For those who are a bit confused with the weird timeline for whatever reason; Issei's the only cast who's older than their canon standard. The current arc is pre-Riser's arc - as Grayfia had told him in the last chapter

Think of it like DxD but with Issei born 4-6 years earlier and doesn't have to deal with teenager angst issues

If you're wondering about Irina: yes. I do have plan for her. Big plan. Very big plan. It's a plan before plans were plans. Biggest plan you'll ever see, and I'm going to make you pay for it.

Rending Ruins

Chapter V

||Setting the Stage||

The Red Dragon Emperor awoke as he always did; flat on his back, on the right side of the queen-sized bed, chest-naked, his blankets sprawled due to his sleeping habit of throwing away the blanket when the night winds weren't cold enough, and opening his eyelids without a semblance of effort. Not because Issei was considered a morning person, but because years of self-discipline and having to stay aware in case there was any misguided fools who believed slitting his throat during his slumber was a bright idea.

An abnormal habit, but his abnormal occupation birthed said habit.

He smiled, chuckling softly as he was aware how silly it was for a normal human, but a normalcy for him.

As usual, as he had always done in every morning, Issei rolled his body to his left, throwing his right arm, expecting to find a bundle of warmth.

Once his hand was met with a dull emptiness and the smooth fabric of the bed, he remembered.

His smile faltered.

"…Oh. Right."

Five days, and still he did the same thing every morning. Even though he had forced it in his head before he went to sleep that he wasn't going to find her sleeping next to him, secretly hoping to be proven wrong, he did it again. It was like his brain refused to accept the bitter reality and simply reset itself every morning, forcing him to go through the same torture again.

He understood it would be hard. This wasn't like a trouble where he could pinpoint the exact time it would stop being a trouble; when Sirzechs decided undertaking a pragmatic action would ensure the longevity and stability in the Realm of the Underworld. Khaos Brigade stopped being a trouble when Satan Lucifer sent his Enforcer to erase the threat. Hades stopped plotting a trouble when Satan Lucifer sent his Enforcer to take a few rumored strongest Grim Reapers back into the capital of the Underworld; Lilith, where he would then take the needed action to get the stubborn black-cloaked entities to spill it. Rizevim stopped being a trouble when he encountered Hyoudou Issei.

But his recurring problem wasn't one that could be solved through physical means. Issei didn't know how to handle it. There was no head to behead. No castle to destroy. No needles that could sew or bandages that could patch this kind of wound.

He knew when it would end; when he moved on. When he let go.

The sooner he let her go, the sooner the hurt would recede. It wouldn't completely heal – this he could tell. There would be times where he see a fucking door and get emotional because his late wife used to walk through that door.

The problem wasn't about him not knowing what to do. The problem was that he didn't know if he wanted to move on from her.

Stowing the bitter thoughts to reappear in the next morning, Issei went outside his old bedroom, walked to the door right in front of it, and took a cold shower to wash away these sentimental pondering.

Break

Heading downstairs, hearing the sounds of ticking kitchen utensils, he didn't expect to see one of his assassins to be up already. It was barely 7 in the morning for one, they were supposed to be on their surveillance mission for two, and lastly, none of them could cook anything that wasn't instant even if their life depended on it.

Issei rarely ever worried, but he'd rather avoid getting an upset stomach.

As precautions, he stepped inside the kitchen to determine who was the cook this time. If it was Leone, he could find some relief since the girl would never cook anything that takes more than 5 minutes to be cooked. If it was Akame, however, Issei would just head out for breakfast, using a morning jog as a reason.

It was the latter.

"Oh, Master. You're awake." The assassin of cuisines greeted him, at the moment wearing a grey apron that was once white. "Would you like some eggs?"

"Not at the moment. Not hungry yet." Issei said, inwardly preparing a tactical retreat. There was something he wanted to know first, however. "I thought you left already."

"We've gathered enough of what you wanted." Akame pulled a plate from a cupboard next to the stove, and slid her sunny sided eggs over. They looked normal. Runny yellow part and smooth white with crispy brown edges. But Issei had tasted enough to know better than to expect normalcy from her cuisines.

Issei leaned against a wall, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? Go on then."

"It's just as you said; they're readying themselves for an unofficial Rating Game, training at the Lilim Mountain Range in the Gremory-controlled region." Akame said as she spooned steamed white rice into her plate. A generous amount of rice. She grabbed a bottle of soy sauce along with her as she moved to the dining room, just next to the kitchen, right beside the living room.

Issei followed her with hands folded. "And the Phenex?"

"He doesn't consider them as a threat." Akame seated herself on the dining table with four chairs. Issei sat in front of hers. "Ten-game win streak tend to give one an unhealthy amount of confidence. Out of twelve, he lost the first two on purpose to gain a favorable relationship from the other Houses. Please excuse me—"

'Politics.' As Akame took her first bite, Issei wrinkled his face.

That said, the Phenex wasn't all bark no bite it seemed. "You think the princess has a chance?"

Akame chewed down her food and swallowed it before continuing. "None at all." She bluntly put. "She has talented individuals in her peerage with well above average skills and capacity. Leone weighed that individually, each of them worth two of Riser Phenex' – not counting his Queen and his Bishop."

A Queen was well to be expected, but a Bishop? "Who's His bishop?"

"Ravel Phenex. His own sister."

Issei raised a brow. "Huh. Well that explains it."

Two Devils with near picture-perfect regeneration could easily render Rias' Power of Destruction moot. A perfect counter, simply put. He knew Rias was talented. All of the Gremorys were. She was far from par with Sirzechs' level of mastery, but the girl had the aptitude. She only lacked the strive to make her reach that limit.

Akeno as well. Baraqiel's daughter was nothing compared to the Fallen Angel that was once the Lightning of God, but she could get there. Her only barrier was her daddy issues – which he could understand. If only she could allow herself to accept that she wasn't the only hurting, and that her father was hurting as much if not more than she did.

Losing his wife was torture. Issei couldn't imagine having to bear losing a wife and lost contact with a daughter.

He had only seen Kiba for a few months since the boy's reincarnation, but he knew Kiba trained with Souji; Sirzech's rowdy Knight. The boy could certainly handle himself well despite his frail defense. He forged himself in the 'way of the bushido' and swordsmen-things which Issei was sure Souji would do her best to instill it in the boy's mind. That somewhat-gloomy and melancholic swordmaster was a great teacher with a great set of racks.

…What was he mulling over again? Ah yes, measuring Rias Gremory's peerage individual strength to determine the chances and strategies they could rely on to win.

The Gremory's Rook; the Nekoshou was a resilient little brat on her own. If she could get over her fear of her kin's trademark Senjutsu, she might even become the gamechanger in Rias' upcoming game.

Unfortunately for Rias, Koneko thought her sister had become an evil Disney villain from her use of Senjutsu.

A misunderstanding that could easily be resolved with a use of diplomatic words or even telling the blatant truth — but Issei supposed Rias knew better since she was her kindhearted master who didn't want to offend her feelings.

Him and Sirzechs had always known Rias' peerage was filled with potentially strong candidates to shine in the Rating Games, and she had all the talents and demeanors required to be their good leader. She just had to fix that one tiny thing of her and that was thinking she shouldn't try pushing her peerage to overcome their life issues.

One year ago, that was her only problem. But many things could change in a year. Perhaps the Gremory had addressed her peerage's problems.

Either way; not his problem.

"Four against a complete set huh?" He hummed, "Riser has what… sixteen including himself?"

"Six." Akame corrected. She was half done with her breakfast. "Rias Gremory has a new Bishop and a Knight. Asia Argento and Xenovia Quarta."

"Never heard of either." Hell, Issei had never heard of anything for a year. Supernatural or not, both of the worlds' events fell on deaf ears when he had his own little world in the form of a remote cabin.

"Asia Argento was the rumored Holy Maiden until a few weeks ago." The assassin explained, "The Catholic Church had her exiled because she healed a Devil in the abbey she stayed. The Devil then killed a slew number of priests and kidnapped several nuns."

"And now she's serving a Devil. Not a bright one is she. How did she get here from Italy?"

"A group of rogue Fallen Angels flew her here and provided her shelter. She was murdered just a few days before we met you. The Fallens wanted her Sacred Gear for themselves, but Rias and her peers sniffed them out and resurrected the girl. She seems to be a close friend with Xenovia."

Issei placed his knuckles under his chin, rubbing his recently shaved stubble. Felt like sandpaper. Like a dry tongue of a feline.

"What's her story?"

"We're not sure yet." Akame admitted as she ate the last of the egg; the crunchy part of the whites she had reserved for the last. Her favorite. "I do know she carries a fragment of a Holy Sword with her. The Durandal."

Roland's Holy Blade. One that Souji would fangirl about no doubt.

That said- "How the hell does a Devil have a Holy Blade."

"She was the Holy Maiden's bodyguard prior to her exile. And after her exile as well, it seems. When she arrived here for Asia Argento, the Holy Maiden has been reincarnated as a Devil. Rias Gremory might have convinced her to turn side. During her recon, Leone overheard that Xenovia Quarta had found out about the truth about the Excalibur Project at one point and have been waiting for the chance to turn her back against the church."

Issei almost palmed himself. "They're still at it? Give me a break…"

Akame shook her head. "That I can't tell for certain. Oh, the churches are also missing their respective Excalibur fragments, but we didn't look into it."

"No, no need for that. Let's not get involved with missing swords."

"I see…" He noticed the ravenette assassin had puckered her lips upon hearing his decision. "Well… what else do you want us to do now, Master?"

Issei sat back on his chair. "Well— you both sure are gifted in this whole information-gathering activity; great job to that. Thank you for reminding me why I'm Sirzechs' thug instead of being his spy."

Akame shifted uncomfortably since she wasn't used to compliments. "It's… nothing. It's what we were trained for."

"That you are." He replied, "When's the Rating Game going to be held?"

"Four days from now."

"Good." Not much, but four days should be enough. He wanted to get this one over quickly. "Next thing I'll need one of you to do is to sneak into the Gremory's peerage."

The assassin scrunched her black brows, tilting her head. "Why's that? Do you suspect the Gremory?"

"No, not them. Hell, I worked for one of them. It's the other nobles I'm itchy about." Issei clarified. He felt no need in hiding details in his plan from his own subordinates for some sort of big reveal when he executed his plans perfectly.

That would be plain dumb.

"Their game, unofficial as it is – by that I'm guessing it won't be broadcasted to the public – it'll still be aired to the high-class society. If they were the one who sent you that letter, and they see you or Leone, alive and well and fighting for the Gremory, they will have enough reason to be paranoid. Assuming they did."

"But some of them have hired us."

Issei had expected that. That fact didn't even matter much. "Can you name them?"

"Naud Namigin and Diodora Astaroth; these were the only Devils who revealed their name and House. But for the rest we were hired and paid anonymously."

Two idiots. Two Houses he could safely cross off his checklist – but they weren't in his list of suspicion in the first place either. Still, Sirzechs would probably appreciate this information. He didn't like it much when someone was snooping around playing spies under his Satanic nose, especially if it could bother the realm's stability – as proven by the fact Issei had their noses broken once Sirzechs sniffed them out.

"We won't bother with them." Issei restarted, "I won't ask you to sneak around the remaining Houses either. Just a select view. I'll have you briefed once your partner is back so I won't have to repeat it." He scratched the side of his head, glancing at the hallway. "Where is she anyway."

"She said she sensed someone has been prowling around this area for a few days. She mentioned she could 'smell' them."

"Smell eh?" His brows wrinkled. He had to forcibly tone down his power so he didn't terrify the local supernatural, and by doing so he had to dull his senses too. He could sense nearby Supernaturals, but if they cloaked themselves with whatever magic they used, his mildly enhanced senses wouldn't do any good.

Issei would rather have the brawler smell something else that was related to his wife's murder, but seeing that these assassins had actually surpassed his expectations, he supposed letting her goof around wouldn't hurt. Not to mention whoever she sniffed might have a likely connection to the case.

…

Maybe they should help her.

"Um… Master? That still doesn't answer why you need us to join her peerage."

"Sirzechs requested help." Issei casually said. "He has helped and is helping us anyway. Either of you are capable to deal with the Phenex I'm sure."

"Murasame's curse can halt his regeneration." Akame spoke simply. "I'm better at keeping a low profile too. I'll do it."

"Then there you go. While you're at it, anyone who knows either of you might get suspicious – enough for them to increase their guard, or even try to murder you. I won't let that happen, obviously. But let's talk about it later. Let's find Ms. Boxer first."

He opened the floodgate. Just a bit. Letting Ddraig's Dragonic strength empower him, enhancing his senses, allowing him to determine Leone's location thanks to her Oath.

Several miles away to the west. Where exactly? He couldn't tell. He should ask Ajuka how to add a communication function to his Dragon Oaths; a.k.a Dragonic Steroids.

"Right. She's somewhere to the west. Which way is west."

"The sun sets— that way." Akame pointed at a wall, getting up with her plate. "I'll ready after a drink."

"It's fine. I won't take long. Unless you want another trip to the sky."

The assassin reasonably backed down from his offer.

Break

"You're not getting away this time…" With a tinge of excitement, Leone muttered under her breath, leaping from one rooftop to another. Her expert weight shift control had allowed her to create as little noise as possible as she darted after the lurker, presently flying away from her, running from her the scared prey she was.

Only this prey was actually fast and also fights back. Dodging an array of bullet-like purple orbs, jumping and twisting her body through the violet projectiles, Leone skillfully caught an AC unit and used it to propel herself back up, catching the edge of the roof and continued her chase.

This person seemed to at least care about collateral damage, she thought. She knew a Nekoshou was one of the strongest species amongst the Yokai until their rumored extinction. This black kimono wearing one could have fought her back instead of running away, but whatever. Leone didn't need much reason to go after a stalker.

Leone braked and leapt to the left, following the interloper's sudden change of direction. She could use a pair of wings now, because her Lionelle paws couldn't grant her flight.

It could, however, allow her to perform a massive jump.

Yellow lights flared as she tapped in to the Beast's pool of power, assimilating the Egyptian God of War's power into her own. As claws replaced her hand, her blonde hair gained length, flowing longer, wilder, more fabulous—just the way a lion's mane would.

The entire town flashed before her as Leone thrusted herself forward, passing several houses in under a second and closing the distance.

She grinned, but her grin faltered when the Nekoshou turned around, and erected a rectangular barrier that she slammed right into it shoulder-first, intending to break through. What she failed to expect was that it wasn't exactly a magical barrier that could be shattered. It was an elastic magical barrier.

Even being a lethal assassin didn't make her immune from Newton's third law. Widening her eyes, Leone watched as the Nekoshou gained distance while she was sent back to where she jumped. Twisting in midair, she landed on a house's wall, and rebounded back towards the Nekoshou. Only this time, she didn't instantly go for her.

She didn't need to make the same mistake twice to learn her lesson. Another keen reason why she was highly sought – next to the fact that she had taken a liking in serving those who pay well.

Leone leaped again, her foot as swift and soundless as the wind as she closed the distance once again, bearing her trademark grin whenever her game was bound to meet their end.

But this game in particular was a crafty one – and more to that, she glanced behind her soldier, and instead showing an expression of panic or fright, she had the nerve to smirk.

That triggered her grin into a ticked-off one. "Oh… it's on now."

The game of cat and lion swerved into the urban park of Kuoh's town as the Nekoshou intended to lose her in the forested area. The Nekoshou created perfect illusions of herself, sending her mirages to all sorts of direction to bewilder the Lioness.

Tough luck for her if that was what she expected, because Leone couldn't get rid of her lavender scent off her nose unless she caught a severe case of hay fever. She simply kept giving chase to the real one, using a tree branch as a swing to propel her forward, tearing through the forest without causing any environmental damage.

When she was within an earshot, the Nekoshou glanced upwards before she once again turned around, a smug smirk still etched on her face, and stood there with her loosely worn black kimono.

Earlier Leone wanted to catch her for questioning first, but after that? Knocking her out then questioning her later would make her sleep better tonight.

Kuroka floated to the air, laying upon an invisible mattress as she watched her chaser slashing her claws against a metaphorical crimson wall. There was a shrill noise, but her flesh-rendering attack didn't leave so much of a scratch on the armor.

"What the fu—" Leone cursed, then eyeing the scale mail of her 'Master' with an annoyed look. "Hey what's the big idea?!"

The crimson Scale Mail disintegrated into tiny crimson shards that glittered briefly before fading completely.

"I'm sorry Leone." Issei muttered, huffing a sigh as he turned around to meet the playful Nekoshou. "As much as you wanted to do horrendous things to her; I know this one."

"What. The stalker?"

"As she seems to be." He continued, eyeing Kuroka who returned his stare with an innocent one. "Mind explaining that?"

"Mmm? Heee~ first time we meet after I left you alone for what… a year or so? And the first thing you want from me is an explanation nyan?"

"You're avoiding the question here." Issei reminded in a light tone, smiling. Of course he was glad to see her again, and see for himself that she wasn't completely mad towards him. "Do you need to snoop around like that?"

Kuroka huffed proudly. "Not my fault you hid your power. I just want to be sure you weren't some creepy homunculus nyan."

"Did Grayfia tell you?"

"Well let's see…. a little bird happened to tell me," Kuroka drifted to him, slinking her hands across his sweater's chest and to touch his stubble, stroking his jaw with a provocative gaze and intent, "…that someone, might be in desperate need of some… mood uplifting." She quirked a sleek black eyebrow. "Mmn?"

His smile faltered a little, but Issei quickly covered it up with another, pulling away from her seductive allure.

"Here for me eh?"

Kuroka wasn't great at handling these kinds of thing. At least she knew that much; which was why she often let the other girls handle him when he was being gloomy. But she could tell that he wasn't ready yet.

Other girls would have left him alone, probably, but she wasn't like other girls. "Hmmn~? Is rejecting a lady's advances a thing you do now? What a pity nyan. Consider my heart broken once again."

Issei let off a soft chuckle. "Good to see you again, Kuroka."

"Can't say the same to you, Nyassei."

When the Nekoshou playfully bumped her nose with Issei's, Leone dropped her guard as she slouched her shoulders, transforming back to her normal appearance.

"You've gotta be kidding me. Her too? What are you; a playboy?"

"Not intentionally." Issei defended.

Kuroka huffed, using her tail to swat his face. "Never refused anyone though."

"I have a very big heart."

With a giant hole, unfortunately.

"It's to compensate for something else that isn't as big." Kuroka quipped, and Leone decided that she was okay with not hitting the girl since she just made her day.

Break

As Kuroka was an expert sorceress, mass teleportation back to the house was child's play. Her magic circle shone a radiant purple glow, drenching the living room in its color and alerting a certain assassin that had been waiting for them.

Akame had her cursed katana ready and unsheathed as she had taken a stance beside the sofa she was lazing on. But upon seeing her partner and master all at once, who was carrying another woman, she eased herself.

"You found the lurker?"

"His other lover, more like." Leone grumbled, stepping off the vanishing magic circle and leaving the two lovebirds alone.

"We're here now." Issei said flatly to the woman latched on him like a backpack. "You can get off."

"Mmnnah." Kuroka whirred as she lied her cheek on his shoulder, pressing her chest against his back shamelessly. "I'm tired from the hot pursuit." She took note of the other assassin with an impish gaze. "Yo."

"H-hey…" Akame replied, scrutinizing the girl with peculiar raven black hairstyle, staring at her amber eyes with slit black pupil. "…I feel like I've seen you before."

"Probably in one of those wanted poster nyan. That's right— you're seeing at a criminal." Kuroka replied while Issei took her closer to the sofa, and sat down. "MROW—! GET OFF OF ME YOU BRUTE!"

Issei did as Kuroka whacked his back repeatedly, while Akame's eyes were still filled with both confusion and wonder.

"You… sheltered a criminal?"

"Long story!" Leone shouted from the kitchen, likely scrounging the fridge. "Hey which one of you smartasses ate my pudding?!"

Issei noticed the widening of Akame's blood red eyes and her awkwardly shut lips, but said nothing about it. "She's a criminal that isn't actively pursued." He said. "Sirzechs' still searching a loophole to convince her accuser she's not completely guilty. Lots of people wanted her head still."

Kuroka whined, "Poor me no? Falsely charged for a murder I committed, but for the wrong reason." Making herself comfortable on the couch, sprawling her body along the three-seater, Kuroka eyed the assassin with a mischievous glint. "Why… I still have a pretty hefty bounty on my head nyan. Wanna try and get it?"

Unlike Leone, Akame wasn't intimidated or agitated. "An ally of my Master is an ally of mine for all I am concerned."

"Oooh~ how gallant." Kuroka twirled a smile, toning down her hostility. "She reminds me of Souji-nyan."

"She's not as rigid and stop picking fights with my agents."

"Not as busty either." With a red blush, Akame covered her modest chest with both her hands. "Oh relaaax~ I won't bite. Well... Not if you don't want me to."

Officially threatened in a way she never had been threatened before, Akame wisely retreated into the kitchen. Getting berated by Leone was easier to handle than being trifled by a temptress with feline ears.

Somewhat alone now, Issei sat at the opposing couch since Kuroka had practically claimed the other for her alone.

"Let's get this straight; you're here for your sister?"

"Well~" Kuroka didn't waste any time in getting on top of him again; casually floating as she carried herself to sit on his lap, saddling him as she locked her hands behind his neck. "~not exclusively for her only."

Issei sighed softly, smiling weakly. "I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I can't right now."

"Aww… gloomy still aren't you nyan?" Kuroka whirred as she removed her hands off his neck, and nuzzled his neck and chest, brushing her feline ear against his stubbled jaw. "Fine then. I'll just sit here until you're not as sulky."

Shaking his head, Issei sniggered. This, too, was her own personal way to brighten his day. But if he simply relished in it, he couldn't shrug off the fact that he feeling that he was skipping the 5 stages of grief. Felt that he was using her, to put it bluntly. Felt it wasn't right to just… simply be happy.

"I can't, Kuroka." He heaved a dreary sigh. "This feels like I'm betraying her."

"Mhmm. That's a line you shouldn't ever say to Grayfia-nyan." Kuroka muttered. "You're lucky I have a thick hide."

Another sigh. "See? That's another reason why I can't. She's the only one in my mind right now even when you're literally sitting on me."

"Not the first time she's in your head when another girl's on you."

Issei knew he deserved that. He wasn't in a prime condition, but he knew he deserved that one for choosing one woman to love when he once swore he would love all of them equally.

"Yeah… well…"

"It's fine yeesh." Kuroka sniffed, showing him her pouty face. "We all lost fair and square. She won you fair and square. Stop beating yourself up or I will beat you up nyan."

He allowed a smile, and giving her a look. "Since when did you get so mature?"

"I've always been mature!" Kuroka huffed immaturely, but there was a shift in her disposition as she spoke her next sentences. This time, this was her being her most naked self. "Let people help you because they want to help. That's why I'm here. That's why Grayfia was here. That's why she told me about you. Even if you feel bad about it; we don't. We want to help so just let us. Let us do what we think we can do, as much as we want."

Issei nearly crumbled then, but stopped himself from getting tearful and hugged her instead. He didn't deserve them. He left them for a woman. He let them go, and moved on when neither Kuroka and Grayfia hadn't.

What an utter failure of a Harem King he was.

Thinking about this kind of complicated things hurt his brain. Just focusing himself solely on vengeance was the easiest way he knew to deal with the pain, but he couldn't be completely selfish when he had others around him.

He didn't know what he should do. He was trained to kill so he could protect. He wasn't trained to deal with an irreplaceable loss.

Even then, Issei wanted to move forward. He swore to himself that he would find her killer. Everything that was related to the bastard.

And once it was done, then maybe. Just maybe. He could find peace. Peace from a self-sought redemption from his failure. And let her go.

"Thanks."

Snaking her arms over his chest, and then resting her head on his chest; listening to his heartbeat again, Kuroka nearly let her own tears spill if not for the fact that there were others around them.

"…Don't mention it… Stupid." She whispered. Many thought she was a carefree individual. Well, she was. Until he showed up and gave her a reason to care about someone other than her or her sister. "I'm sorry about her."

"Me too."

"I missed you."

"Me too."

"I miss her too."

"…I do too."

The two went quiet for a moment, sharing the sting of the bitterness.

"Oh no… I think I'm gonna cry now." Still with her head tucked under his chin, Kuroka began to sniffle, and found herself frustrated. "Dammit- I don't wanna cry dangit. Fia-chan has probably cried a river and my share."

Issei pushed back the thought of her. For now. Issei stood up with Kuroka still on his hands.

"I'll get you to my room."

"Well, mister, you better hurry up because I'm starting to get flashbacks from every stupid moments we had together and they're getting more sentimental and I'm gonna—" a hitching sob choked her tirade, and Kuroka failed to make any other noise other than a dejected series of whimpering as she buried her face on his chest, clutching his sweater, horribly missing a friend she could no longer tease.

Both Leone and Akame stayed in the kitchenette as Issei carried Kuroka up the stairs, keeping their silent for their grieving Master.

Leone huffed once she heard the sound of a door opening and shutting.

"Maaan—" she scratched her bright blonde hair, "this is why I don't wanna get hitched. Or get attached to things I don't want to lose like people and puddings. Especially puddings. Which you ate."

Akame sighed tranquilly.

"I'm sorry. I was craving for something sweet."

Cracking her hands, Leone smiled a sinister smile. "I'll give you something sweet—"

In the face of imminent pain, the assassin worked her quick mind. "Wait-wait-wait— Master wants us to observe several Houses."

"Oh yeah? Which Houses?" The brawler lowered her fists; postponing her capital punishment of one long grind to the head.

"…" The assassin realized she did not think this through as she should have. "Well… He was planning to brief the details, but he's pretty busy I'd think."

"You think my feet." Leone spat, "Now gimme your head you thieving swine!"

Cold dread washed over her face as Akame backed herself to a wall. "Wait Leone! I'm sorry, I'll buy you another— ow it hurts! It hurts!"

To be continued…

alternate chapter title: S

why cant I hold all these feels? :pepehands:

rEmEMbER guYs iSsie wAIf dIEdeD a wEeK aGO

On a serious note, I like Kuroka's synergy with Leone and Akame already and just her character in general. Lighting up the mood by being a pain in the butt, while her mood wasn't exactly the brightest. I like this one better than your everyday tsundere

Someone suggested for a female Vali. I was kind of ehhhhhh because I'd only do it in shitposts. Check out Death's Chosen btw. That's the shitpost where fem Vali AND fem Kiba be present. Why grant them tits? For the glory of the gods of boobies and poor comedy of course!

I'm not sure if I want to do that here. I've already swapped DxD Okita with Fate Souji Akita Alter. Why? Because animu tiddies huehuheue amongst other reason. Canon Okita not being too influential to the story is one of the reasons.

Vali, on the other hand, is purdy fuckin' important. I refuse to genderbend someone just for the sake of adding another collection to Issei's cocksleev— imean harem member.

Then again, I'm always partial to what my readers want. At the end of the day, I'm still writing this for you guys UWU - but not really
So if you want female vali for whatever reason, say it. Let me know. If I don't get any, or get more "NO PLS DANZY NO", then I'm assuming there's no degenerate brave enough to stand for that idea, and there shall be no vali with tts within this story

might have one in Academy DxD tho ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) that one is my most glorious shitpost yet. If you like banterific Issei, Sairaorg, Kuroka, and Ingvild, with some sprinkle of Fate characters - then go read it.

Aight cya bois. Remember:

punt one baby a day, keeps the corona away