Akeno, after the meeting with Sona, had once again gone to the church. Frankly, the looks she was getting from Koneko, plus the arrival of Riserette as a maid, made her want to leave the hectic situation for Rias to handle. What were Queens for, right?
But there was real purpose in going, other than avoiding the chaos back in the ORC room. That, being Raynare.
*Creaak*
Opening the large church doors, Akeno looked inside, seeing Kalawarner, Mittelt and Dohnaseek attending to Raynare, who had just returned. Akeno was about to playfully chasitise her for not calling her upon her return, but the words died in her throat before they ever came out, when she saw the burns and cuts on Raynare's body.
"Now what happened here.." Akeno asked, in a deceptively passive tone that made the Fallen four shiver.
"We-" Mittelt started to explain, but shut her mouth as Akeno raised her index finger.
"I want to hear it from you, Raynare. Did Kokabiel do this?" Akeno asked, taking a knee in front of Raynare and looking at her injuries.
None seemed severe, but it was clear whoever did this to Raynare wanted to cause her pain. Her nails had been chipped and there were bruises along her face and body that she tried to hide.
"M-Mistress, I'm not... I'm.." Raynare's eyes darted around the room, avoiding Akeno.
"Take a breather. I'll get someone to help heal you soon. Just calm down, and start from when you left. Okay?" Akeno placed her hand on top of her head and rubbed it, trailing down her smooth silky black hair to calm her.
Raynare took a deep breath and nodded, before explaining, "Kokabiel had called me. He wanted a report of what was going on in Kuoh. Rias Gremory and Sona Sitri were his main interest, but he wanted Freed Sellzen too."
This was somewhat odd. Someone like Kokabiel would only be interested in Freed if he could get some sort of use out of him. Beyond his mediocre skills, Freed didn't have much going for him.
Seeing Akeno's contemplative expression, Raynare took it as her being displeased.
"I-I didn't tell him it was you who killed him! He blamed me for getting Freed killed and delaying his plans. And so.. this happened." Raynare clarified.
"What..? I wouldn't care if you told him. You loyal fool." Akeno chasitised, though showed Raynare a genuine smile while stroking the top of her head.
"That mutant-looking shit heel can't touch me, so he resorted to 'punishing' my cute subordinate.. Plus, whatever insane plot he's been hiding. I'll have to devise a fun and huniliating punishment for him later. For now, let's get you to Asia." Akeno got off her knee and picked the still anxious Raynare up in her arms.
"Wa-Wait..? The nun I tried to..?" Raynare felt a bit of guilt rise up due to her original plan to rip the sacred gear from the innocent cinnamon bun known as Asia.
Akeno ignored her protests and held her carefully.
"If Kokabiel calls any of you out, text me. No reason for you all to get beat up because that manbaby threw a tantrum." Akeno said before leaving the church with a squirming Raynare.
"Now now~ That's enough wiggling. You'll get more blood on my clothes. If you behave, I'll give you a reward later~" Akeno whispered sensually into Raynare's ear.
Raynare, who wasn't quite used to being treated this gently by the object of her affection, swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded meekly. Though Akeno often disciplined Raynare, she truly appreciated the loyalty she had shown by not revealing her involvement to Kokabiel, even if it was pointless.
'Maybe I can treat her a bit more gently from now on. She's probably learned her lesson by now.' Akeno thought to herself as she took off flying, casting a spell so the normal people of Kuoh wouldn't see two women flying through the air.
Raynare had been silently admiring her face the whole time. Not the first time she had done so, not by far, but she gradually reasserted her feelings to herself.
If it wasn't obvious, Raynare followed Akeno, because she fell in love with her. She was originally stubborn, resentful and arrogant when Akeno joined Grigori. It started with small interactions. A greeting here and there, then sitting with her at meal time. To Raynare, who was looked down on by all Fallen, she was sure Akeno would too. She was stronger, after all.
Yet it never happened. She started to wonder why she was following Azazel, who never seemed that interested in her. He had Penemue, who she considered better looking and suited his status more than her. But Akeno hadn't thought so. It took years of their relationship developing, but when Akeno turned sixteen, Raynare realized her feelings and decided to serve under her.
"Ara~ What are you thinking of?" Akeno looked down at Raynare's violet eyes, having landed on the roof of the old school section.
"Mistress is so nice to me right now that I can't contain my feelings..!" Raynare declared as they set down.
"Well you're going to have to. We're here. If you start behaving like a horny dog I'll have to ask Asia to heal even more.." Akeno smirked, though the threat had the opposite effect on her masochist subordinate, who started panting with a red face.
"...I feel like dropping you all of a sudden." Akeno shook her head with a helpless sigh, carrying the injured Fallen inside.
"Y-Yesh.." Akeno ignored the horny Fallen in her arms and walked inside, getting to the ORC room fast.
Only, there was a bigger commotion going on inside than there had been when she left. Riserette, the Maid was awkwardly standing off to the side, hoping nobody would pay attention to her. Then, there was Rias, Gasper and Koneko, who were near the couches in front of the desk. Finally, the suspects of said commotion. Kiba, Issei, Asia and two strangely dressed girls in white-gold robes and a weirdly erotic leotard that left nothing to the imagination. All of whom stood by the door when Akeno walked in.
They were in a tense stand-off position, with Issei and Kiba looking angrily at the two.
"Rias.. did you hire strippers? My word~" Akeno easily cut the tension with a ridiculous question that immediately offended the two.
"Strippers!? These are our holy garments!" The blonde one yelled.
"I can see the shape and roundness of your ass cheeks. You're from the church? The Catholic Church..?" Akeno asked, strolling over to a couch and laying Raynare on it.
"Yes.. what of it, Devil?" The exotic blue haired one asked.
Ignoring the misconception, Akeno brought her hand to her chin and tilted her head.
"I didn't think Catholic Priests liked developed women. If you were ten year old boys, I'd get it. Though they'd never let you leave their sex dunge-Oh, I mean.. churches, if that were the case. My bad~" Akeno smiled apologetically.
"Pff-" Issei held his mouth as the two exorcists looked at Akeno in horror, along with Gasper, who himself looked like 'Priest-Bait'.
"I love you so much.." Rias choked out after a wheeze she failed to keep inside.
Kiba smirked, having seen the exorcists flustered and horrified at the dark joke Akeno made.
"That's it..! Just.. fight us down on the field so we may leave this place already." The blue haired exorcist demanded, pointing at Kiba.
"You're going to fight..?" Akeno raised her brow at Kiba.
"She has an Excalibur.. I know it's not Valper, but it'd feel damn good to break one of these shitty things. And they insulted Asia.." Kiba replied.
Akeno aimed a finger at Xenovia's head with a smile.
"What'd you say to our sweet cinnamon roll? Tell me~ I won't get mad.." Everyone in the ORC but the exorcists knew that was a blatant lie..
Xenovia felt the ungodly amount of electricity contained in that one finger, and broke into a cold sweat.
"A..Akeno-senpai? It's okay. I know.. they didn't intend anything malicious by it." Asia spoke up, pulling Akeno's sleeve.
Akeno lowered her hand and pet Asia's head as if she were a Golden Retriever.
"You're such a good girl, you know that? Okay, I won't hurt them. While they have a duel though, can you heal my subordinate here?" Akeno asked, feeling Asia melt into her head petting.
"Y-Yes! No problem." Asia confidently stated before going to work on Raynare's wounds.
Akeno then watched Issei, Kiba and the Exorcists take their leave. Rias then looked at Koneko.
"Make sure Yuuto doesn't snap. Take Gasper, just in case." Rias ordered.
"Mn. C'mon, Gaspy." Koneko nodded and grabbed the back of Gasper's shirt.
"Eh!? Wait, this seems FAMILIAAAA-" Gasper screamed as Koneko jumped out of the window with him.
"You left me quite the mess, you know?" Rias pouted, finally relaxing now that things had calmed down.
"Aww. Sorry, babe. I had to deal with a few Grigori things. Besides, it wasn't that bad. All you need to do to calm Yuuto down is to be a little sadistic to his enemies." Akeno bent over the desk, sending a side glance to Riserette before sealing Rias' lips with her own.
"...." Riserette's face flushed but remained stock still until given an order.
"Well that certainly improved my mood~ What happened over there?" Rias smiled seductively, knowing what that look on her lover's face meant.
"Kokabiel being a scheming twat, basically. That rat-faced dumpster baby is lurking nearby. Was quite upset at Raynare at Freed's death." Akeno replied.
"Oh? Funny you mention Kokabiel.. Guess what the Exorcists were here for?" Rias asked with a knowing smile.
"Wasn't it the holy sword-Ohhh.... I almost forgot. Freed was a Holy Sword user, wasn't he? I think I'm beginning to see what that dumpster fire manbaby wants to do.." Akeno smiled to herself, connecting a few of the dots.
[AN: Felt in the mood for DxD enough to update here. You can thank Mirego1999.
Also! I have a ZZZ/SoloLeveling fic out rn. Called ZZZ/SL: Apex Predator. First template MC gets is Mahoraga. Chekkit out~]