High School DxD: Fox of Ill Omen

Issei

“Vali. I’ve come for you.”

I stopped rushing at Vali as a guy wearing armor from the three kingdoms period landed between us like the place belonged to him.

He spoke way to cheerfully for someone steeping into the middle of the fight

But Vali stopped his chanting that Albion had warned him about, when the guy called out to him. 

I skidded back a step and kept my guard up anyway.

No way was I relaxing just because a new lunatic had entered the field.

“Oh Biko, what are you here for?” Vali asked.

He seemed to know this guy and even seemed friendly with him.

Biko looked like a young, brown haired man.

The armor he wore was colorful and elegant with an old Chinese design. 

“I came all the way to this country just to help out my partner, you know?” Biko said. “The others are all kicking up a fuss because we are supposed to go fight the Gods of northern Europe and you’re still here even after the mission failed. Since Katerea failed to assassinate any of the leaders of the Three Factions, so we are done here.  Your role was just supposed to be that of an observer anyways. Let’s go so that everyone will stop complaining.”

“So I’ve run out of time then.”

Biko looked around the ruined school grounds. 

“Yeah, and it looks like you got carried away too.”

The two of them ignored the rest of us and acted like they were just going to leave.

“Who the hell are you?” I asked while pointing at Biko.

Azazel was the one to answer.

“That’s the descendent of the Victorious Fighting Buddha, he’s the current Sun Wukong.”

“What is someone like that doing here?!” I asked

I had completely forgotten my anger at Vali over the shock of meeting the legendary Sun Wukong 

“Well actually he’s just inherited Sun Wukong’s powers. He’s just a monkey Youkai, not the figure of legend. But it’s surprising that he’s also joined Vali in the Kahos Brigade.” Azazel paused for a moment. “Actually Sun Wukong working with a dragon makes sense.”

Biko chuckled at Azazel’s comment.

He grinned widely before pointing his thumb at himself.

“I’m not a Buddha like the First Generation was. I’m only interested in living how I like. My name is Bikou. Nice to meet you, Sekiryuuti.”

Then he leaned to the side and looked at Buchou and the others.

Buchou stood with Kusari-san, Koneko-chan, Gasper, and Asia.

Yuuto-san, Xenovia, and Akeno were moving around our sides to get into position to fight.

His grin widened at their movement before he looked back toward Buchou again.

“Oh, there’s another Youkai here too! And she’s a cute fox as well.”

“Die.” Kusari-san immediately replied. 

Koneko-chan nodded approvingly next to her.

“Aww, you don’t need to be so harsh!” Biko pouted, still smiling.

“You're a terrorist.”

“….Fair. Welp time to go.”

As Biko finished speaking he summoned a staff into his hand and then spun it around before slamming it into the ground.

As soon as he did, darkness spread across the ground from where he struck.

It was like a shallow pool of pitch black water spreading across the ground.

Once it had spread far enough the two of them began to sink into it.

Vali locked eyes with me.

“Get stronger Hydouou Issei.”

Biko waved energetically.

“Bye Sekiryuuti and friends!”

They were just going to try and escape after all of that!

I lunged forward to try and stop them.

“Stop! I won’t let you get away!”

I quickly moved closer until my armour vanished from around me.

My Sacred Gear faded away as the bracelet that Azazel had given me crumbled.

I quickly turned to Azazel.

“Azazel! Give me another one of those rings! We can’t let them escape!”

Azazel shook his head at me.

“I don’t have any more with me. They take too much time and effort to create so I can’t mass produce them yet. Plus, each time they are used, the user's chance of obtaining a natural Balance Breaker lowers. It’s only meant as a last resort.” 

“But we need to stop them! They attacked my school! We can’t let them get away!”

I turned to Buchou and the others.

Buchou looked at me with a sad smile.

“I don’t think we can stop them from leaving Ise. We’re all too drained from the fight.”

As she mentioned it I staggered from a sudden fatigue across my body.

I was barely standing on my own.

I glanced at Kusari-san.

She had stopped Vali once, maybe she could again.

She met my gaze before glancing at her injured arm and then at Koneko-chan and Asai.

When she looked back at me she slowly shook her head.

“You’re barely even standing after fighting in your Balance Breaker for only that long.” Azazel said. “You’ll need to increase your power and stamina if you want to be able to fight longer battles.”

I looked at Vali and Biko as they were nearly fully submerged into the pool of darkness.

Then Vali spoke to me again.

“We will face each other again, Hydouou Issei. Our next fight will be more intense. We will both get stronger before then. And our enemies aren’t only Angels, Fallen Angels and Devils, there’s more ou—”

He was cut off as he and Biko disappeared and the pool of darkness vanished as well.

The battlefield went quiet.

I stayed standing.

For maybe two seconds longer. 

My knees gave.

I hit the ground hard enough that for a second I saw nothing dirt and lights floating in my vision.

“Ise!”

Buchou’s voice reached me first.

I was rolled over and then sat up carefully enough that I knew someone had enough sense to stop the others from grabbing at me all at once.

When my vision came back properly, Buchou was kneeling beside me.

Asia was already there too, both hands glowing with healing light over my chest and shoulder.

Akeno-san crouched on the other side, one hand steady at my back.

Koneko-chan hovered close enough to interfere if anyone jostled me wrong.

Xenovia looked down at me with that infuriatingly calm stare of hers.

Yuuto-san stood just behind them, sword dismissed now, but tension still in every line of her body.

Kusari-san had made it a few steps closer before clearly deciding her arm hurt too much to risk kneeling too quickly.

So she stood there instead, pale and exhausted and watching me with that same unreadable look she always got when she was trying not to show too many things at once.

“You idiot,” Buchou whispered.

There was too much relief in her voice for the insult to carry properly.

I grinned weakly.

“I won, though.”

“No,” Akeno-san said, smiling in a way that said she was two seconds from scolding me hardhly. “You certainly did not.”

“You punched him a lot,” Xenovia said. “That was impressive.”

“Thank you,” I said.

Asia’s healing light brightened. “Please don’t move too much right now.”

“I’m fine,” I lied.

Everyone ignored me.

Koneko-chan looked down at me and muttered, “Trash.”

I smiled a little wider.

“I was trying to protect you, Koneko-chan.”

She glared at me until my smile became more strained and much more awkward.

I looked away first.

Yuuto-san finally relaxed enough to let out a breath and said, “You really did force him back.”

I smiled at Yuuto-san’s praise

Then Akeno-san laughed softly.

“And with such wonderful reasons.”

Buchou went red instantly.

“Don’t remind me!”

“That’s impossible,” Akeno-san said. “I’m going to remind everyone later.”

Across from her, Kusari-san gave Buchou the same dull look she had frequently given me.

Even like this, half dead on the ground, I could tell what it meant.

This is your fault / I’m disappointed in you.

I don’t think what I said during the fight was really Buchou’s fault….

But right now it wasn’t directed at me for once, so I wasn’t going to say anything. 

Still, when Kusari-san’s eyes met mine for a second, I saw something under the dull annoyance that mattered more.

Relief.

Annoyed relief.

Pain too.

A lot of pain, actually.

Her arm looked terrible.

I tried to sit up further before Asia could scold me.

“Kusari-san, your arm—”

“I am aware,” she said flatly.

“Ise-kun, sit down before you fall over.” Akeno-san told me.

I complied immediately.

That got the faintest shift in her expression.

Almost a smile. 

Then Akeno-san turned to her.

“And you need to rest as well, Kusari-san. Don’t worry though. Your Onee-san will take great care of you since you decided to hurt yourself. Again.”

Akeno smiled warmly at Kusari-san, but I could feel the annoyed anger behind the smile.

Kusari-san grimaced slightly.

I smiled at the two of them, again relieved that it wasn’t directed at me for once. 

Gasper moved forward to hug my side

“I-I’m so glad you’re alright, Issei-senpai!”

“Like I said, I'm used to a little pain. I’m a tough senpai. Ah, Gasper, can you see again?”

“Y-yeah! After V-Vali and Biko left I could see again!”

“That’s good.”

Azazel finally joined the group.

One arm gone, body a wreck, and still somehow alive enough to smirk at all of us.

“Not bad, kid.”

I glared up at him from the ground.

“You suck.”

“I’ve heard worse.

I wouldn’t have been surprised if he had.

He glanced at Kusari-san and waved his stump at her.

“We match now, Omen-chan.”

She sighed.

“Sadly, and please don’t call me that, Azazel-sama.”

“Wow. I’m surprised you said anything more than ‘yes sir’ or ‘of course Azazel-sama’.  And what else should I call you? Ill-chan sounds dumb and Fox-chan is fine but is too generic.”

“You could use her name, Azazel.” Buchou said, with a light glare.

He only smiled wider.

“Oh, and what would that be?”

We all looked at Kusari-san who was watching Azazel.

She glanced at us and opened her mouth to speak, before looking down without saying anything.

Azazel’s smile looked more genuine for a moment.

“I’ll stick to fox-chan for now. Unless I want to annoy you.”

Then he looked over the ruined battlefield, then toward the sky where the barrier still sat above us.

“The conference isn’t dead,” he said. “That alone makes this a pretty good night.”

I almost laughed at the absurdity of the thought.

Then I remembered Vali getting away and the feeling vanished.

Not pretty good.

Not until I hit him hard enough to wipe that dumb look off his face for real.

Maybe Azazel read something of that in me, because he gave me a sharper smile and said, “You’ll get another chance.”

That was not comforting.

It was also exactly what I wanted.

Which was probably a problem.

Buchou’s hand found mine then.

I squeezed back as much as I could.

And around us the peerage was back together, once again.

_________________________________________

Asia

It was only after Vali-san and Biko-san disappeared that I realized how tired I was.

I hadn’t fought like Yuuto-san, Kuaari-san, and Xenovia-san.

I didn’t have a duel with a destined rival like Ise-san.

I hadn’t even escaped from being frozen in place by Gasper-kun’s Sacred Gear.

But I was still tired after watching Ise-san get hit by Vali-san, Kusari-san hurt herself again with her own spells, and then Issei beating Vali-san while shouting embarrassing things about mine and the other girls' breasts.

I felt bad that I was tired when I hadn’t really done anything like the others had, but between my nervousness before the summit and everything during it, I was drained.

Our school grounds looked sad. 

It looked like a battlefield with all the broken stone and glass and the signs of damage from spells..

The barrier was still in place above us and at this point it was feeling less reassuring the more I looked at it.

It felt more like a blanket hiding our damaged school than it felt like a shield now.

And now we were getting ready to head back to the main school building

Ise-san was on the ground with everyone gathered around him.

Buchou was kneeling beside him, helping to his feet.

Akeno-san crouched on the other side holding his hand as they lifted him up.

Gasper-kun was nervously watching them from the side.

Yuuto-san was trying to calm Gasper-kun while she also watched Ise-san like she was ready to step in to help at a moment's notice. 

Koneko-chan was… helping Yuuto-san calm down Gasper-kun.

She was poking at his side while making small comments that seemed to work him up more than they calmed him down.

But every now and then she’d glance at Kusari-san with worry.

Xenovia-san was standing by herself looking across the school grounds like she was waiting for someone else to attack us.

Kisari-san was standing by herself, but was still near Ise-san. 

Kusari-san was still upright, but only just.

Her right arm looked terrible even after I had done what I could in the middle of the fight.

The sleeve was burned through, the skin beneath raw and torn enough that even looking at it made my stomach tighten with worry.

I wanted to go to Ise-san and help.

But he was conscious, talking, and being held up by stubbornness and everyone else’s concern.

He wasn’t badly hurt, just exhausted. 

Kusari-san was still standing because she refused not to.

So when we started to walk back to the main school building I went up to her and helped her walk.

She glanced at me before accepting my help.

It made me smile that she was comfortable enough to let me help.

As we walked and the rest of the group continued to talk I started to heal her arm again.

“Thank you, Asia-san. I hope it’s not too much of a bother.” She said to me.

“Oh, not at all!” I replied. “You’re in pain, so of course I’d help you Kusari-san! And you’re welcome.”

I beamed at her as we walked together. 

I got a small smile in return.

“But you can also heal Issei-san. He’s looking rough after that fight.”

“He does…. B-But you need it more! You really hurt yourself again, Kusari-san. I wish that you wouldn’t do this to yourself…”

She looked down for a moment before looking back at me.

“Issei-san needed help. If someone hadn’t interfered then he might not have survived absorbing the Hakuryuukou’s jewel. It was a simple choice. 

I frowned at how easily she dismissed her own pain again. 

“You’re right and you did the right thing by helping him, Kusari-san but you need to cherish yourself more. There might have been another way to stop Vali-san.”

I paused for a moment, before continuing more quietly.

“I hate seeing you hurt yourself. It makes me sad seeing someone I care about in so much pain…”

Kusari-san stopped walking.

“I…. I am sorry Asai-san. I knew that it would be enough to stop him and accepted that it would hurt me. I’m not…. I know that it makes you and the others upset and I will try to do better. I’m not used to caring about what happens to me afterwards. I’m used to focusing on succeeding at my task and still being useful when I do.”

My heart hurt at her words.

Kusari-san always seemed to struggle to separate herself from the idea that she needed to be useful above anything else.

But she was a person.

An important member of our peerage and my friend.

“I understand that it’s hard for you Kusari-san. I want you to know that we will always be here for you though! We are friends after all!”

She smiled and started walking again.

I stumbled as I rushed to keep up with her longer legs.

“I’ll try and remember that Asia-san.”

I smiled at her again and then we walked in silence for a bit as I healed her arm.

“You know…” I started

“Yes?” Kusari-san said as she glanced at me.

I hesitated for a moment.

“Whatever you want us to call you, it doesn't really matter to me…. I know it probably seems trivial to you but I had a rough time after I left the Church until I met Ise-san and the others. S-So, I understand a bit what it's like to have painful moments in your past.”

She didn't respond as we continued to walk

I was worrying that I had overstepped as we were nearly at the school.

Then she spoke, quieter than before.

“Your pain isn't trivial Asia-san. What happened to me doesn't make your pain worth any less. And… And I think I know what I want to do now that everyone has heard my real name. Thank you Asia-san. You've helped me again.”

I flushed at her praise while looking at my feet.

“I-It’s no problem! I'm happy to help! And if…” I glanced up at her before looking back to the ground. “If you want you can just call me Asia, like Ise-san and Rias-san do.”

“.....alright Asia. You can do the same with me.”

“Thank you Kusari!”

I was beaming as we arrived at the school and caught up with the rest of the group.

Koneko-chan turned to us first.

“Are you alright, Kusari-senpai?” she asked.

Kusari glanced at me before responding

“Yes, Asia helped me quite a lot.”

Koneko-chan raised an eyebrow and looked between us.

“...Thats good then.” she said.

Around the school grounds there were soldiers from all factions moving about.

The area wasn’t as badly damaged as near the old school building was. 

Michael-sama, Serafall-sama, and Sirzechs-sama were directing troops in the cleanup of the battlefield. 

Sirzechs-sama saw us, then turned to say something to Serafall-sama before walking our way. 

Sirzechs-sama approached us then and gestured to Azazel-san upon noticing his arm.

Kusari froze up seeing Sirzechs-sama approach.

I glanced at her with worry but couldn't do anything as Sirzechs-sama arrived in front of us

“It’s good to see you're all safe, but Azazel, what happened to you?”

“I was caught off guard by Katerea.” Azazel-san said. “She latched onto my arm and activated a self detonation spell. I didn't have a choice but to cut it off if I wanted to survive.”

Sirzechs-sama turned to me.

“Asia-chan, can you heal him with Twilight Healing?”

“U-umm, I have already t-tried, Sirzechs-sama, but my healing is not enough for Azazel-san’s wound.”

“I see.” Sirzechs-sama said. “Azazel, Katera was an issue from the Devil’s side of things. I think that we–”

Azazel held up a hand to stop him.

“It’s not necessary for your side to do anything. Vali also betrayed us. From the start he was someone who only pursued power. We managed to defeat and drive off the enemy, but it was my responsibility to keep him in line.”

Azazel-san sounded sad when he talked about Vali-san.

I know that they had known each other for a long time, but it seemed like it was more than that to Azazel-san.

Michael-sama arrived then and stood with Sirzechs-sama and Azazel-san.

“Now that most matters are handled here I will be returning to Heaven to work on more of the details for our peace treaty and to prepare countermeasures for the Khaos Brigade.”

“I am sorry for what happened.” Sirzechs-sama said. “We were the ones to arrange the summit and we are partially to blame for things turning out how they did.”

“You should not feel responsible, Sirzechs.” Micheal-sama said. “In the end we managed to make peace between the Three Factions. With this the useless fighting between sides will end.”

Azazel-san scoffed

“Well, subordinates who don’t agree with that will also leave.”

Michael-sama sighed.

“You’re right Azazel. We already saw here today that not everyone will be able to accept the new peace between us. Sadly we will have to focus more on the Khaos Brigade now than we can on the troublemakers on our side.”

“We should meet again to discuss our plans for how we deal with them.” Sirzechs-sama said.

Azazel-san nodded at his words. 

“Good.” Michael-sama said. “I will return to heave at once to settle some matters before returning to conclude the formal peace agreement.”

Michael-sama began to turn to leave when Ise-san shouted to him. 

“W-Wait, Michael-san!”

He turned back with a questioning look.

“Ise!” Buchou hissed.

Michael san waved her off calmly.

“Now, now, I do not mind sparing a minute for the young Sekiryuutei. So, what is it my child?”

Ise-san stepped forward and met Michael-san’s gaze as he spoke.

“There's something I’d like to ask of you. God's System is the reason that Asia and Cenovia are hurt whenever they pray to Him, right?”

Michael-sama nodded.

“Yes. If a Devil or Fallen Angel were to pray  to God, the System will cause them pain. This happens even without God’s presence. But why do you ask?”

Ise-san scratched the back of his head. “Asia and Xenovia... even though they’re Devils now, they still believe in God. They still want to pray.” He hesitated only a little before forcing himself to continue. “Couldn’t you do something so it doesn’t hurt them anymore? Even just for those two?”

I held my breath at Ise-san’s words.

That was something I’d wanted since I first became a Devil.

Even though it hurt and He was no longer there to listen to me, I still prayed to God everyday.

It was painful and hard to accept at times, but my faith hadn’t diminished despite becoming a Devil.

I wanted to be selfish at that moment.

I wanted beg Michael-sama to agree to Ise-san’s request. 

Instead I held my breath and watched with tears already forming in my eyes as Michael-sama looked shocked by the request and then chuckled.

“If it’s only for the two of them, then yes I can.” He said. “They may be devils but they were both valued members of the Church at one time.”

I let out a shuddering breath as I began to cry tears of joy.

My prayers were being answered.

Michael-sama turned to Xenovia-san and I.

“Asia, Xenovia, even though you know of God’s absence, will you still pray to Him?”

“Of course. I will still pray to our absent Lord.”  Xenovia-san said. 

I wiped my tears before I spoke.

“I will as well! I want to give thanks to the Lord, and to Michael-sama as well!”

Michael-san smiled at us.

“Very well. Then I’ll make the change as soon as I get to Heaven. It will be interesting to have some Devils who can pray to God without pain.”

Ise-san turned to me with a grin. 

“There you go Asia, Xenovia, you’ll be able to pray without harm now!”

I continued to cry as I rushed to hug him.

“Thank you! Thank you Ise-san!”

He huffed me back tightly.

“Thank you, Ise.” Xenovia-san said from behind me. 

Ise-san turned while he held me to look at Xenovia-san.

“Don’t worry about it. You can pray without worry now Xenovia.”

I let go of Ise-san and wiped my eyes.

I looked and saw Yuuto-san speaking to Michael-sama.

“I swear upon the holy-demonic sword that you have given us that I will not allow something like the Holy Sword research project to occur again.” Michael said. “What happened was a travesty and a mistake for us to allow to happen within the Church.”

Yuuto-san nodded.

She looked determined but relieved at Michael-sama’s words. 

I glanced at Buchou and the others. They were watching us with smiles.

Kusari still was too stiff and too blank, but she was watching us all the same.

“Michael, I’ll leave the talks with Valhalla to you for now.” Azazel-san said “I’ll need some time to recover. We will need to convey today’s events to My. Sumeru as well.”

Michael-sama nodded.

They probably wouldn’t listen if a Maou or the Govenor Fallen Angel arrived to speak with them. I’ve spoken to them in the past m, so I should be able to meet with them without issue.”

After speaking with Azazel-san, Michael-sama gathered the other Angels before flying away with them.

It was beautiful to watch allof the Angels flying together.

Azazel-san turned to the Fallen Angels present.

“Listen up! I’ve chosen peace with the Devils and Angels. Those who leave wil be treated as an emery when they are seen again. Only those who will follow me may remain!”

Ithe gathered fallen Angels began to chant Azazel-san’s name and released a roaring cheer.

Azazel-san just waved and nodded in response.

He seemed to be loved by his people.

After that, the Fallen Angels and Devils left quickly departed through magic circles.

Eventually only Azazel-san remain near us, as Sirzechs-sama had left to speak with Serafall-sama.

“Welp. I’m beat so I’m just gonna let Sirzechs handle the clean up.” Azazel-san said as he started to walk away.

He neared the gate before pausing and looking over his shoulder at Ise-san. 

“And by the way. I’ll be sticking around to help Vampire-kun.”

Everyone looked at him.

Buchou’s brows drew together first. “You’re going to help Gasper?”

He nodded as if that were the most natural decision in the world.

“I’m taking responsibility for helping your [Bishop] control his Sacred Gear.” His eyes slid toward where Gasper-kun now stood a little nearer to us than he had earlier, still half-hiding but not completely. “After tonight, leaving him alone to figure it out would be idiotic.”

Gasper-kun squeaked before hiding behind Ise-san. 

Ise-san looked suspicious immediately.

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“That’s actually super helpful.”

“Don’t sound so happy,” Azazel-san said. “I’m an awful teacher.”

“I believe that.”

Azazel-san just smiled before turning to continue out the gate while whistling.

That, somehow, seemed to satisfy both of them.

I looked toward Gasper-kun then.

He was still nervous.

But not as badly as before.

He was looking at the people around him instead of only at the ground. 

Ise-san had survived his fight. 

Despite the attack, it sounded like the peace talks would continue. 

Things were getting better.

Kusari moved next to me then.

Her posture was more relaxed now.

“So you and Xenovia-san can pray freely now.” She said. “I’m happy for you Asia.”

I looked around our peerage as people relaxed and talked in small groups.

I smiled up at her.

“I’m happy too, Kusari.”

Things were definitely getting better. 

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