28 Kokabiel's intentions

"I see you've been doing well for yourself." Zieg casually commented as he was walking through some woods outside Kuoh.

"Indeed, these days have been... amusing? I believe that is the word for it." Slane nodded as the two continued down the path. They weren't in a rush, and were simply speaking casually.

"Heh I bet, I saw a recording of your fight against Riser. Metal Gear reference? Really?" He snorted in amusement.

"Well I just wanted to try it myself." The lizard man rubbed the back of his head a little embarrassed at being called out. "Miss Asia is also doing well for herself. She's adjusted well and the devils are indeed looking out for her."

"Good, I was worried on whether or not they could handle it." Zieg had let Slane stay around in order to keep watch. He wasn't sure if Diadora would try to grab her and ignore the two Heiresses. It's not that he didn't trust them to keep their word, he just wondered if they had the ability to do so.

"Boss, about the upcoming conflict..." Slane began hesitantly.

Zieg gave his a side glance. "You're worried about my position in the conflict with Kokabiel involved right?" to which he recieved a grim nod.

"Slane, what do you think of the devils that you've made friends with?" Instead of answering, he simply asked another question.

"Hm... It has been long since I have made bonds such as this." Slane admitted. "As you know, I am the last Dragon Knight of my kind. And the last bond I had made before you... well you know how that turned out." he gave a sigh that sounded more like a low growl.

"Then it's fine isn't it?" Zieg raised a brow.

"But boss, you..." Slane began to which Zieg shook his head.

"When I recruited you, I asked you to join me, not as a slave but an ally. While I am your boss, I will not control your actions. If you wish to make an enemy, then do it. If you wish to protect someone, then protect them. As your boss, I will adjust to the situation. As long as you stand by my side in the ultimate battle ahead. I will ask for nothing more." Zieg stated firmly. Regardless of the situation, he would work with it. That's just life, regardless of what comes, he would deal with it accordingly.

"Hm?" He stopped with confusion on his countenance, glancing back at where the bipedal lizard had stopped. "Why are you kneeling?" Zieg asked.

Slane knelt before him, the leaves continued to fall around his still form. "At the beginning I was not sure. To lower myself to another, with my pride was unthinkable. I acquiesed because you said that I would stand by your side. However we both know that one must always be above another, no matter how trivial."

"Not everyone sees life the same way. Isn't that just the way you see it?" He asked with a raised brow.

"Indeed it is. But it is why it matters to me. I Slane, recognize you as my better. I will follow you with no more doubts, regardless of what the future holds for us. My lord."

Zieg continued to stare at the kneeling winter dragon. "Suit yourself. But don't call me Lord. The last time I was called a lord, my subject met their end." He huffed out with a wry smile.

"Then I'll continue calling you boss!" Slane got back up, his back straighter and taller than ever.

"Well, like I said. If you want to protect them, then do it. Don't underestimate me, I'll adjust." Zieg smiled before continuing forward on the path.

"Understood." The winter dragon smiled before taking off back towards Kuoh.

"Now then, I think it's about time you reveal yourself." Zieg smirked at something unseen in front of him.

The path shimmered for a moment before a mansion revealed itself.

"It's about time." He muttered before making his way inside.

∞

"Tell me, what did you think of it?" Kokabiel asked, swirling the liquid in his glass out of boredom.

"Nothing that I haven't seen before." I responded casually, tasting the cocktail prepared for me. I don't recognize it, it's a bit fruity for my taste. But it isn't bad.

We were both seated on a wide balcony in the upper floors of the mansion. We haven't even looked at each other besides a single glance from when we both came into vision of the other. Instead we simply opted to stare at the night sky above.

"Really? In my lifetime, this is the only time such a phenomenon has presented itself." His eyes became sharp at my statement.

"Who said it was under the same sky?" I smirked.

"..Heh." He looked puzzled at my words for a moment until the answer dawned on him. Then he chuckled for a moment before descending into full blown laughter.

"Truly?" He asked after finally calming himself down.

"Why would I need to lie about that?"

"I don't know, the stars can no longer tell me." He spoke with a despondent smile.

"You're putting too much stock on the answers above, you need to ground yourself and see what's in front of you from time to time." I told him, arms spread wide. As if to announce that I am here.

"...Perhaps you are right." Kokabiel looked at the sky one last time, before turning his gaze to me for the first time since we had met.

"Well, you've indulged me enough. Tell me, what are you here for?" He finally asked.

I stared at him for a moment, gathering my thoughts. My words, any ounce of information I had available to me.

"You are Kokabiel, Angel of the Stars. You fell because of your love for humans. You fought to save the humans. Now you continue to do the same." I stated first before continuing. "In truth, others see you as a bloodthirsty warmonger. One that simply desires to prove his strength and believed that the Fallen would have won the war." He didn't respond, he's going to let me speak my piece until I'm done then. Perfect.

I looked him straight in the eye. "In truth, both are correct. To a degree." I matched my smirk with his own. "My instincts don't lie to me. You're like me, someone who loves fighting. Someone who does it instinctively. You crave power, or at least you once did. You learned that about yourself in the war."

I breathed out a self depreciating sigh. "In truth, we do not need a reason to fight. We crave power, and anyone who truly loves power. Loves to measure that power in battle. Whether we fight in order to gain more power or gain more power in order to fight, I'm not sure. I haven't figured it out yet." There is no other way forward, or back.

"However despite that. You still fell for humans." I brought it all back to that. His love for humanity.

"You could just kill the two devil Heiresses and be done with it. But instead you're making such a huge debacle of the situation. The church, the devils and the fallen. In order to reignite the war. But you know that the current fallen cannot win." His expression didn't change, the same smirk present.

"Which means you are hoping for mutual destruction." I concluded with finality.

Kokabiel didn't immediately respond. Simply opting to continue looking at me, as if judging me. After a moment of silence, he stood up and looked to the night sky again.

"Ever since the end of the war... Since the death of my father." He spoke solemnly and paused for a moment, turning down to look at the reflection of his drink. "I could no longer see the fate of humanity in the stars above."

"I have some insights to that." I stated. I have a good idea of what happened.

"I'm sure you do." He smiled. "Which is why you are so sure that I will join you." he said before turning back to me.

"You are right. I love humans. I love war. I love battle. I loved much." He stated, closing his eyes.

His eyes then snapped open and looked me directly into my own. "However, I am not hoping for mutual destruction."

"What?" I asked incredulously. All my facts should be correct. Did I miss something?

His 10 wings spread out as he slowly ascended to the night sky. The soothing light of the stars were blotted out as the sky became filled with thousands of fallen.

I gazed up at his red eyes, unsure of where I went wrong.

"Zieg Aversis. I can see that you are one of the brightest stars I have seen in humanity thus far. But for me to join under your banner, can you resolve yourself to stand for humanity itself? Is your will something that I can bring myself under?" Kokabiel's questions echoed in the night sky as he continued to look down at me.

"My brothers and sisters have followed me all this time. Those who survived the wars, those who thought like me. In the end, they would follow me to oblivion." He stated and I believed him. All these fallen looked like an intimidating legion. Ready to descend on any enemy bringing slaughter wherever they go.

"As one stargazer to another. If you can realize my intentions and bring your answer to me before it's too late. Then I will judge you with my own hands. Whether or not you are worthy, is up to you." His words reverberated through me as I watched him and his legion disappear off into the night sky.

It seems I have some thinking to do and the clock is ticking.

∞

Within the underworld at Zieg's territory.

Zieg continued to sit within his office. Looking at the underworld sky outside his window. He was thinking, going over every single detail about Kokabiel that he knew of. Everything that he could have missed.

The Kokabiel arc was definitely ongoing right now. Xenovia and Irina were in Kuoh according to Slane and Kiba had run off. He was running out of time.

"There you are." Zieg was broken from his thoughts at the sound of Emiya entering the office.

"You missed breakfast for the past week. Thinking on an empty stomach is unwise and as a friend of mine once said. Hunger is the enemy." Emiya stated, placing a tray of food on his desk.

"Thanks." Zieg sighed out, deciding to take a break and eat for once.

"You're welcome. Even the girl was asking on whether or not you were alright." He stated as Raynare had asked him about Zieg's wellbeing.

"Heh, I guess she's mellowed out." Zieg chuckled. Fallen generally couldn't find a 'balance'. Which often lead to them being mentally unstable at times. Raynare was a megalomaniac once, but now she was more calm these days.

"Hey Emiya, what do you think?" He asked the counter guardian for his opinion.

"About Kokabiel?" Emiya raised a brow at the question.

"Yeah."

"...Lost, tired, regret. That was pretty much all I got from first impressions." he shrugged. Not like he met him that long to know his life story.

"I understand that. Yet apparently I still can't figure out his true intentions." Zieg sighed. He knew all that already. That was what he felt from meeting him as well.

"Perhaps you need to think about it in another way. Put yourself in his shoes, and think." He suggested.

"In his shoes..." Zieg muttered for a moment.

"FUCK!" Zieg slammed the table, knocking over some of the food to Emiya's surprise.

"Oi, I'm not cleaning that up." Emiya deadpanned at him.

"I'll call Raynare to do it. BUT I FINALLY UNDERSTAND! IT WAS SO SIMPLE, I CAN'T BELIEVE I MISSED IT!" Zieg exclaimed.

"There's no time, we need to get to Kuoh!" Zieg declared, dragging Emiya off to the human world.

Shortly after, the door opened and Raynare walked in to see the empty room with the messy table. She stared at the knocked over food and drink for a moment before sighing out loud.

"...Really?" She sighed before leaving for some cleaning tools.