Tender tears, shed by friends and loved ones, sweetens our bitter life.

DISCLAIMER: DxD does not belong to me~.

The first thing I see once I wake up is an innocuous white room. No dust, no signs of use, just a pure tone of blank above my head that was tiring my retina just by looking at it, while the scent of apples and alcohol fills my nostrils...

My first reaction to that was, of course, a yawn since I was so tired even after a good nap. Doing so however cracks a few articulations of mine, and I can sense my whole body growing lazy for that, soon collapsing back on the soft hospital bed. Ugh~, this sucks...

"Calm down there, darling. After all you and your peerage have been through, it's a miracle only a few cuts is what you got." And after resting back on my hospital bed, I slowly turn my head to the direction that powerful, rough voice came from, and I blink a few times: there he is, Cohen Lucifer, the supreme demon lord and... My dearest father, wearing casual clothes of wine shirt and black pants, sitting on a white chair clearly too small for him (granted, he's pretty tall even for a devil) and peeling an apple. He turns to me and smiles. "But then again, you're His granddaughter. Dealing with vampires, the third most annoying race in existence, is easy for you."

"..." I pout a little for his words. It's not like I did all of that alone, and it wasn't all that easy, they still marked a few good ones on me. But he's right, we were able to survive, and that's all that matters. Speaking of it, my orbs divert a little from him to my right side, and I see a brand new arm attached to me, covered in bandages like the previous one and with chalk-white skin. I try to move it, but it only twitches a little. Not only that, I can't feel anything from it. I try again, and it twitches again. I put myself sit on the bed, and I notice that it limps. So it means it still hasn't really grow on me, and as a result I have a lame arm for now...

"Mary said it might take a while, but the new arm will be able to move and feel in no time. This is a new improved prototype, so it'll be even better than the last." Father comments, now slicing the apples and putting the pieces down on a plate, offering to me. I look back to him, and he has cut them in the shapes of bunnies. Cute. "She also put some commands for your rocket punch, but as said before, it'll be hard to recover and almost impossible to reuse once launched. But it's cool, isn't it? I wish I could get pocket-powered fists too..."

"Heheh, dad, you're already powerful as you are. No need for rocket punches." I smile and chuckle, and he blushes a little, also smiling. I think this is the first time ever that I compliment him. I bet it feels weird for him too. I reach for one of the apple bunnies with my good arm and take a bite out of it. "How about my peerage? And Serena-chan and hers? Nemesis and Nero-niisama?"

"Mary said they're fine for now. A few broken ribs, shattered bones, internal bleedings, the usual. Even that traitorous knight of yours is good to go, despite her broken nose." He jokes, and for that I feel some hot streams of tears running down my face with my lips close shut, trying to contain my emotions. They're fine, thank goodness they're okay. I knew that they'd be able to pull it off, but even so... I take a deep breath and let out a loud and long one. Hah~, so that's relief. "Not just them, the ninjas, the royal brats and Lord Desmond's runts are none worse for wear apparently. Outside the ghouls, who ain't alive to begin with, this event had no casualties..."

"I see... I'm so glad..." I sigh, drying my tears with the sleeves of my blue medical vest. So even Ren-kun, Haruka-sama and Esther Hellsing are fine. That's also nice, I guess. But still, I have another question: "So, father, how about the conference? Did it go well? You said Lord Nosferatu fled back to Romania after the whole mess was done, with lord Desmond following soon after. I assume it all went well?"

"Better than expected, at least. Vampires are prideful, but very rarely dumb. Even if he was that arrogant, seeing all of that mess caused by devils will make him rethink twice before doing anything ever again against us." My father chuckles, reaching for the plate to take a bunny apple for himself. From here, I can see his sharp teeth practically decapitate the little fruity animal as he licks the dripping juice off his fingers with his long tongue. "We tried to play nice, of course, but sometimes people are just so stubborn. Pretty rude, if you ask me, and I'm an Alastor, I know how to be hardheaded..."

"Huh..." I gulp down the piece of fruit in my mouth only to pick another apple bunny. I wonder if this is something I inherited from him, being so stubborn. Nemesis is fiery, but she knows how to be calm and strategize, not unlike mom. I give a quick sniff off the apple before asking back. "Father... What Nero-niisama said, is it true? You knew about the invasion, the terrorist attacks and the plan of Lord Nosferatu to kill Nemesis and Serena-chan?"

"Yes, I did." He simply said, licking his fingers. I have a million questions and nothing at the same time inside my head, yet I have no way to say any of those, so I just want for him to start. "Not just me, but Zoro-kun and Mary as well. Luna might'd an idea about it, but since she is prohibit of appearing in conferences because of her power, she might still be in the dark about it. And since I trust Nero, I told him too... Most of it, at least."

"Hmmm~..." I pout angrily, and he makes a face not unlike one would make if they've stepped on a landmine. I don't care if he has his reasons, leaving me in the dark about those matters is really mean!

"You have all the reasons to hate me for that, I understand, I really do. With all due respect, it was quite a gamble we played." He sighed, deflating from his form a little to supporting his elbows on his knees and then cup his chin with his hands, sighing. One, two seconds passed, and he opens his eyes, showing those dark purple slitted irises with black sclerae turned to me. "But in the end, it all paid off: Lord Nosferatu, whose trust on the newest generation was already flimsy, practically gave up on his own Kingdom seeing his children, his own seed, defeated by young devils, also children of Demon Lords. Forgive me for leaving you in the dark about it, but regardless of such... You all did a great job, of course you did. Unlike that old piece of guano, I believe in my children, and I knew for certain you would be able to defend the Vampire king (showing our power as a whole to defend the vampire race), stop the terrorism of the Black siblings (proving once and for all who's the strongest) and last but not least, survive a surprise attack and know how to strategize under pressure of numbers (showcasing cunning and strategy even at the face of adversity and unpredictability). All in all, it was a fun war, and you all proved yourselves to be reliable, not just as devil youth, but also the next protectors of the vampire race."

"..." My pout turned into a half-smile, my lips oscillating on my face so much it started to hurt. So, by the end of the day, he only gambled with Lord Nosferatu's plan because he knew for a fact we would be able to pull it through. I don't know if I should feel honored, content or pissed off since he basically manipulated all of us in his own gambit against the vampire King. "Dad, you're very mean."

"Sorry, sorry. I know." He lifts both his hands in a defensive and surrender pose, drawing a forced smile himself. I can sense it, he does feel bad about it...

"But I know from where you're coming from. Making us take the bait from Lord Nosferatu only to show that it wouldn't have worked anyway... That's a very devilish thing to do." I admit, drawing a smiley sigh. I'm still a bit angry from being played like a fiddle by my own father, but I can't stay mad at something like that: to play under the vampire King's own rules, only to come up on top anyway, destroying his arrogance for once; what a darkly fun plan. My father really is... The epitome of a devil. Not so much when he's beaming with happiness in hearing me, though. "I guess... I would do the same thing if I could. After all, believing in its subjects is a King's duty and virtue."

"Aw~, you're so cool, Berolina. You're really starting to sound like dear Grandmaster." He laughs, ruffling my hair a little, the red hair he says he loves so much. Me, sounding like grandfather Millicas? Huh, I don't know how to feel about this. Oh well, I reach for another apple bunny to take a bite out of it.

"But still, that was very mean... For both sides." I murmur, and his face falter in a midterm between being happy and being sad, only to turn into a satisfied smile to take another apple bunny. I guess he's happy for being considered a devil. "I wonder if this is what they call 'a necessary evil'."

"Puku~, 'necessary evil'. That's such an childish and paradoxical concept..." He sneers on my comment. Huh? "If something is necessary, then it can't be evil; likewise, if something is evil, then it's not necessary per se. To do evil as a necessity instead of an alternative... Is the ultimate mark of weakness."

"Huh..." I ponder to myself. Those are some words of wisdom coming from my father of all people, and while I don't agree with him wholeheartedly, I can see his point. Evil is not a necessity, maybe that's why excess is a sin and people see devils as evil? Makes sense. I turn a smile to him. "But doesn't that mean what you did back then was evil? Like, pure evil?"

"Vampires are evil, devils are evil. If we're gonna compete, might as well be the bigger dick. Metaphorically, of course." And we laughed with each other.

That's right, we're devils, we reject the divine, we abhor virtues, we defy goodness. We can be gentle, we can be brave, we can be just, but by the end of the day, we're evil. And if that's the case, might as well be evil against other evils. Not because its the right thing to do, but because we want to. Because its our nature.

"But then again, being evil all the time gets boring, and if there's something devils hate more than the Heavens... Is boredom. So we can afford to be nice once in a while..." He chuckles, stabbing the last apple bunny on the plate and pointing it to me, a smile on his face as he draws the fruit closer. "... Like taking care of my dear daughter. I guess you can classify this as 'good'."

"..." Now I blush. Was father always this nice to me? I wouldn't have noticed that anyway, not until now at least. I open my mouth and bite that piece of fruit whole, munching on it slowly. It's sweet, it's very sweet. I turn to him after swallowing it and smile. "Thank you, father. I mean it."

"No need to, hearing your voice is enough for me." He chuckles to himself, pinching my cheek a little in a playful way despite the fact I felt he wanted to rip my face off. He stands up, dusts his clothes and then materializes his Demon Lord cape from thin air, but not before using his bare hands to slice another apple for me. "Well then, off I go~! As the demon lord of Lucifer, heavens tremble on my presence and hell shakes with each step! Beware the demon Lord Cohen, for he has no mercy on the wicked or unjust!"

And then he was off. So showy, much chuuni, but I guess this is what you should expect from someone who's considered the second strongest devil alive (and for a devil, he takes this title with pride). I wonder... If he's even mad about me anymore...

"Oh, you're here, that's a surprise." However, as he opened the door and faced a direction, he expressed a small hint of surprise by seeing something behind the wall. He stops for a while, chuckles and then smiles, skipping away as he disappeared from my sight, but not before declaring: "Go on inside, she's already awake. Her arm might not still be fully functional, but she's fine."

"...?" I tilt my head to a side, trying but failing to see who he was talking to before leaving. However, I didn't have to, she already entered the room with a bouquet of flowers ready: "Ah, Rei-chan..."

And there she is, my childhood friend Raven Phenex, the heiress of the Phenex clan and granddaughter of one of the Rating Game champions, Riser Phenex, here to visit me. I couldn't help but smile at just seeing after a night that seemed to have last forever, but I soon coughed a little to recomposed myself and maintain face. Oh right, she doesn't like showing sentimentalism in front of others, specially low-class devils... I open instead a small smile, just to be polite...

"Hello, Raven. I'm so glad you came to visit me." I said with my 'proper lady' voice, which puts a hell of a strain on my vocal cords, but whatever. I'm more than glad for her to be here, with flowers on top of that!, but for the sake of face, I should calm myself. Raven says nothing, only comes closer and then stands right next to my bed, still with her flowers at hand. Maybe that's a good thing to start a talk with? "Oh, are those flowers for me? You shouldn't have bothered, but I'm honored anyw-..."

And then, with no words, no expression, she came closer to me for a hug. The suddenness of it was so much, my entire body froze and I almost bit my tongue, my eyes going haywire as I tried to find a solid ground to stay! Eh? Eeh~?! What's that all about~?! How come she attacks me like that out of the sudden?!

"E-Eh...?! R-Raven...?" I turned my eyes to her little face supporting itself on my shoulder, and then gasped quietly seeing it: she was crying. Her eyes were shut, her nose was sniffing, tears would roll down her face as her embrace on me would tighten and tighten, some crimson petals falling on my bed as she was still holding the bouquet. I see... So this is how it is... After the initial scare, I puff a small ball of smoke out of my system and hug her back with my only functional arm, tapping her lightly on the back. "It's okay, Rei-chan. I'm okay, really. There's nothing to worry about, I'm sorry for making you sad..."

She said nothing, we only continued to embrace each other for a while until she calmed down and we could catch up with our stuff. I forgot, she's more than just the uptight heiress of Phenex.

She's my friend.

'Red... Red...!'

'...'

'H-Hey... I see that... You guys are okay... I know that sounds hypocritical but... I'm so glad that you guys are alright...'

'...'

'S-Say, dragon... What I want to say to you... To everybody... Is that I'm sor-...'

"...!" My eye is shot open and I extend a hand upwards, only to see or grasp nothing, only the cold air of the hospital room. Hospital room?

Oh yeah, I collapsed right after meeting with my peerage and... I think I got treated back in the underworld hospital. Ugh~, my neck is all sore, and it's hard to breathe. The white room is also making my eye sting a little. To my surprise, I was completely free from any shackles or restrictions, the only thing on me being the soft blanket and a blue hospital gown.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty. Did you have any wet dreams?" And turn my head to hear the source of that voice, and to my surprise the one there was the witch purple boobs known as Tasha Campbell, sitting on a table next to a brown haired girl that smelled like chrysanthemum and had part of her skull exposed. Oh, she's that grim reaper girl, I'm gonna call her grim boobs. Before I could say anything, witch boobs tapped her fingers on something and I saw a jar with my gorgon eye on it. "Lad-... I mean Doctor Beelzebub removed eye. Too dangerous. Just precaution. Gonna give it back once you behave."

"Yeah, yeah. I was expecting that." I said to her, standing sit on my hospital bed to crack a few articulations and feel the breeze on my body. I notice too that my entire face and nose were bandaged and I had a medical eyepatch on my left socket and a cased arm. Oh right, Ren fucked me up good, laming my arm and breaking my nose like that. No wonder its hard to breathe.

"A-Ah! Please don't move, Annie-san! You're going to open all your wounds like that!" And the brunette grim boobs came to my side to try to put me down back to bed. I dismissed her aid with a small shrugged, and she pouted with a crying face. "S-Sorry, I didn't want to offend you..."

"No offense taken. I'm just a little sore, but nothing that'll stop me. I'm... I'm a ninja, after all." I sighed. Man, saying that after so long grinds a lot on the throat, I wonder if this is what they call a development. Whatever, I turn to the side of the bed, touch my feet on the ground and feel the cold temperature of the sole and my weight on my legs. I look on my reflection on the innocuous hospital floor, and I see how I look now. Hahah, I look like a mummy like that~. "How about the others?"

"Okay. All of them. Mission accomplished." Witch boobs gives me an 'okay' sign with her fingers and grim boobs nods with a few tears escaping her eyes. I see, so everyone's fine, even after fighting what can only be called a war. I guess I... Underestimated their mental strength, specially his. Gosh, maybe I was the one who was mentally too weak. "We here for simple checkup. Also, Gremory-chin's new arm. No further damage."

"Waaah~, I was sooo scared~. I'm so glad everyone is alive~." Cried Grim boobs, using her sleeves to dry her tears up. What a crybaby, although I can't blame her for that, I feel a small sting on my functional eye. Me, getting attached? How lame, but again... It's not all that bad.

"By the way. New Bishop. Cute grim reaper." Tasha moved a hand towards the lady besides her, and she acted like she just snapped back to our own reality. So, a new member to Gremory's peerage. She's kinda cute, and I already knew she's a grim reaper, she smells like chrysanthemum, anyway. Grim boobs turns to me and bows.

"Oh, where are my manners! I'm... Nice to meet you, I'm Berolina-san's newest bishop! My name is Whiswain and I'm half-grim reaper from my Mom's side! I'm so happy to got to meet my senior!" She presented herself. I frown a little, there goes my charm of being a hybrid through the window, but a grim reaper at that... She might be actually worth something. Besides...

"Whiswain... Eh?" I questioned her, a hand on my chin. She lifted her head with trembling closed eyes and an embarrassed pout, blushing all over.

"Y-Yeah. Whiswain is... My name." She sighs, still blushing a lot.

"..." I blink once, twice, and she looks she'll explode any second now. In the end, however, I smile at her. "That's a really cool name you got there."

"...!"

"...?"

"..."

"..."

"Haaaaaaaah~...!" And after she shots her head up to me with a blank face and a few seconds of silence, grim boobs opens the biggest smile her half-skulled face can muster and I can almost see a bright gleam above her head. Before I could say anything else, she hide her face away behind her hands and ran to a corner, almost jumping with sparkles flying everywhere. When she stopped, she was completely on lalaland now. "He heheh~, Annie-san said my name is cool~; Annie-san said my name is cool~! This the first time anyone has ever said it, I don't know how to deal with it~!"

"Seems like you guys were doing just fine." I chuckled, looking back at the bishop witch boobs besides me. She blushed and looked away. What is that about?

"I... Missed you. Dragon missed you too. Everybody missed you." She whispers, hiding her mouth with a hand. I was taken back for a moment, and my heartbeat stops. I feel my cheeks burning a little and my eye stings again. I scratch my eyelid so she wouldn't notice. Damn it, I'm caring. That's so lame.

"C'mon, don't be like that. You're gonna make me cry a river, geez." I said with a sardonic tone so she wouldn't notice that I'm a bit touched, but from her expression, I see that it didn't stick. Damn it, I'm losing touch with my roots, I was suppose to be cooler than that! Even so, I guess I would be lying if I say I didn't feel the same way in a way. Which reminds me, I do need to apologize. "That aside, where's the rest of the crew? I'm here already, might as well apologize and welcome the new members. This is... The least I can do now."

"..." Witch boobs... I mean Tasha looks back at me, and blinks a few times like I just dropped a bomb for some reason. I mean, I don't regret what I did, I really don't, but I do regret leaving them behind in the search of my dream, and not accomplishing it is the biggest sin my hubris have brought me. If not for my behavior, I want to set things right for hurting them. After all... They love me. I guess... I guess. Tasha smiled and pointed at the door. "Left side, last room. Gremory-nee's room."

"Okay. Thanks, Tasha." I said, walking to the exit and following the path she directed me. Besides my broken nose, an eye less and lame arm, I'm fine to walk on my own. Even so, both bishops were right behind me, helping me stay steady on my shoes. I guess Gremories do have a devil's luck regarding evil pieces. Hahah, that was a lame pun.

Slowly but steadily, we turned left and walked the path leading to the last room on that corridor. What feeling is this inside my chest? Just by thinking about meeting that little group again makes my stomach turns and swirls, yet I also feel that if I don't meet and apologize, whatever is pulling my heart will grow stronger and stronger until it crushes me completely like a cockroach. I really don't want to, but I have to, if that makes any sense...

In the end, there he is, the dragon, china boobs, guandao boobs and kaichou boobs and peerage all either chatting or resting near the door to the last room. My face sours to the point it started to hurt, since when did I grow so awkward in talking with a bunch of losers like them. Although, at this point, I'm a loser too, the biggest even. Red is the first to notice me and stands himself from his seat to walk to me. Oh right, I forgot he's taller than I am. (Ichijou is 167cm while Annie is 150cm).

"Oh, Annie. You're awake. Good for you." He sighs. I take a large sniff and notice that the scent of a dragon in him is stronger this time, so much I can sense it even with a broken nose. Not to mention... He's still a skinny guy, but his aura is stronger, also, was he always that handsome? And what the hell am I thinking?

"Same for you, red. I guess puberty is being generous now, huh?" I joked with a light slap on his chest. However, he says nothing, only continues to stare at me like I'm some sort of bug on a microscope. C'mon, don't look at me like that, I feel weird. Must be because I'm a ninja, but being stared at like that gets on my nerves. "It seems that you're okay. You guys are okay. Thank goodness."

"..." And he's still staring, what the hell. Is he trying to make me blush or all those months didn't serve nothing on his social skills? Damn it, stop it! I guess I know what he wants, but even so, its lame~.

"I know it sounds hypocritical, but... I'm glad you guys are okay." I said it. His stare softens and he sighs once again. Damn it, that's so uncool, what kind of ninja I am for apologizing? To compromise like that is so lame~! I look back at him, and he draws a calm smile. Seriously, since when he become this enticing?

"Same goes for you. You look like a mummy, but if you can walk around like that, I assume you're okay, right?" He asks, and I nodded. Yeah, I have a dislocated arm, a broken nose and one of my eyes is pickled, but I guess I'm okay, better than I expected since operation Vampire King was a total bust. He sighs and nods. "I see. Good to know."

"..." And silence again. Crap, he's playing the hard-to-get game, he does want me to say something, anything, and despite my reluctance, I know what it is. Sigh, calm down, Annabelle Hellsing, you know the drill: you're a dhumpyr after all, so be mature and apologize. I take a deep breathe, look him straight in the eyes and then I say: "Dragon... I'm s-..."

*PUNCH!*

What...?

Wait, what?

"HONG LONG, WHAT IN THE WORLD...?!"

"HOLY SHIT, ICHIJOU-KUN!"

"HELL-CHIN...!"

"WAAAAAH, ANNIE-SAN...!"

Why... Why do things are getting darker and darker? Why can't I feel my face? I feel like something just ran over me like an uncontrollable car, yet I feel no pain, I only sense my body shutting down and my vision getting bleaker and bleaker. Things get messier and messier and the voices go further and further until...

"...!" My eye is shot open and I extend a hand upwards, only to see or grasp nothing, only the cold air of the hospital room. Hospital room? Oh right, they might've taken me to the Beelzebub hospital after I passed out back in Kuoh. Ooow~, I know Ren wrecked my shit back at school, but for some reason my face hurts...

"Hell-chin, you awake! Thank goodness." I turn my direction of that voice and as expected there was Witch boobs with a relieved face, next to Whiswain who was drying her tears. Wait, how do I know her name, anyway?

"Yeah, I'm awake." I say, looking at my reflection on a nearby vase to see that my entire face was covered in bandages around my nose and my arm was wrapped in a case, not to mention the left gorgon eye Beelzebub-sensei removed to avoid problems and that she'll give me back later and how the hell I know this at all? I sniff the air a little, but my face flinches in pain. Owww~, for some reason, my face is sore.

"We were afraid you wouldn't wake up so soon! I know this sounds like I think you're not strong enough, but we were so worried!" Whiswain, or Grim boobs as I decided to call her, starts to cry and tremble, and for that I just snicker a little.

"Hey, c'mon. I'm a dhumpyr, after all. It takes more than my stupid... Brother to knock me out, and even he wouldn't see the last of me!" I chuckle. However, I see in their eyes that they look a bit confused by my statement. Oh crap, did I say something weird? Something uncool? There was a pause, and Witch boobs lifts a hand to call for my attention.

"Huh... Hell-chin? Don't you remember?" She asks. Remember what now? Oh right, I should apologize for causing so much trouble for my peers. I don't actually want to, my typical vampire-ninja pride, but to leave them in the dark after all the shit I caused and abandoned would be very uncool, and I wouldn't be able to call myself a ninja anymore. I stand up, touch my feet on the ground and started to walk towards the exit.

"Oh right, you're absolutely correct. I should apologize." I answer her, and their faces draw even more confused expressions. Why do I feel like something happened between before and now? No matter, I turn to the left to the last room on the corridor where Red boobs2 is resting, seriously how do I know this stuff?, and find Red, china boobs, guandao boobs, kaichou boobs and her peerage. Red notices me and stands up to face me. I stop and wave at him. "Hey, red."

"Oh, Annie. You're awake, good for you." He sighs, crossing his arms and coming even closer. Huh, was he always that handsome and his aura was always that strong? Also, from where the hell that came from? "I assume you're doing well now, right?"

"C'mon, red. It's not like a simple war would stop me. I'm a ninja after all, remember?" I said with a playful slap on his chest, and he sighs a smile. Huh, maybe he did mature a little since I left.

"That's true." He chuckles to himself. "So, you're okay, right? Good to know."

"Yeah. You look better too." I said. There was a pause. I know what I suppose to do now. "Hey, red. I know this sounds hypocritical now, but I just wanna say I'm s-...!"

*PUNCH!*

Wait, what? I feel like a train just hit me square in the face, and suddenly all colors start to darken and the screams around me turn lower and lower. My body turns numb and before I knew it, everything is darkness now. Why... Do I feel some déjà vu from this?

"...!" My eye is shot open and I extend a hand upwards, only to see or grasp nothing, only the cold air of the hospital room. Hospital room? right, they might've taken me to the Beelzebub hospital after I passed out back in Kuoh. Ooow~, I know Ren wrecked my shit back at school, but for some reason my face hurts... A lot...

"Oh thank god, you're alive! I thought you were a goner after that one, Annie-san!" I turn around and I see two familiar faces staring a me, one of them being a girl I've never met, Whiswain-san. Am I hallucinating? They both look at me with worried eyes and I can only draw a question mark for that. Me, survive? It's not like a little war will mark me that badly, I'm a dhumpyr after all!

"Hey, c'mon, Whiswain. I'm a dhumpyr after all." I chuckle, and they look even more confused. I spit something inside my mouth and I notice that it was a tooth. Damn, maybe I was more hurt than I thought. Which reminds me, I should apologize to Red and the others. "Well, I would love to stay and chat but I have to apologize to our group. See you later."

"W-Wait, Annie-san...!" Whiswain stands up to try to stop me but for some reason Tasha stops her and shakes her head negatively. I don't know what's going on here, but I shouldn't. I take my way to the corridor on the left, reaching the last room where red boobs2 is resting and I found my former peerage and Kaichou boobs and her own. When they spot me, they faces become desperate, except for Red's, who smiles and stands up to face me. Huh, was he always that handsome?

"Yo, dragon. You seem fine." I wave at him.

"Same goes for you, Annie. But again, you're a ninja, after all." He comments, and I can't help but blush a little. Taking my catchphrase right out of my mouth, since when did he become so smooth? Must be the charm of the red dragon emperor. "Good to know."

"I know, right?" I smile. C'mon, Sayuri, you can do this. "Red, about what happened back in Kuoh and a few months ago... I'm s-..."

*PUNCH!*

Senses: shutting down. Vision: getting darker and darker. Face: FUBAR'ed. Voices: lower and lower. Deja Vu, I've just been in this place before...

"...!" My eye is shot open and I extend a hand upwards, only to see or grasp nothing, only the cold air of the hospital room. Hospital room? right, they might've taken me to the Beelzebub hospital after I passed out back in Kuoh. Ooow~, I know Ren wrecked my shit back at school, but for some reason my face hurts...

"Annie-san, phone." I turn my direction where Tasha and Whiswain, who I just met and didn't even ask her name, were just lazily sitting on their respective seats, the latter looking at the former with a worried stare and sigh. Oh right, they must be upset. I should apologize to the rest and make things right. Ow~ why does my face hurt so much?

I stand up, walk to the right and to the last room on the corridor where Red boobs2 is for some reason and there they are, my peerage and Kaichou boobs' gang, all pale. I see Red, and he stands up to wave a me. Huh, was he always that handsome?

"Hey, Annie, looking good. I assume you're fine now, right?" He chuckles. I can also see that his knuckles Are filled with blood for some reason.

"Yep, good as new. Just my face hurts a bit." I respond. His answer was a smile.

"Good to know."

"That aside... Dragon, I'm so s-..."

*PUNCH!*

Game Over. Restart from the last checkpoint? Wait, my life is not a video game, goddamnit!

"...!" My eye is shot open and I extend a hand upwards, only to see or grasp nothing, only the cold air of the hospital room. Hospital room? right, they might've taken me to the Beelzebub hospital after I passed out back in Kuoh. Ooow~, I know Ren wrecked my shit back at school, but for some reason my face hurts. I turn my head to the left and see Tasha and Whiswain. "Uh..."

"Just go apologize." Witch boobs sigh, tiredly. Oh right, I should apologize. I stand up, turn left to the last room on the corridor to find the gang all together. Red stands up and greets me with a smile. Was he always that handsome?

"Annie. Good to see you're fine again."

"Dragon, I want to say s-...!"

*PUNCH!*

"Annie, good to see you okay!"

"I know. Red, from the bottom of my heart, I want to say s-...!"

*PUNCH!*

"Red, I know I've been naughty, but I want to say I'm s-...!"

*PUNCH!*

"Ichijou, is it too late to say s-...?"

*PUNCH!*

"Red. I'm come to bargain and say I'm s-...!"

*PUNCH!*

"For real this time, for all of my troubles, I'm s-...!"

*PUNCH!*

"I recognize my sins, and thus I courtly ask to say s-...!"

*PUNCH!*

"Killer Queen, third bomb: Bites the dus-...!"

*PUNCH!*

Okay, now I'm starting to understand what the hell is going on...

"Dragon, dragon, dragon! This is like the tenth time you wreck her face! For the love of Lucifer, chill!" And before my face could become mush, Kaichou's peerage launched onto Red to stop his rampage. The Sekiryuutei, who was trembling in sheer pure anger, was gritting his teeth at me while the rest of our peerage shielded me from him. So it wasn't a dream, he really has been punching me into unconsciousness this whole time. I guess some things never change, eh?

"Get off me! She's mine! I said it! I fucking said it that if you don't die during the conference, I would kill you myself! Imma do it! I'MMA FUCKING KILL YOU, ANNABELLE HELLSING!" With blood in his eyes and surrounded by Sitri servants in order to stop him, to the point they had to trip and pin him to the ground so that they could at least hold him down. Holy shit, he is pissed.

"Annabelle-dono, a thousand apologies regarding Hong Long. We thought he would behave, but I've misjudged his anger." Ryuubi-chan turned to me with a light blush and politely bowed. No shit, I think she wanted to guess how many punches I needed to take to look like Donatella Versace or something. Guandao Boobs, or Guan Yu, my knight kouhai, simply sticks her tongue out to me. "I knew he would somehow latch his wrath upon you, but to think he would refuse to give it a rest was unexpected."

"But It's not like is underserved, either." Chirped Guandao boobs with a mocking tone and a grimace.

"Guan Yu!"

"Nah, nah. She's right, Ryuubi-chan. I kinda deserve that. Just for that fact that I'm alive proves that the sins I've committed were too severe for me to die and just leave things unanswered." I say with a heavy sigh, wiping off some drips of blood from my nostrils and cracking my neck a few times. Everybody around me gasps in surprise.

"D-Don't say that, Annie-san! We're glad you're alive because you're okay! Don't be harsh like that, please!" Grim boobs protests, hands in the air to force her words out of her system. Oh, I see. She's the too-nice type, no wonder everybody didn't go crazy and went for each other's throats.

"I know. But still... What's done its done. And there's only one thing I can do right now, specially for mr. outrage over there." I pointed and the dragon who was the pillar holding the devil mountain in the middle of the corridor. Yes, I have to face my demons and the retribution that comes with it, and I shall do it with my head up high, I'm a ninja, after all. I turn around, walk towards the dragon and kneel to be face-to-face with him. He stops, looks at me and growls like always. Even enraged like that, I can't help but to notice... Yeah, he got a bit more handsome. "Hey, dragon. I know you're pissed about me, I can't blame you. In fact, I wanted the others to look as pissed as you, but I guess they're too nice. I know this won't compensate for all the shit I did, but... I'm sorry. I really do."

"..." His growling stops, yet he still has his frown, like he's ready to take action and rip my face off the moment he takes a decision or something. I am kinda expecting that, anyway.

"Please forgive my misdeeds, dragon. I know that what I did was horrible, but..."

*BITE!*

"Ichijou-kun...!" And I was right, he was too pissed to care! The moment I approached him even closer, he shot his head forward and tried to take a bite out of my face like a beast while reaching his Boosted Gear at me, only stopping because Serena-kaichou held his head and smashed it on the floor, making him eat concrete while I jumped back. I knew it, he's still a bit on the edge about me. Makes sense, considering his history with abandonment, but still...!

"I hate you..."

"Huh...?" I tilt my head to a side as he slowly lifts his eyes to face me, still being pinned down by Serena-kaichou's peerage and his right arm extended at me. He lays his ear on the ground and growls again in my direction.

"I hate you... So, so much... Annabelle Hellsing..." He grits his teeth against me. Everybody looks at shock for such bold declaration from the Sekiryuutei, but I'm fine with that. He hates me, big surprise, the most shocking thing was this is the first time someone ever say that to me today. "Running away from the peerage... Losing touch... I couldn't even tell if you were going to survive or not! I... I hate this! I hate you! Who the hell you think you are... Doing all of this...!"

"..." I blink. It hurts, it stings seeing him so angry at me, but this is the least I was expecting. It wouldn't be a sunshine and rainbows reunion, and honestly, I was even expecting death. If this is the least I shall receive, the scorn and hatred of the red dragon, I shall accept it wholeheartedly, but still...

*DRIP! DRIP!*

"Hm...?" I look down again to face him, and I notice a puddle of a salty scent under his face, mixed with a bit of blood. Everybody gasps, including me. Is he...? He is.

"And... Worst of all... You didn't even say goodbye. I didn't even say goodbye. One misstep of mine... And you were gone, and I didn't know where you are or if you were even alive! Just like... Just like that time..." He starts to hiccup, laying his face on the floor on the puddle of his own tears, but still a face frozen in anger. His teeth Are clacking, his eyes are bloodshot, yet... "I hate... I hate this! Hic! I hate you...! Hic, hic! If I can't stop people I like from leaving... If I can't even say goodbye... Then what's the point of an arm that can kill gods, what's the point of being able to destroy the world?"

"..."

"I hate this... I hate you..." And then he lays his face on the ground, his hand lowering until the sacred gear deactivated and he had his palm upwards, softening until it was open. "I hate me..."

There was a pause. Nobody could say a word, and Serena-kaichou's peerage couldn't move despite the fact Red wasn't struggling anymore. Me? I was... Perplexed. How... Why... What? It's not like we were all that close, but he says that like he cares a lot. When I left, I thought he would just shrug and say for me to die trying to become the Vampire King, make a joke, anything. Instead he's crying for whatever reason, and I... I can't make a joke about this, because my own eye stings.

"Hong Long..." Ryuubi-chan was the first to manifest herself, walking towards the fallen red dragon and kneeling right in front of his extended open hand. Without losing a second, she picks something from her pocket and places it on his open palm. It was... A small metal key. Wait, I remember that shape... That's the same key he gave me back then. The warlord smiles, holding now his hand while he was still heads down. "You deceiver. When you gave us these keys, said you gave them for us to have a place to return. You said that you knew we would always come back... That was a lie, right?"

"..." He responded with nothing.

"You didn't give them because you knew we would return; you gave them because you wanted us to return. You wanted to give us a reminder of home, in the hopes we would always come back. Right?" The pink haired rook finishes her sentence with a kind smile, and unconsciously I reach my hand to my pocket. "Am I not correct, Hong Long?"

"..."

"..."

"Hic, hic... Hic, hic...!" And the dragon still says nothing, only grips the hand that was holding his and starts to hiccup and sniff again. Suddenly, Tasha, Whiswain and even Kan'u reached for his hand and helped him get up after Serena-kaichou's peerage left him alone. His eyes were bloodshot and leaking, but his expression refused to give in. He really... Got stronger since last time. I can tell.

"There, there; Ichijou-kun. You're a big boy, tears of joy don't match with you." Serena-kaichou playfully said with a handkerchief at hands to dry his tearful face. Red was still hiccuping, but he refused the gentility and instead dried his face with his own hands as everybody laughed.

Being honest to himself; surrounded by people who like him; making me, a vampire-ninja hybrid, apologize for her actions... He really is becoming stronger than I anticipated, and he might even be cooler than I am right now, not that is that hard but still. And I'm okay with that...

"Red..." I called for his attention, and drying his face as fast as he could, he frowned once again at me, ready to ditch every curse word his mental lexicon can think off on me. However, I pick my own key and show it to him. My vision is getting blurry now. "I'm home."

"You... Bitch..." I sniffs one more time, and as he draws himself closer I was ready to receive another punch in the face, but instead he simply hit me with the knots of his fingers on my forehead and turned his teary face elsewhere. "But... Welcome back."

Ah, the hell with the ninja code, I'm compromising...

"I smell development. And it stinks as always, grand surprise." And then the door leading to Red Boobs2 slides open to reveal the green-haired demon lord of Beelzebub, sucking on a lollipop and adjusting her monocle. Everybody turned their attention to her and were quick to bow, me included. "Greetings, Gremory and Sitri peerages. For all the commotion you caused, I must say, I was a bit touched by the camaraderie displayed, so just this once I'll let it pass. Try it again and I'll melt your eyeballs, though."

"H-How about Nemesis-san, Beelzebub-sensei? Is she alright? Is she far from danger?" Red asked the demon lord, and by the looks around, I can see that he's not the only one curious about that. The demon lord smashes the candy between her teeth and sighs.

"She's stable for now. Since last spring, her back was severely damaged by the attack of one of the dragon Kings and she was saved by a literal miracle of God, yet they couldn't completely heal or recover her wounded derrière." I let out a snicker, and guandao boobs bonked my head for that. Huh, she cares too. "That aside, the surgery was a success and we were able to stitch her wings back in place. If she's not crazy enough to pull that stunt in four or five months, she'll be able to fly again and spread her wings at leisure. I can let her go by tomorrow or the day after..."

*BAM!*

"Fuck...! That was so close...!" And we all turn to the dragon who for some reason fell on his ass on the floor and sighed so heavily I thought he just shat the biggest crap in history. So everyone is fine, everyone is alive. Somehow... I'm relieved. Beelzebub-sensei then notices my presence.

"Oh, Sayuri is also awake. After reconstructing your nose and reconnecting the nerves on your arm, I imagined it would take a day or two for you to recover." She sighs and then shrugs. Y'know, for a doctor, she's pretty blasé about seeing me walking around like that. "But then again, you're the evil piece of Rina-chan, so I expect no less from you. You'll still need a checkup and I still will return the gorgon eye, so I would ask you to eventually return to your quarter."

"Alright, I understand." I nod and then bow.

"Mary-sensei, may we come in and see Nemesis-san?" Red spoke with a certain urgency. Mary-sensei on the other hand calmly picked a lollipop from her pocket and gently shove it in his mouth.

"She's resting right now. If your bitchfits didn't wake her up, then I guess there's no point in staying by her side for now." She pouts, and I snicker again, everyone do, while Red pouts and continues to suck on his lollipop. "Besides... It took them forever to arrange them like that, and if you ruin it, I have the thought not even a Gremory would stay down."

"Eh? Them? That way?" We all tilt our heads for that. Mary-sensei, instead of answering, simply slid the door up...

And showed us that, from top to bottom, Red boobs2's room was filled with flowers and banners saying 'get well soon' while decorating the otherwise dull white room with rainbow petals. I gasped seeing such, it looks like one of those botanical gardens you see in fancy houses, only in just one room; all of them signed either from 'Alice Gremory' or 'Lucrezia'. Geez, talk about an overzealous mother, this Lucrezia-chick might also have a few screws loose. Regardless, I think Nemesis-san will enjoy the view the moment she opens her eyes. I know I am.

"Seriously. You Gremories get on my nerves sometimes. But I guess this is one of your charms..." Mary-sensei sighed but then faintly smile. Couldn't agree more, they're overzealous, overwhelmingly attached and annoying, but I can't say its not cute in a way. Finally, the demon lord extends her hand to us and let her presence be known yet again. "Anyway, I will now kindly ask for you to go back to your rooms and wait for another checkup! As my duty as the Beelzebub Demon Lord, I shall care for you during your stay in the Beelzebub hospital. So rush, my dear kin, for you all are blessed to stay under my care!"

And with that, she picks her wooden board and walks away writing something on it. To think she looks the more composed of all the demon lords I've seen. Maybe being a crazy devil is a requirement to be elected their leader, I wouldn't be surprised...

"Well, you heard Mary-sensei. Let's to back to our quarters and wait for her better judgement, or punishment if we don't." Serena-kaichou signed for us to do just that, and with a somber aura around, we all followed such instructions. Before the two groups could be apart, though, kaichou reached for me and pinched my cheek in a playful way. "Glad to have you back, seaweedhead-chan. Hope we got to fight each other again."

"Y-Yeah, I guess." I say back. She let go off me before walking forward to her own room, followed by her peerage: a blond-dark haired girl that smells like the night, that silver-haired werewolf, a bleach-haired pretty boy, a quiet girl with glasses, a mountain of a man with a tan and finally a shy brunette. All of them were polite enough to greet me in their own way...

"Looking forward to work with you next time, Annabelle-san."

"Don't think things are over between us, damn vampire!"

"A ninja? Cool, teach me some ninjutsu next time!"

"..." (peace sign)

"May the sun smile on the day of thy return, Hellsing!"

"I-If you excuse me..."

And so they were off. Serena Sitri's peerage, I can sense a distinctive aura around them, and without a doubt, they wouldn't be able to survive the whole conference war if they didn't have some serious power behind their smiles and goofy stances, even kaichou is able to shake the wills of lesser devils if she wants. The descendant of the Megane dark-haired beauty and the ultimate black dragon king and servants, they look very strong, but at the same time...

"Heh, what a bunch of freaks..."

"Like you're the one to talk, Annie." And red bonks my head one more time with his knuckles. Another thing I might've missed about him: his comebacks are always pronto-delivered.

In the end, we followed Mary-sensei's instructions and went to our own rooms to rest and wait for our checkups. Nobody says a thing, but we don't have to, I get the feeling we're just fine enjoying each other's company. A blush still decorates Red's face as we laughed at his poor reactions, I guess some things do never change...

Once we reached our rooms, I notice that there were flowers shaped like flames on small pots next to our beds, except for Red's, who had three enormous bouquets on top of his. Someone has some not-so-secret admirers, wonder if its that Phenex chick from last spring...

"One is from auntie Alice, other is from Rei-chan and the last is from Irene-san. That's nice and all... But where am I going to sleep now?" He wonders after reading the notes on the bouquets, seeing his bed filled with flora yet unable to do anything on it since he's too nice to toss them to the ground or move it elsewhere. His only response was to sit on the edge of the bed uncomfortably. I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Guess being the harem king has its downsides. Right, dragon?" I tease him a bit. His only response was a grunt and a hand covering his mouth, as in deep in thoughts. He's blushing though...

"Shut up, Annie." Was his only response. Everybody around giggles with me, seeing his face adopt an expression and wavered between annoyed and embarrassed. What can I say but: it's good to be back?

Perhaps an 'I love you'.

Just kidding... For now.

Coming back after completely degenerating the A silent voice fandom with a lemon, here it comes a new chapter, perhaps a bit too emotional, but I guess this is the first time Ichijou goes full emotional too, eh? Makes sense, he's a growing boy, after all.

Tease master Annie-san. She deserves all the punches for now, but she's back and that's all Rina and co. Could ask for. Perhaps I made Ichijou a bit more emotional this chapter, but I actually feel I was able to keep it into his development. Still on the edge About Annie being on the harem or being a very close friend. Oh well, whatever happens, happens. I hope I can pull it off regardless of choice...

You can face this little chapter as both the epilogue of the vampire-devil meeting arc and the prologue of the next volume, since it fits right into it. Not that last chapter wasn't special, but I guess this one gives enough closure as it is for the arc. What do you guys think? Also, I know I might be a little rusty on the subject, but maybe next chapter will have a lemon. No promises, but I hope so!

As for the readers and reviewers asking if I'm going to jump right into the next arc: no, I won't. There will be some filler, there will be some rest mini-arcs before the bigger one. I just want people to know the name of the next arc and, admittedly, so I won't forget it myself. Hahahah...

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Don't forget to r&r and have a nice day.

Greetings~.