Ch 6
As Issei and Friend's were making their way around their new situation on another world. Back on their World, Azazel was in his office at the Grigori, Scrambling to find a solution to pinpoint the coordinates to where he sent the Kid's to
Azazel: Fuck fuck shit! C'mon, C'MON!
He hastily Typed away on his computer trying to find the last coordinates on His World Crossing Device's Records before he used it
Sirsechs: Honestly Azazel, why would you do that with safety checks!
Azazel: I'm sorry! I didn't know! I was too caught up with myself!
Grayfia: Trying to catch up to that young Boy Kamitsugi really drove you to the brink huh, Azazel?
Azazel: for the first time in my life, there is another person that possess knowledge beyond my own, and I admit that my pride took a massive hit, I thought I could catch up to his mind and technology
Sirsechs: And look where that got you
Azazel: I'm sorry Okay?!
As The three adults were bickering about Azazel's mistake. Vali knocked on the door and enters
Vali: I got the Call, I came as fast as I can
The Fallen Angel looked up from his desk at him
Azazel: Good You're here. Vali, Do you know where Motohama is
Vali raised an Eyebrow at the Question
Vali: Kamitsugi? He went off world
Grayfia: Did he tell anyone where he was going?
Vali: Why are you asking all this? What's wrong?
Azazel, slumped over his desk Defeated, says
Azazel: I... made a World Crossing Device and used it on Rias and Co., sending them to another world...
Vali: Okayyy...?
Azazel: I didn't look at where I was sending them
Vali Blink once. Then twice.
Vali: ..... Oh you Fucked up
Every one in the room ponders what to do next
Sirsechs: Vali, As for my question earlier...
Vali: Kamitsugi said he was going to a planet named Teyvat
Azazel: Can you pinpoint where he is using Those Toku Power's he gave you?
Vali: Geezer, I just got back from a fight. I'm drained
Sirsechs: So we just have to wait for you to rest and get your energy back....
Vali Eyed Sirsechs weirdly
Vali: Didn't Issei give you something too? the "GripPhone". Use that
Everyone in the room stops there thoughts as Sirsechs pulls a gold and Blue retro looking Moblie Phone with a handle on the Side
Sirsechs: Huh... I must've forgot
The red head then turns to Azazel, throwing the phone to him
Sirsechs: Here, use this to trace them
Azazel caught the device effortlessly and plugged it into his computer
Azazel: Okay, It's in. Just need some time
Vali stretches as he turns around
Vali: Alright, I'll be taking a break. If you find Issei, call me. I'll get ready
As Vali was exiting, Sirsechs perks up with a question
Sirsechs: Hey Vali... when did you start calling Issei-kun by his name?
Vali stops, his back towards the Adult's
Vali: ..... No particular reason
Vali proceeds to walk out the room, not batting an eye
Azazel: You just noticed that? He's been calling Hyoudou-kun that for a few weeks now
Sirsechs shook off the thought, and turns back to Azazel as he was working on trying to trace and connect Issei and Co's location through The device of MagiShine
____________________________________________________
Meanwhile at Teyvat, Issei and Co was walking back to Monstadt City from Dragonspine with the addition of A grown up Paimon after a emotional reunion
Paimon: So you're saying you're all from another world where Aether was reborn to...
Koneko: Yep. That's about right
Paimon: well how was he? Was he safe? Was he Happy?
Rias: *Chuckles* you sure do care a lot about him
Paimon: How could Paimon not? Paimon has been there for him since he stepped foot here, we've been by each other's sides for so long, from Monstadt to Liyue to Inazuma to Sumeru to Fontaine all the way to Natlan before.... uh...
Issei sighs at how Paimon refuses to say what eventually happened to him
Issei: It's okay Paimon. You can say that I died
Paimon only looked down in Pain and Sadness
Asia: It must be very hard for you Miss Paimon... Two years that he died
Paimon: It's just... Paimon's been all alone... she had to fight for herself... The Knights of Favonius took me in and gave me a home but it was never the same without Aether...
A cold silence follows as they trek on to the City. Everyone else in the group thought about everything that happened today, what they experienced, what they now know. The many secrets of Issei
Issei: Hey Everyone...
The group stopped to hear him out
Issei: Can we take a detour?
Rossweisse: Detour? To where?
Issei turns to Paimon
Issei: Bennett mentioned my grave earlier. Paimon, could you take me to my grave?
Paimon gazed down in uncertainty
Issei: Please?
Paimon sighed, looking up at him
Paimon: Okay... Follow me...
Paimon took the lead as everyone else follows. They walked pass the Monstadt bridge, past Windrise, up some terrain past the Thousand Winds Temple. The ORC looked around, admiring the sceneries as the group made it to the edge of a cliff high above the ground looking out at the ocean where a gravestone sits at the top surrounded with flower's of all kind
Issei: Starsnatch huh...
Issei walked up to the gravestone with Rias right behind him while everyone else stays behind and look around, he knelt down and brushed any dust away to read the word's
"Aether, The Traveler"
"Hero to all"
"Loved by all"
Issei: Hero huh... *scoffs* a joke...
Rias: I don't know Ise. From what they all said about you... you were really special to them all...
Issei: I'm not...
Rias placed a hand on his shoulder
Rias: Even if you're not... You're still someone who wants to help everyone... it's in your blood Ise... you may not think of yourself as someone special but people will think of you as one...
Issei tightens his grip on the stone, before letting go and stands up
Issei: I wanted this part of me to Die... I wanted to forget about this part of my life entirely...
Rias looked at the gravestone. Then back at him
Rias: that's why you never mention it to anyone. You purposely left out all of this from us. To forget. Because you were hurt and broken...
Issei: ... and I almost did... Until Azazel inadvertently brought me back here...
Rias walked up next to him and picked up a Cecilia
Rias: I don't think that's a mistake anymore... I'm starting to think it's Fate calling you back to this Place
Issei let's out a self-deprecating scoff
Issei: Yeah right... I'm the one who steers the wheels of Fate...
Rias: *Chuckles* I know you better than that Ise. You like to let Fate runs its course, Only nudging us to change our own Outcomes. You did it with Me, Akeno, Kiba, Koneko, Asia, Xenovia, and Irina. and recently, Vali and Riser
Issei ponders at her words, Thinking of everything he's ever done up until now
Rias: You made us all into better people, and I think this is Fate's way of telling you to finally come back to yourself and heal old trauma
Issei tilt his head up to the ocean, Contemplating his next words and intentions
Issei: If I do that... then I'll have to relive this Nightmare again... everything I've buried under-
Rias held his hand to cut him off
Rias: Who says You're doing this Alone? Like Kiba illiterated so many times. Your fight is our fight now... we're in this together...
Issei looks to his held Hand then up to Rias's Face
Issei: I don't even know what is left here for me to do... I killed myself to escape my goal...
Rias: And that Goal is..?
Issei: Finding my sister
Rias: Huh.... well we can't leave her hanging, can't we?
Issei: We?
As The two were conversing, The rest of the group relaxes on the grass and let them talk. Taking in the cool breeze of Monstadt
Paimon: Man.... She really knows how to be persistent...
Gasper: Well, She is His Girlfriend after all
Paimon: Oh okay.... wait What!?
The group laughed at her confused outburst
Kiba: What? Why is it surprising Ms Paimon?
Paimon: Okay, Drop the 'Ms', it's surprising because he's never been in a relationship before, let alone take interest in people
Akeno: Ufufuf~ Rias isn't the Only one
Paimon: Huh? *looked around the Group, then back at Issei* .... What?!?! You all...
Irina: Yep!
Xenovia: We also do have feelings for him
Paimon couldn't believe what she was hearing
Paimon: So you're telling Paimon that Aether has a HAREM!?
Koneko: Finally caught on
And with that, Issei and Rias turns around and walked back to the group
Issei: Okay. Ready to head back now
They all got ready and began walking back to the City with Issei, Paimon and Rias in the front
Paimon: What did you guys talk about?
Issei: Oh Nothing... just on how I'm gonna sling myself to next
Rias: Oh don't worry, We're gonna be here for quite a while isn't that right, Aether~?
Issei: Oh Don't be cheeky with my name like that...
Rias: What~? But it's your name regardless, even if it's past you
Issei shut up and reluctantly let her and eventually the rest tease him with his Old name. He thought deeply about what's his goal here now. Rias wanted him to continue his goal of finding his sister but he couldn't be sure if Lumine had already moved on from him, he didn't want to journey for nothing... and all the harrowing pain he's experienced, he truly doesn't want to go through that again. But Rias insisted that she and everyone would help him through that struggle, He can't be sure, This is their first time (sans Kiba and Gasper) in another world, they don't have the experience...
They group followed their original footsteps back to Windrise and eventually passed it, in that time Issei told Paimon every she missed out on and his actual intentions on the final day of the War which cause her to tear up, he said he was sorry and she forgave and hugged him, she didn't know what he was going through mentally and felt guilty that she couldn't do much to help back then... eventually they made their way up and down some terrain and getting close to the City Gates
Issei: So then, I fought this God named Loki together with everyone and was going to win but then his Dog bit me to death but then I came back to life thanks to Ravel's Phoenix Tears
Paimon: Wow.... You sure die a lot now that I think about it
Issei: Well. I wasn't particularly keen on dodging anything
Irina: Say that again, we were all crying because we actually thought you died, permanently
Issei: Well I'm sorry, Fenrir made a cheap sho-
Kiba: Everyone, Get down!
Kiba's sudden order made everyone did as he said. They all got down and hid behind a small hill in front of the bridge
Rias: Kiba? What's going on?
Kiba pointed to the bridge
Kiba: Look, it's those things from before
Everyone peaked behind the hill to see a battalion of Abyss Monster's on the bridge and in the City
Paimon: Huh?! The Abyss Order?! What are they even looking for?
Issei: Me I think
Paimon: you?!
Issei narrow his eyes
Issei: My Sister knows him here, and she's coming to me
Xenovia: What's the plan Issei?
Issei breaths and exhales
Issei: For now. Liberate Monstadt. And hopefully see and talk to my sister
Ravel: if that's the case, We need to get inside
Kiba: I got it
Kiba slaps on a Cross Changer to his wrist
Gasper: Ah Yes! Flight!
Gasper also puts on the Changer
Paimon: What that?
Irina: You'll see *Puts on the changer as well*
Issei: We're going Jetman? Okay *puts on the changer*
Kiba: Okay, I'll get the attention of those guy's, Gasper, Irina and Issei will fly everyone inside Okay?
Irina&Gasper&Issei: Okay
Paimon: Huh? Fly!?
Kiba broke off and ran to the Bridge were the Rear of the battalion is
Kiba: Cross Changer!
Kiba Pressed on the Bird symbol of the Brace, A flash of light consumes him with a black and white Armor
Kiba: Hey!
The Rear-guard turns around to see him standing before them
Kiba: Bringer Sword!
He pulls out a sword from his side, the handguards shoots out like bird wings as he rushes in and attacks
The rest looks on at him fighting and distracting them
Issei: Okay, Let's do this
Issei, Gasper and Irina pressed on the Brace, dawning them with a red bird themed armor for Issei, Yellow for Gasper and Light blue for Irina
Paimon: Woah! What?
The three held out their arm's as white wings comes out from their backs, connecting the arm's to the body
Issei: Okay everyone, hold onto us each
Rias, Akeno, Paimon held onto Issei, Xenovia and Rossweisse held onto Irina, and Koneko and Ravel held onto Gasper. Then in a swift moment, they all launched into the air and began flying over the Wall
Paimon: Woah Aether! When did you get this!?
Issei: Long Story! Let's just say I've traveled many world's!
They all made it over the wall but before they land, they saw the Vanguard of the Abyss Battalion who were terrorizing the civilians, a couple of Herald's and A figure Issei recognized all too well
Issei: Lumine...
Gasper: Senpai, Where should we land?!
Issei looks over to the fountain at the middle
Issei: That Fountain square right there!
They all began to descend down, but before they do a civilian looked up and pointed at them
"What's that up there!?"
"Huh?! People?!"
Eye's ensues up to the sight. They all landed by the fountain area and untransforms back. Issei walked forward instinctively, seeing the terrified people and the Abyss running amok. His Eye's locks onto the face that he never thought he would see again
Issei:....
Lumine: A-Aether....
She self-consciously reach her hand out towards him. He can see it in her eyes, Desperation, sadness, happiness, hurt. She was relived to see him again
Lumine: Oh my God Aether...
Issei composed himself and said
Issei: hi sister....
His Eye's dart around to calculate what his next moves is gonna be...