[X] Only decide about a set of fundamental effects beside higher Essence and CMA, and leave the rest to me
[X] Now that you think about it, you DO have a better alternative!
-[X] Magic Sense (the ability we used to find the magical sword Shigure was looking for when she came to visit us). Try to use it to locate the stolen Excalibur; that way we'll be the ones to dictate the terms of the engagement, or possibly avoid one altogether if we can simply steal them.
--[X] Send out our Ninjas, too, just in case they see or hear something interesting.
[X] Use the plan you, Irina and Xenovia agreed on to find the Excaliburs.
[X] Check Manse construction.
[X] Continue working on your own version of the Evil Pieces.
[X] Resume magic lessons with Akeno.
[X] Complete training for Hypnotic Tongue Technique and Hastening Night's End.
====
The next morning sees you in a slightly worse mood compared to the past few days, when you were all excited about the breakthrough you made with the Evil Pieces. After all now you have to deal with the possibility of a super powerful, warmongering and future-scrying Fallen Angel wanting to re-start a war with murder. Also, since Irina and Xenovia were sleeping in the house it meant no 'sexy time'.
[That's fucking hilarious. Not even a few months ago you despaired because your only prospective partner for the future was your right hand, and now you get grumpy if you spend a single night without having sex?]
'Yeees, laugh at me.' You splash your face with cold water. Uh, if your eyes aren't deceiving you that's a hint of facial hair. Must take countermeasures.
'A few months ago I also was a normal teenage instead of a young Demigod with one hell of a Destiny on his shoulders despite having you within my soul since birth. That reminds me of something I always wanted to ask, does Boosted Gear always manifest for each new host?'
[No. There have been a few past hosts that die never manifesting even the first stage. They were lucky since the curse didn't get them. I don't remember much since before the first manifestation I am constantly half-asleep, but those were...peaceful times I suppose.]
Well then, that's interesting. Indeed a Sacred Gear usually manifests because there is a need of it, and considering the nature of many of them the need is often violent in nature.
Putting on fresh clothes, just a shirt and pants, you walk down to the kitchen and begin to prepare breakfast. Asia joins you a few minutes later and the two of you divide up the tasks, while the others sit down on the table.
Finally Irina and Xenovia enter the room, half-asleep and rubbing their eyes. "...'Morning..."
"Good morning Irina-chan." You greet your childhood friend. "Is Japanese breakfast good for both or do you prefer a western one Xenovia?"
"...Food..." You will take that as a 'yes'.
"Here." Yomi moves back two chairs for easy reach.
"...Thanks..." Irina mumbles before sitting down. A few seconds later her eyes shoot open and she whirls around to face the blonde. "Wait! Who are you?"
"I'm Yomi!" The shinobi replies friendly. "Nice to meet you!"
Irina's eyes stares at Yomi and her 'assets' before moving to the other shinobi. By the time she reaches Mirai her face has turned almost purple. "Isse-kun!! Who are those people?"
"Right, I haven't introduced you yet." You reply while putting down the dishes. "Meet Homura, Hikage, Mirai, Yomi and Haruka. They're my personal group of Ninja."
"Ninja?! Ninja! What do you even need Ninja for?!?"
"Stealthy stuff."
"Suspicious!" She twirls around again, pointing a finger at Rias. "And what are you doing here?!"
The redhead quirks an eyebrow. "I live here."
"Say what?!?" Irina seems to choke. "Issei-kun, where are Uncle and Auntie?"
"On a cruise. Be back in a month or two."
She gapes like a fish before lowering her head, muttering something about 'competition' with a dark mood. Uhm, maybe you should make her a strong coffee.
"When I saw you before I thought you were familiar." Xenovia says while looking at Asia. "Are you Asia Argento, the ex-Holy Maiden?"
Asia's mood dims instantly at her words. "Is there a problem?" Mittelt says suddenly, eyeing Xenovia like one would a troublemaker. "It's a little crass to discuss religious matters on breakfast, don't you think so? Especially since it's our food you're eating."
"I don't see why." The exorcist replies, nonplussed. "I was just curious since my mentor, Cardinal Vasco Strada, was among those that opposed her exile. I want to know what deserved his attention."
"Monsignor Strada did..?" Asia mutters, clearly shocked.
"How sweet of him, but he shouldn't have bothered." Mittelt puts an arm around Asia's neck and rubs her cheek on her head with a silly grin, much to the nun's embarrassment. "Otherwise me and Asia-chan would have never become friends!"
"I fail to see how being friend with a Fallen Angel is worth being excommunicated from the church." Xenovia says dryly.
"What Fallen Angel? There are no Fallen Angels here."
"Don't play dumb, I am talki-"
PAH
Mittelt's four golden wings emerges from her back. The sight makes Xenovia's words devolves into incoherent splutter, while Irina stares wide-eyed. "Y-your wings! No way!"
"Yeah, I signed up with a new god. He's big on forgiveness as long as you're really apologetic. I was on my knees for hours."
That causes you to reel back as if physically struck. Homura and Rias snorts in amusement, Haruka covers with one hand a smile and Mirai makes a disgusted face.
"I-It must be a trick! There is no way God would forgive someone who willingly broke His laws!"
"Girl, I was born as a Fallen Angel. I broke no law, unless you are saying I did it while in the womb? But-" With only a small grimace she plucks off one of her feathers and hands it over. "You're welcome to check."
What follows are a few minutes of Irina and Xenovia trying everything to prove the color isn't natural, from rubbing it with water to carefully cutting it open. At the end they have to admit defeat. "You must be very devout to this pagan deity to pray for so long." Xenovia says like she just swallowed a lemon.
Mittelt puts a finger on her lips. "Prayer? Well, I suppose I did invoke my Lord and Savior's name several times."
Rias' starts to quietly chuckle.
"...I guess you've converted Asia to this deity's service as well, then?" Irina asks.
"If anything, she's more devout than I am! You should hear how she exalts his name every night!" She blonde exclaims, causing Asia to flush a glowing red.
Rias' chuckles evolve into full-blown laughter. Homura is shaking from suppressed laughter, Haruka wears a very dirty grin and Mirai is stabbing her food repeatedly with a knife while muttering 'perverts' over and over again.
You just start hitting your head on the wall.
====
The following day and the next three after it are full of activities. First, you explained to the two Exorcists the method you used to search for Shigure's magical sword and wanted to use again, something they were familiar with luckily, and asked to see one of their Holy Sword to pinpoint the energy signature. Grudgingly Irina showed you her transforming sword: to your great surprise it turns out to be one of the surviving Excaliburs, Excalibur Mimic a sword that can take any form the user desires. A nice trick to have, that's for sure. With that done you start the search in earnest, Homura's Crimson Squad joining in by collecting information across the city in hope of finding a lead or a hint.
You also checked on your Manse to see how the construction is going, and the foreman told you it would be done in a week. Understably Irina demanded to know what was going on, though the knowledge you are building a traditional mansion to better play the part of the Yakuza Boss sent her into a coughing fit while Xenovia wrote more on her journal.
Finally, the remaining time is spent between working on your own version of the Evil Pieces, complete the training for those Charms Bright gave you to help Raiser and resuming the magic lessons with Akeno.
"I am so happy." Akeno says in false relief, pretending to wipe off a tear. "I thought you had become bored with me. Aah, to be used so much only to spend the rest of my days wasting away like an old, soiled thing..."
Though, in hindsight maybe you could have done without the latter.
"Akeno-san, please tone down the drama." You say quite firmly in an even tone. "It was not even a long pause, and I had very good reasons. There is no reason to guilt-trip me."
"Unsightly." Koneko nods in agreement.
"Yeah. And about that-" You turn to look at your junior. "Not to sound offensive or anything, but what are you doing here Koneko-chan?"
"Neglected magical training for physical. Wanted to correct that."
Uhm, makes sense.
"And to think, she took this decision just after you told me you wanted to resume our lessons, and insisted to join them in order to not waste time." Akeno tells you with a cheshire grin. "That's quite the coincidence, don't you think so Issei-kun?"
Quite, though for some reason Koneko is bothered by it because she turned quite red in the face. You wonder why?
[Moron.]
If you want to insult me at least tell me why, you shitty dragon.
"Now then Issei-kun, what kind of spell do you want to learn first? Or maybe you want to practice with those you already have?
[] Learn new spell.
-[] Write-in.
[] Practice (Raise Rank in Devil Magic)
====
The time has come. Finally your punishment is over and you can go back to school. Not that you crazy love studying or anything, but you missed the atmosphere.
So, once morning comes you wake up in good spirits, prepare breakfast, pick up your school bag and together with Asia, Mittelt and Rias follow the road to Kuoh Academy.
The sky is blue, the air warm and it is a wonderful day.
So why is Sona Sitri standing in front of the school gates like a Yama from Hell, the rest of the Student Council standing on her sides yet keeping a certain distance?
"Sona? What are you doing?" Rias asks, confused.
"I am making sure students aren't late Rias. Like always." She replies while fixing her glasses, eyes darting back and forth like she expects her sworn enemy to pop up at any time.
"Yes, but usually it's only you and Tsubaki-san." The redhead retorts. "Like this, it's almost like you're expecting a-"
"""HE'S HERE!!!!"""
The sudden shout pierces through the air like an elephant in a crystalware shop. You turn around, coming face to face with a stampede of screaming Kuoh female students rushing in your direction.
"""HYODO-SEMPAI!!!"""
What the fuck?
"Stop immediately what's you're doing!" Almost faster than Kira Sona is in front of you, barking at the incoming girls. "With my authority of Student Council President I command you to-"
"""HYODO-SAN!!!"""
This time the screams come from behind, as an even bigger cluster of girls is coming there from the school.
What the actual fuck?
Sona is immediately back at the gate, the rest of the Council trying to support her even while looking uneasy. "Do not run on school ground! Go back to your class! Whatever you are thinking I forbi-"
You suppose the reason for what followed next was that Sona never even dreamed of such a possibility so she was caught completely off-guard. Fact is-
-The horde summarily ignores Sona's words and proceeds to run over her and the rest of the Council members. Then the onrushing wall of girls surge out at you, joined from behind the other group. In no time at all you're pressed on all sides by what is steadily looking like Kuoh Academy's entire female population. And you also lost sight of Rias and the others!
"Welcome back Hyodo-sempai!"
"Kyaaa! He's even cooler in person!"
"Please hug me!"
Their hands roam all over you, some pinching your cheeks and other sensible parts of your body. In a way it's a dream coming true.
So why are you feeling only immense dread?
You receive a hint to the answer when someone lifts up over the school gates a banner with a heavily prettified portrait of your face followed by 'HYODO 4EVER'.
It is almost immediately covered by another banner, this one showing you hanging from a tree, pierced by numerous spears and on fire, with 'DIE HYODO' written many times in dripping red letters all around it.
Then the two banners begin to move up and down erratically, almost like those manning them are fighting each other.
How do you react?
[] Freak out
[] Run away
[] Declare loudly you have an herpes
[] Calmly ask what's going on
[] Relax and enjoy the attentions
[] Write-in.
====
It's good to be back
PS: Special thanks goes to
Slayer Anderson. Many of you know why
