Akeno observed with trepidation as her big brother, her granduncle and the other mountain ascetics, disappeared into the depth of the forest.

She couldn't help but be worried.

'Onii-Sama is a member of the church.'

She didn't know if he heard about her being a fallen angel. But even if he didn't hear it, she was sure that her uncle wouldn't hesitate to tell him.

'What will he do?'

She was scared. She didn't know what she would do if she saw disgust in his eyes. After all the Fallen Angels were traitors of the worst kind in the mind of those from the church.

"You will be fine now."

A sweet voice brought her back from her musing. She turned to face the scarlet haired girl who had the same age as her.

"My name is Rias. Rias Gremory. What about you?"

Akeno looked at this bright smile before answering,

"Akeno. Akeno Himejima."

Rias nodded with before staring at her head,

"You sure have beautiful black hair. I always admired the black hair of the Japanese people."

!

'Why is it? Her words are making me feel happier.

Is it perhaps because she is calling me "Japanese"? Or is it because she praised my black hair?'

She didn't know. But she knew at least that this girl might have been a devil. But she was in no way evil. In the first place,

'Wasn't I also judged solely because of my race?'

"Thank you. Could I ask,Why do you want to save me?"

Rias tilted her head in wonder at this question. Before answering,

"Do I need a reason to help people who are in danger?"

---

While Akeno and Rias were bonding, the atmosphere of the other group was tense to say the least. At least, Agrippa and Suou were tense.

Azrael on the other hand had a weird feeling when watching this scene.

A human, a devil and a angel discussing.

This scene nearly brought tears to his eyes.

'If only the humans present weren't such pieces of shit. This scene would be truly perfect.'

He couldn't help but sigh at this situation. To think that even a devil would be a more respectable fellow than a human who should have been working for the protection of the world.

"Azrael-dono, Suou-dono, I will once again present myself. I am Agrippa of the Gremory house. I represent my master as well as the young lady in this discussion."

Azrael nodded before continuing,

"It seems like your little miss is interested in making Akeno a devil. I am right?"

Agrippa was a little surprised at this but didn't show it as he asked without declining those words.

"What make you say so?"

"Since you didn't deny, I guess I am right. Anyway, this isn't hard to understand. This girl, Rias, seems genuine. So I guess she only wanted to save her. But how could the leader of Gremory intervene without benefits? From a cynical view point, I would say that, Akeno is without a doubt a very talented young girl. Even more since she inherited the power of Holy Lightning from her father Barakiel. Getting such a talent as a chess piece for his daughter would be perfect."

"So you knew."

The expression of everyone's changed. As Akeno thought, Suou initially wanted to inform Azrael about Akeno identity in order to make him give up.

What he didn't know was that, in his house, he already had a mature half Fallen angel and a young half devil. Why would he be bothered by another half Fallen?

Azrael sneered, he could guess what kind of plan Suou must have had. Yesterday, when Rias came to search for Akeno, Evermillion sent him back the words she said. Hearing this, he didn't hesitate and called Azazel to get the information.

He spoke while looking at the stars,

"Akeno Himejima, daughter of a cadre of Grigori. Barakiel and a member of the shinto clan Shuri Himejima. Heh, I came to Japan because of a tragic love story full of betrayal and only a few months later, I am witnessing another one… This world is really full of tragedy."

He felt really sad. 'Why does good people always have to suffer?'

'Ah… Sometimes I think that everyone should just die.'

Like right now. If he simply loosened the seal. If he simply waved his hands they would all be reduced to dust. How easy it would be. How beautiful it would be.

'*Sigh* I need to call Gabriel later. The symptoms are coming back.'

When he came back to his senses, he saw that everyone else were away from him in a defensive pose and a wary expression.

'Did I let out my killing intent leak?'

He let out a bright smile as he said,

"I am sorry. I was just thinking about something bothersome."