||Relife||

Chapter VII

"Do you believe in second chances?"

There are many ways of problem approaching, and there's no wrong or right way of doing it either. But for Lucifer, he had always relied on the four simplified steps he found most effective. Identify, understand, list solutions, and pick the solutions. When no solutions are found, ditch it and hope for the best. Maybe try praying to God.

Fortunately—maybe unfortunately for him—, the problem held his lovely crimson-haired Devil in captive as well as the appealingly lightweight Valkyrie. Lucifer will walk away from this fetching problem if pigs could fly (not counting genetically mutated pigs, of course).

So he treaded lightly—over the carpet, past the dumbstruck Valkyrie towards the upset Gremory. Only several hours without him and she's already crying. Poor girl.

"You look like you need some 'me'. C'mere Princess." Nonchalantly, he levitated the red fleece blanket off the bed and draped it around his shoulders, acting like a cape. A fuzzy red cape. And then Lucifer spread his arms, draping them and said blanket around her stiff shoulders, as he showed a sympathetic smile.

Huddled in his comforting hug and the warmth of her blanket, Rias was still too distressed to move. Too stiff to even return a hug. The Heiress simply stayed there, hands clenched and mouth shut, trying to stifle her sobs with no avail.

"Okay, what's the matter this time?" Lucifer's voice was soft and sincere. Who knew the voice of the First Satan would be so comforting?

Instead of answering, Rias toppled her face to his shirt. She hiccupped several times, trying to keep her tears in check. But her frustrations broke through the dam once again.

She begun to wept.

"Alright. There you go." His husky voice reverberated through her as he stroked the lush crimson hair, so smooth and silky. Lustrous, like her. Slowly, he rocked her side to side, attempting to ease her down with tiny humor.

"Mhmm. Just let it out. Leeeet it out."

Meanwhile, on the sideline, Rossweisse gawked. Her confusion was then replaced by the dawning realization of betrayal and hurt. She saw enough to make her conclusion. Even when drunk, she could see and tell that wasn't any ordinary interaction between a man and a girl. And the way he just casually planted his lips on her temple sealed the deal.

Jealousy boiled her blood and nearly sobered her that instant. "Was zur Hölle? Zee you ARE vith zem!" she blazed, startling only Lucifer as Rias was still busy with her tears. "Did you pring me here just to... to riticule mein- m-mein schtadus?! -hic- Are you making fun of me?! I neffer asked to pe zingle, alright?!"

"Ah, uh, can you please hold on a minute? My hands are... occupied, at the moment." Lucifer said guiltlessly as he stroked Rias' back. "I'll get to you in a jiffy."

Rossweisse struggled to stiffen her lower lip. "Zur Hölle damit! -hic- zat is it! I'm done! You vin! I don't care anymore! Am I alloved to leaffe now?! Vell zat don't matter. I'm leaffing!"

And the frustrated Valkyrie stomped her way as she opened the sliding door and walked inside Rias' bathroom.

"Ah! A cool down shower. Great idea." Lucifer quipped. "I'll get to youin a jiffy."

"Zis is das bad (bathroom)?! Vy is zis place granter zan my place?!" And the Devils heard her further complaints echoing out. "I'd even rather sleep here zan in meine abartment!"

"..." Rias sniffled as she glanced over to the room from where the envious sobs leaked out. She's upset, but she found it hard to be upset when someone else was even more upset than her. Especially someone she knew—like her history teacher to be specific. "...Wh... why is she here...?"

"Why she is in there is what you should ask." jibed the Morningstar, "And goodness gracious; how criminally low does being a Valkyrie pays?"

"...Valkyrie...?" Another sniffle ensued as Rias looked up to him with enflamed eyes. "Her...? My teacher is a Valkyrie?"

"Apparently so, yes. And a lowly-paid one at that too. She even said her job as a teacher pays more."

Now that she found hard to believe. "...Seriously...?"

"JA! REALLY!" a mad shout chimed from the bathroom.

"Well... I mean, this is one prestigious school... I bet the salary for the staffs are higher compared to any normal school, even more so as Japan regards teachers highly—pf, why are we talking about unimportant things?" he sniggered to himself. "Bambino, how'd it go?"

Rias' mood took a plunge. "Bad."

"How 'bad' is 'bad'?"

His singsong voice did manage to lift her mood a little, and Rias couldn't resist a smile from forming on her otherwise disheartened expression.

Her smile waned too soon, however. "They said they've settled on a Rating Game." Gripping to his messy dress shirt tightly, Rias felt her tears pricking on her eyes as she continued, "They said that's the best they can do... rejecting it outright will humiliate the Phenex family. Funny. They didn't seem to have any problem in humiliating ME."

Lucifer scrunched his brows. "Wait two minutes—what's a 'Rating Game'? Is that when you rate things? Like ESRB rating?"

"No... It's..." she sniffled, "it's essentially a competition between peerages... in this case, mine against Riser's..." the aftertaste of saying his name was bitter.

"They knew I've no hope in winning..." Rias started to tremble in her barely contained fury. "They know I only have incomplete peerage... And one was ineligible and one had just been reincarnated, and won't even hurt a fly!"

"How could they just proceed without me ever agreeing to it?! I haven't even met any of the Phenex except that arrogant bastard and he's the last person I ever want to see in my life!"

"Oh dear, that is bad." Lucifer mumbled. "Mm... bad, bad, bad... I did say I'll help you, and I've no problem wiping the floor... but I don't think you can't reincarnate a Devil."

"...As a matter of fact; I can... I doubt I can reincarnate anyone far stronger than me." Rias sighed, dejected. "...Divorce isn't even an option either... I don't want to tarnish my family name..."

Lucifer grimaced. "No, no, can't let you do that vile thing even if it is. It chips away your affection, believe it or not. Fills your heart with doubts. Bad stuffs." he said, surprisingly deep and meaningful. "Is your fiancé really that bad?"

"The absolute worst." The Gremory seethed. "I'll do whatever it takes to not be married to him! Even if it means giving up everything I have! I'd rather die!"

Lucifer stared at her, wide-eyed. "...Well I don't want you go that far..." Sure it was the kind of statement that happens at the heat of the moment, but still. There are better options than just throwing your life away.

"Married?!" Suddenly, Rossweisse burst out from the bathroom, face flushed and eyes slightly swollen. "Gremory, vat's your age?"

"S-seventeen..." Rias was taken aback, but managed to answer nonetheless—though she really didn't have to.

Rossweisse gasped. "Zeffendeen?! You're zwei Jahre jünger (two years younger) zan mein and you're marrying already?!"

"I don't even want to!" Rias spat back with the equal if not more amount of ire. "Never have and never will!" Unconsciously, she shoved Lucifer away from her as she started at Rossweisse, hands clenched. "If Sensei wants to get married so badly, then I'll be more than glad to give that bastard for you!"

She might be drunk, but she's not backing down. "As if he vants to! Vo vants to pe married vith ein old, inexberienced hag like me?! No one! Not effen myself vants to!"

"Who would if you keep crying about your problems on their face?!"

"Like I care! Vat does a Princess like you know about problems?! You get spoon-fed all the time! You're an Heiress! Ze Heiress! You don't know vat or how it feels failing to be the family head when you're supposed to be zat! You don't know what it's like when your parents look at you as if you're their greatest disappointment! YOUR OWN PARENTS!"

Rossweisse didn't stop there, though. "What's more? All the students love you! Everyone looks up at you maybe even more than us Walküre look up at our gods! You can make a boy fall head over heels for you in just a wink!"

"So you're saying just because I'm an Heiress and have good looks, I won't have any problems?! Or allowed to complain about anything at all?! How downright selfish of you, Sensei." Rias gnawed on, "Everyone can have their life go wrong at some point, including me! Right now I'm faced with a loveless marriage that can and will drag my life down! Do you want to live a life spending twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, with someone you despise the most?!"

"Jesus Christ, I might need a drink." Was all Lucifer able to say after witnessing the biggest fight in his new life so far, coupled with the angriest, saddest, and frustrated expressions he ever saw coming from them. At least Rossweisse didn't spill all of her drink back then...

"Ladies," he began, his voice calm to not make himself seem commandeering. There were enough raised voices here and adding more would be the same like adding gasoline to the burning fire. "Let's... not. Both of you are upset, we know that, and being upset at each other will end up making the both of you even more upset, which will be upsetting for me because who would want to see any of you upset? Not me, obviously."

With a snap of his fingers, two sheets of plain, scentless white handkerchief draped upon his right hand. "First and foremost; here you go."

Both girls begrudgingly took the thin cloth, and begun wiping their flushed eyes and nose.

Lucifer smiled a winning smile. "Right, well, let's take our time. We'll just sit down on the bed. It's very comfy."

And he did what he said, and was then patting on the bed beside him.

Silently, they both followed him and sat down beside him, blatantly facing the opposite way from the other.

"Mhmm, mhmm." He nodded, humming to himself as he massaged their shoulder. They're understandably tense. "It's almost already past midnight, and I think the time's making everything so heavy, no?"

He didn't get a response, but he didn't need any as their exhaustion was obvious enough, both mentally and physically.

"So... let's save all of that for tomorrow—or this morning. Not pretend that it didn't happen, but just forget about it, for now. It's not good to do that... so we'll make today an exception. We don't have to think about none of that, just how to get a good night sleep."

Their sobs gradually faded, reduced to sniffles and tiny hiccups, but the previous bout had left a sour taste in their mouth.

"I'm not letting her sleep in my room."

"I have my own place." Rossweisse said, voice croaky as she stood up. "I'll head home."

The Gremory Heiress narrowed her tear-ridden eyes. "I won't allow you leave this place either. I have questions saved for you, Sensei." She spiced up that last word with venom.

"Aw, come on Princess. And you too Rosie, what if a Devil jumps on you and it wasn't me?"

"I am not. Weak." Rossweisse glared at him. It wasn't so threatening with her eyes lined with tears and face as red as a ripe tomato.

"Never said you are." Lucifer defended, smiling his standard tightlipped smile. "But I'm not going to lie to you and tell you I'm not worried. I am partly blamable for your... er... current state."

Rias shot him a dirty look.

"What? Without you, I was lonely! A~nd I was itching for some lovin'. Incidentally so was she." he reasoned, still jokingly smiling. "That doesn't mean I stopped loving you or love you less. My feelings can only grow. Like a mustard seed." as a reassurance, Lucifer squeezed her shoulder.

Just enough to curl her lips upward and tint a small blush on her cheeks. "...Thanks..."

"You're welcome." Beamed Lucifer, giving Rias a quick peck on her blossoming cheek. "So. As do seeds in general, I want to spread it. Especially to those barren of such." he glanced at the now silenced Valkyrie. "It's easy to hate with no one to love, doesn't it?"

Rossweisse stopped to think. Lucifer had to say, her expression was mellower now that she's mostly sober.

"...Not hate, but... I just... I'm just jealous..."

He contradicted with his suggestion from earlier; to sleep it all off, but he supposed he could use a practice in his night-counseling sessions. So with a gentle tug, he pulled the silver-haired girl down to her seat beside him.

"I feel replaceable... I failed inheriting my family when I'm the only daughter... I tried my hardest, gave my all so I can be a recognize Valkyrie... but there are differences between 'talent' and 'hard-work'."

And just when she thought she had run out of tears, she was proven wrong. "I'm a Valkyrie, but I'm the weakest. I'm the most expendable one... that might be the reason why I was sent here, because I'm inexperienced and easily replaced..."

As she broke down in desolated sobs, choking on her cries, Lucifer exchanged a knowing glance with Rias, whose anger towards her teacher had diminished.

They could say Odin sent her here to have her build her own confidence, or whatever noble causes he might had for her. But Lucifer knew that glimpse in her beryl eyes and Rias knew the question he was asking inside his cunning mind.

"You know..." Lucifer began, suppressing his mischievous smirk. "Being a Devil has tons of merits. For example, uh... uhh... how much does it pay exactly?"

"...It depends on the client's value, but it's roughly around three hundred thousand yen for every client." Rias added, slightly taken off-guard as Lucifer made her handkerchief vanished in mystical blue flames. She made sure to ask him to do that again later because it was pretty.

The numbers were undeniably attractive. That's only a few thousands below her monthly salary as a teacher and as a Valkyrie combined.

"I can buy a house of adult magazines with that." Lucifer nonchalantly said in remembrance to his old life. "Not that I'd need any."

Being nudged at, Rias blushed, caused by both his uncanny example and his suggestively raised eyebrow. Luckily, Rossweisse wasn't too entranced by his debauched joshing.

"But money isn't a problem. I can hand you the documents detailing every privileges gained as a Devil." The Heiress cleared her throat and fixed her demeanor to her business-like 'Buchou-mode'.

"Not only that, but as a part of my peerage, my family, all of us is irreplaceable. There are other peerage leaders that see their peerages as just that, peerages. As tools. Some even sees them as trophy wives..."

Gee, he wondered who that might be. The girl seemed won't be stopping on foulmouthing her own fiancé.

"Though I can't ensure you just by words, my family is not like that. Everyone in my peerage is the second closest people to me after my family and best friends."

Lucifer crooked his neck, and frowned.

"E-even closer than my current lover... I-I'm sorry, but it's the truth... I still love you... though..."

"I know, and no worries. We'll get closer in no time."

Rias fought hard to not let her blush blossom way too frequent. "Th-then... you can also grow your own business in the Gremory territory... We rarely have people from the North too, so... suffice to say you'll be the first Valkyrie to be a Devil — if you agree, of course."

The Devils studied her expression, which was rather hard to read with the flushes and all the remains of her wailing, tear stains, puffy eyes and the like. But to them, she appeared to be heavily considering the offer.

"And as an added bonus," Lucifer spoke up, jolly in manner, "You'll get to buy new articles of clothes tomorrow with yours truly."

Rias did not like that bonus, and made it clear that she was against it by frowning at him.

"What?" Lucifer innocently reacted, "Just treat it as a signing bonus. Besides, I can't wear suits all the time. And I need a watch; my wrist feels naked."

"Yes... but... won't that be a date...?"

"Date?" Lucifer resaid, and thought for a moment, before his slightly parted lips broadened to his friendly grin. He wriggled his masculine eyebrows. "Ooooh... You're jealous."

Rias could only pout. He knew, and still he acted that way.

"...I don't have any other choices, don't I...?" By coincidence, Rossweisse cut Lucifer's tease as she regained their attention. "I can't go back... If I do, I'll lose more face—if that's even possible. Then if I refuse... You won't let me off so easily, will you...?"

She didn't become a teacher without the brain, clearly.

"Implying we'll resort to violence, yes." Rias stated.

Lucifer would rather avoid unrequired violence, thank you very much. "Hey, might as well turn over a new leaf right?" He said to both girls," Do you believe in second chances? Because this is one. You got another shot at life... a better one I daresay."

Rossweisse mulled. It's obvious she had myriad of thoughts going over and over inside her head, jumbling into an ugly mess.

She needed the final push, and thankfully, Rias caught on that. "Maybe this can help you..."

Raring to see her 'negotiation' skills, Lucifer remained on the sideline as the Gremory suddenly surged a pile of paper from her crimson magic circle. The stack landed on her hand, and it was several pages long and written in easy-to-read black font and too-long-to-read paragraphs.

Rossweisse read all of them carefully, somehow. Considering she was gibberish-drunk some minutes ago, he had to hand it to her.

"This is the latest revision of this document and is legalized by the Satans and the High Council, so you can be rest assured you'll get all of the written benefits."

The Valkyrie widened her eyes and gasped as if she was opening a treasure chest containing another treasure chest. And another one.

"A-all of these insurances?! E-even no corporate tax to pay?!"

"Only for the first year, though. Afterwards, I think the rate is somewhere around three to five percent and calculated annually."

"That's still insanely low!"

"The Underworld operates in a different base compared to a Human world and is relatively cheaper in overall expenses."

"Well~ I'll disturb you lovelilies no more." He's pretty happy that they got along quick, but he's getting bored and sleepy over the fiscal terms and every other terminology he had no interest on. Besides, Rias seemed to be handling it well without his help, and she certainly knew more about the financial securities of being a Devils.

Therefore, Lucifer plopped on his back and scooted toward the pillows, resting idly as the girls continued to discuss the many benefits. It's like being a Devil is an occupation instead of a race nowadays.

How things had changed since then...

Break

By the time Lucifer woke up, he found neither of the beauties was on his side, and there was much gloominess. He cheered up as soon as he realized he overslept hours past his usual wake-time, and the two girls were probably doing their school-thing. But he needed to work on his sleeping schedule. His soul was definitely jetlagged.

As a morning person, or should we say, Devil, Lucifer didn't take long to get up, brush up, and dress up.

Although, he's suspending one of the holy trinity of his morning routine. For the time being, he kept his shirt untucked, and had his hair in a messy, racy style. Just in case if the Heiress or the Valkyrie was still in the vicinity... or any other lovelies. Like Akeno. She's one exciting prospect for sure.

Sadly, no one else was around but the little ol' him, and Lucifer was sad. Not even the First Satan could provide amusement for himself all by himself.

The Dragon was still residing in him, somewhere, probably sleeping, snoring smokes, but he wanted to talk with someone he could see and touch, and preferably doesn't smell like a giant fire-breathing lizard.

He could hear the chatters and the footfalls of students bustling outside, but humans... well, they just don't excite him as much as the supernatural did. One thing he learned from his past life was that Humans talk too much for a creation with laughable lifespan. Not to mention most of them procrastinate most of the times. He procrastinates too, but he has a long, lengthy life. What the humans have as an excuse?

But he supposed he could use them as a source of temporary amusement.

So out the old school building he went and into the new school building he waltzed, staring straight along the way. He knew he was being stared at, and he knew he would then be the hot topic among the students for a couple of days or so, but what was there needed to be done other than basking in all the attention, as irrelevant as most of them might be?

Some remarked his height and his handsomeness, but most were just curious where the hell he came from or what he was doing here.

Taking a turn to another corridor, he stopped like someone just remembered something they forgot. He gained few odd glances there too. The Outcast of Heaven realized he was famished, and that was not a heavenly feeling. This body of his might had spent centuries underground without food or water.

Maybe he could pay a visit to the cafeteria for a quick stop...

With great charisma, a well-executed flirtation, and a dashing smile, came free packs of cream puffs that were now lodged in his arm.

Beaming a fulfilled, confident smile, Lucifer strode by the hallways of the academy, constantly taking a bite to the sweet, soft pastry as the custard melt in his mouth. For foods and drinks, he admitted humans were the absolute victor. To be fair, Hell had a hellish climate, and the "animals" there tasted like moldy banana. It's already unfair to compare a cockatrice with a chicken.

The school was just like he remembered; big and boring. As expected, nothing much had changed since the death of Issei Hyoudou. Except maybe for those two friends... best friends? Lucifer could hardly tell. It seemed his memory of that boy was steadily disappearing.

Not like he cared.

He's not here to rekindle old memories. He's here to find one of the girls, whichever he'd find first. He could use a bit of his power and locate them in an instant, but that would take the fun away. Just like a game of hide-and-seek, or cat-and-mouse, or... you get the idea.

"Lucifer-sama?"

Ironically, he was the one spotted first.

Swiftly, the young-looking man swiveled on his heels as he recognized that sweet, sweet melodious tone of hers. With a splendid smile, the kind that indicates he's glad on meeting her, Lucifer approached the womanly girl.

"Ah, Akeno! So good to see you again. You're as lovely as always." He gestured her the pastries in his hand. "Cream puffs?"

It should be noted that Akeno was not alone at the time and was surrounded by what appeared to be her fans. Fangirls, more appropriately. Nothing new to her as she walked through the small crowd like Moses to the Red Sea.

"No thank you." she politely declined, "But, ara~ Lucifer-sama, flirting this soon already? Ufufufu, don't you need to be careful not to start a rumor from spreading?"

As a matter of fact, said rumor was on its way to spread. Akeno's fangirls (and boys) were busy fangirling (fanboying) over the fluent English of their 'Great Onee-sama', but other students nearby were soundly formulating juicy gossips regarding the two.

"Ah, rumors, gossips... tattletales. Let them say what they want to say. Why should I care about those meddling things when you're the one I care?"

Dangerous man with dangerous tongue, he was. "Oh my..." Akeno giggled, trying to feign her embarrassment as she glanced at him up to down. "...You've just woken up, haven't you, Lucifer-sama? Fufu, did you have a good night sleep?"

Changing the topic she was, but Lucifer played along. "Mhmm. T'was warm and delightful. Like a certain someone I can't seem to find..." he smirked, "mind lending me a hand?"

Akeno placed her slim finger on her cheek, pretending to giving it a long consideration as she smiled back at him. "Depends... will you share me why her neck is filled with bruises~?"

Playful, quick-witted, and a fellow flirt. She's one to die for.

Slowly, his lips curled to a suggestive grin. "I would... but I could also spare you the details and reenact the whole scene instead... if you're so curious..."

"Really? Is that a good thing or is that a bad thing? I can't tell."

Akeno giggled. "Sensei's still breathtaken by her bonus, so I think we can safely assume it's a good thing. A new face is always appreciated."

"Why that's great! Good to know things worked out well for her." Lucifer hummed, wearing his ever-present smile on his face as the two had been wandering around the school, going floor by floor, acquiring unneeded attention from everyone they had walked past until now.

How could they not when one of the academy's highly-revered Great Lady had her hand linked with a foreign stranger no one had ever seen before, and appearance wise older than her.

Lucifer? Hell, Lucifer couldn't care less about them. He's too focused with Akeno's delightful aroma and the smoothness of her voice and her thin giggles. And of course, the plump sensation of her chest—but that's insignificant at the time being. Believe it or not, he can focus on what mattered the most, such as learning her personalities.

"Ara? You're such a sweet guy Lucifer-sama." Akeno said as they walked down a hallway somewhere at the fourth floor, where there were usually less students. "I can see why Rias is so persistent telling me not to bother you now..."

"Hm? How so?"

Akeno twirled her natural cherry blossom lips. "You might make me interested on you."

Lucifer flashed his pearly whites and played a look of hurt. "I haven't?"

Akeno laughed. Not her usual lightly amused giggle either and not a full-blown laughter either, but a genuine laughter nonetheless. She had forgotten the last time she laughed this carefree with someone other than Rias... and with someone she met last night as well... how strange things could happen.

He smiled in satisfaction. "Have I interest you yet?"

"Hmm... maybe~? Why, are you interested in me, Lucifer-sama?"

"Oh please, who wouldn't?"

"You're such a tease, ufufu~ but here we are." Akeno tittered as the two stopped at huge wooden double doors. He could sense a flock of Devils inside, and he assumed those were the Student Councils members as this was their room. Rias was also inside, so it didn't seem he had walked here for nothing.

"Buchou is already inside, and there are some others who would like to meet you."

"I'm not getting interrogated again am I?"

"Just a little bit, maybe?" She giggled. "Break time's almost over for me, so I'll have to head back. I hope we can continue our little date in the future, Lucifer-sama~"

"I'd be delighted to. See you when I see you!"

With a little wave, Lucifer stood by the doors for a moment, watching Akeno's long swaying ponytail tottering side to side as she vanished to the stairway. She's someone he'd enjoy an hour just talking banters, to say the least.

Now, the Student Councils... Lucifer supposed Rias' wanted to introduce him to the other Devils. He's certain Issei wasn't familiar with them because he couldn't recall much about these councils, but then again... was there any reasons he should worry about it?

He handled a lot of meetings. Lots and lots of them that he didn't want to imagine any of it, because it was boring. Required, but boring. The only amusement he had was ticking off Asmodeus' short-temper. Surely he could handle an impromptu one.

Although, he would be gladdened if it won't be so dull. But he won't hold his breath. Who knows, maybe he'd meet several interesting individuals to get acquainted with, because so far, he's liking the present Devils.

To be continued...