Human World, Japan, Kuoh.
The next day, after school, James, Sona, and Tsubaki were seated in the Occult Research Club's club room with Rias and her peerage. The rest of James peerage was tending to the MMA club, while Sona's was doing the same with the Student Council. In preparation for the meeting with the Church representatives, everyone was talking about what could happen while they were here.
"Kiba, you're gonna be able to keep your shit together, right?" James asked while making eye contact with Yuuto.
"Yes, James-Senpai." Yuuto said with a frown. "I know I shouldn't direct my anger at the swords. But I still don't like them."
"As long as you don't lose it." James said with a smile. "Because if you do, I'll be putting you through a bout of hell mode training."
Hearing that, not only Yuuto but Issei also shuddered. They've both experienced James "hell mode training in the past," and if they were being honest, they never wanted to experience it again. Although, they were unable to deny the progress it brought to their strength.
"Akeno, what does James mean by that?" Asia asked Akeno who was seated not far away.
"Are you asking about Yuuto-Kun losing it or the 'hell mode training'?" Akeno asked with a smile.
"Uh, both, I guess." Asia replied with a slight blush.
"Well, when it comes to the hell mode training, I'm not completely sure." Akeno said while placing her right index finger against her cheek. "All I know is that it's an extremely intense training regimen. But I think you should ask Issei-Kun; he's gone through it a few times over the last year."
"Really?" Asia asked with stars in her eyes. "Is that why Issei is so strong?"
"You could put it that way." Akeno said with an awkward smile.
'I bet Issei would rather be weak if it meant he never had to go through that torture James calls training.' Akeno thought to herself as she shivered slightly at the thought of Issei's training in the past.
"Anyway, as for the thing with Yuuto-Kun, that's not my business to tell." Akeno said with a smile. "When he's comfortable enough with you, I'm sure he'll tell you about his past."
Hearing that, Asia could only nod as she glanced at Yuuto.
"So, I'll be leaving the negotiations with the Church duo to you two." James said as he glanced at Rias and Sona. "I'm just a guard, so don't expect me to do anything."
"We already know that." Rias said with a pout.
"Oh, I thought you were gonna order me to handle the negotiations like that one time." James said with a mischievous smile.
James' teasing caused Rias to turn her head away and pout. However, when she turned her head she made eye contact with Akeno, who was also smiling at her mischievously.
"When are you two going to let that go?" Rias asked with a blush while still pouting.
"When it stops being funny." James and Akeno replied simultaneously.
Seeing the way James and Akeno were bullying Rias, Sona tried to hide a smile. Tsubaki's expression also softened. Both liked seeing this harmonious atmosphere. Hearing laughter at Rias' expense was pretty fun, too.
Like that, for the next few minutes everyone chatted amicably. Until James raised his head and looked toward the entrance of the Old School Building.
"There here." James said quietly.
Even though he spoke quietly, everyone was able to hear him. Because of that, all the conversation stopped. Then, Rias spoke.
"Akeno, would you mind greeting our guests?" Rias said, switching into her [King] mode.
"Of course." Akeno said, bowing slightly before exiting the club room.
As Akeno made her way to pick up the Church duo, the rest of the group took their designated seats for official meetings. Koneko, Yuuto, Gasper, Issei, and Asia sat on chairs set up against the wall behind the sofa where Rias and Sona sat. James stood behind the sofa between the two heiresses, while Tsubaki stood behind the sofa on Sona's side. And across from the sofa Rias and Sona were sitting on was a second sofa for the guests. Between the two sofas was a coffee table with a tray of tea snacks in the middle.
A few minutes later, Akeno returned with the two girls from the Church, Irina and Xenovia. Upon entry, Irina and Xenovia scanned the room. When they spotted Asia, they both narrowed their eyes and Xenovia took it upon herself to speak.
"Former Holy Maiden, Asia Argento." Xenovia said with disdain. "I see you've fallen so low to become a devil. I guess the title of Holy Maiden was misplaced."
Hearing that, Asia said nothing. She only bit her lower lip and lowered her head.
"Have you lost your faith as well, Asia Argento?" Irina asked with a serious expression replacing her usual smile.
"Of course not." Asia said as she raised her head. "I still pray every day."
"If that's true, then you should allow me to purify you." Xenovia said as she reached for the large bundle on her back. "Then maybe you'll be able to find a place in Heaven after repenting."
However, before Xenovia could pull the large bundle, which happened to be a sword as large as she is tall, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"I think you're going a bit far considering the fact that you're a guest in someone else's territory, girl from the Church." James said with a smile while his hand rested on Xenovia's shoulder.
Even though James did not put any force into the hand resting on Xenovia's shoulder, Xenovia felt as if a mountain was pressing her down. Irina on the other hand was still looking at the group of devils in front of her. However, her eyes widened to a comical degree when she saw the image of the boy with caramel colored skin begin to fade. Then, she turned her head when she heard the boy address Asia.
"Asia, why are you worrying about what these people who don't know the whole story have to say about you?" James asked with a gentle smile. "The Church abandon someone as pious as you, how great could they be at judging people or situations?"
"How dare you speak ill of the Lord's followers, devil!" Irina and Xenovia both shouted angrily.
"I'm not knocking Big G's followers." James said with a shrug. "I'm mocking the organization who brings those followers together."
Hearing that, Irina and Xenovia were ready to lose their tempers, however, before they could speak again, James beat them to it.
"I mean if you think about it, there's definitely something wrong with Asia's excommunication." James said as he removed his hand from Xenovia's shoulder. "First, how did a devil get that far into the Vatican's grounds with no one being the wiser?"
After hearing that, Irina and Xenovia calmed down slightly. However, their anger was still present. James continued unbothered as he made his way back to his original location behind Rias and Sona.
"Second, there was no one there to witness Asia healing the devil, yet less than an hour after she did, all the upper echelon of the Church knew about it." James said as he reached his spot behind Rias and Sona. "Last, in less than a day, with no investigation, Asia was excommunicated."
After hearing all three of James' points, Irina and Xenovia fell into contemplation. However, they were not given much time to think about it.
"You can think about that later." Rias said coldly. "But if you ever intend to draw your weapons against members of my peerage unprovoked again, your life is forfeit."
As she spoke, Rias released her aura, pressuring the duo from the Church. Feeling the pressure, Irina and Xenovia were pulled out of their contemplations. Gritting their teeth at how outmatched they felt, they both nodded their heads, showing their understanding.
Seeing that, Rias retracted her aura. Then, she spoke once again.
"Now, if you wouldn't mind, please have a seat." Rias said with a professional smile. "I'm sure we have much to discuss."
In response, Irina and Xenovia nodded in agreement and made their way to the empty sofa. As they took their seats, Akeno placed a cup of tea before each of them. Then, she took her place standing behind the sofa Rias and Sona were sitting on, on Rias' side.
The girls from the Church chose not to touch the tea. Instead, they took a few deep breaths to get into the right frame of mind.
"I'm sure you would like to know why we, members of the Church, have come into your town." Xenovia said, beginning the conversation. "But before that, I believe it would be prudent to introduce ourselves. My name is Xenovia Quarta."
"And I'm Shidou Irina." Irina said with a smile while waving at Issei.
'I guess this, Irina, is the childhood friend Issei mentioned.' Rias thought to herself as she listened to the introductions.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Sona said while adjusting her glasses. "My name is Sona Sitri, heiress to the Sitri House of the 72 Pillar Houses of the Underworld. And this is the [Queen of my peerage, Shinra Tsubaki."
As she was introduced, Tsubaki nodded in greeting while maintaining her serious expression.
"And I am Rias Gremory, heiress to the Gremory House of the 72 Pillar Houses of the Underworld. This is my [Queen], Himejima Akeno, and behind us are the rest of my peerage."
Like Tsubaki, Akeno also nodded in greeting when she was introduced. Everyone else also nodded in turn.
Irina and Xenovia also nodded in understanding after all the introductions. Then, they turned their sights to James, who simply stood there with a smile.
"And who is he?" Xenovia asked, gesturing toward James.
"This is..." Rias said as she began to introduce James. However, she was interrupted.
"James Alaverus, at your service." James said with a broad smile on his face. "I am the guard assigned to protect the heiresses of the Pillar Houses. Also, the ones you met yesterday morning when you tried to enter the town were members of my peerage."
"I see." Xenovia said with a nod. "Well, now that introductions are out of the way, the reason we've come here is because the Excalibur fragments were stollen from three of the Churches around the world."
"That doesn't tell us why you're here." Sona said calmly.
"Of course." Xenovia said with a nod. "We followed the one who stole the fragments here."
"So, there are three stolen fragments of Excalibur in hour town?" rias asked with a frown.
"Actually, there are four." Irina said while raising four fingers on her left hand. "The wielder of one of the fragments was killed by the thief and his fragment was taken as well."
Hearing that, the room fell silent for a few moments. The silence was eventually broken by the sound of grinding teeth. Hearing that, everyone turned their attention to the sounds source.
"Kiba." James said calmly.
Immediately after hearing James' voice, Yuuto, who was losing his cool after hearing about the stolen Excalibur fragments, took a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself. After a few deep breaths, Yuuto was able to calm down. Then, he looked at James and spoke.
"Thanks, James-senpai." Yuuto said with a grateful smile.
"Anyway, do you have any idea who the thief is?" Sona asked after turning her attention back toward Irina and Xenovia.
"It was Kokabiel." Xenovia said with anger.
"Apparently he's handed the fragments to someone else." Rias said while tapping her chin with her right index finger."
"How do you figure?" Irina asked curiously.
"Because there's no way anyone that powerful could slip through our detection with no one knowing." James said with a smile. "How do you think we found you two so quickly. Not that you two are any match for Kokabiel."
Hearing that, Xenovia and Irina both nodded, taking no offense to the statement that they were weaker than Kokabiel. They both knew there was only one man in the Church who could be compared to someone that strong.
"So, if 'veI guessed correctly, you two were sent here to retrieve the stolen Excalibur fragments, right?" Sona asked the two in front of her.
"That's right." Irina replied with a smile.
"And the last two fragments, you're carrying them." James said as he narrowed his eyes.
In return, Irina and Xenovia widened their eyes in surprise.
"Tch! Do you think those flimsy little seals could possibly suppress the holy power that leaks out of an Excalibur fragment?" James asked with disdain. "Someone must really want to get rid of you two. You're practically wearing flares that always indicate your location to anyone sensitive to holy power."
Hearing that, Irina and Xenovia's expressions turned ugly. Before they could retort, however, Sona spoke.
"James, that's enough." Sona said without changing her expression. "So, we've established that you two are here to retrieve the stolen fragments of Excalibur. But why did you want to meet with us?"
"We wanted to tell you, devils, to not interfere." Xenovia said angrily.
"Fine, we'll stay out of it." Rias said nonchalantly.
"We don't need you devils to... Huh?" Xenovia, not expecting them to agree so quickly, began to explain why before she stopped with a confused expression on her face.
"As long as you don't cause damage to our territory, we don't care if those from the Church and Grigori want to kill each other." Sona said after taking a sip of her tea. "We would prefer if you did so elsewhere, though."
Irina and Xenovia could only look on blankly. Then, after a few moments, they excused themselves.
"Are we really going to do nothing?" Yuuto asked while gritting his teeth.
"Of course not." Rias said with a smile. "We're still trying to figure out who the other guy hiding in the town is. Once we know, we can put together a plan of attack."
"We don't want to walk into something we're not prepared for." Sona said, adding on to rias' explanation. "Even if we're stronger than our opponents, it would be dangerous if there was a trap set up for us."
"I see." Yuuto said while nodding in understanding.
Not long after that, James, Sona, and Tsubaki left the ORC club room and went on with their own business for the rest of the evening.