*Chirp* *Chirp*

Akeno slowly opened her eyes in a daze before looking around. Thankfully, it didn't take long for her to remember where she was.

'What time is it?'

She didn't have a clock, but it was clear that it was already quite some time since the sun decided to shine upon the world.

Yesterday, after eating with Azrael and the other, she was given the opportunity to take a bath before receiving some pajamas and a pair of underwear as a change. She could feel that they were totally new so this made her feel even more thankful.

'How long has it been since I felt such warmth?'

She didn't remember. Even though her tragedy only began one year and a half ago, for her, it felt like an eternity. She was so happy that she cried at the dinner table. Still, no one seemed to see it. No one tried to use words to comfort her. That, more than anything was what made her happy.

The same words coming from different people had different effects. Some words, when told by a loved one were a proof of care and love, but when told by strangers were nothing more than platitude and a burden.

People always gave her flat responses such as "I can understand your pain.", "Everything will be alright."

What could they understand? How could they be so sure that everything would be alright? She hated those words. She hated being comforted by people who knew nothing about her but acted as if they were some kind of know it all.

'No, it's not as if they did nothing.'

She still remembered the pat on the head Azrael gave her. It was a heavy one, full of warmth and meaning.

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'Hehe, that Oni-san is really kind.'

A smile formed on her face as she remembered that pat. She didn't feel any falsehood in him. Only a calm and gentle aura.

"Sadly I need to go."

She wanted to stay for a little more, but she knew she couldn't. She knew that sooner or later, the members of the Himejima clan would catch her, and then, most likely... she will die.

'I don't want to die.'

The little girl curled on herself as she thought of the destiny that would soon befall her. But, more than her desire to stay alive,

'I don't want anyone to die because of me.'

Akeno was an unfortunate little girl. One plagued with sadness, suffering, and misfortune. But, despite all those trials, her heart was never polluted with darkness and hatred. She was still and would always be a gentle little girl.

'I need to go.'

Gathering her resolve, she decided to sneak out of the house. She changed and wore back her Miko clothes, before walking out of the room and beginning to walk toward the exit. The house was really huge, but Azrael had already shown her the way.

Still, she was rather surprised when she opened the door,

"Hello. Did you sleep well? I was waiting for you."

There, on the lawn, a golden-haired boy stood with a cheeky smile.

---

While Azrael surprised Akeno. An event that would most likely trouble them greatly was preparing. Somewhere on the other side of the town, completely at the opposite of Azrael house, a large manor stood.

If Azrael's house had the gaudiness of that of an upstart, then this one emanated a noble and ancient aura.

This house wasn't just a simple house though. After all, not anyone could see it. The house was so heavily warded that even a few High class might not be able to enter it without the permission of the owner of the house.

In the house, a little girl walking with determined steps a rather angry expression on her face,

"Why did Uncle Agrippa accept to permit those men to enter the territory."

She couldn't understand. Those guys came and asked them to not intervene during their hunt. She was sure that her uncle would have refused. But surprisingly, he didn't.

'What does it mean? How could we allow people to come and kill others in our territory?' She couldn't accept it.

Despite her angry face, the girl was truly eye catching. Her most distinctive features being her deep scarlet hair.

"Rias-Sama please calm yourself. You should understand that Agrippa didn't make this decision because he wished to do so. We can't afford to go against one of the five principal clans. Otherwise, the japanese gods might intervene."

The girl was Rias. More precisely, Rias Gremory. The heiress of the Gremory house. Hearing those words, Rias clenched her fist before stopping.

She turned and faced the woman who stopped her. It was a very beautiful woman. She was a beautiful young woman appearing to be in her early twenties with back-length silver hair that features a long braid on each side with small blue bows at the ends, while the rest is let down which ends in twin braids and red eyes.

Her most distinctive features weren't her incredible beauty but rather the maid clothes she was wearing a blue and white French maid outfit with long sleeves and a white maid headband over her head with red lipstick as a cosmetic accessory.

"Grayfia, I know that it's necessary but can we really stay silent as those men's goal is to search and kill a little girl the same age as me? A girl who committed absolutely no sin?"

Grayfia sighed, truthfully it would be a lie to say she was ok with it. But, this wasn't the underworld. She might be the strongest queen, but in the face of a god, she was still a few ranks below. Only the four satan could fight against god class beings but calling Sirzech for something that had technically absolutely nothing with the Gremory or the devils as a whole was obviously impossible.

She slowly explained all this to Rias, but this didn't seem to deter her. In fact, this brought a greater drive. Soon, a bright smile lit up on her face, basically screaming, EUREKA.

"I understand the situation. Right now we cannot act without causing tension. But, what if she became my servant. As my servant, she would be protected by the Gremory house. Right?"

Grayfia stayed silent at this. It was truly a good idea. But,

"Two problems. Firstly, nothing says that she will be willing to become a devil, and more importantly, where could she be?"