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Rias Gremory was, without a better word to describe it, confused.
She should have been in a foul mood. Issei had gone missing. Despite what she had told him, despite the warnings she had given him, the boy had still went. Ever since the Fallen Angels captured Asia and sequestered her away in their hideout, the newest member of her Peerage had been restless. The boy wanted desperately to save the priestess, and Rias was sympathetic to her plight as well as his. Especially his. In fact, she was more than sympathetic. She outright admired his courage and his sense of loyalty to his friends. It had been one of the reasons why she had selected him to be a part of her peerage, after all. That, did not mean however, that she agreed with the way he dealt with things. Being brave was one thing, but being reckless with one's life was another. And charging on his lonesome into the lair of a group of Fallen was definitely in the latter.
She was forced to call upon her peerage, scrambling them in a rescue mission that she hoped would not be too late. Raynare was sadistic, even for one of her kind, and Rias did not doubt for a moment the Fallen Angel would kill Issei if given the chance. She had reminded Issei of that fact, but to her chagrin, the boy did not seem to consider the seriousness of the matter at hand.
They made the trip in record time. Their preparations had been swift, and they arrived at the site of the church, battle-ready and prepared for the worst. What they had seen actually made them gawk, and Kiba, her knight, whistle in appreciation.
The place was leveled. The chapel was almost completely destroyed, with a few standing pillars the only remains of what had once been a complete and undamaged building. Broken shards of glass, splintered pieces of wood, scattered pieces of tiles, all were abundant at the scene. And among the wreckage, they had discovered the bodies, Asia's and Issei's first, but thankfully only unconscious. Both teenagers were slumped against a large crucifix, backs touching the holy edifice, and judging from the severed chains that dangled from the structure's arms, Rias knew exactly how the Fallen had been holding their prisoner captive. The priestess's head was leaning against her rescuer's shoulder, and from a distance, it seemed as though a young couple was merely resting. Had the situation been less dangerous, she would have admitted the sight would have looked cute.
She should have felt relief. More so when they found Raynare and her followers as well, lying where they had fallen, incapacitated without a shadow of a doubt. With such a powerful band of enemies stunned and at her mercy, she should have been glad of the reprieve. But that only brought more questions, especially when he was there too.
They found him sitting on what should have been the steps to the antechamber, near the sleeping forms of Asia and Issei. His posture was slackened, almost lazy, and the headphones she always saw hung around his neck were over his ears instead. There was an alertness to him though, an aura of wariness that prevailed despite the image he gave out. And he had positioned himself facing both the girl and the boy, and if she were to guess, she would have assumed he was guarding them.
He stood up when they approached, mop of unruly hair flopping almost comically as he did so. She did not miss the two burnt holes in his uniform, one center to his chest, the other scorched into the fabric near his shoulder. He saw her looking, and turned imperceptibly to the side, so that both holes would no longer be visible.
She frowned.
He nodded to them, courteously, as though if he had been expected to be there in the first place. Her peerage had not known what to do at that, and just nodded back. She would have found the whole scene amusing had she not been as confused as them.
He had stepped to the side, allowing them access to the unconscious duo. A tilt of her head sent Akeno and Koneko to check up on Issei and the priestess. Kiba, though, stayed by her side, his expression curious as he gazed at the newcomer. When he made no further movements, Rias had turned on her heel to stalk towards the forms of her fallen allies. Akeno met her gaze when she arrived, and inclined her head towards the battered body of Issei. She bit her lip when she saw the newest member of her peerage sporting bruises and cuts all over his skin.
"He was lucky the Fallen like to take their time playing with their victims," her queen said mildly, "Had Raynare lost interest in him, we would have been too late," the black-haired beauty smiled, and a hint of her sadistic side shone through, "Though, this will be a good lesson to him. Provided, of course, that you do not delegate me to punish him later."
Now that was an amusing thought. Akeno would make sure he understood the implications of his actions.
"Do it," she said and turned her attention to the priestess.
"She is healed," Koneko spoke without preamble from her position kneeling by Asia, "but her vitality is low. The Fallen drained her life to power their rituals. She is alive, but only just."
"And the Sacred Gear?"
The former Nekomata frowned. Rias leaned in with interest. She knew from experience her usually cold and aloof rook seldom showed emotion, and when she did, it was almost always because of something that was worth noting.
"It is there… but it is not whole."
"Not whole?" she raised an eyebrow, "Could the Fallen have botched the ritual?"
Koneko shook her head.
"The Sacred Gear, the real one, has been taken out. The one that is inside is a mimicry, a copy."
Rias's eyes widened at her rook's words.
"It is the only thing keeping her alive," Koneko said simply.
"How is that possible?" she questioned. To this, Koneko sent a look in the stranger's direction.
"I am not the one you should be asking for that."
Faint footsteps coming from behind her caused her to turn. Yuuto greeted her with a thin smile and jerked his head back towards the figure standing by his lonesome some distance away.
"Not the talkative type, is he?"
Rias snorted. That was an understatement. From what knowledge she could gleam, bare minimum as it was, the boy did not talk much during or after class. In fact, she couldn't remember him talking at all, at least not when she was present. But then again, he had always done his best to avoid her, something he was very good at she was forced to admit, so she couldn't exactly say she knew what his habits were outside her sphere of influence.
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