"You were too late! No one was there! Where were you?! WHERE WERE YOU?!"

"Kurin, please! You're angry, I get that, but what had happened to me, to us, it was something we couldn't have predicted at all! We just...we were told that you and your guardians all died! And then something just...just...just forced us to accept it, like it was a permanent thing! But I fought through it!"

"Well maybe you should've tried harder! You never showed up! They died because no one could help them, and I wasn't strong enough! And, and...I can't stand looking at you now. Every time, I now get reminded of what happened. Just leave, Serafall. I don't know what I might do if you're still in my sight."

"But-"

"LEAVE!"

As the boy watched her tears flow and the girl run from him, he could feel his heart shatter, as if he did something wrong.

He held out his hand, but nothing would come from doing so, and he was painfully aware of what he had done. "Wait, wait! Don't leave! Serafall, please! Come back! COME BACK! I'M SORRY!" He collapsed down to his knees, knowing that there was nothing that could be done.

"Serafall!"

"SERAFALL!"

It had been a week since the battle with Kokabiel.

The young human woke up in a cold sweat, sitting up. The nightmare was all too real. The memory of his friendship with the female Maou breaking apart was something he wanted all gone for good, but the battle with Kokabiel forced it all back to his mind. He shuddered at what he had dreamed. He didn't want to be that kind of person again. He was lucky Raynare didn't wake up, as she was sleeping soundly next to him.

He knew he didn't feel like sleeping anytime soon. He decided to go downstairs and eat a meal, even though it was about two in the morning.

By this point in his life, he shouldn't expect anything and as such not be too surprised...much.

However, of all the things to come in his life, Kurin Salamencia certainly did not expect a nekoshou at his household one night, one that was just lazing around in his own home playing video games at that, sitting in front of the computer, headphones on, eyes focused. Eyebrows raising in interest, he decided to walk over and see what this woman was playing.

"What kind of Ahri are you trying to build, girl? Bot lane AD Ahri doesn't exist." He said as he watched her play League of Legends with Ahri. Then he saw the neko pick up a triple kill. Then his jaw dropped when she hunted the last two for a pentakill. The girl just turned around and smirked at him as she and her teammates won the game.

"Off-meta. Go off-meta, nya." She said.

"What do you know about going off-meta? That's just one game." He told her.

"I just do, nya. I play my game and force everyone else to adapt to me." She shrugged and exited the game client.

He sighed. "Right, onto business. Who are you and what are you doing here in my house, nekoshou?"

"I'm Kuroka, nya. I just stumbled in here because I felt your immense power flowing. And I'm surprised you already recognize me as a nekoshou and not a nekomata." The cat-eared girl explained.

"Power sense, power sense—wait, do you have proficiency in Sage Arts?"

"Senjutsu to be precise, but I guess you can call it that." She nodded.

Kurin quickly summoned his armblades. "No one just stumbles in here for no reason. Were you sent by someone?"

She shook her head. "Not after I left them."

Kurin tilted his head. "You...left? As in...deserted a group or something?"

She nodded, looking down. "Close enough. I could not handle what they are doing, and...Shirone…I need to make things right. Everything I had been doing, I kept forgetting who I'm doing this for...Nya."

He sighed. His innately kind nature will bite him back soon enough. His armblades dematerialized and relaxed his posture. "Do you want to live with me?"

She looked up in surprise, eyes wide. "Eh?! You...you're offering me a place to stay?! B-but we just met!"

He just shrugged. "It's who I am, to be honest. Now..." He walked over to the dinner table and turned back to her. "Want a late night meal?"

And only just about half an hour later, Kuroka felt like she was in love. His food was so damn good! Even for a late night reheat, his food somehow just stays being so delicious. She couldn't help but give out a few sounds of satisfaction, to which Kurin just smiled as he ate.

"I appreciate the compliment." He simply said.

"Are you kidding me?! You should be getting more praise than this! This is the best food I've ever had!" Kuroka exclaimed, thought it was a bit difficult to understand with the food still in her mouth.

"Don't talk too much with your mouth like that, girl." He told her.

She nodded as she continued to eat. "So, you're probably wondering who's Shirone." She said after making sure she swallowed all of the food. Kurin nodded.

"She's my sister. You know her as Koneko."

"You...you're her sister? She never said anything about a sister." Kurin hesitated before continuing. "Kuroka...it sounds familiar..." He took their plates and washed them off.

The neko cracked a sad smile. Once he was done, the two moved back to the couch. "That's okay. I can understand that she never told you anything about me. Especially when she has a sister who's done something...horrible, in her eyes."

"Can...can you elaborate on that? I don't want to make Koneko uncomfortable if ever you two meet again, and knowing how you want to make amends with her, I think it's best if I mediate the both of you should you guys encounter each other." He asked warily as he stared into her eyes. Family issues were never a steady topic to talk about. Kurin himself never had the outlet to vent about what had happened to him years prior and two years prior as well. Sellorion already knew because he himself was witness to it, and even he failed to lift his spirits up to a point where he's sane enough. It was only through meeting Raynare that his fortunes were starting to change. So he understood what Kuroka was going through. And that's why he's treading it lightly right now.

She yawned, stretching her arms up and nestled herself right on his body.

"Nyaaa~ so tired..." She closed her eyes.

Unsure about what to do, Kurin just let his left arm rest on his side, while his right was just nuzzling the top of her head. The girl opened her eyes again, giving a teasing smile.

"Just kidding! Though keep doing that, I like it."

The boy just shrugged and did what she requested, causing her to purr.

Somehow, Kurin liked that sound. It was cute. So he decided to take it up a bit and rub her ears.

She let out a moan from that. The young human decided to take note of that as well from that moment on. "Me and Shirone...Koneko, I mean, we were once very close, nya. We were the closest of sisters. We had to be, with our parents both gone, and I had to protect and care for her. We once belonged to a High-Class Devil, and as a result I was reincarnated to be a part of his peerage, as his Bishop. However, he wasn't very gentle, nor was he even kind at all. He was...scary. He wanted power. And the way he was trying to obtain it...I wouldn't wish it on anyone...nya."

"What kind of power? How does he want it?"

"Any power to make his peerage stronger, and not through training or any reasonable means. He was willing to have his servants go through crazy power-ups and experiments, and often...they weren't pretty. As my time being his Bishop passed, so did my power levels, and it even exceeded that of my old master."

"I take it he was super interested in your powers from that moment on, then."

"Not in my powers, but the powers of the Nekoshou in general. He wanted to experiment on my sister to test those powers. I wasn't going to allow him to do that."

"So you killed him. And it changed your lives forever."

The neko was silent for a few, but she confirmed it with a small nod. "That it did. I had to leave my sister behind. I knew the consequences of this act. I wasn't gonna be heralded as a person who saved her sister from an unforgivable act, but a criminal who had gone mad with power and killed her master, like a Stray Devil. I was branded a Stray Devil, SS-Class."

"And none of the higher-ups had decided to look into it a bit more?"

She gave a bitter chuckle. "Why would they?"

He decided to wrap his arms around her tightly, embracing the young woman. "I'm sorry you had to go through that. At least you were able to protect your family, even if it did cost you a sisterly bond."

"It's been a few years since that day. I've grown to move on from it, and I just wanted to have my sister back. So I decided to join the Khaos Brigade, thinking I could do something to change all of this."

Kurin's eyes grew wide. This was gonna be difficult.

If he was gonna accept her into his household, he must learn to quell his extreme dislike for them, after what had happened. But over the last few years he had never heard of her in the terrorist organization at all, so it did help. The fact that she left helps too.

"I take it you know me then, through Vivian?"

She broke out of his embrace to sit up to look at him in surprise. "You know Vivian?"

He grinned. "How could I not?" He decided to move to a more important question, shifting his face to a questioning gaze. "Why did you leave?"

"It...it didn't feel right. What I was doing as a part of her team...it just gave me a sense of dread, that this is not what Shirone would've wanted. She may hate me now, but I know deep inside she misses me. Like, if she was here, she would be scolding me for making a decision like this. So now, I willingly left them."

"How did they take your departure?"

"Only the team knows. The rest of the Khaos Brigade doesn't. But they were accepting of it—wait!" She then looked at him suspiciously. "You know Vivian is a part of the Khaos Brigade, even though she's still under Azazel's care?"

He nodded. "Unfortunately. Still, only Vivian, and now you, are the only ones from the Khaos Brigade that I really wouldn't consider as an enemy. Everyone else there is fair game."

"So you know she might betray him and you guys, right?"

He sighed. "Honestly, she could do better. She has to understand it's sometimes not about siding with the strongest to fight the strongest."He gave a chuckle before his next words. "Either she needs to get a hobby other than fighting, or she needs to get laid."

Kuroka couldn't help but suddenly laugh at that blunt statement.

"No I'm serious here! I mean for gods' sake, we don't have the vessel for the Sekiryuutei! We don't even know where the Boosted Gear is right now! There's no rivalry here for our generation." Then he couldn't help himself but laugh too.

"Honest to gods Vivian, she's…well, she's a good person, at least that's what I believe. She just needs to renew herself and find her purpose. Though if she doesn't, I think I'll be fine with that too." He added.

"You two seem close."

"Ha! If only we were much closer than companions. I've seen her in her worst, and believe me, she just wants to focus on getting herself stronger. For what purpose...I don't know yet. She's as secretive as I am sometimes."

"Eh? With this super kind-hearted thing you have for yourself I wouldn't think you'd be the type to go in isolation."

He just smiled. "Well, I guess meeting a certain Fallen Angel helped speed it up."

Neither of them spoke for a while, just letting the silence and the air permeate the room.

The empowered boy made a decision, calling her attention.

"Hey, you know what, I'll help clear your name. You don't deserve having to be on the run, and you certainly don't deserve being away from your sister for so long."

She looked up at him with wide eyes. "But...why?" Her voice had broken slightly. He was being so kind to her, and she felt she didn't deserve it at all, considering he welcomed her in his home for no reason, and not to mention just trespassing his house rings all kinds of problems if it were anyone not named Kurin.

He just shrugged. "Just another wrong that needs to be fixed."

She realized he was different, so much more different.

"Thank you...thank you so much." She embraced him tightly. He responded with an arm around her back and a hand on her head.

"Give it time, and everything will be okay."

Now he just needed a way to communicate with someone to help him on this. A high-class Devil, preferably. A Maou, if that's even possible.

The morning after, Kuroka left Kurin, promising to return very soon.

As for him, he decided to visit someone he hadn't met up in a while.

"Are you saying this would be the last time we're meeting?" He asked, arms crossed as he pointedly stared at Orchintia's troubled face. "You never gave me a heads-up."

"I know, and I apologize for that."

He knew there was no changing it.

"Alright, what do you want to do for today, then, since it's our last meeting? Are we going to do baking?"

To his surprise, the woman shook her head. "No. I want to make this last one worth it."

"How so?" Then he realized what she was implying. "No, no way, you can't possibly...are you going to ask me out on a date?"

The smile on her face answered his question. "Not you too…I get more than enough attention from the girls and now this too. I mean what is it that you all find in me?"

"Is this because I'm too old for you?" She teased. His eyes grew wide.

"N-not at all! I wouldn't mind having to date you and—DAMN IT!" He calmed himself down. "I mean, look, you're a very beautiful woman, and you're good looking in your mid-twenties, and I just think you deserve someone far better than someone like me." He turned away, slightly blushing.

She reached out and caressed his face, which made Kurin turn back to face this beautiful woman. "Oh, Kurin. You're probably the only one who's made me feel this way. I want to make it up to you." She leaned down and kissed his forehead. He felt he was a tad bit burning up from the contact. "Maybe you'll get more than that if our date is successful." She gave a chuckle after that. She moved away from him and started organizing her stuff.

"I'll see you in the weekend." She said, breaking him out of his dazed state.

"O-oh! Alright. And, just to clarify, I can't refuse because I'm still under contract with you, right?" He said.

"That's true. This is your last favor, so make it special for me." She told him.

He felt hesitant. "I...won't let you down, then." He lastly said before he left the house. In his mind he feels the situation getting worse, as he just accepted a date, and he already has three girlfriends.

Orchintia looked back at the open doorway with sad eyes. "Oh, Kurin. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for what happened." Closing the door, she leaned back on the door, collapsed on her knees and broke down crying.

Sometimes, there are certain memories best left forgotten than remembered.

"That was quite the beating you gave to the renegade Kokabiel, Kurin. Like what you're doing now." Azazel said as he was getting beat down by Kurin in their game, grinning.

He shrugged. "It was no trouble. I held back a bit until Vivian came. Once she did, we unloaded our best, and he couldn't even scratch us." The game was over after Kurin knocked out Azazel in the second round.

"Let's talk seriously for a moment, Azazel-san." The boy said, putting down his controller. "You and I both know this incident has caused a wake-up call for all three factions. Is there anything planned?"

"As a matter of fact, I was going to tell you that. The three factions are going to hold a conference regarding that, discuss relations, and probably even renew the peace treaty that's kept us in steady hands for so long."

A hard look passed Kurin's gray eyes. "When?"

"A week from now."

"Where?"

"The school building? It's understandable." Rias said once she was informed the next day.

"I think so too. By all accounts, the human world is the neutral ground for all three factions. Holding it in either Heaven, the Underworld, or in the my faction's HQ would mark suspicion." Raynare said.

"True. That way it would make it that there's no advantage for any of the three factions." Kurin said.

"What do we do, then?" Xenovia asked.

"At this point I'm not sure. We just have to be there, I guess. It depends on what happens." Kurin answered.

"We just have to be ready." Rias finished.

"A week from now...there must be a lot of preparations at this point. And with Parents' Day coming up tomorrow..." Yumi noted.

Parents' Day. The words stuck on Kurin's mind. It would come to haunt him soon.

Just about an hour later, they all went with their club activity for the day, arriving at the swimming pool.

"Yeesh, this hasn't been cleaned for a long time, has it?" Kurin said, looking at the pool and retched at the sight.

Rias nodded. "Unfortunately. It's been quite some time since it had been used, and again, sadly, no one was able to maintain the pool's condition. Originally it was Sona and the student council's duty to clean it, but in return for their assistance in our battle against Kokabiel, I volunteered us to do it. Once it's cleaned up, we then get to be the first to use it!"

"Oh, how nice."

Everyone then went to their changing halls and switched to their cleaning-appropriate clothes. With Kurin being the only guy among them he was alone in the men's changing hall, this gave him time to think and speak with Sellorion.

[So. Serafall.]

'As I said before, I honestly don't know what I might do if I ever see her again. Would I feel anger? Would I actually forgive her and I'd apologize? I don't know.'

[It's been a long time now, Kurin. Serafall still probably feels the same way about you despite what you did.]

'Ha, as if. I regretted it. And now I don't think I can do anything to restore it.'

[Always believe, boy. That girl is more forgiving than you think.]

'How do you know that?'

[I just do.]

'I'll leave that be...for now.'

Meanwhile, on the girls' changing hall, Raynare had been talking to Xenovia as they changed.

"I can assist you with the calligraphy. Trust me, it is difficult initially, but once you get the basics down, it gets easier from there. Well, depending on the person." Raynare suggested.

Xenovia smiled and nodded. "I would be grateful for that, Raynare-san."

"Speaking of which, how did you fare in writing kanji, Raynare-san?" Asia asked.

The fallen angel shrugged. "As I said I had some difficulty when I started, but once I had been able to familiarize myself with the basics, the rest was just a walk in the park. Don't get too worked up about it, you two. You will be fine."

The two girls nodded, and prayed, and of course got a headache from that. Raynare laughed and helped up Asia, while everyone else finished up changing clothes. The girls exited the hall to find Kurin already starting up the cleaning process. The girls quickly got started as well. In no time they finished cleaning the entire pool.

Kurin wiped off the sweat from his forehead. "Nicely done, girls. Now we can get to the fun part."

The boy entered the changing hall and was just as quick to go out as he went in, having only removed his shirt, leaving his toned upper body exposed. He sat down and meditated for a few minutes, before he heard the door from the girls' side open. Looking at the girls' swimsuits, he couldn't help but be mesmerized by their appearances.

Rias, Akeno, and Raynare had all worn a bikini set. Raynare worn an alluring black bikini, the bra doing little to cover much of her large breasts from exposure. Rias wore a similar set, only in white colors this time. And Akeno's was a striped blue and red bikini.

Yumi went with a more modest set, having worn a tank top and shorts. As for Asia and Koneko, they each wore a one-piece swimsuit.

Same goes with most of the girls upon looking at him. Akeno, in particular, felt herself heat up just as she stared at him, with a naughty glint in her eyes, along with a slight tinge of nervousness at the same time, though she didn't know why she felt a bit nervous there.

Kurin let out a deep breath. He had to stop to keep himself from staring too long. "You girls look so amazing."

Raynare giggled. "Thank you, Kurin-kun." She went over and deeply kissed him on the lips, and was soon followed by Rias as well.

Asia, Koneko, and Yumi then separated to do their activities, while Kurin lied on the water, facing the sun.

"Where's Xenovia?"

"Oh, she had some difficulty with changing clothes so she told us to just go on ahead." Asia said.

Kurin nodded in understanding. He decided to do some backstrokes as he lied down floating. That was quickly interrupted by a diving Raynare, who had leaped up and cannonballed into the pool, knocking the poor human out of his calm disposition.

"I'm going to get you for that, Ray-chan." He growled.

She stuck out her tongue in response. "Catch me if you can, then!"

It wasn't like on the ground where Kurin can catch up to his girlfriend with ease, but it didn't mean he wasn't going to catch up to her. So the two raced around, swimming as the boy tried to grab onto the girl that disrupted his swimming session. Eventually he did, leaping up and grabbing her as they fell underwater.

The fallen angel laughed along her boyfriend as they swam underneath the surface. Eventually Kurin caressed Raynare's cheek and pulled her to crush her lips with his as they made out underwater.

Eventually they had to pull away and rise up to the surface.

"Well, that was new." Kurin said after both had caught their breaths.

"Ah, it was such a good feeling. Maybe we can do that again some time." Raynare suggestively said. Kurin didn't speak and instead just went to kiss his black-haired girlfriend again, to which she was more than happy to comply.

Eventually Kurin took a break from swimming and was sitting down on the edge.

'Well, this is going super well for us right now.' He thought to himself. He then heard Rias call to him, and he turned to look at her. He couldn't quite keep his jaw from dropping at the sight of her lying on her belly, with the clasp on her bra unhooked. He gulped.

"You don't mind rubbing oil on my back, right?" She asked as Kurin knelt down.

He calmed down. "Absolutely not, princess." He said, smirking as he grabbed the oil bottle. Like some sort of magic fingers his work on Rias's back was causing her to let out pleasurable moans. He had done this before, and he still hadn't lost his touch despite how long it was since had last done it.

"You like that, my princess?" He whispered onto her ear. Rias's heart began to swell up, and she gasped in pleasure as he worked out the kinks on her shoulders.

"Please just keep doing that!" She said, almost begged.

"Ah, anything for you, love." Kurin chuckled and continued his work. He knew he was making her squirm, in a very good way, and he was kinda getting hard from just doing this and the sounds she was making only made it worse...along with what she was going to ask of him next.

"Ohhhh, I think that's enough on my back." The redhead turned so that her body was facing him. "Now, can you do my front?"

Kurin's eyes grew wide. "You know what I'm doing to you right now, princess. Are you sure you want to take that even further?"

"Would I want it any other way?"

Kurin's grin grew feral. "Keep teasing me like this and I may not control myself." He growled. Sellorion actually awake unlike that time in the bathroom and putting just a bit more of a push into his hormones wasn't helping a lot either. He was aware of that, and he knew he can't really do anything to stop the perverted embodiment from lowering his inhibitions.

"Oh? So you do want this as well." Kurin almost jumped on instinct, if not for Akeno's timely intervention.

"Ara ara~ it seems you two might get started without me." The vice president of the club teased as she pressed her breasts onto the boy's back.

"Akeno!" Rias pouted.

"I'd say it's unfair to not have him for myself too, right, Rias? Kurin-kun?" Akeno replied.

'Ah shit. I feel there's gonna be a petty fight breaking out between these two best friends soon.' He thought.

"Aren't you getting a bit full of yourself, Akeno?" Rias asked after destroying a concrete block, one hand displaying her black-red flame representing her power.

"Is this how you want to settle things, Rias? I'd be happy to oblige." Akeno's hands crackled with lightning, and both unleashed their powers.

While concerned for the three, Raynare also couldn't help but suppress a small laugh. 'Seems like Akeno's getting a bit antsy. Oh, but I better get Asia and Koneko back in the changing halls. I hope Yumi does the same.'

The Fallen Angel ran over to the two girls. "Come on, let's get to somewhere safe." Raynare said and quickly led Asia and Koneko to safety.

Meanwhile back in the pool area, Kurin watched as the two argued.

"You know I can't give him to you just yet!" Rias said, throwing a ball of her power. It deliberately missed the girl by a few inches. "And besides, don't you hate men?"

"Then can I at least have a few moments with him to show him my love?" Akeno replied, throwing a bolt of lightning, and like with Rias, it missed the redhead by a couple of inches as well. "And you're asking that coming from the one who never showed an interest in men because 'they're all the same?'"

"Things have changed!"

"So let me at least show him!"

He had heard enough. He decided to leave the two to vent out on each other as well. 'I'm gonna have a nice, long talk with the two of them, especially Akeno, since I still haven't talked to her about her heritage yet.' Separated from the others, he was instead found by Xenovia.

"Took you long enough, Xenovia-chan." Kurin said. "Though I would understand that this is the first time you've done this?"

The bluenette nodded. "Tell me, do I look...okay?"

Needless to say Kurin was a bit appalled by whoever designed the swimsuit. The cloth barely covered much of her private parts.

"You may need to expand your swimsuit options. But then again, since you're my girlfriend...you look very stunning." He answered.

The girl blushed and turned away, but eventually cleared up and looked back at him.

"I know that look you have right now. You're thinking about a few things, don't you?" Kurin asked, standing up to face her back, pressing his chin onto her right shoulder, arms snaked around her belly.

"I have. And...I was wondering if I can ask you a favor."

"Anything for you, Xenovia."

"Will you bear me a child?"

Despite the battle that raged on at the poolside, it seemed like the boy didn't hear it at all.

"I'm sorry, did I just hear you say that you want to make babies with me?"

"Y-yes."

Kurin sighed. It seemed he may need to knock a bit of sense back into the girl again. They only had been together (as in reunited) for about two/three weeks, and he was hoping everything he told her didn't get forgotten. He decided to drag her with him (with her consent) to an empty shed that was just next to them.

"Any reason why you suddenly had the thought to want us to have sex and bear a child?" He asked, still holding her like before.

"I've...lost my purpose. All my life my purpose has been to serve God. With the revelation...I felt so lost. But...I think I may have found a new one with you. I want to stay by your side. And have your child." She explained.

There were a few minutes of silence before Kurin gave his answer. "You know we are too young to have a child right now, right? Considering we are both humans, the likelihood of you getting knocked up is more likely." He said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, though he did omit one key fact, one he had kept in mind when he had his first time with Raynare and Rias. "We're still in school for gods' sakes. We can't exactly take care of a child while we're still studying."

Xenovia paused. He...may have had a point with that.

"Xenovia-chan, I understand why you thought of it like that. Having lost a purpose after trying to fulfill it for so long only to have it ripped away, it eats a person's sanity. I love that you've found a goal, but maybe you shouldn't think too far ahead." He said.

"I...guess you are correct in that." She conceded. His points were all correct, she realized. She had been thinking too much long-term that she didn't exactly think about the consequences of the present.

"Although that being said..." He started to snake his hands underneath her bra, groping her breasts and tweaking her nipples while kissing and sucking on her neck, causing Xenovia to let out a moan. "With everything that happened earlier...I think I'll have to take up on that offer." He unclasped her bra, and Xenovia, mind now clouded with lust turned to give Kurin a searing hot kiss, as the young human started to trail his hands down her sides...

(No lemon this time people! Moving on...)

Xenovia's first time with Kurin was a memory to last for the former exorcist. The way he had been so gentle and yet in firm control had her reeling hard from the pleasure.

Kurin helped her out in putting on a new set of clothes on, as she felt her soiled panties would definitely embarrass her. The young human put back on his shorts, and gave the bluenette one more kiss as he groped her breasts again. She moaned from the contact, and both eventually pulled away to join the others.

Kurin surmised that Rias and Akeno must've expended their energies, and he was proven right when he saw the damage laid out, not to mention two laid out girls on the pool. Kurin chuckled and jumped right in, followed by Xenovia. And they continued to have fun for the next few hours, arriving back at the clubhouse in the afternoon.

It was only when they arrived back that Raynare noticed something off from Xenovia.

With a mischievous grin on her face she asked, "You had sex with Kurin-kun, didn't you, Xenovia-chan?"

Everyone gasped at the Fallen Angel's words. Xenovia blushed. "Y-yes, I did."

"He was good, wasn't he?" She teased. The former exorcist slowly nodded.

Raynare sighed in contentment. "I hope I get a turn again soon, Kurin-kun." It was Kurin's turn to blush this time, but he just smiled and went over to Xenovia to embrace her, and Raynare after.

Rias...was less than thrilled, but in the end she couldn't really stay mad at her fellow girlfriend and boyfriend. Especially when he went to embrace the redhead as well as give her a kiss.

"Well, it seems you're all having fun." They heard a voice. Turning around, they noticed a white magic circle glowing, and out came the Maou Lucifer, Sirzechs, along with his Queen, Grayfia.

"O-onii-sama?!" Rias asked, shocked to see his arrival.

"Maou-sama?!" The other devils save for Asia bowed down.

"Kurin Salamencia, Asia Argento?" Sirzechs called out.

"Yes, sir?"

The Maou smiled. "Thank you for helping my sister. I've heard many great things about you two."

"Th-thank you, we're flattered to hear that!" Both said, bowing their heads.

"No need to be so tense, as I'm here on personal business."

"Personal business?" Rias questioned.

Xenovia stepped forward and bowed down. "Maou-sama, I am Xenovia. Pleased to meet you, sir."

"It's a pleasure to meet another part of my sister's family. I couldn't believe my ears at first when I heard that the Durandal's wielder joined Rias. Of course, from what I heard, your connection to Kurin made the decision easier, correct?"

Xenovia nodded. "Yes. I want to stay by his side and help him and his friends."

"An admirable choice. I hope you will continue to support the family as one of my sister's kin."

"I could never turn my back on the words of a Maou, especially of one such as the legendary Lucifer. I promise I will do my very best."

"Thank you, Xenovia."

Rias then stepped forward. "I'm guessing you're here because of Parents' Day? And I guess Grayfia was the one to tell you that?"

"Don't be upset at Grayfia, Ria-tan. Father and Mother will be coming too."

"That being said, you're a Maou. You can't just leave your work like this."

"I'm not. I'm also here for another reason."

"The conference for the three factions in Kuoh Academy, right?" Kurin asked.

"Yes." He turned to the boy, curious as to how he knew. "How did you know it would be held here?"

"I got it from a good friend known as Azazel." Kurin grinned as he answered this. He knew he got the Maou's curiosity now.

"The Salamencia household. It's been a long time." Sirzechs said. Sirzechs and Grayfia went with everyone who lived with Kurin at his house, welcomed by both Xuelan and Kalawarner as they all sat at the dinner table to eat, courtesy of Kurin, Xuelan, Kalawarner, and Grayfia.

"It has been, hasn't it, Lucifer-sama?" Kurin asked as he served up the last plate of food, and everyone began to eat.

"Please, Kurin, call me Sirzechs-san."

Kurin shrugged. "Alright, I guess."

"It's been difficult, hasn't it?" The question got everyone's attention, and they all listened in.

"It has. I mean I'd like to think I've moved on, but it's clear I'm still rattled by what happened those years ago."

"You still haven't repaired your friendship with her?"

"No. I blamed her the most, you know. It wouldn't be far off that she still hates me for it."

Sirzechs shook his head. "I guarantee you, Kurin, she's never hated you. Talk to her tomorrow. She'll be there."

Kurin gulped. "I'm...I'm not sure..."

"She still loves you, you know."

"I wish I could believe that." Kurin left the table, having already finished his food, and went for the roof. Sirzechs sighed. The only way Kurin could believe him was if Serafall told him that herself.

"Not to worry, girls. Me and Grayfia will handle the dishes." Sirzechs said. Despite Grayfia's look otherwise, the Maou wasn't going to let her stop him from helping his best friend.

"How do you like your stay so far, Sirzechs-san?" Kurin asked as he sat up, looking at the Maou lying on the makeshift bed, his girlfriends fast asleep. "I do apologize for...well, you know."

"No, it's fine. If I'll be perfectly honest, Kurin-kun, it's perfect. Back home, nobody would've ever treated me like a normal guest in their home. I've always been treated very lavishly, and sometimes it gets tiring. You're one of the first to just treat me as a normal guest. I thank you for it. And also for earlier, it'll be fine." Sirzechs answered.

Kurin smiled. "I guess, and also it's no problem. I guess sometimes even Maou need a break from the lifestyle they have."

"Very much so, might I add. These are welcome breaks from the norm."

He added, "And comparing Rias when she was in the Underworld to the Rias now, I've never seen her as cheerful and happy as she is today. I thank you for that too."

"Honestly, I just...I don't know."

"Hm? About what, exactly?"

"I mean, I love her, that's true. But I also love the others, some even more so than just being friends, you know. Obviously there's Raynare, who's my first girlfriend, then there's Xenovia too. I mean, is it okay for that? I'm conflicted, and I know this...harem is gonna grow as time passes."

Sirzechs gave out a soft laugh. "Devils may be a possessive sort, but you're not a Devil, correct? Still as human as you were. Just as long as you love them all equally, you will be fine. And judging by how you treat your current girlfriends, even as your lovers increase, I do think you will be able to maintain your love for them. So long as you take care of my sister."

"I will. I may not exactly like the idea of a harem too much, but I'll love them and take care of them to the best of my ability."

"That's good to know, Kurin-kun. I'm curious as to how you met Azazel. Admittedly you had my attention when you learned about the conference from him."

Kurin let out a soft laugh. "Met him? We're practically gaming buddies! He's honestly a good guy, and we had talked a lot about what had happened with Kokabiel before, during, and after the incident. He needed my help, but at the same time he was vital to Kokabiel's defeat. He was the one who told me when and where it will take place."

"I see. Did he display an interest in your Sacred Gear? He is a collector of sorts."

"He told me himself that despite his interest, he just wasn't willing to risk war for collecting and studying them."

"Is that right? Interesting. For Azazel to do that, it shows his willingness to truly desire peace above all else. Though he is still curious about them, surely, it's good to know this. He isn't a warmonger like Kokabiel after all. He had sentenced him to eternal imprisonment in ice once all was said and done regarding his trial."

"Good to know."

"I also want to speak to you on another matter, Kurin-kun."

"Sure, what is it?"

"It is about my closest friend, Grayfia."

Kurin gained a confused look. "Eh? What about her? I thought she was your wife? I noticed that you called her as your closest friend. Aren't you two married?"

He shook his head. "We did try dating in the past, but we agreed to split on amicable terms. At the end of the day, we were still King and Queen, but we're just best friends now. I have found someone I can call my wife, but Grayfia still hasn't."

"Oh dear gods not this too..." Kurin groaned. He was dreading what he was going to say next.

"Kurin, after the conference, would it be of no problem for you if she stays with you for a while?"

"Yep, now I'm dreading it." He said, falling back down to the bed.

Sirzechs laughed.

Kurin sighed. "I guess it shouldn't be too much of a problem. But at this point I might have to buy a bigger house. There's so many of us living here! The house will be overcrowded soon." With more than the limited number, and having a feeling that more will eventually move to live with him, he is gonna need a bigger house.

"We'll find a way." He told him. "Goodnight, Kurin-kun." With that, the Maou went off to sleep.

'First the arrival of Kuroka, then a date with Orchintia, and then inevitably meeting Serafall again, and now this. What has become of my life...'

Kurin closed his eyes, despite annoyance of his companion.

'Ah, and speaking of Kuroka, I'm gonna have to talk to Sirzechs about her case.'

Sleep came easy for the boy despite the conflicting thoughts in his mind once he calmed himself.

AN: Right, so, finally got this done, and I can't believe Kurin's already got three more girls on his back in one chapter. Damn that guy's making moves, intentional or not, even if he doesn't like the results.

So, this chapter kickstarts the next arc, and by then, we'll be able to know a lot more about Kurin, and the past he holds. Also, expect our poor immortal lovable idiot to break down pretty hard. He'll get better, though, no worries.

I was thinking about writing a lemon for this chapter, but alas I wasn't confident enough to write up another. I even tried to write it through, but nerves took over, and I decided to not write one for the chapter.

So, as always, leave a review and let me know of your thoughts. Until then, see y'all on the next update.