11 Unexpected Rival

Seated on the tatami mat floor in front of Balor and across from the Grigori leaders was not one, but all three of the Satans that he had tried to lure out. He couldn't believe how easy it had been, but what really surprised him was that the leaders had greeted each other amicably and their postures were relaxed. He knew they weren't very hostile with each other, but he thought there would have been at least some sparks at the unexpected meeting. It was impossible tell they were in a cold war from the way they acted.

Looking at the devils, Balor thought that being attractive and having blue must be common traits of their nobility since they all possessed both. Among them, the crimson haired Sirzechs Lucifer in his customary gold pauldrons and blue cloak was particularly eye catching while Ajuka Beelzebub with his swept back green hair and Serafall Leviathan with her black twin-tails were not far behind.

"I am Yasaka leader of the Youkai and this is my husband Balor. I apologize for bringing you to such a hasty meeting but there are some matters require serious attention. Not the least of which is a potential peace between the three factions."

Balor bowed deeply with a quite laugh at the remark. It was cute that Yasaka was trying to compete with Valerie in such a serious meeting. Apparently, Azazel thought the same because he did a double take before letting out a guffaw that earned him a glare from her.

"There is no need for an apology, I don't mind," said Sirzechs with a raised eyebrow. "I have wanted peace for some time, but our three faction have never been able to settle their differences. Discussions towards that goal would be more than welcome. It will be difficult to get heaven to agree with god of the bible-"

"They already know about the death of god." Azazel interjected with his head propped in his hand.

Seeing the only change in the devil's side was a small frown on Sirzechs's face, a far cry from the earlier killing intent, Balor let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. First Yasaka and now Azazel! Didn't these people with a twisted sense of humor know how to break important news more gently?

"That would explain the message and why there are multiple anti communication barriers outside," Serafall said while still maintaining her carefree smile, "but no matter how you think about it, wasn't it too bold to reveal such a secret Az-zaz-zel?"

"But it would not justify the message to me." Ajuka said with a shake of his head. "Having the leader of the Grigori feed them information could explain the message to Sirzechs and your show being in production is common knowledge, but the brave saint's system is an idea only I knew of."

With a laugh, Azazel jerked his head over towards Balor and said, "I didn't need to reveal anything. The boy over there claims to have seen a future in which all three factions make peace."

With that statement, Balor suddenly became the center of attention and he didn't like being unsettled by the gaze Ajuka was giving him. One or two people was alright, but when it got to a bigger group his inner hermit quailed at the thought of public speaking. Add in the fact that every other person in this room, besides maybe Valerie, could kill him with a thought and suddenly he was sweating. His prior confidence was a lie and the darkness coming forth was proof of it.

Nudged by Yasaka, Balor took a deep breath and said, "God's death was just one of the things I learned when I saw, or should I say read about, through the eyes of the Red Dragon Emperor. Although it may be presumptuous, I would like to ask for your help in changing this story."

After Balor finished telling them about his reincarnation, his shoulders relaxed, and he began talking animatedly about the things he thought were important. The death of Cleria Belial due to the king piece, the holy sword project, and the Naberius Family's super devil experiments that would endanger the nekomata sisters. After those topics he went over key plot points, such as The Khaos Brigade opposing the alliance, before he ended with the information on The Apocalyptic Beast Trihexa.

Once Balor finished, the conversation took off. It was mostly tentative decisions like preparing more countermeasures for the theft of Agreas or keeping a closer eye on Kokabiel. Two concrete things that came out it were that Baraqiel's family would move into Kyoto where the five noble families didn't have sway and that the nekomata sisters would, at Yasaka's insistence, be taken in by the Youkai if the Naberius house was really conducting forbidden experiments.

When the talks turned to more technical things like territory and appointment of people for minor disputes Balor's eyes wandered to the people who were taking no part in the conversation. Valerie was content to just sit at his side while Vali… Vali was between crying and whispering to himself ever since the fact that not only was his rival a big pervert, but that he would be labeled as the Butt Dragon Emperor by association. Being ostracized was something Balor could empathize with.

Moving over to the disconsolate boy, Balor said in a low tone so as not to disturb the others, "If you really find the red dragon so bad, I don't mind taking his place as your rival."

"Even though you have scales, you're not even a dragon." Vali said with a frown, "How could you possible take his place?"

"Well, aren't you the descendant of Lucifer?" When Vali nodded at the question Balor said, "It may be a poor substitute because I lack divinity, but I am the reincarnation of a god. Lucifer is always fighting God, but it doesn't have to be god of the bible, right?" At that comment Vali's eyes that had lost their light were practically on fire.

"That's right!" Vali shouted fervently drawing attention from the entire room. He must have noticed the silent gaze of everyone else because his face went red and he said, "My rival, you survived this time but next time I come back you will definitely be defeated!" just before he bolted out the door. Now it was Balor's turn to burn a hole in the ground as all eyes were again on him.

"You certainly have a way with children," Azazel said ruffling Balor's hair. "but, thanks. I wasn't sure how to handle that."

"It wasn't a problem," Balor said boring a hole in the ground with his eyes. "I just saw him looking depressed, so I tried to cheer him up."

"Balor." Ajuka said gaining Balor's attention, "You mentioned a lot of people, everyone in this room in fact, but you never mentioned yourself. What was your previous self-doing in the future?"

"My original self-" Balor took a second to organize his thoughts and continued abashedly, "Gasper Vladi, despite being the vampire equivalent of a super devil, had a relatively weak role until he achieved balance breaker. Using it, He and Rias even managed to go toe to toe with the god-devouring wolf Fenrir during a rating game, but it hardly mattered then. It was all after the battle to seal Trihexa."

"Rias's rating games? Why would you leave out the most important part?" Sirzechs said with conviction. Seeing the man's possessed look, Balor obviously couldn't say, 'because it wasn't relevant to the plot.'

"Because I was saving the best for last? Your sister becomes one of the strongest new devils to participate in the rating games," Balor said and then added with a crooked grin, "Her breasts even become instant win buttons for the Boob Dragon Emperor which earned her the title 'Switch Princess'."

"No!" Sirzechs said with a pale face. "That's even worse than that snot nosed brat from the Phenex Clan. I won't allow it! My pure precious Rias can't be sullied by such a pervert!" It was such a vehement reaction that Balor began laughing as well. Was this really the man who suggested using the boosted gear on Rias's breasts?

"Serves you right Sirzechs!" Serafall said with a cackle. She then crawled forward ignoring the mentally damaged Lucifer and invaded Balor's personal space. "What about my Sona? She must be way better than his win button sister."

"Your sister will become one of the strongest rookies as well, but she doesn't earn such an embarrassing name. Most of her efforts will be put into building a rating game school for low-class devils." Balor said trying not to snicker. Sona Sitri was even less relevant to the serious events than Gasper was.

With a 'See' from Serafall, a shouting match over who had the most adorable sister ensued while they pressured Balor to tell them more. At the beginning, he had humored their questions, but now he couldn't even get an answer out before the other replied and asked him another question.

Balor was grinding his teeth, moments away from biting someone, when the sound of the sliding door opening drew the pair attention away to what would be his savior. A grey-haired woman in a French maid uniform, stepped into the room. Her eyes widened briefly at the sight of fallen angels before she settled a glower on the fighting leaders.

"I am a servant of the Gremory Clan and Sirzechs Lucifer's Queen, Grayfia Lucifuge, please pardon my intrusion," Grayfia said as she bowed her head. "I have come here to pick up my master and apologize for any trouble he may have caused you."

"It was no trouble, I enjoyed their antics," Yasaka said returning the bow with a smile.

"Wait Grayfia," Sirzechs bemoaned. "We only talked about peace and haven't even talked about Rias coming to study in Japan!"

"Master Sirzechs, there is still a lot of unfinished work back at your office," Grayfia said harshly when she moved over next to Sirzechs. She called herself a maid but, the way the man wilted showed everyone otherwise.

"I will send a servant to tell you when we have a date set for the meeting with heaven. Next time we see each other, we definitely have to talk more about Rias." Sirzechs said hurriedly with a goofy smile. Bowing again once again, Grayfia made a magic circle appear and left the room in a flash of light. Seeing the ease with which she used magic something clicked in Balor's mind and he gazed at the creator of the evil piece system. Devil magic.

"That shouldn't have been possible." Yasaka muttered darkly from beside Balor. "Extra shields were placed earlier to prevent an attack."

"I am afraid that's my fault," Ajuka said contritely while bowing his head. "Seeing the shields would prevent escape, I altered them as a precaution in case that this meeting ended up as a trap. Not very many people can see the future or read my mind. Every single one I know of is a powerful individual that i would not want to be caught unaware by." Yasaka's face changed a bunch of times at the comment before she settled on a wry grin.

"To be able to change a barrier I personally made without my knowledge, the Kankara Formula is quite terrifying."

"It only feels normal to me," Ajuka said with a mysterious smirk as he stood up. "Now that my curiosity is sated, and all the talks are concluded I shall take my leave."

Realizing man was about to leave, Balor said, "Ajuka Beelzebub, Is there a way for me to obtain a set of evil pieces without becoming a member of someone's peerage?"

"Evil pieces? Can't you make your own sort of peerage if you wanted?"

"Honestly, I just really want to use devil magic, but don't want to put myself under someone else's rule to get it. Not having to learn to speak any more languages would also be wonderful."

"An evil piece set will only work when owned by a devil, but it might be interesting," Ajuka said with his eyebrows furrowed, "Let me think on it. I will have an answer for you by the time we meet with Michael." With his departure a chain reaction started.

"If you need to contact the devil's I will be in the Sirzechs Hotel," Serafall said cheerfully as she followed Ajuka.

"Thank you again Yasaka-sama for the hospitality," Baraqiel said. He then turned to Balor and bowed deeply. "I am in your debt. If I can help you and it will not harm the Grigori or my family, please don't hesitate to call on me."

"Don't worry about it," Balor said. "I am sure that once I become a father, I would want someone to do the same thing."

With another bow Baraqiel said, "I will be sure to pass on your desire to marry our daughter to my wife." The comment caused Balor's jaw to drop, but before he could retort the man left.

"He is joking right?" Balor said turning to Azazel. "I mean he can't honestly be considering marrying his daughter to a person almost thirty years older than her, can he?"

Azazel stroked his goatee and said, "I don't think he would make such a joke. Besides the fact that you're barely more than a child yourself, can you really be complaining when one of your wives is about her age?"

Balor could feel a painful gaze on his back when Azazel left. He should have kept his big mouth closed. Well, even if they did end up really considering it, Akeno was a nice girl most of the time so it shouldn't be so bad. Turning to face the music he was greeted to a pouting Valerie. Maybe he could get a gift to cheer her up?

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Side Story: Marius

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Sunlight shone through the window bringing with it the uncomfortable feeling of pain for the first time in Marius' memory. The screams in the courtyard had all but ceased now as his father's brutal death sentence came to an end. Although nobles were far harder to kill than the common rabble, daily exposure to sunlight and being deprived of blood had taken its toll on the once proud man. He could almost feel sorry for the victim of his uncle's surprisingly successful ploy, if he hadn't been the one to suggest it.

Taking a sip of warm blood from his glass while being careful not to stain his lace, Marius turned back to the gathering. His uncle had brought them there now to discuss the plans to overthrow his father. It all felt so inconsequential. They squabbled over a tiny city and rulership of vampire kind when deep down they knew that their weaknesses would prevent them from ever leaving this mountain. The pathetic cattle held control of the world when it should rightfully be theirs and they could do little about it.

"This is the opportunity we have been waiting for. Now that the king's biggest supporter lies dead, we can rally the noble that will no longer have faith in him. Once I claim the throne, we can finally rid our world of the stains that mar it." Adrian Tepes said to the crowd. His uncle certainly knew how to say what the nobles wanted to hear. Death to Carmilla, death to the humans, and death to the half-bloods. The man didn't mean a word of it.

Marius couldn't help but smirk as he watched the charade. His uncle was practically frothing at the mouth at the thought of his father's death and made any promise the people wanted to hear to accomplish it. The crowd probably knew the falsehood but ignored it. The crime against the man was hard to forget when the result stared them in the face after all.

As the conversation went on, Marius's pondered about the bedraggled pair in the corner. His annoying wretch of a cousin and the new Lord Vladi stood there with their blonde heads together whispering. The prior was between fits of rage and terror from, of all things, a half-breed while the later had an axe to grind for the death of his father. Both reasons were equally pointless. The concept of family and half-breeds were worth less than dirt.

"Marius," Adrian said drawing Marius's thoughts away from the insignificant pair. "Born of the Tepes line, you share our ideals and unlike your coward of a father, you are not afraid to act on them. We will need you to lead us into a new age."

"Let's bring forth a new and everlasting night!" Marius said with a crooked grin as he raised his glass in a toast. One by one the surrounding nobles cheered and despite the pointlessness of it, leading the sheep in a war sounded like a fun way of breaking up the monotony. Maybe he could even let his cousin accidentally die.

As if cued by the thought, the new Lord Vladi said, "Are we just going to let the half breed get away with killing nobles? What of our honor? Will we tell all the commoners that it is acceptable to kill nobles as long as they can run away?" Marius felt a headache coming as many of the nobles murmured their assent. On the eve of a rebellion and they were worried about a piece that had served its purpose and left the board.

"We cannot spare the people on pointless hunts-" Lord Vladi made to disagree as Marius brought down the stick, "Unless you want to disobey your future king?" The little lord, barely more than a boy, shrank back at the cruel sneer he used to issue the threat. This power is something he could get used too.

Hearing the growing murmurs of discontent from within the crowd he brought forth the carrot. "The church has made quite the living from killing our kind. If they were somehow informed of a rogue vampire, wouldn't they solve the problem for us?" Everyone except Lord Vladi and his cousin began voicing their agreement. Well, even if those two tried to oppose him, they would just suffer the same fate as the man in the courtyard.