Chapter 89-Fanning The Flames

Disclaimer: I don't own Highschool DxD.

-Fanning the Flames

"... You're already doing great, it seems," Joshua commented, looking over the circle that had been modified by one of his students. More specifically, the woman that had only recently joined his class. From what he was gathering by looking at the original thing on another piece of paper, she'd done a relatively good job.

That was mostly how he dealt with it when it came to branches he didn't practice or even have experience with. He'd look at the original, with a simple explanation from the student as to what it was supposed to do and then compare it with the modified one and the changes made. From the experiments his class and Joshua had gone through, he was good enough at reading information from circles to know if it was done alright or not.

He couldn't really learn magic like that, nor could he understand the entirety of the circles, but he could get a good enough read of it to know if a modification was done well. It was a matter of watching the flow of the circle's composition and see if the changes made kept it or not. Explaining how his check ups worked was difficult even for him to do to himself, really, so it was fortunate that nobody ever really asked him to do so to them.

"Thank you, Professor Davis," the woman said, smiling slightly as she bowed to him. He'd have waved her off, but he'd learned already that it was a lost cause with any and all students he might have had. Even with his star students as some called them, he'd had little success at doing without the formalities.

"You've been taught well, it seems, and not just by me," Joshua commented, giving the circle another passing glance. Somehow, those words seemed to take the woman off guard. "Can I ask who helped the most?"

"Well, Meredith, Karin and George were great, truly," she answered, which was more or less expected. They were his best students and, more importantly, they had good personalities too. "However, I'd have to say that Levi has been the one to help the most."

His confusion must have shown there, because the woman took on a more uncomfortable look. Her eyes darted to the side for a bit, which he followed. None of the people there were anyone that had ever made him think they might be better than average at spell modification, really.

"Levi isn't… the best at magic, in general," the woman told him then, bringing his attention back to her. "He's good with theory, however, and that's what I needed. He had very good notes on all your classes and they and his explanations helped a lot."

"Is that so?" he mumbled, blinking as he processed that new information. "Can you point him out to me?" he asked, to which the woman smiled wrily.

"The one with a small mountain of books and notes with him," she answered, making him look away again. Many students had books and such with them, but there was, indeed, one that had a considerably bigger ammount of them with him. As Joshua looked at him, he wondered if that was how he looked to other people while he worked on his things.

"That's good to know," he mumbled, resolving to keep an eye on the guy. If he could help a student get better this fast, then surely there was something going on there, right? Joshua was definitely curious after hearing that. "For now though," he said, turning to give the woman all his attention once more. "What's your name?" he asked, and if he had been paying closer attention, he might have noticed that the classroom went just the smallest bit more silent after that.

As it was, he was more focused on this student that seemingly had caught up with the rest of his class with only a fraction of the time spent in the class.

"Dion Fortune, Professor Davis," the woman answered, her back straightening a little bit, to which he nodded.

"Well, Miss Fortune," he said, barely keeping a grin from forming on his face. That was certainly a name to have, he supposed. "I hope you continue doing well in my class. If you've made it this far so quickly, I'll be expecting good things from you."

"And I'll strive to meet those expectations, Professor Davis," she replied instantly, sitting even straighter than before, if that was possible. It was a bit amusing to see, if Joshua was honest, but for the moment, he had other things to worry about. Like the presence outside of his classroom.

From where she rested on top of his desk, Cheshire meowed, making the classroom go completely silent. Every student turned to look between him and his familiar. He didn't say anything for a long moment though, before sighing and running a hand through his hair.

"Everyone," he started, his shoulders dropping a little. "We are taking a break. Leave the classroom and follow the House of Water members to wherever you can spend some time without bothering the association, ok? I trust nobody will do anything stupid…" he told them, trailing off at the end while he let his eyes drift over the classroom. Noticing that they were appropriately cowed, he nodded. "If you have stuff to do, feel free to leave. If not, Cheshire will look for you once the class is about to start again, ok?"

"Yes, Professor Davis," the students chorused and started making their way outside the room. Once the place was empty, Joshua looked at his familiar, who gave him a meow. Reading through the feelings he got from their bond, he sighed.

"You didn't need to empty your classroom for little old me, Professor Davis," someone said from the door.

"Elizabeth," he greeted, giving the woman his full attention. "I've been waiting for you, actually."

[}-o-{]

[Elizabeth Báthory]

She smiled wryly at the man.

After having to re-evaluate the man several times, it seemed that she was still far from understanding him. That last statement certainly seemed to prove that, if nothing else. Because what could the man possibly want from her?

"Is that so? Now, that's a surprise," she replied as calmly as she could. There were wards set up around the classroom that were nothing like those around that one base of House of Water. No, those were Davis's and it showed. "What could I possibly do for you, Professor Davis?"

"Hm, there's time to go over that," the man said absently as he leaned against one of the desks in the room and looked at her. His face showed little, but Elizabeth could pick up curiosity and interest, but she couldn't begin to guess what for. "For now, there's a reason you came to this classroom back then and that likely hasn't changed since then until now… I want to know, what could you possibly want from me? Because let me tell you, if you want to hire me for wards, there is no need for so much beating around the bush."

"If only it were so simple, Professor Davis, if only," she replied, wondering how to best play her cards at the moment. She didn't want to ruin her chances of success, but the man seemed intent on pushing her to make a play already. "No, what I want is something else. I never told you who I am, did I? Agnes might, however, I imagine."

"She didn't," Davis told her, tilting his head. "I never asked and we didn't talk much about you, in all honesty."

"That's… surprising," she admitted, because it truly was. She'd had expected the Director to have thrown her to the wolves long ago, especially in regards to Davis. Or, at the very least, have told the man something to keep him away from her. "I am Elizabeth Báthory."

"Hm, I see," he replied, looking unsurprised. Something must have shown on her face at that, because he continued speaking then, explaining. "I've realized that names matter a lot in the supernatural. Sometimes, they don't, but more often than not, if someone's remarkable then… Their names tend to be important. So, I looked into your name, even if I only had the first one to go off of."

"Indeed," Elizabeth said, internally pleased by the acknowledgement that she was, indeed, remarkable. "And do you know anything more about me and my… ancestors?"

"I know some things, not much good to find there, admittedly," the man answered, although his unconcerned tone gave Elizabeth hope that, maybe, he wouldn't turn away from her immediately. "There's very wrong things to feel from you, your life energy is twisted and so are your intentions," he added then, making her tense up. "However, I don't feel outright malicious intent from you, and my familiar is vouching for you, which means a lot."

The mention of the animal seemed to spur the creature into action. The cat, who had been on top of the teacher's desk, jumped off of it and transformed into a white tiger that walked calmly up to its master. There, the beast looked at Elizabeth with its amber eyes, as if trying to see into her very soul.

"I can't help but note that… you didn't answer my question, Báthory," Davis told her, giving her a look as if he couldn't decide if to be annoyed by that fact or not. "So, get on with it, before I let what I heard dictate how I view you."

"... Very well," Elizabeth said, taking a deep breath in. Maybe she'd looked down on Davis back when she'd first learned of him. However, she'd become a lot better informed as time went on. "A battle against death is what has defined my family, myself included. We've done just about everything we've been able to in order to stay in the world of the living as long as we can. No Bathory has managed to even lengthen their lives much, despite that being entirely possible. We think we might be cursed to failure, or maybe fate has decided that we shall strive for it and never succeed."

"And you think I can help you in this… endeavor?" Davis asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I think you might be able to help me obtain access to one of the methods my ancestors never managed to get their hands on, yes," Elizabeth answered, feeling dread starting to form in her. Before, she'd thought that it'd be easy. Now, she knew that obtaining something from Davis not only wouldn't be easy, but it was also a much bigger deal than she'd first guessed.

"And what would that be?" Elizabeth counted herself lucky that the man seemed to at least want to listen to her, at least want to give her a chance. That was more than she thought she would get, after having learned more about him.

"Senjutsu," she answered, to which he tilted his head.

"Okay," he replied after a moment, his face giving away absolutely nothing. It was frustrating and nerve wracking for Elizabeth to have to wait for a more… thorough answer, but she did her best to do so patiently and not express any of her concerns. "Yes, I think I can try to give you that. Ask some people, put a good word out there and all that," Davis said, as if it were no big deal. "However, I'd probably be more successful if you did some things, you know, earn yourself some goodwill."

Of course. She'd already known she wouldn't get anything for free. She was prepared for that, and she'd do a lot for what she was asking for. Now, it was only a matter if Davis wanted something possible to begin with.

"What did you have in mind, Professor Davis?" she asked.

"First of all, call me Joshua," he told her with a half-smile that didn't bode well for someone. Whoever it was that had earned Davis's attention, and not in the good way, was very much out of luck. Elizabeth could only hope none of… that was directed at her. "Second of all, well, I've asked Agnes for help with this, but maybe you are more… well connected to help with this."

Before, she'd been interested, very much so.

Now, Elizabeth was curious.

"I want information about Hexennacht."

[}-o-{]

[Joshua Davis]

"You have a lot of fun with these things, huh?" he asked, looking around at the garden that had become Asia's territory. If the girl wasn't in classes with him, learning English and Japanese or maybe some other things, then she was at the house tending to her plants. Joshua's knowledge of the original series was spotty at best, especially after so long and having witnessed many changes, but he was pretty sure the girl hadn't had such interests in canon… Although he might be wrong about that, as stated. "I guess I should be thankful for that, considering I stand to benefit from it."

"I do," the girl mumbled shyly, smiling bashfully as she continued working on her plants. He'd have offered to help her, but he was waiting for a meeting that he'd been told about and he really shouldn't go there while covered in dirt, he was pretty sure. A shame, just from looking at Asia doing her thing, it made him think it must be quite relaxing. "And I'm the one that should thank you for letting me do this."

"Asia, this literally costs me nothing. On top of that, you are helping me get ingredients for my hexes without as much trouble," Joshua told the girl, slightly disbelieving. "There's absolutely no reason for you to thank me at all."

"But, this is your house," the girl mumbled, resolutely not looking at him. "Besides, you are the one that allowed me to do this and the one that helped me set it all up and-"

"Asia…" he interrupted softly with a sad smile. "You are allowed to do whatever you want. You are staying here and I'm responsible for you, but you are not my prisoner or anything."

"... Whatever I want?" the girl asked him hesitantly and he noticed that she had actually stopped working. Asia was, at that moment, only faking to be doing so. "You mean that?"

"I mean, within reason, but I doubt you are even capable of asking anything bad or outrageous, even as a joke," he told her reassuringly, idly looking at the plants around them. "So, it seems you had something in mind. Care to share?"

"... I… I wanted to go to school, like a normal girl," she commented, as if she weren't a normal girl. Which she wasn't, but certainly not in the way that wording would imply, at least in Joshua's opinion. Joshua had to work to not show how much he hated her thinking going to school was for people more normal than her.

Turning slightly, he looked at Jeanne, with Morag hanging latching onto her back. The expression on his sister's face told him that she was of the same mind as him in this regard, much like how his familiar's feelings through the bond did. He also knew what he had to do too and hopefully it wouldn't be too hard.

"I'll see about getting you to a normal school," he decided easily, even if it likely wouldn't be that simple. "Your Japanese is coming along pretty well, so I think you can go somewhere close to here. On top of that… Well, I have some contacts I can talk to," he added with a slight grin as Jeanne snorted. "Before all that, I'll have to talk with the angels and the Church but… It should be fine, just leave it to me," he told her.

Things were a little complicated with the Civil War going on, but if they trusted him with Asia and all that… Well, surely they didn't expect him to keep her trapped inside his house and at Yasaka's place. During his next visit, he'd just have to talk about it with Griselda and when – if, but whatever – he got permission, then talk with Sona and Rias.

"Truly?" Asia asked, looking up at him as if he'd just told her that God himself was coming for a visit. "You would… do that for me?"

"... Of course," he replied, deciding against trying to reassure her that it was nothing. At least this time there'd actually be work from his part involved. 'Baby steps, right?' he mused before sighing as he felt a presence approaching the front door. "Well, I have to go. Don't overwork yourself again, okay, Asia?" he asked, making the girl blush in embarrassment.

"I won't," she mumbled.

"Keep an eye on her, yeah?" he told Jeanne as he moved back to the house.

"Sure."

"I said I wouldn't!" the nun protested from behind him.

[}-o-{]

[Raynare]

Azazel was throwing them under the bus.

It was… A bitter realization, but not an unexpected one. In the state things seemed to be in, both from what Raynare knew beforehand and what she'd learned after that fiasco of a mission, it was the smart choice to make. There was just no way a leader would risk even thinking about trying to save them.

It wasn't their fault, at least not in Raynare's and Mittelt's cases. Kalawarna could go die in a ditch, for all she cared. Unfortunately, there was no saving them. They'd been there, attacking a person of actual importance contrary to what they'd been told. They hadn't learned all that much besides that, but if the Satan Leviathan had left one thing clear it was that attacking Joshua Davis was a mistake.

Considering the man was sitting there, at the same table as Serafall, Yasaka, Gabriel and Azazel… Well, it was safe to say that, yes, the man was certainly important. On top of that, he'd been able to stop Kokabiel's attacks to boot, so… 'Who the fuck is this human?' Raynare had to wonder as she witnessed the talks going on around them.

She'd noticed long ago that the leaders weren't actually talking about them though. There'd been some token mentions, but the three of them were there as an excuse for the meeting. The four leaders were talking about Khaos Brigade and some other things, none of which had really anything to do with them… Except maybe Kalawarna but even then her traitorous fellow fallen angel wasn't really involved or had much to do with the conversation.

It had reached a point where the three of them were outright taken out of the conversation, with spells being used so they wouldn't hear. Raynare knew for sure, at that point, that they weren't even important enough to warrant such a meeting. They had just been a convenient reason to start the thing, maybe so that the less agreeable members of each faction wouldn't cause too much trouble.

"Joshua Davis," Mittelt said, her voice cutting through all other conversation going on inside the room, even when she'd spoken very softly, somewhere in between whispering and speaking. The woman seemed unconcerned by the looks she was given by the faction leaders around the table. Instead, she was staring straight into the human's eyes.

A human that had little to say in the meeting, it seemed, even though he seemed to be the cause of it all, really.

"Yes?" he replied, tilting his head and giving the blond fallen a curious look.

"You'll look for revenge," Mittelt said, a statement instead of a question. "I know you will."

"I will," the man admitted easily. "If I have any say in the matter, Khaos Brigade and Kokabiel will pay," the man told them, and Raynare almost couldn't believe her ears. Surely he didn't think that was the truth, right? Sure, he'd stopped an attack of Kokabiel's but that was still pretty far from actually enacting revenge on him.

"I see…" Mittelt said, visibly taking a deep breath in. "I want in."

Raynere blinked at that, feeling the weight of the silence that followed.

"She means that," Yasaka, the youkai leader, said then. As for the human that was benign addressed, he simply hummed something, as if he'd already known. "It's still a bad idea, Joshua."

"It is," he agreed, but then Raynare saw a shift in his eyes as he looked at Mittelt. "And yet… I might take her up on that, how crazy is that?"

"Very much so," Azazel commented, looking both amused and surprised. "And that's coming from me."

"Joshua, need I remind you that they tried to kill you and your family?" Satan Leviathan said, looking every bit as disbelieving as she sounded. It was fair, even if Raynare and Mittelt had already told them all they could, to make them realize that they'd only been following orders. "Why would you even consider taking her up on that?"

"I'm not considering taking her up on that," Davis said then, and Mittelt deflated. Fool, she should have realized that there was no way for her to have such an easy out. They were going to die, and Raynare's only source of relief was to know that Kokabiel, the bastard, was unlikely to survive whatever mess Khaos Brigade would cause. Not with people like the ones in the room with her coming after him… Human included, she supposed, but only reluctantly. "I'm considering taking them all in."

Raynare's eyes widened while Mittelt perked up. As for Kalawarna, her jaw fell wide open. The faction leaders around the table were not faring much better, in all honesty.

"Them a- All three of them?" Leviathan asked the man, as if he'd lost his mind. All things considered, that was a very fair concern. "Just… why?"

"Because they were betrayed and they want revenge," Davis said, grinning widely in a way that sent a cold shiver down Raynare's spine. There was something nasty cooking in the man's mind, and she could only hope none of it was directed at her. "I know they do, and I can give that to them. Hell, if I have a say in the matter, by the time I'm done with them, they'll be the ones to put an end to Kokabiel," the man added then, his smile widening even more.

She… She had to have heard that wrong, right? No way the man had said that. To have them defeat a Cadre… Yes, Davis had lost his mind after the attack for some reason, that was the only explanation.

"Wh-Joshua, one of them was an active member of Khaos Brigade," Leviathan argued.

"Yes," the human agreed, suddenly seeming to calm down slightly. That is, until his grin returned a second later. "I'm aware… She's the one that convinced me to do this, after all."

"... Joshua, an explanation would be nice," the youkai leader said, clearly understanding as much as everyone else save the human himself. Although, there was a very amused grin on Lord Azazel's face that wasn't reassuring Raynare much. "You aren't making much sense."

"Oh, don't worry. I'm not crazy or anything," Davis said, waving his hand at the faction leaders. His blue eyes, however, never moved away from Mittelt, Kalawarna and Raynare herself. It was growing more and more unnerving to be under that look. "Oh no, I'm perfectly fine," he added, chuckling to himself. "Tell me, you two, how would you like to be the ones to kick Kokabiel's ass?"

"... I'd love to," Raynare said, joining the conversation for the first time. "But that's never gonna happen," she added with a self-deprecating smile.

"That's what you think," Davis replied, waving off her words. "We'll see how things look like when I'm done with you two."

"And the third one?" Satan Leviathan asked, and there was a hint of trepidation there that took Raynare off guard.

"Oh, I'll need her more than anything. She's the important one in this idea," Davis answered and Raynare tensed up as killing intent washed over her and the other two lower level fallen. She saw Kalawarna's expression pale dramatically, which… 'Serves her right,' Raynare thought vindictively.

"Do tell," Lord Azazel urged.

"I have many ideas and it'll be nice to have her around," Davis said simply before speaking again. "I need a test subject for those ideas, after all."

[} Chapter End {]

(AN:Please remember that this story is not mine and will never be mine. Make sure to give thanks to the original author on fanfiction.net https://m.fanfiction.net/u/11459794/)