O-Rias-O

"Aren't you concerned Rias? Someone hiding under our noses this whole time, we must act, now!"

"Alright, I can't believe that's I'm the one saying this Sona, but we need to slow down and think about this before we do anything hasty", I caution my normally my much more composed partner. "Rushing into things won't do us any favors."

"How can you, Ms. resurrect the unstable dhampir, of all people try to tell me to be cautious?" Sona Blusters. "For all we know this 'Issei Hyoudou' could be dangerous!"

"Sona", I sigh, "For all I'm loathe to show it, I am capable of learning from my mistakes." Not that I think resurrecting gasper was a mistake per se… but it would have been nice to think a bit longer on the commitment I was making before taking on the unstable time vampire in my basement. Really, it would have been nice to know that I was making a commitment of that scale at all, which is the crux of the problem here.

"We really don't have enough information to go making hasty decisions right now Sona." I can see her deflate a bit at that, returning to her more normal analytical personality by the second. "As you said, he could be dangerous. All the more reason not to try to cut his head off with a beam of pressurized water." I state emphatically.

"I wasn't going to do that", Sona protests weakly. It seems even she doesn't really believe herself on that one.

"Sona, I've known you long enough to know your 'I'm ready to murder someone face', so please don't try to slip one by me", I jest lightly. "Seriously though, what's got you so worked up over this? You're usually the telling me to calm down."

Looking down, blushing slightly, and muttering something under her breath, Sona 'replies' to my query, but even with my enhanced devil senses, I can't make out what she said. "Sorry, what was that Sona? I couldn't understand you." I ask gently as possible. I think I may be wandering back into the minefield of uncomfortable topics for her, but it is honestly so out of character for her to be acting like this that I kind of need to know what's going on if we're to proceed with looking into…

Something. What were we talking about again? Looking around at the table I see what looks like a student's records, and seeing the label… Issei Hyoudou. And just like that, it's all back, like it never left.

"… Paperwork." Sona finishes what she was saying while I was distracted. "Were you even listening to me?!"

"Sorry, my fault this time, can you repeat yourself one more time?" I ask, blushing a bit myself this time. It really isn't like me to zone out like that.

"Fine. I just really don't like it when someone messes with my paperwork" my fellow king pouts.

"Really?" I ask a bit dumbfounded. "You were ready to cut off Hyoudou's head for 'tampering' with the records you admitted you signed?" I know she likes her record keeping, but I really didn't think she'd go that far over it.

"Of course not Rias. We do have appearances to keep up after all." She replies primly. "I was merely going to lock him in a room for a few hours and interrogate him."

"Ah… that went downhill quite quickly. You said yourself that he might be dangerous, and we still know next to nothing about him, other than that you yourself approved his presence here at the school." She looks a more than a bit annoyed at that last point, but I press on any way. "I really don't think it would be wise to be alone in an enclosed space with him in a hostile atmosphere just yet. We need to figure out some of the basics about his character before anything else", I suggest.

"And how would you propose we go about doing that Oh Great and Wise Gremory-Sama, without being confrontational?" Sona responds back with a bit of snark. She does have a point there.

"Hmm… I would usually suggest having a familiar tale him, but if he is spying on us, I don't think that would be a particularly good idea. Seeing a familiar tale him would be a pretty sure fire way to alert him that we're on to him", I ponder stroking my chin. "After that, I would normally have Koneko trail him, but given he already knows about her apparently, I don't think that would be a very good idea either…"

"So for all that bluster, you don't have anything to show for it?" My rival taunts with a bit of smugness. I'm not too upset, but I wasn't done with my analysis yet either, so I am a bit miffed.

"Ma, ma, let me think. Say, Sona, were any of your peerage reincarnated recently enough that Hyoudou might not know about them, if he is indeed spying on us, as we keep assuming?" I finally decide to ask.

"Well, Saji-San was only reincarnated a few weeks ago… "She replies with a bit of hesitation. "It's not really like I do anything noticeably supernatural at the academy anyway. So, unless Hyoudou-san has some very good intel, theoretically he shouldn't know anyone in my peerage."

"Umm… what?" I ask a bit dumbfounded.

"You do know you don't need to disclose the identities of your peerage members publicly, at least until you plan to enter the official rating games, right Rias? No one outside of a very few select people know who is in my peerage exactly. If whoever Hyoudou might be working for managed to get their hands on that info, we are well out of our depths already, considering who's protecting it."

"I am going to murder Sirzechs when I see him again." I state flatly. Really? Didn't feel like telling me that one earlier? Though, I suppose that some of my peerage members do have some political baggage attached, so the rules might not exactly apply the same to them.

"Setting your plans for fratricide aside for a moment Rias, I believe you had a plan in mind." Sona interrupts my reminiscence to bring me back to the point at hand.

"Yes, yes I did. While Saji-Kun is nice I'm sure, I don't think he would really fit with what I'm planning." I Chuckle. "Don't get me wrong, he might be just the man for the job, but statistically, it had better be one of your more female peerage members, which is easier now that I know no one really knows who they are." The end is a bit of a grumble, but I'm still a bit up set about my brother misdirecting me. Oh well, my revenge will be sweet.

"What exactly are you planning that requires one of my female peerage members Rias?" Sona asks with an exasperated sigh. "Do tell, I imagine this will be a wonderful show", she lays the ball in my court, and adjusts her glasses.

"Well, we have one of them take Hyoudou, Issei – Kun out on a date, of course!"

"Really, Rias? A date?" She huffs. "Weren't you the one suggesting we be cautious? And now you suggest we send one of my peerage to get close and personal with him?" Grumbling, she continues "Couldn't you have one of your peerage do it?"

"Well, I could, but I don't think that would be the best idea", I explain. "Not only are my peerage members public knowledge to everyone in the supernatural world", I grit out "But neither Koneko nor Akeno are really good choices." At her raised eyebrow, I continue "Even putting aside Koneko's reticence for any kind of romantic behavior, she and Issei have already interacted. He knows that Koneko is a devil, and if he is after us, putting them in close proximity would put her at even greater risk than she's already in."

"Why not have Akeno do it then?" Sona inquires sitting back down behind her desk. "Surely she would be the best choice out of any one of us here", she posits.

"Laying aside the fact that she is a known quantity to anyone spying on us, do you really think she would be the best person to try to get information out of someone peacefully?" I retort.

"I never said I wanted things to go peacefully Rias. I think Akeno would simply kill two birds with one stone, only one of them being the information we want", Sona replies with an impish smile.

"Using my queen to torture people who mess with your paperwork is strictly forbidden, Sona." I chastise without any real heat behind it. It is quite the devilish thing of her to do. Not only solve more than one of her aims at once but use someone else's resources to do it. "In all seriousness though, anyone from my group would be in undue danger. It really should be one of yours Sona."

Relenting, the Sitri heir gives a nod, "as this was your plan in the first place Rias, I do expect some form of compensation from you in the future, but we can discuss that later."

"Always business with you I suppose", I reminisce. Sona always has been one to try to get any edge she can out have given situation. "Alright I can accept that, but don't expect anything too major."

"Of course, I can't bleed you dry just yet after all. Momo, come here please." Bidding one of her bishops over, I take a chance to take in her appearance. It's not that I've never seen her before, but I will admit, it has been too long since I've spent much time getting to know Sona's peerage personally. Engagement problems and all that.

Blue-green eyes and white hair framing Momo's cute face are her most defining features. Her bust size is above average, but certainly nothing to write home about. Overall, while she is significantly above the human average in terms of looks, she is still no where near either myself or my queen in that department. Objectively speaking, of course.

"Yes Kaicho, how can I be of service?" Momo asks primly. Always a willing servant it appears.

"I need you to go on a date with this student, Hyoudou-Issei", Sona deadpans, handing her the folder.

"I… a-a date? Do we even have a Hyoudou Issei at this school?" Faltering at the sudden request, but recovering admirably quickly, Momo stumbles a bit over her response.

"In order of questions asked," Sona responds, "Yes, we believe a date would be the best scenario in which to extract information from a teenage boy like Hyoudou-san, and yes, apparently, we do." Sighing the sigh of someone done with a day's worth of bullshit, Sona powers on.

"According to our verified records", Sona explains, pointing both to her authenticated signature and her subtly magical filing system, "this 'Hyoudou Issei' has attended Kuoh Academy since last year. Judging by your confused expression, you were as unaware of this as either Rias or myself."

"How did we misplace an entire student, between both peerages on campus?" Momo questions confusedly. "More importantly, how is going on a date with someone I don't know going to help us at all?"

"Well, we didn't misplace Hyoudou-San, that's the thing." Sona remarks dejectedly. Everything was exactly in its place within records. We just didn't know it was there… somehow…

Picking up the second half of the explanation, I interject 'We're hoping that the date would give us an opportunity to sus out Hyoudou-San's, or I suppose that would be Issei-Kun's to you," I tease the magician across from me, which sees her cheeks heat up a bit, "personality. Ideally, you'll be able to figure out if he is hostile, what his motives may be, and who he may be working for." Looking at her panicked expression, I think it wise to elaborate, "Not that you'd straight out ask for that of course. Just that he may tip something to you accidentally. If it seems too dangerous, you know we can get to you to provide assistance", I reassure her. I also tell her about Koneko's recent strange encounter with Hyoudou. No reason not to give her the most information possible.

Continuing the brief, Sona picks up where I left off. "Hopefully, in the best case, he'll be nothing more than some kind of strange clerical error… on all of our parts. There is a chance that he is hostile and an agent of one of our enemies, however slim it may be. That is the worst-case possibility, and the truth likely lies between the best and worst. Knowing better where it lies will be imperative to deciding what our course of action will be. We will be counting on you."

"Of course, Kaicho. I will do my best." Seeing the dismissal for what it is, Momo returns to her station, no doubt with much more on her mind now than she had ten minutes ago.

Taking the chance to remind me of my newfound debt, Sona verbally pounces on me once we are once again in relative privacy. "Now, don't you go trying to weasel out of your obligations lady Gremory, that would not be befitting of a lady such as yourself", she jests in an overly formal tone. We always have loved mocking the more traditional among us, haven't we?

"I wouldn't dream of it lady Sitri, wouldn't dream of it."

O-Raynare-O

It's Wednesday evening, and that means it's time for me to review my notes I've left myself since Sunday. I may be magnificent, but that doesn't mean I'm perfect. Now let's see, orchestrate Thursday's dead drop, done. Check stockpiles, done, progress report on The Project, in progress. Investigate a residence, with included addressing, and a list of what to be appear to be some very promising leads…

The actual details of the event seem to be rather opaque in my memory though. How did this slip my mind? Malfunctioning devil contracts? That would be big news if it turns out to be true and I could prove it. Shit, I should have been all over this from the moment that I learned about it. Oh well, there's no use crying over the time I've wasted already. Might as well just get to work as soon as I can and make up for lost time. The first step in investigating this would be looking into municipal records…

I know what I'm doing tomorrow, and it certainly beats a fruitless search for sacred gears in the same city we've been in for over a year. 'Sometimes I think Azazel-sama has it out for me. Now why would he ever do that?'

O-0-O

Getting into the supposedly secure records facility was a very simple affair. Sure, I could have just hypnotized the record keeper, but sucking him off first was much more fun. 'Hope he doesn't miss his dick too much. Oh, who am I kidding, yes I do.' Do I claim the dicks of the men I sleep with as trophies? No, of course not, that would be weird. I just cut them off and then obliterate them for the fun of it.

There's nothing that a good bit of seduction can't get you, and if I'm a bit more sadistic than the 'norm', who's going to complain? It certainly won't be my partners (victims), they all get their memories erased afterwards anyway.

The knowledge that someone is going to wake up tomorrow without their genitals, not knowing how it happened is getting me a bit hot and bothered, but I came here to do work, so I'd better get to that. Work first, pleasure later, and all that.

Traversing the rows and rows of shelves until I find the correct one, I enter and proceed down the row. These records are still kept on paper strangely enough, I had thought humans had transitioned to keeping data like this on the strange light boxes they like to call computers. No matter, it is better for me that it's paper anyway. I always end up crushing the 'mouse' in my bear hands when I try to use a computer.

Finding the correct binder, I extract it, and move to the one table in the room. Cracking the collection of earth shatteringly boring residence registration information open, I scan the most important parts. 'The Hyoudou family, Hmm? I'm going to be having some fun with you pretty soon', I muse.

Hmm… Hyoudou Gurou and Hyoudou Miki are an absolutely unremarkable Japanese middle-aged couple. Gurou seems to be your standard workaholic salaryman, if his listed income is anything to go by, while Miki is the normal full-time housewife. I can also rule them out of being the ones responsible for the summoning.

Now, my memories of what apparently happened are damnably unclear, but what I do remember was that there were two people, in bed, out of range of the contract. It would be safe to think that this Miki and Gurou would be these two people… but then... that isn't adding up. Who activated the contract in the first place, and how? Something isn't right here.

Looking back at the official resident list for the Hyoudou residence, I focus. Hard. My head is swimming a bit. 'Maybe I should take a nap'…

No. I can go to sleep once I'm done, this is important. Redoubling my focus, I finally make out the third name on the list, "Hyoudou Issei…"

And my headache immediately gets ten times worse, as my memories of Monday night come back to me at full force – as I always knew what happened on Monday night, 'I do have a headache though, maybe I should give myself a break.'

'No, I've worked through worse before. Like those lectures back in heaven. How did I ever stand those pretentious bastards?'

Finally knowing the name of the third individual that would reasonably be in the Hyoudou residence on a Monday evening, I can start building the final profile. Hopefully this one will be of more use than the last two. Hyoudou Gurou and Miki, a lovely Japanese couple I'd love to play with, but not exactly what I'm looking for right now.

O-0-O

If I had to come up with a word to describe Hyoudou Issei, it would be… 'nothing'. And for once, that's not me being lazy. The damn bastard may as well be a ghost for all I can tell. Although he is a high achieving student, top male applicant to Kuoh academy and maintaining position at the top of the class through his first year, there really isn't anything else noteworthy about him. Even I can admit that Kuoh, even run by those filthy devils, is a prestigious school with high academic rigor. For humans anyway. It would be a cakewalk for someone like myself.

Back on topic though… Hyoudou Issei might be the most boring person I've ever investigated. He is not officially in any clubs. He doesn't appear to frequently communicate with anyone, he has no known friends, no contacts. No trace. Hell, he's not even in the damn yearbook as far as I can tell. I'm lucky I could dig up an official government headshot, otherwise I wouldn't even know what he looks like.

My hours of research have turned up vanishingly little besides this punk's school, and the fact that he is apparently the most useless person on the face of the planet. Adding on the fact that I have had a head splitting headache for pretty much the entire time, Hyoudou Issei is in for a world of hurt when I find him.

This is going to be fun.

O-Issei-O

It's Friday after school, and I'm walking back home. I've mostly put the events of earlier this week behind, save for the constant subconscious reminder that there's more than what I knew out there. 'What does it really mean though, to know there's more if I wasn't even using what I already had?

As I fall into another one of my pseudo-philosophical rambles, I begin to lose track of where I'm going. By the time I pull myself out of my deep intra-personal debate, (I won, by the way) the sun is already setting, casting a frankly beautiful glow over the city.

Looks like I've been just… wandering around for about an hour and a half now… neat. Let's just hope I didn't have anything important to do at home this afternoon. Turning to make a beeline for home, I soon approach a walking bridge crossing the river. As I get close, I very nearly turn back. 'Is that Toujou-San?', I ask myself. 'No, the hair matches, and she's wearing the uniform but that's it, everything else is off' I reason.

And it's true. While the person approaching me has white hair, much the same as the devil that's been haunting my mind, everything else is substantially different. First and most obvious is her height. Toujou-san is short by anyone's metrics, and while this one certainly isn't tall, she isn't short either. Pretty much a balance between the two to be honest. In addition to the difference in height, this mysterious individual's face, while similar to the kouhai that I definitely don't have a crush on, has a more mature look compared to Toujou's cute one.

And so, I'm left at the conclusion that this is just another one of the many Kuoh Academy students that I don't know. Hey, I'm not arrogant enough to claim that I know everyone who attends the school by heart.

It's looking to just be two students who share a school, and nothing else passing each other on a bridge, a totally normal interaction, and in fact, passing her, that's exactly what it turns out to be. As I see the mystery student fade out of my peripheral vision, I let out a sigh I didn't know I was holding. 'huh, I feel like something was supposed to happen there'… I think to myself before immediately dismissing the thought. No use getting caught up in 'fate' or 'destiny' now, no siree.

As I continue to walk along the bridge, dangerously close to falling into yet another rabbit hole, I remind myself that 'the rabbit hole is what got us into this mess in the first place, best not fall in again'…

"Ah! Hyoudou-San!"

… before being sharply interrupted by the strange girl I just passed.

Pausing in shock, it's been a long time since anyone's wanted to talk to me after all, I turn around to face the mystery girl.

"You are Hyoudou Issei, yes?" She asks quickly. 'Huh, guess she really was looking for me.'

"Ah, Yes, that's me. You seem to have me at a bit of a disadvantage though…" I lead.

"Ah! Sorry, sorry, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Hanakai – Momo, I'll be in your care", the now named Hanakai – San Introduces herself hastily. Hmm, she has a rather pleasant voice all things considered.

'Well, Hanakai San, I presume you didn't stop me just to introduce yourself, and I am in a bit of a rush, so could we please keep this a bit brief?" At her questioning gaze, I continue, "I'm already running a bit late, and I have to get home soon."

"No that shouldn't be a problem Hyoudou-San, I just have something I wanted to ask you," She reassures me with a smile.

"Well then Hanakai – San, what would you like to ask me?"

"Hyoudou – San… Would you go out with me?"

… "I -…

"…you…san…"

As my brain begins to reboot from the abrupt question, it immediately goes into overdrive trying to work out exactly what is going on right now.

'Did she seriously just ask me out?'

'Why would someone ask me out?'

"Hyoudou – San…"

'This has to be a trick, right? I've never even spoken to this person before right now…'

'What if she's just playing with me? Are people that cruel?'

"Hyoudou – San, are you alright?" I finally understand that Momo has been frantically trying to get my attention for awhile now. 'Dammit, I must look like an idiot.'

"Yeah, I'm fine", I reply, though the waver in my voice doesn't exactly lend my claim much credence. "Now, could you please repeat your question, because I could have sworn you just asked me out." I try to get that one out with as much nonchalance as I can possibly muster, which in this case is about… negative fifteen units. Lovely.

'Ah… that's exactly what I asked Hyoudou – San, do you want to go out with me?"

While it doesn't send me into a near blackout this time, the question still hits me hard, far harder than I imagine that it would a normal person, at least. Hard enough that "Wh…Why?" Is all I can muster in response.

"Well, I've been watching you for a while now, and I've finally worked up the courage to talk to you, and maybe try and get a bit closer," she responds while tapping her toe and what appears to be a bit of a nervous tic. "I've always thought you were cute… and you seem really smart, which I like…"

How does she know my academics… "Oh, so you do attend Kuoh as well then?" 'Really, that's the best line you could come up with?'

"Yes, I do, I thought the uniform would have confirmed that for you."

"Well, you can't be too sure, it's not like the uniform is that difficult to put together out of non-official parts, and I hadn't seen you around school so…" I trail off.

Momo doesn't seem to mind though, firing back with, "Well, I'm on the student council, so I'm usually in the office most hours of the day."

"Does the Student Council have access to academic records?"

"Regular members like me don't have continual access to students' records per se… that's reserved for Kaicho," she clarifies, "But we do process documents before they are put into records."

'Well, I suppose that explains how she knew about my intellect… without ever… having … spoken … to me.'

I let the silence drag on after her last statement, and it's apparently too much for Momo, as she appears to be getting a bit impatient with me. Finally, after about thirty seconds in silence, she's had enough. "I don't want to put you on the spot or anything Hyoudou – San," She begins, "But you said you had places to be, so I'll ask you one last time, do you want to go out with me?"

'Shit, I did say I needed to get home, didn't I?' Well, time to finally face the music I suppose.

"I'd love to Hanakai – san, Momo," As her face lights up in delight, I feel a stab of pain knowing what I'm about to say next, "but I don't think that us going out would be a good Idea," I solemnly conclude.

Now it's Momo's turn to be dumb struck. "I… w-why is that Hyoudou – san? Why would it be a bad idea?" She asks in desperation. "Is it something about me?" She asks, quickly turning to dejection.

"No no, of course it's nothing about you Momo… It's just… we really don't know each other, so I don't think dating would be appropriate for us right now." I try to explain my point of view. I know it's shaky, but I… I'm trying to let her down softly. I don't think I can handle having a significant relationship right now, and I don't want to give her false hope.

"Well, we can get to know each other then!" She replies emphatically. "That's what dating's for, right?"

"Ah…" 'I really should have seen that one coming… think think think… Got it.'

"Please don't take this the wrong way Hanakai – San", I begin, intentionally shifting back to a more formal form of address, "this has nothing to do with you, so I don't want you to think that I have anything against you." At her downtrodden nod, I continue, "But I really don't have time to get to know you right now, and neither do I have time to dedicate to a serious relationship, with you or with anyone for that matter. You deserve someone far better than me."

With a belabored sigh I turn to leave, head home, and put this experience behind me, but as I start to move, I remember one last thing. Turning around and addressing Momo, as stricken as she appears to be, I offer a final line, "I hope to see you around Hanakai – San. Even though this didn't work out how you hoped it would, that doesn't mean we can't be friends." I shoot her what I hope is a conciliatory smile, and finally head for home.

Either Momo doesn't reply, or I miss it through all the turmoil going on inside my head.

O-Momo-O

"Hyoudou did what now?" Is the clipped response from my king as I begin my report on my most recent… assignment.

"As I said Kaicho, he turned my offer down…" I begin, before being cut off.

"He clearly knows, Rias, knows that we're devils. We must do something now that your little plot has failed", My king states emphatically. Ha… she really does get fired up sometimes. It's always the quiet ones…

"Yes… I suppose it might be best if we tried to talk with Hyoudou - San more directly now…" The other king in the room, the Gremory heir, responds. "As much as I'd like to avoid it, it seems a direct confrontation might be our only option right now…"

"Well…" I pipe up, "That might not be the case…" I trail off.

"And why would that be", Sona asks a bit more sharply than I would appreciate. She's the one who won't let me finish the rest of my report, after all.

'Well, you'd find out if you'd let me get through the rest of my report without further interruptions. This isn't like you, Kaicho", I respond with a bit of concern to my voice, as well as a bit of annoyance.

"Rest of your report, what else is there to re- no…, you're right. I'm being hasty, and it really isn't like me…" She concedes. "Go on, if you think you have something useful, let's hear it. May as well get something out of this mess", she mutters.

"Thank you Kaicho." I ponder for a second on where to begin with my surprisingly informative, and yet maddeningly mysterious, encounter with the individual that has caught the attention of the two devil heiresses in the room. Finally, I've come up with what I want to say, and begin, "Hyoudou Issei, presuming that that is his actual name, as I am under the impression that you suspect him of being some sort of spy, correct?" At the nods of the two kings, I continue, "has a remarkably small presence."

I let that linger in the air for a second, before Rias asks the first question of what I expect to become a rather intense grilling session, "How small are we talking here? Small for a Devil? Small for a human?" She queries.

"Small for a rat, for all I can tell." I deadpan, before clarifying, "and I do mean the rodent, not as a derogatory term for an individual."

"That is… certainly… something", Sona quips, obviously still processing the implications of what I just made known.

"That's not even the most surprising part about my encounter Kaicho."

'Well then, what is?" Rias prompts.

"Alright, how can I explain this…" I pause, trying to come up with a decent explanation for what I experienced earlier this afternoon, before coming to what I believe to be an adequate explanation. "Not only is Hyoudou's magical presence extraordinarily small for a human, let alone someone of the supernatural world, but his magical presence also seems to be in some sort of flux."

"That's the best way I can come up with to explain what I've witnessed." I continue. "I was having an extremely hard time locating him earlier, and when I did end up finding him, his presence was, like I said, miniscule. Quite frankly, I almost missed him entirely. It seems to be only a stroke of luck that I realized his face matched the picture in the file that I even recognized him in the first place."

"That's intriguing on its own Momo," my king interjects, "But what does it have to do with his magical presence being in a state of flux?" She inquires, quickly jotting down some notes.

"I was just getting to that." I explain. "The strange thing is that Hyoudou's presence increased roughly three-fold when he engaged in conversation with me, but no earlier. The change happened the moment he addressed me, even though he didn't yet know my name", I conclude.

"What would you compare his presence to after his change?" Rias asks.

"Hmm… it was still significantly less than even a weak human… so maybe a dog? Don't put to much faith in that assessment though. I was a bit preoccupied with the fact that the change happened at all to get an accurate measurement on its magnitude" I confess.

"Hmm… what was his reasoning for turning down the date offer, Momo?" My king inquires.

"Ah, yes, he said that he 'didn't have the time to dedicate to a relationship right now, and that I deserved someone better than him'", I recite from memory.

"So let me get this straight", Sona sighs. "Hyoudou, an individual that we suspect of being some sort of enemy operative, turns down someone whom to a normal individual is an objectively attractive girl…" I blush a bit at my king sterilely calling me attractive. I'll never get used to her doing that, "… with a frankly lame excuse. Am I right so far?" She finally quizzed.

"Yes, that's all correct, though I wouldn't necessarily call the excuse lame…"

"Momo, we know, you know that he isn't in any clubs. How could he possibly not have time for someone like you?"

A bit put off by the compliment, I stutter a bit in responding, "I… Uh… well, he does have really high grades, so he must dedicate a lot of his time to his studies. I don't think I'll ever see you of all people look down on that Kaicho", I finally reason.

At Sona's unimpressed gaze in my direction, Rias finally steps in, "Alright you two, you can just agree to disagree on whether or not Hyoudou - San's rejection skills are up to snuff. Can you do that?" At both of our mildly embarrassed nods, she continues, "Now I believe you had some more to sum up Sona?"

"Ah yes, thank you for the reminder. So far, we have an individual with all the traits mentioned before, who also has a miniscule magical presence, and can apparently adjust said presence to some degree. That is still all correct, yes?"

I nod in affirmation of my king's words.

"Momo, what part of all of this did you think would make me believe we didn't need to take immediate direct action against Hyoudou San?" my king deadpans.

"I don't know what you… oh. Yeah… what I've said so far really doesn't paint a good picture for Hyoudou - san…" thinking a bit deeper about it, a tiny magical presence wouldbe useful for someone trying to remain unnoticed, like say… a spy. Add on the ability to apparently adjust that presence, that's another particularly useful tool for someone of that particular profession. And even though I've only seen him adjust his presence up, it's not a large leap in logic to assume it can also go back down, considering where it started.

"Alright, I think that settles it then." Sona states. "Tomorrow, we find and apprehend Hyoudou Issei, and question him to either verify that he is not an enemy agent, or to subdue and apprehend a covert enemy presence in Kuoh", She concludes. "We should begin preparations as soon as possible."

"Wait, wait, I'm still not convinced that's the best course of action Kaicho", I protest.

"Momo, everything you've said so far paints a pretty damning picture. What else is there that could possibly change anything?" Rias puzzles.

"Ha… He is either the best damn actor in the world, or he is just a regular high school boy, apparently in way over his head in something he barely even knows exists." I state firmly.

"What makes you come to that conclusion, Momo?" My king asks.

Obliging, I continue, "When I initially asked Hyoudou out, he pretty much shut down. For a good thirty seconds, he was completely unresponsive. Not something you'd expect from someone who supposedly knows that I'm a devil." I point out. When no one raises any questions, probably still mulling over my last tidbit, I continue "Even more so than that though, he seemed genuinely torn up that he was rejecting me. I couldn't detect any deceit in that emotion either, as far as I can tell, he would have 'loved' as he said, to go out with me, but couldn't. Again, not necessarily something to expect from an operative, especially the ones who would be watching us."

"Ok… those are some good points… but where does that leave us then?" Sona finally airs.

"Honestly, I think he's just a normal guy, in over his head in something he doesn't understand. Maybe has a sacred gear, maybe not. Would go a long way to possibly explaining his strange presence", I offer.

Immediately biting back, "Why would he have a… wait, why wasn't 'he might have some weird sacred gear' our first reaction to this situation?", Sona gets sidetracked by what is admittedly a very good question. "It really does make sense… more than there being a spy anyway… I guess we shouldn't go full abduction tomorrow then after all…" She concedes.

"That doesn't mean we shouldn't still try to get into contact with him though", Rias pipes up. "If he does have a sacred gear, we might be able to bring him into the fold, again assuming he's not already aligned…", she reminds us.

"And how would you suggest doing that, other than what we've already suggested?" My king points out, but it doesn't seem to faze Rias.

"Well, why can't I just approach him directly, explain the situation, and then go from there?" She offers.

"Why should you be the one to approach him?" My king demands. "You do owe me, after all."

"Sona, you know why I need to recruit people…" Rias attempts to explain. At my king's unimpressed gaze however, she continues, "I'll owe you an extra favor, but please, let me have first crack at Hyoudou, please", She begs.

"Fine." Sona relents, "In exchange for a favor, you may have 'first crack' as you say, at Hyoudou san." At Rias's sigh of relief, though, she continues, "Don't expect me to go easy on you if you don't get him on the first round though."

'Of course, Sona, what would be the fun if you didn't weasel every advantage out of every situation?" Rias groans.

"Nowhere, that's where." My king responds primly. "It's a deal then?"

"It's a deal, with all that entails, for me and my future", Rias grumbles.

After a brief pause in the conversation, where it looks like the meeting might be over altogether, I remember a few rather important details that still need to be worked out. "Ah, Gremory – San", I begin, "On the off chance that Hyoudou is indeed a spy… what will you do then?" I query.

"Well, in that case, it would be my duty as co-owner of Kuoh to report that to Sona, Momo-Chan", she responds. Looks like Sona approves of that response.

"And if he turns out to not have a sacred gear? What will you do then?", I ponder.

"Well in that case, after giving Sona her fair shake of course, I think it would be best to hypnotize the poor boy and let him forget about ever summoning Koneko-Chan in the first place", She concludes.

My king apparently agrees, stating "I'll be sure to scout him out myself, yes, but if I don't see any potential either, yes, I think it would be best to just let a non-entity forget. It would be a cruel fate to drag someone unprepared into our side of the world after all, assuming he is unprepared, of course."

The supernatural is indeed cruel to those who are unprepared, and I can't help but find myself agreeing that the best thing for Hyoudou San would be to stay far, far away as he possibly can.

O-Issei-O

'Dammit, why do I have to shoot myself in the foot, every time what I want is right in front of me?'

Am I moping in one of the parks that dot Kuoh, mourning my handling yesterday's ill-fated confession from Momo? Yes, I am at least man enough to admit that that is exactly what I'm doing. Seriously though, why the fuck did I do that? I literally have nothing going on, so I do have time… it's just…

I've never even had any friends… I don't know how to maintain healthy relationships, even when they aren't romantically driven. Add in that component, and I'd have absolutely no idea what I'm doing.

On top of that too, I've never so much as spoken to Momo in my life, until yesterday at least. Now, I'm clearly not an expert on the subject, but… it really doesn't feel right to start dating without knowing each other first…

'This might have been my only chance to find love…'

And there it is. The thought that's been haunting me ever since yesterday. I may never be in a scenario to have a significant relationship ever again. It was absolutely shocking that Momo wanted to talk to me in the first place, but what she wanted had never even crossed my mind as a possibility. It's entirely possible that no one else will ever try, and I certainly don't see myself approaching anyone any time soon.

I know it's not healthy to be so alone all the time… but it's all I know. My whole life it's been… me. Me and everyone else, everyone else, apart from me. I'm not sure I can ever really reintegrate into a social life this far into my… life life…

'Ok, that was lame, but ha… I'm going to die alone… maybe I should have taken up Momo on her offer…'

Of course I should have. It's what any sane person in my position would have done. I mean, she's an objectively attractive young woman with what, from our superficial interaction yesterday, appears to be a lovely personality. 'But I'm not fully sane, am I?'

They do say that solitary confinement does a number on the psyche… and I've basically been in self-imposed solitary confinement for the last seventeen years… lovely.

As I get up from my seat on one of the park benches, I decide to take another walk around the park, to try to help clear my head. I find it helps, at least a little, taking in the scenery.

Ambling about, I note the pleasantly arranged trees and flower beds. Someone really did do a good job when planning this place. It's amazing to think that, given the apparent age of some of these trees, I'm enjoying something that was probably built well before I was ever born. One of the flower beds, stocked with purple flowers, chrysanthemums I believe, are quite nice.

'Would it have been worth taking the plunge?' I wonder to myself. On one hand, the chance of finding someone to actually care about, to care for. Honestly, I think that's all I really want right now. I've long moved past the point of ever expecting anyone to care about me or to love me, except my parents of course, but there's still something inside me that really wants to care about someone. I honestly don't know whether or not whatever that part is would be satisfied with a platonic relationship, but something tells me that wouldn't be enough.

So… fulfill what is probably a base evolutionary urge and start a very long process of healing the results of whatever it is I've done to myself, or not.

Again, really it would take someone who's insane to take the second option. But… is it fair to anyone else… Yeah. That's right. Nothing good would have come of it anyway. I wasn't joking when I told Momo that she deserved better than me, even if it wasn't in the way she thought I meant.

There's no way things would have ended well between us, so I was just cutting things off before they could go bad. Yeah, that's what happened. Turning her down was the right thing to do. Turning her down was the right thing to do…

As I continue pacing around, ruminating, and justifying my actions to myself, the suns starting to set. I've been here awhile. My wandering eventually takes me to the center of the park where there's a nice fountain, another thing that the designers got spot on with this place. Water works always were impressive to me.

"Where the hell is this Issei bitch!?" Someone growls, it sounds like it's coming from behind some of the trees.

'Huh?'

"I knew this guy was going to be hard to find, but I swear, it's like he's a god oww dammit it's like he's a fucking ghost."

Huh… that's… nice. Let's avoid the crazy lady in the trees. There's no way she's looking for me. That wouldn't happen twice in two days after seventeen years of nothing right?, right? I thought for a second she might have been looking for me, my name is Issei after all. 'Ooh, it's getting chilly'. I remark to myself at the shiver that runs down my spine. I could also swear I just heard someone groaning – Schlick.

"Huh, well that's new." I remark before collapsing to the ground.

'I am quite certain that I did not have a three-inch hole in my chest a minute ago.'

I see a flash of light from beyond the trees in front of me, and hear a sharp crack as well. 'Huh, blood loss must already be getting to me.' Well… this is a thing that's happening. There is a hole where several of my vital organs should be… 'I am going to die'.

That thought really doesn't terrify me as much as I'm pretty sure it should. 'I mean, really, what do I really have to live for anyway?' As memories start to flit by in my consciousness, 'huh the whole life flashing before your eyes really does happen…' I don't really find any real reasons to go on. From my childhood until the present, I've just sort of… been there. I've lived, but I haven't really done, well, anything. 'Maye it wouldn't be so bad, getting off the ride a bit early…'

As my memories finally catch up to the last few days, 'at least I was nice enough to arrange them in chronological order. How considerate of me…' I get one last chance to consider my final blunders. Momo yesterday and… me summoning Koneko and bungling that situation even worse than even yesterday's fiasco… the contract that's still in my pants pocket…

'If there's one thing I wish I could do it's clear things up with Koneko… Oh well, guess she'll always think I'm a pervert…'

As I fade out, I miss the slight heating of the folded paper in my pants pocket.

O-Koneko-O

I'm sitting in a comfortable silence in the club room, getting ahead a bit on my schoolwork and munching on some of the cake that Akeno-Senpai made for today. She's in here too, also hard at work at her studies. She has appearances to keep after all.

Not that she'd need to do well academically to have everyone drooling over her stupid breasts – It wouldn't do to embarrass Buchou with anything less than academic excellence, now would it.

Looking out the window, the sun is beginning to set, coloring the world a beautiful shade of amber. Although Akeno and I, along with the rest of the captors- family would normally be out training at this time, Saturday is our day off. Even when you have a supernaturally strong body, overworking it can still do serious harm. Now, we do significantly more strenuous training more often than any mundane human could safely do, don't get me wrong, but there are still limits, even for us.

Going back to my assignments, I sigh at the English work in front of me. 'Baka English.' I think to myself. 'What kind of demon language is this?' Multiple pronunciations of the same combinations of characters without indication? Non-Syllabic characters? Multiple root languages? 'If I didn't know better, I'd think this was some form of divine punishment on us all for having the audacity of wanting to communicate…'

I do possess the innate devil gift of Language, but that only allows me to pass at having a mastery of spoken English. 'No help with the written side of things', I lament.

Going back for another slice of cake, I'm suddenly interrupted by the tugging sensation of a summoning. 'Huh, bit early for that' I ponder to myself. 'No matter, no reason to put it off.' The signature is not one that I recognize, and it seems to be a fair bit weaker than usual… almost the bare minimum amount that could activate the contract in the first place now that I inspect it… 'Hmph. Probably just an extra weak human. Not everyone can be Vasco Strada after all', I shiver at the thought of the peak of human power. Vasco truly is a terrifying existence.

"Where are you off to?" Akeno-Senpai demands- politely enquires as I get up to answer the summoning.

"Contract", I respond succinctly.

"Well, have fun", my senior responds in approval. At that I conjure the magic circle that will take me to my summoner, and step through…

And almost immediately wretch at the smell of blood that instantly assaults my senses. Having an enhanced sense of smell might seem like a good thing from an observer's perspective, but it certainly doesn't feel like one when it can overwhelm my ability to process other events with what to someone else would be a mildly pungent odor.

'Please don't be a whack job…' I think to myself as my thoughts begin to clear after the initial shock, 'They're almost as bad as the perverts.' Seriously, the number of people who try to take the occult blood ritual route when summoning me is too damn high. Admittedly… that number is two across all my years doing contracts, but that is still two too many.

Well, if this is a cultist, there are ways of dealing with that…

As I finally get my bearings, the previous thoughts racing through my head in about a second, I realize that it probably isn't a cultist, that or a very stupid one. They'd have to be to try a blood ritual outside in what appears to be a public park while it is still this bright out…

And then I finally see the body lying on the ground. There's no one else around here, so this is probably my summoner. Rushing over to what appears to be a Kuoh student lying prone on his face, I flip him over.

It's him, it's Hyoudou Issei, who I suddenly remember– have never not known about – being summoned by a few days ago.

'Buchou is interested in Hyoudou-San… and he's bleeding out in front of me.' I analyze the situation objectively.

Buchou is going to be angry you didn't get to him in time.

Rushing into action to scoop up the pervert, I cradle him in my arms, even if it does mean that I'm getting covered in his blood. Speed will be key here. He's still breathing, somehow, he's missing one of his lungs, but it's very weak. Something serious needs to happen soon if he's going to make it. Conjuring up my magic circle back to the ORC, I immediately step through and deposit the dying teen on the couch in front of me.

"What the hell!?" Akeno immediately springs into action, at my sudden entrance, my quick reappearance, and the smell of blood she too can easily detect, even without senses as enhanced as my own. "Koneko, are you alright?" She frantically questions me, looking me over, ignoring the what is likely quickly becoming a body rather than a boy behind me.

"Fine", I reassure her. "I brought the pervert Buchou was looking for", I inform my senior, pointing at the bleeding sack of flesh behind me, which finally seems to draw her attention. "You should probably get her to help." I offer sincerely.

Gasping, Akeno springs up and dashes for the door, racing to fetch our king. Why she felt the need to slam her palm into her forehead while doing so will be forever beyond me.

I'll probably be here a while and I don't know any first aid to help the now thoroughly unconscious pervert bloodying up my seat… so I may as well finish my cake. I have a feeling this'll be the last chance I get at it for a while.

O-AN-O

Well, that's a bit longer than usual. I'm a member of a Discord server centered around Fanfiction; writing, reading, doesn't really matter. The point is, one of the authors there, a-shifty-sword on FFN, (Whose Gamer of the Void you should absolutely go read, by the way) has a tendency to have his chapter balloon in word count quite significantly from what he originally expected them to be. As a community, we have named this delightful phenomenon the Shifty Effect, and let me tell you, the Shifty Effect hit me hard this time around.

Now, I always expected this chapter to be a bit long, given all the plot progression that's taken place. Issei turning down a date with Momo, Issei dying, getting picked up by Koneko, all important stuff that would have reasonably made this the longest chapter thus far. Certainly, wasn't planning to nearly eclipse the rest of the word count of the other three chapters combined though. Woops.

But yeah, a bunch of stuff happened this chapter. Issei's well… very very dead for the moment, let's put it that way. I'm sure you all know how I'll be fixing that specific issue next chapter.

O-AN, Part 2, Electric boogaloo-O

-These Come in multiple parts now

So… I've come to what may seem to be rather… let's say obvious conclusions in the course of writing this chapter, but they have some serious implications, so it's pretty important that I address them here. What I'm thinking about mainly revolves around the fact that I'm writing:

What I hope to eventually turn out to be a romance between Issei and Koneko.

"Well duh, that' what you wrote in the tags", is what anyone with a shred of a brain is thinking right now. Yeah, yeah, hear me out. I have no idea how to write romance. I have never had anything even remotely approaching a romantic experience. Hell, I hardly have any experience with any sort of meaningful relationship. I did say that this Issei is based on me after all. So… that leaves me in the place of… guessing how relationships develop between people pretty much? Really, I'm just scared that I'm going to screw something up big time and look like an idiot.

In High School DxD

"Again, that's literally the universe you chose to write in, are you sure you're sane?"

"Of course, I am, it's totally normal to have conversations with myself in the AN"

But seriously though, DxD. I have seen about a minute and a half of the first episode of the Anime, and that is all the canon that I've been exposed to. Now, that specifically isn't a problem. I can draw enough of the backstory out of other Fanfics and come up with the rest myself… for now. I imagine that I'll have to end up subjecting myself to Canon at some point, but that won't be for a while yet.

The more serious problem here is the Fights. There is no getting out of writing fights if you write in Dxd… and I have even less experience in that regard than I do relationships, and In case I haven't made it abundantly clear by this point, I have no relationship experience, at all.

Of course, this isn't an excuse to abandon this Fic or anything, mostly just me venting about the fact that I have no idea what I'm doing regarding what will have to be massive elements of this fic.

I hope you'll be patient with me as I work my way through these challenges.

Anyway, thank you for the Follows, Favorites, and most of all the reviews. They really are what keep me writing. I'll see you all next time,

-PDes