Okay, everyone. I know you're probably pissed since I haven't updated during the quarantine, but I'm still in my senior year of high school meaning that I have a shit ton of work to do without going to school (Damn online lectures). Because of this, My teachers have been dumping thrice as much work as the norm so I have almost no time to myself. College is not any better.

And with that

Story Start!

Laughter could be heard ringing through the field as two children ran through the forests near the shrine.

The boy, age six, had rust-red hair and shining gold eyes. The girl he was chasing was older than him by one year. She had raven black hair that shined like the night sky and violet eyes reminiscent to that of polished amethyst.

After playing together, they lied together by the stump of an old tree to watch the sunset. The two were as close as siblings if not closer. In fact, in the eyes of their parents, they might as well have been married already. Unfortunately, the boy, Shirou Muramasa would be moving to Fuyuki the next day.

The girl's heart clenched at the thought. Akeno Himejima knew that her's and Shirou's mothers had wanted them to marry when they grew up, something that she also wanted. She knew that she had already fallen for the young swordsmith ever since he had crafted and gifted his first blade to her on her sixth birthday.

"Hey, Shirou-kun," Akeno said. "After you move, promise to never forget me and call me every day."

Shirou smiled, "Okay Akeno-nee! I will! Besides, this isn't goodbye. We'll see each other again on our birthday in a few months remember? And when I get back, I'll tell you all about the cool stuff I'll have made!"

"Right! Then I'll do the same!" Akeno's face mirrored his as they basked in the fading sunlight.

"And Shirou-" she started before another voice cut in.

"Shirou! Dinner's ready!" the voice called out from across the holt.

"Coming mom!" he called back.

He and Akeno both stood up and walked towards the house together.

The next day had arrived and Shirou's and Akeno's families were saying their farewells.

"Shirou, promise me that you'll call me as soon as you get there, okay?" Akeno said with worry.

"Okay!"

"And don't forget your promise to call me every day! I want to know what my best friend has up to." she continued.

"Alright already! You're starting to sound like an old lady! Besides, it's not like we're never going to see each other again." Shirou scoffed. Seriously, she was starting to sound like his mother.

Akeno pouted, "I know, but I can't help it! I'm worried about you!"

Shirou held up his hand with his pinky pointed at her.

"Then I'll make you another promise," he said.

"Huh?"

"Once we graduate high school, let's go on a date!" he stated.

Akeno froze when she heard that. Her heart raced as she fought back a blush. She failed.

Blood rushed to her head as steam poofed from her ears.

Was he really saying what she had thought he was saying? Did he just ask her out? But isn't after graduation still a long while away? A part of her was happy that he had asked but the other half was disappointed that she had to wait so long.

"Y-you idiot…" she whispered.

Shirou heard Akeno mumble something but couldn't make out what she said.

"Hm? Did you say some-mmf!?"

Shirou was promptly shut up as Akeno closed the gap between them and kissed him.

Shirou's heart pounded as the seconds passed. Slowly, his eyes closed as he leaned in. The seconds felt like hours as Akeno dug deeper into his mouth, prying his mouth open and shoving her tongue down his throat.

Heat was the only thing he felt as Akeno pulled back. His face was nearly indistinguishable from his hair as his eyes swirled in giddiness. Noticing the missing pressure on his lips, he focused his attention on Akeno as she started speaking again.

"There. That was my first kiss," she said. "Now you have to take responsibility for it and keep your word, okay?"

Shirou gulped and nodded, "I will."

Unfortunately for the two, they had completely forgotten that their mothers were also with them.

"Ara ara! How bold of you, Akeno-chan!" a voice rang from behind the young couple, sending chills down their backs.

The two turned and saw something that came straight out of a nightmare. Shuri Himejima and Akane Muramasa, Akeno's and Shirou's mothers, stared at the two with an evil glint in their eyes. Shuri was smirking sultrily and Akane was outright laughing. "Giving your first kiss to Shirou-chan already? I was hoping to see you get together one day, but so soon? I hope you remember to use protection! I don't want to be a grandmother while I'm still in my thirties! Oh, and do tell me when the wedding is!"

Both children blushed even harder as Shuri continued her onslaught of embarrassing comments until they exploded.

"Okaa-sama/Shuri-san!" they screamed, red as a tomato.

Luckily for them, Anake decided to intervene, "alright Shuri-chan. That's enough for now. I'm sure we'd all like to see our children make a family but we have to go if we want to beat traffic."

'Thank you Akane-sama/Kaa-san' was their collective thought.

"And Shirou, making a girl wait until you finish high school is too long. You can have your date when we come back for your birthdays in a few months. Akeno, I'll teach him all he needs to know to be a perfect husband for you." she finished with a grin.

Just because she intervened, didn't necessarily mean that she was showing them mercy.

"Kaa-san!" Shirou was blushing harder than he ever had before and Akeno was becoming lightheaded from all the heat she was feeling.

"Oh, look at the time! We ought to get going now," said Akane as she stepped into the car. "Shuri, Akeno, take care."

Shuri nodded, "You as well, Akane, Shirou."

The shrine priestess and her daughter watched as the Muramasas finished loading their car before driving off. The children said their goodbyes and separated, not realizing that that would be the last time they would meet for a long time.

Two months later, tragedy struck Akeno's family when they heard the news of the Fuyuki Fire, a disaster that burned down nearly a quarter of the city and claimed well over five hundred lives. The exact amount was unknown as some remains were unsalvagable and couldn't be found, but only one person survived this traumatic event. Sadly, Shuri and Akeno couldn't get the name of the survivor. They silently prayed that the Muramasa's were safe and away from the event when it took place. When they didn't receive a call that night, they mourned at the loss of what could only be called family.

Akeno knew of her heritage as the daughter of a shrine maiden and a fallen angel, yet she had never felt ashamed of it. She looked up to her mother and adored her father. She even said that she wanted to grow up to be just like him.

Then the clan attacked. The other members of the Himejima clan broke into her house, killed her mother, and then tried to kill her before she managed to escape, the whole time wondering where her father was when they attacked. Her father who said he loved them, who promised to protect them, was nowhere to be found as his wife was murdered and his ten-year-old daughter was forced to live on the run, armed only with the sword she had received from Shirou four years ago to defend herself with.

After she escaped, she crossed the country purifying abandoned shrines and temples. She reached into her pocket and pulled out an old picture, one of the few things she was able to escape with when her home burned down. The picture displayed her and her family standing next to the Muramasas, smiling at the camera right before they had moved to Fuyuki.

Fuyuki. The place where Shirou died. She wondered if anyone knew of him or Akane. They had only been there for a few months before the fire.

She looked at the picture once more and decided on her next destination. She wanted to go to Fuyuki and pay a visit to wherever they ended up being buried. Who knows? Maybe there was a chance he was the survivor that was briefly mentioned. If that was the case then did he remember her? Did he know who he was? Not wanting to get her hopes up, she squashed the little bit of hope she had and began walking.

After a week of traveling, Akeno had almost made it. She was only a few miles out of the city. Then she heard them. Roaring, like battle cries and the loud footsteps of several dozen men. Her clan had finally caught up with her. She turned and saw Suou Himejima, the clan head, glaring at her with murder in his eyes. Exhausted from weeks of traveling, she knew that she couldn't outrun them, and there were too many for her to fight off.

With despair finally setting in, she sank to her knees and braced herself for the end. As Suou raised his blade, a voice called out, "Stop right there!"

Akeno's eyes snapped open and looked to the source of the voice. There, across the field stood a girl. She had long red hair that reminded her of Shirou and looked to be about her age. Beside her stood Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, Zeoticus Gremory's bishop, dressed in military garb.

"Good evening, sir. May I speak with you for a moment? It concerns the girl," Heinrich said.

That was how Akeno Himejima first met Rias Gremory, the woman who she would serve from that day onwards. That was the day she became a devil.