Chapter 6: Memory of Lost Christmas

-L.A-

Inori, Ayase, Castiel, Irina, and the ORC disembark from the plane. For some of them, this is their first time going oversea with a plane or even come to America. Inori decided that they should take a commercial plane since it would be a good experience instead of just teleporting around everywhere. They took a taxi to the hotel they've booked before. The angels occupy one taxi while the devils took two other.

"This is my first time coming to America! I'm so excited!"

Irina cannot hold back her excitement as she kept looking around at whatever they pass.

"Sister, can I visit my friends after this?"

"We have free time for two days. Just get back on time, brother."

Castiel look over their schedule once again. Preparations will be handled by Ayase and Irina along with the ORC. Since Castiel is really terrible with a guitar, they have replaced Castiel with Issei who is surprisingly good. Not as good as Shu but still much better than Castiel. That's why the ORC also comes along. It also doubles as a semi-vacation since the work will mostly be handled by EGOIST members. Castiel's schedule is mostly open since he only has to work on security. In the end, that's all he could do since he has zero knowledge on music. Then again, Inori did choose him since he is a good fighter and America is his home turf, not because he is good with music.

When they were about to get their luggage, Inori stopped when she noticed something. She then calls Castiel who is familiar with America and asked him about what she is seeing.

"Brother, what is that?"

Castiel look straight at where Inori is pointing. It is an advertisement about Sephirah Genomics. Castiel thought that since Inori had been sleeping, she doesn't know everything about the modern world. But what actually caught Inori's attention is not the advertisement itself but the 'Sephirah Genomics', it is eerily similar to the name of the organization in the other world that has been a constant thorn in the Funeral Parlor' side.

"Ahh… Sephirah Genomics. It is a pharmaceutical corporation that manufactures medicine. Word has it that they also do research in genetic engineering. It is amazing how human science develop since the dark ages. If you are interested, I will introduce you to some of my friends who work there. Well, maybe an acquaintance since he is Dean's friend, not mine."

Inori nodded. They continue walking but Inori still kept her eyes on the advertisement. Genetic engineering. She has a bad feeling about this. It sounds too much like the other world. She just hopes that they won't have a zombie apocalypse like in the Resident Evil world. As easy as it would be to take care of those here, she's still traumatized when her host in that world blew herself up when surrounded by hungry zombies.

Speaking of Sephirah Genomic and America, Inori's memory went to a GHQ member she vaguely remembers. His name was Dan and she distinctly remembered Gai telling her about the operation onboard of a luxury cruise where the other Shu had to defend the ship using Alisa's void. She just hopes she won't be seeing someone firing missiles at her during her stay here.

No, that's not very accurate. She hopes that no one made a biological weapon like the void genome and somehow got her involved. She had had enough dealing with bio weapons for a few lifetimes.

When she got to the hotel where they'll be staying, the best hotel around of course, the Archangel found that Castiel had ordered for an exclusive suite for her. Of course he did. She is the current leader of the Angels after all. But since the suite is too big just for herself, the ORC will also be staying with her.

That night, Inori sat on the railing of the balcony looking up at the night sky. Ayase joined her looking at the stars but noticed that Inori is not just admiring the stars but thinking about something.

"A penny for your thought?"

"Ayase. I'm just remembering."

"Remembering what?"

"The night. It somehow reminds me of that mission."

"Mission? Which one? There are thousands of missions we've undergone in our time."

"The mission to disable the Leukocyte."

"Ahh…"

Ayase remember that mission that her alternate was in. That was an exciting one. It was also a clear night then. She remembers that Gai almost got himself killed to destroy a falling Leukocyte orbital cannon using a pen that serves as beacon to fire another orbital cannon. In the end, Shu display a new ability to combine voids and fused Singer's Sword and Murderer's Weight to form a laser cannon to destroy the two orbital cannons.

"That was an exciting mission. It was also the first time I deployed Steiner in life combat."

Ayase recall the memory with fondness. Although it was not really her experiencing all those things, it is still something worth remembering for her. She also wonders how the other world's Shu is handling his own Inori and Ayase.

"So are you ready for our first international concert?"

Inori nodded, still looking at the stars.

"Shouldn't you be practicing?"

"Issei needs to get into our pace."

"Hmm, you're right. It's too bad that Shu is busy dealing with the old satan faction in the Underworld."

"It is necessary."

"I know. But this is our first international concert. It can't be helped but I just doesn't feel right."

"Bear with it."

"That's what I'll do."

"…Where is Castiel?"

"He went to meet his friends. I think they're a pair of brothers called the Winchesters."

Inori didn't say anything to that and there was silence… apart from Irina helping Issei practice the songs they'll be playing for their concert… and the ORC members chatting with each other. They're an interesting group and they possess great potential.

"Hey Inori, want to go for a drink or two. Castiel told me about a few good bars. Don't worry, it's not the run-of-the-mill bar. It's a classy establishment and I'm sure they have some wine you will like."

Inori's reply consists only of looking at Ayase, nodding, and then jump off the balcony. Below them is the pool and it's empty at this hour and Inori doesn't want to wait for the elevator so she decided to take the fastest route. Ayase shook her head and went back inside to inform the ORC members and Irina that she and Inori will go out for a while. Following Inori, Ayase also jumped off from the balcony.

Later there would be people saying that they witnessed two girls committing suicide by jumping from the Hotel's top floor but since there are no bodies found it was dismissed as them hallucinating due to tiredness.

"Dean, Sam."

Castiel greeted his two friends who had been waiting for him near his hotel.

"Hey Cas. Long time no see buddy."

"Ahh, I'm sorry about that Dean. Heaven matters."

"Don't mention it Cas. It's good to see you again."

After a round of handshake and hugs, Castiel got into the Winchesters' car and the three of them rode away.

"So what brings you back to America Cas? You said that you're also here for work."

"Well you know the situation between the three factions now."

"Heard that the Devils and Fallens had made peace with the Angels."

"That's correct but your information lacks… details."

"Details?"

"You're one of the few who knew about God's death and Michael taking over as leader of Heaven."

"Yeah… so what's that got to do with anything?"

"Well, Heaven is now under another new leadership."

"God is back?"

"No. One of our strongest, actually, our strongest sister had just returned and assume control of Heaven. She's the strongest Archangel and the last Archangel created by our Father."

The surprise about Heaven's leadership change almost made Dean crash into a tree but fortunately they didn't and Dean's feet managed to step on the brake before they could.

"What?"

"A new leadership? Wait, you said last Archangel created by God. That means…"

"She's our youngest and strongest sister. Ohh and here's something I got for you guys."

Castiel hands Sam and Dean one ticket each. The Winchesters was confused what the tickets are for until they read the large 'EGOIST live concert in LA' written on the ticket in large silvery letters.

"A… concert?"

"To promote peace between the factions, our sister made a band together with the son of Lucifer and son of Azazel."

"That's… totally unexpected. The leader of Heaven making a band with a Devil prince and a Fallen princess?"

"Why don't you come and see? Although the songs will be in Japanese. Our sister was once a Japanese so there's that. I am tasked to become her guard and guide since I'm familiar with America."

"What do you think Sammy? Should we go?"

"I don't know Dean. There will be many supernatural beings there, I'm sure."

Sam doesn't seem too keen on the idea of going to a place filled with supernatural beings, even if they are those who are not hostile towards humans. But Castiel give his reassurance.

"My sister's band is also quite popular with the humans. There will be humans attending too. Like I said, the point of the band is to promote peace. That also means peace with humans. None of them would dare cause trouble in her presence."

"Well, I guess we could take a peak."

"I didn't know that you ran a bar here, Marion."

Ayase said to the bartender, a woman with black hair and curvy figure who is rather seductive wearing her blue dress loosely. She's a Fallen Angel with eight wings who serves under Shemhazai during the Great War but has since retired and live her long life in peace as a traveler. She's rather powerful. Shemhazai's lieutenant actually. Ayase met her only a few times but she's rather impressionable that Ayase could hardly forget her even after all these years.

"It's nice to see you again Ayase. It's been too long. I was surprised when Castiel dropped by to tell me that you and lady Inori had returned. I remember you when you're still in just a baby. You're really a handful then and now look at you."

Marion passed the fallen princess a bottle of her finest wine. They're sitting at the counter being served by one of Marion's subordinates. An eight winged fallen named Dohnaseek. He had been working together with Marion ever since the War and…

"Wait, is that a ring I saw on your finger?"

"Ohh, this?"

Marion lifted her hand where there is a golden ring around her ring finger. Ayase's eye darted towards the other fallen behind the counter who also lifted his hand with a similar ring around the same finger.

"When?"

"Just five years ago. Dony here finally got the courage to propose to me after centuries of waiting."

"Congratulation! I would say that drinks' on me but this is your bar."

"I'll let you treat us to a drink some other time, princess."

As Ayase chatted with Marion animatedly, Inori is quietly drinking her wine beside the fallen princess. The leader of Heaven let her partner have her fun with her old acquaintance while she enjoys her drink. Inori is not actually the type to drink but she does love her occasional wine and only wine. This stems from the time during a banquet in Heaven where Gabriel gave her wine and she found the taste to her liking. She had tasted beers, ales, rums, and a few other alcoholic drinks but still find wine much more to her taste… and sake although not as much as wine.

Inori kept her peace for another hour until someone sat beside Marion and caught the Fallen's attention. Inori initially didn't pay attention to the person until he spoke to Marion in a voice she vaguely recognize.

"Marion."

"Ahh, so you're here, Scrooge."

At the mention of that name, Inori turn to look at the person who had just arrived and saw a familiar tall figure wearing a red coat and a girl with blue hair wearing miniskirt and white jacket. For the first time in who knows how long, Inori's usual near-expressionless face shows a very clear look of surprise as if it is hard for her to believe what she is seeing.

"Scrooge… Carol…"

Inori finally meets Scrooge and Carol and Cas meets Dean and Sam. Note that Dean, Sam, and Cas are different from the ones in Supernatural, kay. Well, they are Hunters but the rules and the lore changed to the DxD ones and the events of Supernatural are... well, non-existent. They only do some major cases which Castiel also conveniently got involved in. That's how they got to know each other. As for Scrooge and Carol, they are an alternate version of the GCLX ones. The background for this version will be delved later but now Inori is involved in their problem.

Inori in GC never actually met Scrooge and Carol as far as I know but in this story she has met them at least once. There's a Guilty Crown drama CD about that so just consider the Drama CD event really took place in this story. I don't know if I would add the Ghosts since Past uses an Endlave and the tech level of DxD is not at that level. Present is a possibility. I think I will enjoy writing this arc. As for powers, I will reveal Scrooge and Carol's power next chapter. Just wait for it.

This is a fun arc where it will be more like a Biohazard kind of story. Expect bioweapons and things you will usually find in sci-fi stories in this arc. I'll see you guys around.