CHAPTER 14:

AKENO'S EPIPHANY

Self-loathing is one of the most insidious of emotions, and certainly one of the most damaging. Looking at Akeno Himejima, lauded as one of the Big Sisters of Kuoh, one would wonder what could possibly cause her to feel such an emotion. After all, she was buxom, beautiful, and had a genuinely kind and gentle demeanour, even if she had sadomasochistic tendencies beneath the surface, tendencies she had inherited from her parents (her mother Shuri had been the dominant, and her father Baraquiel the submissive, in their BDSM practises).

The truth was, Akeno hated the Fallen, and had done so since her family murdered her mother while her father was absent. Her family had even tried to murder her, simply because they viewed her as a mistake of miscegenation, a half-breed who should never have been allowed to been conceived in the first place, let alone born. It was because of the Fallen blood in her veins that she had been targeted by her own human family, and would have died if it weren't for the intervention of Rias and Sirzechs.

Many Fallen and Nephilim look inhumanly beautiful, all the better to seduce humans to do their bidding. For many teenage girls at Kuoh, Akeno's seemingly effortless beauty seemed like an impossible dream, serving only to increase their own self-loathing at their own bodies. Akeno thought, however, that her beauty was nothing to be proud of. It was mostly due to her Fallen heritage that her beauty was so effortless: her features were from her mother for the most part, though she had her father to thank for being able to stay so beautiful.

And yet, here she was, having to re-embrace her heritage to keep her King and best friend, Rias Gremory, free. The irony was not lost on her. And the fact that it took both Rias and Issei to persuade her to consider this was not lost on her. If they hadn't both asked her to do so…

"Penny for your thoughts?" Raynare asked. During the course of their training yesterday, Raynare had shown a surprisingly maternal, or at least nurturing side, and it wasn't all artifice. She was, after all, on a tight leash thanks to Azazel. Akeno was still wary of her, understandably, and she couldn't completely forgive her yet for what she tried to do with Issei and Asia, but she found herself liking the Fallen a little more. The two of them were on kitchen duty this morning, Mittelt being an infamously bad cook.

"I'm fine," Akeno said. "And here, it's a yen."

Raynare shrugged. "You know what I mean. And I know the look on your face, Akeno. I've seen it often enough in the mirror."

Akeno scoffed. "You're a pure Fallen, not a Nephilim. You don't know what you're talking about."

"Bullshit," Raynare said. "I fell from Heaven, Akeno. I did it out of love for Azazel…but I lost the love of God in the process. You've never felt the grace, the love of God, Akeno. You've never been in His presence. But I have. And its absence…have you ever heard of the term 'phantom pain'?"

"Of course. You cut off a limb, and the severed nerve endings make it seem like it's still there," Akeno said.

Raynare nodded. "I have a phantom pain where God's love used to be. I tried to fill it with Azazel, but…he's a lech, not really the type to love anything, save for his research into Sacred Gears. He's a good man, a great man…but he doesn't really notice something unless it's interesting. He's more of a scientist and researcher than a great political leader. That's one of the reasons the Grigori are filled with splinter factions. I even heard a rumour that Kokabiel wants to cause trouble. Azazel's told Sirzechs Lucifer to keep an eye out, just in case. But…my point is, Akeno…I think you need someone in your life. Just someone to be there for you, someone who can overlook your Nephilim heritage."

"I already have Rias and her Peerage, not to mention Sona and her Peerage," Akeno said.

"That's a good start. I'll admit, I'm actually surprised at how well Rias treats her Peerage, though I guess I shouldn't be: the Gremory family are known for their affectionate nature, for Devils. But I'm not just talking about friends: I think you need a lover."

Akeno was startled, but covered it up with one of her demure smiles. "Oh my, Raynare, are you volunteering?"

Raynare snorted with a smirk. "No. I'm a bit too old for you. No, I was thinking either that Yuuto Kiba, or Issei." She sighed, shaking her head, a rueful expression coming over her features. "I'm regretting making the decision to turn him into a shish-kebab, you know. Not just because I'm on thin ice with Azazel or the Devils. It's the way he treated me on our little get-together, knowing I was a Fallen. And I saw the way he looks at you."

"Raynare, every man looks at me, unless they don't swing that way. Even a few women look at me that way," Akeno giggled good-naturedly to cover her nervousness and discomfort at this line of conversation.

"Akeno…I'm not an idiot. I've also got centuries of experience you don't have. Issei's more than entranced by your tits. I wouldn't say it's love, not yet, but I think something's there. If neither of you make the first move, then someone else might snap one or the other up," Raynare said. "I mean, I'm surprised the pretty boy hasn't made his move."

"You mean Kiba? He's not like that," Akeno said. "He…has a lot of pain."

Raynare nodded. "Yeah, I think I heard about him through Azazel. He was the only survivor of the Holy Swords project, wasn't he? So you're saying he's too damaged to want to be with you?"

"Not exactly. In any case, he can have the pick of any girl in the school if he wants, and he tends to view me as a sister rather than as a possible lover," Akeno said.

"Glad to hear it. I didn't think he was gay. I think he likes teasing people by claiming that, and I think he bats for both teams, though. Anyway, I reckon Issei might be good for you. He doesn't treat Fallen as automatic enemies. Ditto with those from the Church. Hell, I'd bet if Ophis came out of the Dimensional Gap or wherever it is, he'd befriend that dragon, or try to."

Within the Dimensional Gap, a figure that looked like a cute dark-haired young girl in dark Victorian dress, but in reality, was one of the most powerful beings to ever exist, sneezed. Such a thing would have been adorable, as would the small but puzzled frown that came over her usually expressionless features, if the observers didn't know that this was the Infinite Dragon God.

"I…cannot sneeze," Ophis said quietly to herself.

Akeno was silent at Raynare's pronouncement. It was true, she was attracted to Issei, something she had confessed to Rias before. But even so, she was a little reluctant to reach out to him. True, she would flirt with him, she was good at that, and she liked to think she was friends with him. But actually trying to reach out to him?

Akeno was aware that while she was friendly with a lot of people, and could make friends readily if she wanted to (and she liked to think it was for her serene, pleasant demeanour than her figure), actually reaching out to someone was a bit more difficult. It helped that Issei knew of her heritage and didn't care. To have someone who didn't view her Fallen heritage as a taint…well, someone who would love her in a romantic sense, anyway. Rias didn't hold her heritage against her, but the two were more like sisters and friends.

"How should I go about it?" Akeno murmured, more to herself than to Raynare.

"How should I know? It can be different for different guys," Raynare said. "Did he ever have a girlfriend in his previous life?"

Akeno frowned. Issei had spoken of his time as Vivi to the Peerage. "No. He only lived for a couple of years or so, and he was basically a kid golem. If he got kissed, it was probably chaste. He said the girls were a princess his friend had fallen in love with, a woman who was basically a rat that walked on two legs, a brat with a horn and blue hair younger than he was, and a hermaphroditic glutton."

Raynare blinked. "You're fucking kidding me."

"I don't think Issei was lying, Raynare, though I admit, it was pretty weird. He actually sketched pictures of them when we asked. The rat-woman, Freya, she looks more elegant than you'd expect from a rat-woman, and according to Issei, she was far more honourable, along with her people, than you'd expect from a race of rat-people." Akeno sighed. "But Issei didn't have a girlfriend in that life. He didn't live long enough to have one, really. The only one about his age was Eiko, and she had a precocious crush on Zidane. I'll break it to him gently."

It wasn't until their break for lunch that Akeno got her chance: she wasn't training separately from the others today. Akeno could tell that they were all improving by leaps and bounds. Koneko was becoming more comfortable with her being a nekoshou. Not enough to use senjutsu, but enough to at least relax some of the restraint she had on her feelings. Akeno was glad for her. Maybe one day, she would pluck up the courage to assume her old name, Shirone, again.

Rias had been working on both her magic and her speed. While she might not be able to use physical strength as much, she knew that standing still to charge up her Power of Destruction made her a target. Kiba also worked on his speed, while Issei worked to improve himself in general, especially his physical abilities. While he was a Bishop, he didn't want to neglect his physical abilities, especially as they were Boosted by Ddraig (she still thought of the dragon as Ddraig rather than Steiner, albeit out of habit).

Eventually, they broke off for lunch, and Akeno had Issei sit with her, a little separately from the others. Rias was going over strategy with the two Fallen, while Asia, Kiba, and Koneko were in their own little group. Which left Issei and Akeno conveniently alone.

As they ate their bento, Issei said, "It's weird, isn't it? Getting help from those two?"

"I'm getting used to it," Akeno said. "As much as I hate my lineage, I can't deny it forever." After a moment of silence, Akeno asked, "Issei…I'm going to be frank because…Raynare thinks I need someone who is more than a friend. I think she's right."

"What do you mean, Akeno?" Then, Issei blinked. "Do you mean…you want me to be your boyfriend?"

"Well, that's a start," Akeno said with a smile. "We'll put that on hold until after the Rating Game…but I want to make a start of it."

"But…why me?" Issei asked. "You could have the pick of just about anyone in Kuoh! Hell, what about Kiba?"

"Kiba…is more like a brother to me, and he knows this. We're at the just friends level. But you…you didn't hold my being a Nephilim against me. You even encouraged me to embrace it. And you taught me this new magic." Akeno smiled. "We'll give it a go, see if it works out, okay? I mean, you do like me, don't you?"

"Of course. You're kind, to your friends, anyway, and you're beautiful and smart. Only thing I don't want is the BDSM stuff. Oh, I wouldn't mind you wearing the outfits, but I'm not into the actual kinky roleplay or whatever it is."

"Oh, how disappointing," Akeno said with a slight pout, albeit a playful one.

"Oh, we could always experiment with some things if we got that far into the relationship."

"Hmm…that sounds intriguing," Akeno said, smiling again, though her voice had a somewhat lascivious purr that made Issei regret saying that.

They finished their lunch in silence. Still, the first move had been made at the very least. And that's what's needed, for someone to actually reach out, to take that first step. Because while it may end in failure…it may still end up bringing a relationship to the next level.

In the chambers of Sirzechs Lucifer, the man himself sat on an ornate chair, contemplating what Grayfia, his loving wife, had told him. He was a handsome man with a long mane of blood red hair, like his sister. Although young-looking and easy-going, one couldn't deny the power that rolled off his frame. After a moment, he said, "So, that's it. I'd say we've done a deal with the Devil, so to speak, but that's more like a joke when it comes to us. Do you think the fact that Issei and Kuja know each other will jeopardise the plan?"

"No. If anything, it'll encourage Rias' Peerage all the more to put in a good effort, including Issei," Grayfia said. "Azazel's assistance can't be discounted either, and given the rumours we have heard from the Grigori, of the factions…"

"Indeed. Though the Khaos Brigade are also of concern. But the immediate concern is dear Rias' Rating Game. Using one to break a marriage contract is unprecedented, and may cause protest. Some of us are too set in their ways."

Only Grayfia's deportment prevented her from emitting a rather unladylike scoff. After all, her husband was embarrassingly affectionate to his own sister in public, and would never change that. But the sentiment was somewhat different, obviously. It was that sentiment that led to the original Satans to be overthrown in the first place, the need to evolve, to renew. With any luck, this Rating Game would be another catalyst for needed change in the Underworld, and hopefully, Rias would get the freedom to choose her spouse along with it...

CHAPTER 14 ANNOTATIONS:

Okay, so here's the promised Issei/Akeno, at last. The interlude with Sirzechs was something I added because I needed to up the wordcount of this chapter slightly. Yes, it probably happened sooner, but whatever. Hope you enjoyed it.

No numbered annotations this time.