should talk to Saji! If I get the help of the student council, we might even be able to do more than just make a club! Maybe a school sponsored program to do some cleanup work!" Turning, he reached out to grasp Erubetie's hand, a grip she returned solidly as a partnership was born. "Don't worry, Erubetie-san! I'll do everything I can to support your efforts! We won't stop until this city has the cleanest water in the country! We'll inspire other cities to do the same! Together, we can change the world!"

"Well said, Hyoudou," Erubetie nodded her approval at his dedication to her people. She had chosen wisely in this friend to the slimes. "Let me know what you will need of me."

"I-I didn't realize Hyoudou felt so strongly about those kinds of things," Kiryuu whispered to Asia. Asia, having a better idea of just why Ise was getting so worked up, laughed nervously.

"I-Impossible!" muted whispering broke out in the classroom, many who had seen Ise's sudden declaration. "Just now? Did Hyoudou suddenly look maybe just a little bit cool?"

"It's the end times!"

"If even a pervert can care so much about that kind of thing, maybe I should look into it too?"

"Just what is going on here?" a new voice cut through the whispers, and this time Ise just sighed. Considering who else was here, it wasn't really a surprise she would be here too.

"We were just talking about helping Erubetie set up a club, Alice," Luka smiled at his Queen who strode through the room without bothering to glance at the other students. New whispers began almost immediately at her interruption. "Did you come for lunch?"

"Indeed," Alice declared, before stopping in front of Luka and giving him a pointed look. Obediently he scooted his chair back a bit, and without another word Alice sat in his lap as though it were a throne, and began unwrapping a lunch box. Again, the rumor mill began to charge up, but Ise was strangely unperturbed, seeing just how often Alice tended to do the same in her snake form.

"So I guess everyone is here then?" he finally asked. Then he blinked, remembering something in particular. "Wait, where's Granberia-san?"

*Scene Break*

"Class, gather round."

"Ah," Ise began, sighing as he took in the sight of the Dragon King, also disguised as a human, in her track suite with a whistle hanging from a lanyard around her neck. "That makes sense."

"I'm the new physical education teacher," the dragon introduced herself. "I understand that many of you don't take this class seriously, and that is your choice. However, it doesn't change the fact that I take the health and safety of my students with great seriousness in your stead. While I don't expect everyone in my class to become an athlete, I will make this solemn promise with you, that every one of you will end this school year in better shape then you came into it with."

"Er, isn't the new teacher kind of cool?" one girl whispered, staring with eyes just touched by burgeoning worship. Ise didn't blame her. Granberia-san was cool! Scary, but so cool!

However, he swallowed as even as the rest of his class started running laps with more enthusiasm than they usually had, the Dragon King held him back.

"Don't worry, Hyoudou Issei," she declared. "I understand that you hold yourself to a higher standard when it comes to training, so I made sure to put together special lessons for you. "

"Er, special lessons?" Ise began to sweat. Also, he checked for where the nearest door was in case he had to run.

"Indeed," Granberia declared, reaching towards a container filled with volleyballs. Ise's sweat increased as she began to squeeze one experimentally and the hard ball started to deform in her hand. "We will begin by increasing your mobility and environmental and spatial awareness through the use of high velocity impact projectile training."

"Er…" Ise began, starting to back away. "So you're going to be throwing those volleyballs at me as hard as you can while I run away and dodge?"

"Exactly," Granberia nodded seriously, before she accidentally squeezed too hard and popped the ball. "Hmmm, more fragile than I expected," she muttered to herself, already reaching for another one. "Now…" she turned back to Ise to find him already running away. "What an eager student."

*Scene Break*

"So that's how it is," Rias finished explaining just why her school suddenly had so many new members.

"Pretty much," Luka agreed, sipping some tea calmly. The entirety of the Occult Research Club was in attendance, with some additional guests as well. Though he was sitting politely, the rest of his peerage was lounging with less decorum. Granberia had taken to studying the suit of armor in the corner, while Erubetie was examining the bathtub that Rias sometimes used when she didn't have time to return to her home after the devil's work. Tamamo, once more in her childish form was grading homework, and near her Alma Elma was flipping through some kind of notebook, though it was obvious to anyone who looked that whatever the notebook was for it certainly wasn't homework.

Alice, naturally, was in Luka's lap once more, also sipping tea between her snacking. In front of her, Koneko had once more accepted the challenge, and the two of them proceeded to unleash a holocaust on the presented treats before them.

"The Great devils sure are relaxed," Azazel commented, the final guest for the evening, though he was most likely to show up a lot more seeing as he had been instated as the teacher responsible for the Occult Research Club. "To think that they would even take the time to enjoy a leisurely school life."

"I've been gone from devil politics for a long time," Luka explained calmly. "It was decided that I would make my entry back to high society slowly so as to allow the pillars to adjust. Or to scheme about how to use me for political capital. Either way." He shrugged, apparently not the least bit disturbed by the upcoming attempts to use him to increase social standing. "Going to school allows me to plead off from too many social obligations too quickly. Beyond that, I've been wandering for a very long time now. It would be good to make sure my knowledge of current times is up to date. School works well enough for that as well."

"Er, I can sort of understand that," Ise admitted, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly as the rest of the club made similar sounds of comprehension. "But then, why did your peerage have to come too?"

"Well, Tamamo mostly came just to mess around with the student's heads," Luka admitted sheepishly.

"Tis a prank worthy of my time!" the fox girl chirped, and Ise had to admit, the thought of how his class would react if they ever learned the true form of the evil teacher that had come to their school would be pretty funny.

"And I've chosen to study humanity's education system," Erubetie murmured in her contralto. "It will give me a chance to see what I must influence to ensure future generations receive the proper information about the importance of preserving their water supplies."

"That and the Phenix family hopes getting you used to dealing with people without melting them for annoying you will be the first step for preparing you for devil society," Alma Elma giggled. Erubetie didn't even bother to look at her.

"That too."

"And I suppose you came for the chance to sleep with the entire school?" Rias muttered, perhaps a bit too spitefully. She STILL had some of those hickeys, and she wasn't feeling entirely too forgiving about them at the moment.

"Exactly!" Alma Elma agreed without an ounce of shame. "Five down, three hundred and twenty eight to go."

"Haha! Looks like you have a bit of a sense of humor yourself, Empress!" Azazel began to laugh, only for Alma Elma to give him a confused look. He realized something a moment later. "Wait, you really slept with five students already? It's only been one day!"

"Four students, and one teacher," Alma Elma corrected primly.

"You better pace yourself," Akeno giggled, far less put off by the succubus' promiscuity then some of the other devils in the room. Mmmmm, it just brought to mind thoughts of how to spice up the adultery play! "You'll run out of boys at that rate!"

"Ah, I'm saving them for last!" Alma Elma giggled, and Akeno blinked.

Ise, on the other hand, took a moment to put two and two together, and promptly nosebleed.

"Oh my," Akeno finally declared, before blushing slightly as Alma eyed her and licked her lips. "How erotic!"

"Would you like to go next?" Alma Elma offered slyly. "After all, I'm starting with the third years, and when I say I intend to sleep with everyone, I'm being completely serious…"

Rias promptly considered how much wearing a chastity belt would affect her day to day life. She would give her virginity to none but Ise! Come to think of it, maybe she should get a belt for him too, just in case?

"Er," Kiba coughed, flushing as he hurriedly tried to change the subject. "So I understand why Alice would come as well, but why would she enroll herself as a third year, rather than a second year like Luka-sama?"

"Oh?" Alice smiled slightly. "Because it's a Kohai's duty to do whatever it is their Sempai declares, after all. And it's a Sempai's right to be affectionate with their Kohai as well…"

"Alice just likes older girl play," Luka confirmed, wrapping one arm around his Queen's waist and giving it a brief squeeze. "And I don't have anything particular against it myself."

Ise's nosebleed increased at the mental image. Then he replaced that image with himself and Buchou…

"Er, is he going to be alright?" Luka asked cautiously as the Sekiryuutei's nose exploded like a geyser.

"…lecher," Koneko just sighed, though she sounded more amused than scornful. She turned her eyes to the remaining member of Luka's peerage. "…and you?"

"Where my King goes, I follow," Granberia announced simply, needing no other explanation then that.

"What a lively bunch," Azazel chuckled as he shook his head. "Though there's more to it than just a devil playing around, isn't there, Flames of Wrath?"

"Indeed," Luka nodded, expression growing serious. "For the first time, the Three Powers are at peace, rather than just a ceasefire. At the same time, those discontent with that peace have begun to move openly."

"It's for that reason that I, the Director of the Gregori have come to the place which most represents that peace in order to offer oversight," Azazel went on. "However, as the least trusted of the three, the devils have also sent one of their own to watch over me as well, isn't that right, Luka Phenix?"

"True," Luka nodded, before smiling slightly. "However, as a Great Devil who also bears the blood and power of the fallen, I am also the least likely to act out of prejudice to some presumed slight. My objectivity can be relied on so that if I say the peace has been broken, it is only because someone has broken it rather than just because someone dislikes the peace."

"What a delicate balance," Rias murmured, exposure to devil politics allowing her to comprehend just how nuanced Luka and Azazel's presence at the Academy that had the younger siblings of two of the Maou.

"Er, I don't really get all the complicated stuff," Ise admitted sheepishly, having recovered from his blood fountain impression. "But it's not so bad having Luka-sama around. And all of his harem is really nice as well, so that's good too!" He gave Luka an eager look. "In fact, do you have any tips? Someday I too will be a harem king!"

Rias sighed at her pawns lecherous dream so proudly displayed once more. Luka, on the other hand winced.

"Thank you," Alice spoke up to Ise's confusion. "I'm quite proud of my harem. I'll be sure to guide you well on your way to your own."

"Wait," Ise began, blinking in surprise as he looked back and forth between Alice and Luka. "Wait, YOU'RE the harem king, not Luka-sama? B-but… how does that work?! A harem queen instead! Amazing! I-I-I never even considered such a thing!"

"Oh my," Akeno smiled seductively, licking her lips at the thought. "I wonder…" she trailed off, eying her own fellow peers speculatively. Rias rightly decided that spelled nothing good for the future.

"Oh?" Alma spoke up, snapping her notebook shut as she did so. She had an unusually serious tone in her voice. "Monster Lord, you've said something I can't overlook lightly. Attempting to claim ownership of MY harem… Do not think Alma Elma, Empress of Succubi, will take such a slight lightly!"

"Ah!" Ise pointed at the succubus, now thoroughly confused. "Wait, so you claim to be the harem queen? But, how can…" he trailed off now thoroughly out of his depth. He had no idea the world of harem's could be so complicated!

"Alma Elma," Alice narrowed her eyes as she started to uncoil from her king. "You presume too much. It seems I must enforce discipline amongst my harem once more."

"I will not tolerate insubordination among my harem! Prepare yourself, Alipheese Fateburn the sixteenth! I am more than willing to show you your place!"

Luka sighed as the two began their confrontation, butting their heads and breasts together as they each tried to stare the other down for ownership of the harem. He was well aware of how the next few steps of this conversation would proceed, and hoped that Rias at least had a nearby room they could settle their dispute in without traumatizing the Gremory's peerage any further.

"This is why I never bring up the 'H' word," he muttered, rubbing his forehead gently. He just hoped that this time the two would be able to settle their differences without him being dragged between them. Literally.

"They're both wrong, you know," Tamamo whispered to Ise cheerfully. The boy gave her a confused look as she explained. "Tis actually my harem, but I allow them to think otherwise. Tis the foxes' way to trick others into doing their bidding!"

"Oooooh!" Ise nodded seriously, slapping a fist against an open hand. "To think, harems could be so complicated! I have much to learn!" He trembled at the thought! To actually see a harem in action, to witness the secrets of it from afar! Surely this will be invaluable on his own path to one!

"We are not a harem," Granberia disagreed, scowling as she watched her fellow peers proceed to embarrass themselves. "We are Luka-sama's peerage, his warriors and guards. Not some besotted bed warmers."

"That's not what you said last night, during the orgy," Erubetie noted clinically. Granberia's blush was visible even through her scales as she quickly cleared her throat and looked away in embarrassment.

"Orgy?" Ise whispered the word imagination running wild. "GUCHA!" he snorted as the eruption of blood from his nose forced him backwards hard enough to knock his head into the table and himself unconscious.

"Hahaha!" Azazel wasn't even trying to hold back his laughter as he clutched his stomach. "This is great! Peace really is the best, isn't it!"

"Yes," Luka agreed, smiling despite the antics of his friends and lovers. "Yes it is." Then he sighed as he was hit in the head by Alma Elma's panties. "You two… really…"

-The end of a maid's day

The day was coming to end as Grayfia once more made her rounds around the Gremory Manor. As usual, order and efficiency came to be in her wake, like the ripples in water that trail behind a shark's fin as it split the ocean.

Just the way she preferred it, as always.

Still, only those who knew her would see the spring in her step, and only those brave enough to look long enough would see the tiniest trace of a smile on her lips.

He was back now. At long last, Luka Phenix had returned.

It had been so long, that she had almost grown accustomed to the grief of his absence, and now that that grief was no more, it was as though something deep inside of her that she had lost long ago was back. Their friend, their comrade, the one they had fought together with, back to back, who had helped cheer them all when the pressures of battle grew too thick, and helped lighten the load when duty seemed almost unbearable. Words could hardly express the strength of their bond, a bond she had thought broken forever, but had proven to be just as strong despite the time.

Sirzechs was busy with the affairs of the new peace, but despite that he had made time to contact the other Maou to start arranging a welcome back party. There was a particular hot spring out in the mountains that they sometimes used for private vacations that she had already booked, and she was looking forward to gathering there, just the six of them. She might even allow herself a little alcohol, something that always made her husband nervous for some reason. They could tell old war stories, or maybe some new ones judging from what she had heard Luka had gotten up to in the absence.

"Gahahaha! Oh, Bocchan! Always so eager to go to bed!" the voice of Surt once more greeted her as she made her way to see her son before he slept. She shook her head softly at how often the giant seemed to be the one with the duty of preparing him. For all his strength in battle, he had a gentleness to him as well that shined through when caring for her son.

"Is there anything else you need, Waka-sama?" an enthusiastic voice announces that Sirzechs' Pawn Beowulf was also helping her son get ready.

"Yes, thank you, I have everything I need," Millicas said innocently. "That is all."

"Hahahaha! Even the Bocchan knows how to deal with you, eh, Beo?"

"T-That is just so unfair!" Beowulf sounded like he was crying at the dismissal, and Grayfia sighed, already well aware of the dynamics of her husband's peerage.

"So, ready for another story?" Surt went on, not even bothering to give Beowulf a response. She heard his sobbing increase in kind. "Maybe about the Norse gods this time! I have plenty of stories about that jerk Odin that will embarrass him!"

"Ah, no, thank you Surt-san," Millicas apologized, before continuing eagerly. "I heard that the Lost Sixth has finally come back! Please, do you know any stories about him? It's so exciting!"

"Haha! Just like a boy to want to hear the same story over and over!" rather than be displeased, the fire giant just laughed his usual boisterous laugh. "But you already know that I don't really know anything about Phenix-sama! Though if you want to, I can make some up that will blow you away!"

"There will be no need for that," Grayfia spoke up, pushing open the door to her son's bedroom. At her sudden presence, the fire giant stiffened, getting a nervous look, while Beowulf fingered his collar nervously and started to edge away.

"Er, sorry, Ane-san," the descendent of the hero apologized instantly, though he hadn't done anything wrong. Surt just started to look more and more nervous, no doubt worried about her reaction to his offer to make up stories about her old friend.

"Mother!" Millicas on the other hand beamed, holding his arms out childishly for a hug that she gracefully returned. "Oh, could you maybe tell me? About the Lost Sixth?"

Surt swallowed slowly, aware of just how Grayfia had reacted in the past about those kinds of questions, but then blinked as Grayfia only smiled.

"I would be happy too," she told her son, sitting lightly at the edge of his bed. "There were once six good friends who had many adventures together…"

And so she lost herself in old memories, all the while looking forward to the making of new ones…

That, and figuring out how to convince Luka and Serafall that she knew best for them. Oh, and how to convince the other girl that Magical Girls could never beat Maids.

Fin