DW DXD Remastered Chapter 14: A Home Left Behind (Patreon)

Fuyuki Church

The grand hall of the Fuyuki Church lay steeped in solemn candlelight, rows of wavering flames lining the stone walls casting shadows that stretched and twisted across the vaulted ceiling. The pews were empty, yet the air itself felt crowded, heavy with intent, judgment, and consequence.

Standing atop the altar was Father Kotomine Risei, the overseer of the Holy Grail War. His posture was rigid and composed, but his expression was carved from the same unyielding stone as the church around him.

‘Tokiomi had made his decision.’ He reflected coolly. ‘And as his ally, it is my duty to ensure the war unfolds according to his vision. A shame, that I must dirty my hands in politics rather than faith but such is the nature of this conflict.’

“In accordance with my duties as overseer of this Holy Grail War,” Risei intoned, “I hereby announce a grave violation of its sacred rules.” He declared, his tone measured and heavy as his voice echoed through the hollow sanctuary, calm and resonant. The candles flickered as if reacting to his words.

“Caster’s Master has engaged in acts of aggression against those uninvolved in this conflict,” he continued evenly. “Civilians: men, women, and children, who bore no role in the Holy Grail War.”

He brought his hands together, fingers interlaced in a gesture that mimicked prayer. Yet there was no mercy in his eyes, no hesitation in his voice.

“As such,” Risei declared, “in the name of the Holy Church, I hereby issue a decree.” The air seemed to tighten around him. “I offer a Command Seal as recompense to any Master who successfully eliminates this criminal.”

There was no room for appeal. No room for doubt. The verdict had already been decided elsewhere, sealed by Tokiomi’s will long before it reached this altar. Risei was merely the instrument that gave it legitimacy.

And so the message was spread.

As Whisperers came through familiars and bounded spells. Carried by unseen hands and murmured in candlelit rooms. One by one, the Masters of the Holy Grail War received the decree.

All of them, save one.

Unaware that a price had been placed upon his life, Issei Hyoudou remained beyond the Church’s reach… even as the war quietly shifted its gaze toward him.

—-----------------------------------------

Fuyuki Hyatt Hotel, Kayneth’s Suite

Kayneth Archibald El-Melloi slowly swirled a glass of deep crimson wine, watching the liquid coil along the crystal like fresh blood caught in candlelight. The faint clink of ice against glass was the only sound as his sharp eyes narrowed in thought.

“A Command Seal…” He murmured, reclining into his chair with aristocratic poise. “How generous of the Church.”

A bounty, issued openly and sanctified by authority. Caster’s Master had been marked. The implication was clear: one reckless fool had crossed a line, and now the rest of the Masters were being invited and encouraged to erase him. A Command Seal was no trivial reward. It was power, leverage, and a form of insurance. And if the target truly was as irresponsible as Risei claimed, then this was an opportunity wrapped in divine sanction.

Nearby, Sola-Ui stood with her arms crossed, the warm glow of the suite’s lighting carving sharp shadows across her elegant features. Irritation radiated from her like static. “How convenient,” She scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. “An official excuse to act. Or do you intend to keep hiding behind Lancer while others seize the initiative?”

Kayneth’s grip tightened imperceptibly around the stem of his glass. A lesser man might have snapped. Might have risen to the bait. But Kayneth was not a lesser man. He was a Lord of the Clock Tower, a man of pedigree, intellect, and restraint.

He set the glass down with deliberate care, the soft clink echoing in the silence.

‘How predictable,’ He thought coolly. ‘She confuses patience for fear, preparation for cowardice. The ignorance is almost impressive.’

“Caster’s Master is a fool,” He said aloud, tone smooth and composed. “To violate the war’s rules so openly speaks to a lack of discipline. If the Church has deemed him unworthy, then eliminating him is not cruelty, it is correction.”

Sola-Ui laughed under her breath. “You talk of honor. Such a pretty word. And yet here you sit, while others act. Admit it, Kayneth, without Lancer, you’d already be irrelevant.”

His jaw tightened, eyes flicking toward her with restrained irritation. “She understands nothing,” he thought. Nothing of true magecraft. Nothing of strategy or the weight of command.’

“Do not mistake caution for weakness, Sola-Ui,” he replied evenly. “Unlike brutes who squander their strength, I choose my battles. A proper magus survives long enough to win.”

She turned away with a dismissive breath, her attention shifting to the tall figure standing silently near the wall. “And what about you, Lancer?” She asked, her tone softening just slightly. “Do you not tire of waiting? Or are you content to remain an obedient dog?”

For a moment, Lancer said nothing. Then he lifted his gaze, emerald eyes steady and unreadable. There was a pause, brief, but meaningful before he spoke. “I am a knight,” He said calmly. “My spear exists to serve my lord’s will.”

A faint smile tugged at Kayneth’s lips. ‘As it should be,’ he thought smugly. ‘At least one of you understands loyalty.’

He rose from his chair, smoothing the sleeves of his immaculate coat as he strode toward the expansive window overlooking Fuyuki. The city lights glittered below like scattered jewels. 

“Lancer,” Kayneth declared, his voice carrying quiet authority, “We will eliminate Caster’s Master at the earliest opportunity. A participant who disregards the rules has no place in this war. This will be our first decisive move.”

Lancer inclined his head. “As you command, my lord.”

Kayneth allowed himself a small, satisfied smirk. ‘Yes… this is how it should be. The war will move when I decide it moves.’

Behind him, Sola-Ui exhaled sharply, shaking her head. “I wonder,” She muttered, almost to herself, “whether you’re truly planning ahead… or merely chasing a victory that keeps slipping through your fingers.”

Kayneth did not respond. There was no need to waste words on someone who failed to understand the game.

—----------------------------

Eisenberg Castle

Kiritsugu Emiya sat alone in the dimly lit study, fingers tapping a slow, deliberate rhythm against the edge of the wooden table. The muted glow of a nearby monitor washed over his sharp features, throwing long shadows across his face and doing little to soften the hard, unreadable expression carved into it.

‘A Command Seal.’ The thought lingered, heavy and unwelcome. ‘The Church has just placed a bounty on Caster’s Master. That alone is abnormal. The Holy Grail War was many things, bloody, secretive, merciless but it followed a structure. A set of rules enforced through implication and fear rather than open decree. The Church, despite its lofty claims of neutrality, usually preferred to remain in the background, guiding events with quiet authority rather than overt action. And yet now, they have acted openly and publicly. Offering a Command Seal as payment for an execution.’

Across from him, Irisviel shifted in her chair, her silver hair spilling over her shoulder as her crimson eyes studied him closely. There was concern there, concern she didn’t bother to hide. “That announcement…” she said quietly. “Something about it doesn’t feel right.”

Kiritsugu exhaled through his nose, gaze never leaving the screen. “Obviously. The Church doesn’t care about civilians.”

Irisviel frowned. “Then why would they go out of their way to—”

“Honestly?” Kiritsugu cut in, his voice flat, stripped of warmth. “I don’t know.” He paused, fingers stilling for just a moment. “If Tokiomi and the Church are working together, then this isn’t about justice. And I can’t see what they gain from eliminating Caster’s Master. The timing is too convenient.”

His mind churned, running through possibilities at a speed few could follow. ‘Was this a calculated purge, meant to thin the field early? A smokescreen to draw attention away from another move? Or something more personal, something tied to Tokiomi himself?’

Whatever the truth was, Kiritsugu was certain of one thing.

There was another layer to this.

He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers as he stared at the frozen image on the screen. If nothing else, the Church’s decree had created a very obvious outcome.

Caster’s Master was now a beacon. Every ambitious, desperate, or opportunistic Master in Fuyuki would be drawn toward that bounty. Their attention would shift. Their movements would become predictable.

‘A useful distraction,’ Kiritsugu thought. “Maiya,” he said quietly out loud.

From the shadows at the edge of the room, Maiya Hisau straightened instantly, posture rigid and precise. Her dark eyes were calm, focused—awaiting instruction.

“Have you found anything on Caster’s Master?”

Maiya didn’t hesitate. “No. I searched extensively, but there is no trace of him. No records, no surveillance hits. Hyoudou Issei doesn’t exist in any database I can access.”

Kiritsugu’s fingers resumed their steady tapping. ‘Hyoudou Issei. A name with no history. No trail. No footprint.’ That bothered him more than any confirmed threat.

Either the boy was extraordinarily skilled at staying hidden… or he wasn’t playing by the rules of magecraft at all. Neither possibility was reassuring.

“Hm.” Kiritsugu exhaled slowly, pushing the thought aside for now. Curiosity could wait. Opportunities could not. “Then we should use this chaos to our advantage.”

Maiya’s eyes sharpened. “Our next target?”

“Another Master.” Kiritsugu’s gaze hardened. “Do we have the location of Lancer’s Master?”

Maiya nodded. “Kayneth Archibald El-Melloi. He is currently staying at the Hyatt Hotel.”

A cold, humorless smile tugged at Kiritsugu’s lips. ‘Kayneth. A Lord of the Clock Tower. Proud. Arrogant. Shackled to outdated notions of honor and prestige. The kind of man who believed battles were announced, formal, and fair. The kind of man who would never expect a bullet through the heart from a place he couldn’t see.’

“Then we start preparing,” Kiritsugu said, his tone final.

Across the room, Irisviel watched him closely. There was sadness in her eyes but not surprise, not fear. Just the quiet understanding of someone who knew this man better than anyone else.

She knew that once Kiritsugu chose a path, there was no hesitation. No mercy. No room for doubt. Only results.

—----------------------------------

Waver’s Apartment

The announcement had barely finished echoing in his ears when Waver Velvet shot up from his chair, nearly knocking it over as he began pacing through the cramped apartment like a trapped animal.

“A Command Seal… an actual Command Seal,” He muttered excitedly, raking a hand through his already messy hair. His thoughts spiraled faster with every step. “Th-that’s a huge deal, isn’t it? An extra order… or an extra trump card. With that I could—Rider could—.”

His voice faltered, as the possibilities crashed into one another until none of them felt solid anymore.

Across the room, Rider was sprawled comfortably on the floor, legs crossed, completely at ease. He tipped back an entire can of beer in one go, letting out a satisfied sigh as if the Church’s announcement had been nothing more than background noise.

Waver stopped pacing and turned on him. “Should we—”

“No.” The word came out of Rider calmly, firm, and absolute.

Waver flinched. “B-But—”

“No,” Rider repeated, this time setting the empty can down with a solid thud. He didn’t even look up at Waver. “We are warriors, not vultures.” His voice carried an unshakable certainty. “Caster and that boy, Issei, are enemies worth facing properly on the battlefield. Not as prey chased for scraps tossed out by some priest playing politics.” He scoffed, finally lifting his gaze, crimson eyes gleaming with disdain. “A true king does not soil himself scrambling for cheap rewards.”

Waver swallowed, his shoulders slumping as the tension drained from him, replaced by something heavier. “R-right… yeah. Of course.” Even as he said it, his stomach twisted. ‘A Command Seal isn’t just a reward, it’s power. Every other Master in the war would be sharpening their knives right now, eyes fixed on the same target. Ignoring it felt reckless. Dangerous. What if for ignoring it we are falling behind? What if this was the one chance we’d regret letting slip away?’

But Rider’s conviction was absolute, solid and immovable. And Waver didn’t have the strength to challenge it.

Rider’s stern expression vanished in an instant, replaced by his usual broad grin as he cracked open another can of beer. “Good! Now stop pacing like a nervous scribe and sit down already.” He laughed, loud and booming. “You’re making me dizzy.”

Waver groaned softly, dropping back onto the couch. “…I hate how confident you are.”

Rider only laughed harder in response.

—-------------------------------

Fuyuki, Residential District

The afternoon passed in deceptive calm, the air filled with nothing more than the distant hum of traffic and the muted voices of townsfolk going about their day. Sunlight bathed the residential district in warm hues, lending the quiet streets an almost peaceful veneer.

High above it all, perched atop a weathered telephone pole, an owl watched the town below.

Its feathers were mottled and unremarkable, allowing it to blend seamlessly into the urban skyline, but its eyes were anything but ordinary. Deep crimson irises glinted with cold awareness as the creature surveyed the streets below, its head rotating with slow, unnatural precision.

Its gaze settled on a single house, tucked away in a quieter corner of the neighborhood.

The familiar had been patient.

Hours earlier, it had latched onto its true target, not the house, but the boy who had come limping through the streets. Wet clothes clung to his body, sand still caught in his hair, blood faintly staining his sleeves. A brown-haired teenager, injured, exhausted… yet still moving forward.

The owl had followed him from afar, gliding from rooftop to rooftop, pole to pole, never once revealing its presence. No reckless dives. No careless shadows. Just silent observation.

Now, the boy had finally stopped and he had entered the house below.

The owl’s head tilted slightly, pupils narrowing. So this is where the master’s daughter was being held.

Whether the boy knew it or not, he had led the watcher exactly where it wanted to be. And if this place truly sheltered the girl they sought, if Sakura was here.

Then the hunt was far from over.

The owl remained motionless, a silent sentinel against the sky, sending its location and waiting for the next order… or the next opportunity to strike.

—-------------------------------------

Tokiomi’s Study, Tohsaka Manor

Tokiomi Tohsaka slowly lowered the enchanted mirror resting atop his desk. The rippling image faded, leaving behind only polished glass and the lingering sight of a brown-haired boy disappearing into an unfamiliar home.

His expression remained composed but his eyes were distant and calculating.

‘So that is where they have been hiding.’ The location etched itself into his thoughts. A quiet residential house. Modest and civilian. Out of place in a war of magi and legendary heroes. The boy, Caster’s Master, had entered with an unsteady gait, his movements stiff, weakened, injured and vulnerable. ‘And more importantly, Sakura is there.’

Tokiomi’s fingers tightened against the edge of his desk, the polished wood creaking faintly beneath his grip.

‘That boy had taken her. Sheltered her. Poisoned her mind. There was no other explanation for her defiance.’

Sakura had never spoken to him that way before. Never looked at him with that mixture of fear and resentment. Never rejected him outright. Such behavior did not simply emerge on its own, not from his little girl raised to obey and accept her role.

‘It must be Caster’s influence,’ He concluded coldly. ‘Hypnosis. Manipulation. Emotional corruption.’

More regrettable still was the setting. According to his records, the residence belonged to civilians, a single mother and her daughter. People with no involvement in the Holy Grail War. Tokiomi felt a faint, passing displeasure at the thought of innocents being endangered. But only a faint one.

‘Rescuing Sakura comes first.’ He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, steadying himself. The path forward was clear, necessary and inevitable.

Tokiomi reached for the antique telephone resting at the corner of his desk and dialed without hesitation.

—----------------------------------------

Fuyuki Church

The phone rang only once before it was answered.

“Master Tokiomi.” Came Kirei Kotomine’s calm, uninflected voice.

“I have located my daughter,” Tokiomi said, his tone measured, authoritative. “Sakura is being kept inside a civilian residence occupied by Caster’s Master.”

A brief silence followed as Kirei absorbed the information. “And what are your instructions?” he asked evenly.

Tokiomi steepled his fingers atop the desk. “Eliminate Caster’s Master. Secure Sakura and return her to me.” His voice hardened slightly. “As for the other occupants… they are irrelevant. Avoid harming them if possible. Their memories can be erased afterward.”

A pause.

“And Archer?” Kirei asked.

Tokiomi’s fingers twitched. “No.” The answer was immediate, sharp. “We do not need to inform him.”

Gilgamesh could not be involved. The King of Heroes had already grown dangerously fixated on the boy. If Archer learned of the operation, he would abandon any semblance of cooperation and turn the mission into a spectacle, one that endangered Sakura above all else.

“This task is yours,” Tokiomi continued. “And Assassin’s. Handle it quietly and efficiently.”

Another moment of silence stretched between them, thin, taut, but unbroken.

“…Understood,” Kirei replied at last.

The line then went dead.

Tokiomi leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly as the weight of the decision settled in. The wheels had been set in motion. There would be no turning back now.

By dawn, Caster’s Master would be erased. And Sakura—

‘Sakura would be home.’

—------------------------------------------

Hana Residence

The air inside Hana’s small home felt heavy, thick with tension that pressed down on everyone like an unseen weight. Despite the quiet, an unspoken understanding had settled over the room as the last of their belongings were gathered. 

Yuuka tightened her grip on the strap of her bag, her fingers trembling despite her effort to stay composed. She cast a glance toward Misuki, who sat rigidly on the couch, hands clasped together in her lap, lips drawn into a thin line. The stillness of her posture betrayed how much she was holding back.

“This is… really happening,” Yuuka muttered, her voice barely louder than a breath.

Misuki let out a slow exhale, the rise and fall of her shoulders the only sign of how deeply she was steadying herself. “Apparently so.”

They weren’t just leaving a house behind. They were leaving a life. This place held Yuuka’s childhood, scraped knees, loud arguments, laughter echoing down the hallway, quiet nights when everything felt okay. Every corner was soaked in memory. And yet, none of that mattered when weighed against what waited for them if they stayed.

Both women turned their gaze toward Issei.

He stood there, bandaged and exhausted, his body still bearing the cost of the battles he’d fought but his eyes were clear, determined and unyielding. He looked like someone who had already decided there was no turning back.

Misuki straightened slightly. “We’re with you,” she said, her voice firm despite the uncertainty in her chest. “No matter where this takes us.”

Yuuka let out a shaky chuckle, blinking rapidly as she forced back tears. “Yeah. Can’t exactly let you wander off and get yourself killed without supervision, can we?”

Issei rubbed the back of his head, smiling sheepishly. “I really do appreciate it. More than I can say.” And as he looked at them, at the two people willing to uproot their entire lives just to stand beside him, something warm settled in his chest. Whatever lay ahead, he wouldn’t be facing it alone.

Across the room, Sakura stood quietly, fingers curled around the hem of her dress. She had barely spoken since the packing began, simply watching as everyone moved with purpose. Unlike the others, she had no memories tied to this place. This wasn’t her home.

Then again… had she ever truly had one?

Even at her age, Sakura understood something cruel and simple, the world had never given her a place where she belonged.

But then her thoughts drifted to Issei.

To the way he had charged into hell without hesitation. To the pain he had endured without complaint. To the way he had protected her, not because he was told to, not because he expected anything in return, but simply because he couldn’t stand to leave her suffering.

Her mind then flickered to her father. To distant, hollow memories of the Tohsaka household. To the suffocating darkness of the Matou estate and the pain that had defined her existence for so long.

Compared to that, this warmth. This loud, messy, genuine kindness. She didn’t want to lose it.

Steeling herself, Sakura took a deep breath and stepped forward until she stood beside Issei. “I…” Her voice trembled, but she forced herself to continue. “I want to come with you.”

Issei blinked, surprised, not by the request itself, but by how much courage it had taken her to say it. Before he could respond, she quickly added, “If… if it’s okay for me to come.”

He hesitated only for a heartbeat. To him, the answer was obvious. “Of course,” he said gently with a smile.

Sakura released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. The future was still terrifying, still unknown but for now, she felt safe. She could stay with her hero.

Leaning against the doorway, Tamamo-no-Mae observed the scene with a knowing smirk, her golden eyes glinting with amusement.

“Good, good,” She hummed, tilting her head playfully. “About time my dear husband started taking responsibility~!”

Issei shot her a flat look. “I was always taking responsibility.”

She giggled behind her sleeve. “Not nearly enough, darling. But now~ you’ll finally get to introduce me to my wonderful in-laws! I simply can’t wait to make a good impression.”

Yuuka and Misuki exchanged wary glances at the sheer confidence in Tamamo’s tone.

Issei sighed, rubbing his temple. Explaining everything to his parents, about his injuries, Sakura, the fact that he now had an eccentric fox-wife, and on top of that, a girlfriend with her mother, was already starting to give him a headache. And that didn’t even cover where Hana’s family would stay.

Still despite the teasing, there was something undeniably sincere in Tamamo’s words.

She was really happy. Not just because Issei was finally moving forward but because they all were. Together.

And because, in her own mind, she was already one step closer to becoming a proper wife.

But then it happened all too fast.

“Get back!” Sherri’s warning barely had time to register before the explosion ripped through the house.

The walls buckled outward as if struck by a giant’s fist. Glass shattered into glittering shards, furniture was hurled across the room, and the floor split with a deafening crack. Heat and dust swallowed everything, choking the air and erasing the warmth that had once filled the home. In a single violent instant, Hana’s house ceased to exist as anything recognizable, reduced to wreckage and smoke.

Issei barely managed to stay on his feet. His body screamed in protest, injuries from earlier battles flaring as instinct forced him to move. Pain slowed him, dulled his reactions—but his senses still screamed one word.

Danger.

As the dust began to settle, a tall figure stepped calmly through the ruined remains.

A priest, Kirei Kotomine, clad in dark priestly robes, he moved with an eerie serenity, as though he were merely walking down a quiet hallway rather than standing in the aftermath of an explosion. His gaze swept over them with cold efficiency. Behind him, various shadows shifted.

Assassins. Dozens of them. Phasing in and out of existence, their presence pressing down like a suffocating veil of death.

Kirei exhaled softly. “Master Tokiomi wishes for the return of his daughter,” He said, his tone flat, almost in a bored tone. “Your continued existence has become… inconvenient.”

Issei forced himself forward, ribs burning as he raised his arms into a defensive stance. Every breath hurt, but he refused to back down. “You’re really bad at knocking,” he muttered.

Kirei didn’t reply as instead he moved. The distance between him and Issei closed as he vanished in an instant and appeared next to the injured brown haired boy.

Then a fist slammed into Issei’s ribs before he could fully react. Even with Sherri forcing Reinforcement through his battered body, something cracked, pain exploded as he was sent skidding across the shattered floor. The pain was instant and intense as it seared through his body.

He barely recovered before Kirei was on him again, his continuous strikes relentless.

A palm strike crushed into his chest. A knee drove into his stomach, stealing his breath. A backhand snapped his head sideways.

Issei gasped, barely managing to block the next strike. His limbs felt heavy and sluggish. The exhaustion from Gilgamesh’s fight had finally caught up to him.

‘Damn it…!’ He tried to summon the Boosted Gear. But nothing. His body simply didn’t have anything left to give and the priest didn’t give him time to center himself.

Kirei watched him with cold, clinical eyes, delivering another crushing blow.  “This is simply your limit.”

Issei hit the ground hard, the impact rattling through his bones.

“““Issei!”””

Just before Tamamo could do anything to help her master, the multiple Assassins moved. Their orders were clear: kill everyone except Sakura.

Yuuka and Misuki barely had time to scream before masked figures lunged at them, blades flashing in the dim light. Another broke away, moving straight for Sakura. 

They had no weapons and were completely defenseless with no magecraft or chance to fight back. And yet the daggers never reached them.

A shimmering golden barrier bloomed into existence, layered and absolute. The blades struck it and rebounded violently, forcing the Assassins back in confusion.

The air cracked. The temperature shifted. Something ancient stirred. Tamamo-no-Mae stepped forward as the playful smile was gone. Her golden eyes burned beneath the flickering light of destruction, filled with something old, cruel, and divine. Four radiant tails flared behind her, their presence alone warping the air.

Even Kirei paused.

Tamamo glanced at Issei’s broken form on the ground, her expression darkening. “You know,” she said softly, her voice dripping with venom, “I’ve been very patient. Letting my dear husband handle things.” She raised one delicate hand and summoned her mirror allowing it to float in the air. “But I think it’s time I reminded you why my name is feared in legend.”

Power exploded outward.

Curses flooded the air, thick, suffocating, malignant. The atmosphere itself seemed to crush down upon the Assassins. Their movements slowed. Their limbs trembled.

“Oops~!” Tamamo giggled darkly. “Did I just drain all your strength? How clumsy of me!”

One Assassin lunged. But Tamamo flicked her fingers and Violet fire engulfed him.

It wasn’t a simple flame as it annihilated the Assassin. He didn’t even have time to scream before he was erased from existence.

It was then that Kirei moved. A blur of motion aiming straight for Issei to use him as a shield. His fist surged with prana, aimed directly at Issei’s heart.

But it struck nothing as Issei vanished into Tamamo’s arms.

Her voice rang out behind him, sharp with fury. “You will pay,” she hissed. “How dare you hurt my darling.”

Raw, malicious energy slammed into Kirei, launching him through the remains of a wall. The curse coiled into his body like serpents, draining prana, poisoning his strength.

He forced himself upright but it was too slow.

Tamamo was already there.

Her claws tore through the air, unleashing a crescent of power that shredded his coat and seared into his ribs.

Pain. Real pain surged through his body as Kirei’s eyes narrowed. Seeing that the situation was becoming too dangerous.

It is then that Tamamo’s tails lashed out, scattering the remaining Assassins. One misstepped as she snapped her fingers and the Assassin froze.

A glowing sigil ignited beneath him, binding and absolute. Spectral chains of fire erupted from the ground, wrapping around his body and dragging him screaming into nothingness.

“Oops!” Tamamo laughed. “Guess he won’t be reporting back~!”

Fear quickly spread and Kirei took stock of the battlefield.

Many Assassins were decimated. Caster’s master was injured, but alive. The others were protected and couldn’t be used as hostages. This mission had failed.

“…Retreat.” Seeing no point Kirei gave the command to return.

Tamamo wasn’t about to let them leave but stopped as she heard her husband's pained groan.

The remaining Assassins vanished into the night with Kirei following behind, disappearing just as another surge of Tamamo’s magic tore through the ruined house.

Silence fell.

Tamamo clicked her tongue. “Tch. Figures they’d run the moment things got interesting.”

Issei groaned, slowly opening his eyes. He desperately wanted to stay where he was as he felt really warm and protected but reality dragged him back. With effort, he pushed himself upright, breathing hard.

Issei slowly opened his eyes, he wanted to continue being in Tamamo’s hug as her breasts are healing his broken body but they were still getting attacked and with that thought he got back on his feet, breathing heavily.

But then he looked upon the ruins of their home. Then at Tamamo, still glowing with power, her four tails swaying in the wind.

“…Remind me never to piss you off,” He muttered weakly with a chuckle.

Tamamo instantly brightened though worry still lingered in her eyes.  “Mikon! Darling! You say that as if I'm not the sweetest, most lovable wife in the world!” She declared. “Just keep treating me well, and I’ll always be on your side~!”

Yuuka, Misuki, and Sakura stared at her in stunned silence.

“…You’re terrifying,” Yuuka whispered.

Tamamo winked. “Flattery will get you everywhere~!”

Sherri’s voice cut in. “Master. It’s ready.”

The watch was then seen pulsing.

The air crackled as the portal surged to life. A swirling vortex of blue light expanded, illuminating the rubble-strewn battlefield where only moments ago, battle and destruction had reigned.

“Go! Now!” Sherri ordered.

Seeing what had just happened, at how quickly things escalated. They didn’t have much of a choice and they didn’t hesitate, grabbing their prepared suitcases that were luckily undamaged and with a final glance at the ruins of the Hana’s home. Yuuka and Misuki looked conflicted but they quickly supported Issei as he stumbled forward, faces tight as they left everything behind. Tamamo stepped through with excited anticipation.

As Sakura walked, she paused. But then a hand extended toward her. When she turned she saw that it was Issei’s, who gave her a reassuring smile.

She quickly took it, smiling. And together, they stepped into the light and in an instant they were gone.

—-----------------------------

17 of November, Monday, Night, DXD verse, Kouh, Park (6 months before canon)

The sensation of weightlessness vanished in an instant.

Solid ground returned beneath their feet, cool and firm, the faint crunch of gravel grounding them in reality. The night air brushed against their skin, calm and unbothered, so normal it felt unreal after everything they had just endured.

Above them stretched a familiar night sky. Too familiar.

Issei staggered as exhaustion finally caught up with him, his knees threatening to buckle before he forced himself upright. When he lifted his head and took in their surroundings, his breath hitched.

They were back.

It was the same park. The same spot where the watch had first latched onto him and taken him away. The trees stood quietly, leaves rustling softly in the breeze. The streetlights glowed with their usual orange hue. No scorch marks. No ruins. No sign that a battle had taken place or that blood had been spilled.

Kouh was peaceful, untouched. As if he had never left.

“Like I said, Master,” Sherri’s voice chimed calmly from the watch. “Only thirty minutes have passed.”

(It’s good to be back, Partner.) Ddraig rumbled, his tone steady but thoughtful. (I know you feel that things were left unresolved, but right now your body is at its limit.)

“And as always,” Sherri continued, “every world we visit is recorded. When you are ready, returning will be possible, down to the exact moment we departed.”

Yuuka’s eyes widened. “Wait… really?” Her voice trembled with relief and excitement. “We can actually go back?”

“Of course,” Sherri replied. “I do not lie.”

(For now, rest.) Ddraig added. (When you recover, we begin your training.)

Issei let out a breathless laugh, rubbing at his ribs as the weight of everything finally settled in. After all the chaos, the battles, the fear, the destruction, standing here felt surreal. 

Unfinished business still burned in his chest.

‘Yeah… I’m definitely going back.’ He thought grimly. ‘That priest and that golden bastard aren’t getting off easy.’

He then looked at the others.

Yuuka and Misuki slowly took in their surroundings, expressions caught somewhere between confusion and disbelief. They had likely expected something… different. Something alien. Instead, it was just another quiet park, indistinguishable from their own world.

Sakura clung tightly to Issei’s sleeve, her small fingers curled into the fabric as she looked around warily. The calm seemed to unnerve her more than the danger had, like she was afraid it might vanish if she let go.

And Tamamo?

She stretched languidly, her arms raised over her head, completely at ease as if hopping worlds was nothing more than a mild inconvenience.

“Well, well!” She chimed brightly. “Looks like I finally get to meet my dear husband’s parents!” She paused, ears twitching slightly as she sensed the unfamiliar density of magic in the air, then shrugged it off with a smile. “I do hope they’ll approve of me!”

Issei groaned softly, wincing as he rolled his shoulder. “I’m sure they’ll… love you.”

Tamamo beamed, utterly unbothered. “Don’t worry, darling~! I’ll charm them in no time!”

Despite the ache in his body, Issei couldn’t help but smile. He glanced at the group, at the people who had followed him through here, across worlds  and gestured lightly to the quiet town around them.

“Welcome,” He said, voice warm despite his exhaustion, “to the future. To 2008. And… to my home.”

Done. Tell me what you think.