The next morning brought an unexpected surprise to the Gremory household. The sun had barely risen, casting a soft golden glow over the manor when a bright, energetic voice echoed through the halls. "Izaaaa-taaaaaaan! Ria-taaaaaaan! Where are you? Your beloved big brother has returned!" The cheerful bellow belonged to none other than Sirzechs Lucifer, who had just returned after his long absence.
Sirzechs had missed the rest of the festivities following the Evil Pieces ceremony for Rias and Izashi, and while his duties as Lucifer had pulled him away, he was determined to make up for it. With a wide grin on his face, he had brought along a young girl with snowy white hair, a small and delicate figure no older than ten years. Her situation was rather complicated, but Sirzechs had decided to take her under his wing and bring her back to the Gremory household.
The sound of Sirzechs's voice boomed through the walls, waking Rias from her peaceful sleep. She groaned, rubbing her eyes as she was dragged back to reality by the sheer volume of her brother's voice. Annoyed but resigned, she started to get dressed, knowing all too well that he would soon be barging into her room whether she was ready or not.
Izashi, who was still half-asleep, opened his eyes slightly, only to see Rias hurriedly putting on her clothes. He lay there for a few moments, enjoying the warmth of the bed and the residual drowsiness, before Sirzechs's voice echoed through the halls again, this time even louder. Izashi groaned and mumbled, "So, the loud, annoying big brother is back."
Rias nodded in agreement as she struggled to pull her hair into a neat ponytail. "Yes, and we have to meet him before he starts knocking on every door and waking up the whole house."
With a reluctant sigh, Izashi threw off the covers and got out of bed. He knew there was no avoiding it, and as much as he wanted to stay in bed, Rias was right—they had to meet their brother, or he would keep searching until he found them.
After getting dressed, they left their room in search of Sirzechs. It didn't take long to find him; they met him halfway as he was already heading toward their room. Sirzechs had a wide, almost blinding smile plastered on his face as he spotted them. Without hesitation, he rushed forward and enveloped them both in a tight hug, almost lifting them off their feet.
"Ria-tan! Iza-tan! I've missed you both so much!" Sirzechs exclaimed, squeezing them so tightly that they could barely breathe.
"Big brother... we... can't... breathe..." Rias managed to gasp, tapping his back.
Sirzechs finally let go, allowing them to take a much-needed breath. "Ah, sorry! I got carried away. It's just been too long since I've seen you two."
Rias adjusted her clothes, shooting him a mildly annoyed look. "It hasn't been that long, and you don't have to shout so early in the morning, Sirzechs."
Unfazed by her complaint, Sirzechs continued with his usual exuberance. "Well, I'm here now, and I've brought someone for you both to meet!" He turned slightly to the side, revealing the young girl who had been standing quietly beside him. "This is someone very special, and one of you can have her as your servant using an Evil Piece. As for the other... I'll grant any wish you desire. Just name it, and I'll do everything in my power to make it happen."
Rias and Izashi were both taken aback by this unexpected offer. Rias, intrigued, took a step forward and knelt down slightly to be at eye level with the girl. "What's your name?" she asked gently.
The girl remained silent for a moment, her large, golden eyes avoiding Rias's gaze. Then, in a soft, almost timid voice, she whispered, "I wish to leave my past behind... Please, give me any name you want."
Rias thought for a moment, considering the request carefully. She wanted a name that would signify a fresh start, something cute and comforting. "How about Koneko?" she suggested, her tone gentle and kind.
The girl's eyes seemed to brighten slightly at the name, and she nodded, a small smile forming on her lips. "Koneko... I like it. Thank you."
Izashi, who had been watching the exchange with a thoughtful expression, turned his gaze toward Sirzechs. "Big brother," he began, his voice carrying a tone of curiosity, "who is she? And where did you find her?"
Sirzechs's demeanor shifted slightly, becoming more serious as he prepared to answer. "She's a Nekoshou, a rare variant of the Yokai species. They're highly proficient in Senjutsu and Youjutsu, but unfortunately, Koneko and her sister are among the last of their kind. The rest... well, they were wiped out."
He chose his words carefully, avoiding the darker details that weren't necessary for them to know just yet. Izashi, however, was sharp enough to pick up on the unsaid implications, and his eyes narrowed slightly as he connected the dots.
"I see... So, this is how things are," Izashi murmured to himself. He then looked directly at Sirzechs, his expression serious. "Big brother, I have a request."
Sirzechs raised an eyebrow, surprised by Izashi's sudden shift in tone. It wasn't often that Izashi asked for something, and Sirzechs was more than willing to oblige. "Of course, Izashi-kun. Whatever you want, just name it."
Izashi glanced at Rias and Koneko, who were now talking softly, before turning back to Sirzechs. "Rias-chan, why don't you take Koneko and show her around the house? She's going to be living here from now on, and it's only right that she knows her way around. Since she's going to become part of our family, it's important that she feels welcome."
Rias nodded, understanding that Izashi wanted to speak to Sirzechs alone. "Alright, Koneko-chan, let me show you around. You'll love it here."
As Rias and Koneko walked away, chatting softly, Izashi's gaze returned to Sirzechs, his expression becoming even more serious. "Big brother, I want a Nekoshou for my peerage. Rias clearly likes Koneko and will likely want her as her servant. That's fine by me. But I want you to find her sister, Kuroka, for me."
Sirzechs blinked in surprise, taken aback by the request. "Kuroka...?" He paused, his mind racing. "Izashi-kun, you do realize that Kuroka is classified as an SS-Class Stray Devil, right? She killed her previous master and abandoned Koneko. That's why Koneko ended up here in the first place."
Izashi remained unfazed, his expression unreadable. "And did you ever hear her side of the story, big brother? Or are we just taking everything at face value?"
Sirzechs was visibly startled by the question. It wasn't something he had considered before. "No... I didn't. But Koneko herself said that her sister was corrupted by power and killed their master. Why would she lie about that?"
Izashi chuckled softly, a knowing look in his eyes. "Big brother, you're an older sibling. Tell me, would you ever be so consumed by power that you'd leave Rias and me behind?"
Sirzechs immediately shook his head, his voice firm. "Never! I would never abandon either of you, no matter what happened!"
Izashi nodded, as if he had expected that answer. "Exactly. And I don't believe Kuroka would abandon her sister either. There's more to this story, and I want to hear it from her. You promised to grant my wish, big brother, and this is what I want. Find Kuroka and let her become part of my peerage."
Sirzechs hesitated, his thoughts conflicted. On one hand, Kuroka was a dangerous individual with a history of violence. On the other hand, Izashi's request was genuine, and he had never asked for anything before.
Izashi, sensing his brother's hesitation, sighed deeply, his voice filled with disappointment. "I suppose I was wrong to believe that my big brother, the great Lucifer, would keep his promise. If you can't fulfill a simple request like this, then I guess there's nothing left to say."
He then added, almost as an afterthought, "I suppose I'll have to tell Rias-chan that our big brother is nothing more than a liar."