part 5. family & a message

Everyone was so happy to meet her.

Issei: Evelyn, everyone here is your family. Meet your aunts Rias, Akeno, Asia, Koneko, Xenovia, Irina, Serafall Rossweisse, Grayfia and big sis La Fey.And the guys are your uncles Kiba, Gasper, Bikou, Ajuka, Sirzechs, Baraqiel, Cao Cao, Arthur and Azazel.

Evelyn bows in respect.

Evelyn: it's a pleasure to meet you all.

Everyone bows in respect but are shaking from joy. Issei and Vali sigh.

Issei: you know you don't need permission to hug family members.

That was their green light and they all hugged her. Evelyn was overjoyed and so were they. Issei and Vali laugh at the scene. Once they broke the group hug..

Evelyn: papa I never knew our family is full of legends.

Issei looks at Vali who sheepishly scratched his head.

Vali: yeah I may have mentioned their existence but I didn't blow the cover.

Sirzechs: wait you didn't tell her about us?

Sirzechs now crying a stream of tears (like deku).

Grayfia: really Sirzechs?.....really?

Azazel: Issei my boy why didn't you tell us you had a little girl? I'm kind of hurt.

Issei: I think it's time all of you knew the truth about everything. A few year before Kuroka disappeared, she and I worked together on a mission and we bonded, a spark ignited and after a while we fell in love then got married in secret, sorry about breaking the "no dating the co-workers" rule Kiba.

Kiba: it's all good.

Issei: after she and I got married..... Evelyn came along....but then she went in a mission and didn't come back. I feared that whoever took her life might come after Evelyn, she's all that's left of my life with Kuroka so I asked Vali to protect her. I wasn't exempt from that rule, I had to keep my distance as well.

Sirzechs: why not ask Grayfia and I to look after her and why bear this burden all alone?

Issei: because it was my burden, all of you have your own lives and responsibilities, this was mine. All of us are too well known in every faction and mythology but Vali here knows how to stay under the radar in ways none of us can. He hid his existence until we fought Kokabiel after all.

Vali smirked at his skills being praised by his rival.

Gasper: is that why you were so angry and well...

Issei: drinking so much? Yeah. I couldn't get over her but then again...how could I?

Grayfia: so what changed?

Evelyn: we believe that mama is still alive.

Everyone gasped.

Rossweisse: but how? We literally searched everywhere for years.

Vali brings out the device.

Baraqiel: is that the memory device you asked us to build?

Vali: yes and it worked.

Evelyn: I occasionally see mom in my dreams..no they are visions.

Issei: we recorded them and we need everyone's help to watch them for clues. There are 22 visions recorded. I figured everyone's POV will give us different perspectives. So what do you all say?

Xenovia: let's do it.

Irina: even heaven sides with you.

Kiba: let's save our comrade.

Koneko: save my sister.

Arthur: a friend.

Ravel: a protector.

Gasper: an ally.

La Fey: a saviour.

Rias: a lover.

Issei: a mother.

Evelyn: were coming mama, we'll see you soon.

Issei hugs his daughter and smiles, a real smile and seeing him with his daughter made them all relieved. Issei was back to his old self.

Ajuka: everyone kindly put up as many barriers as you can, we can't risk anything.

They follow his order.They begin to look at the recording one at a time, it was mainly Azazel, Ajuka and Akeno who were really analyzing it while everyone else took turns since the screen was small. Koneko left the room, cried tears of joy and sorrow after seeing Kuroka on the little screen.Evelyn was sitting on Grayfia's lap and she had her arms around Evelyn,as the two laughed together over funny stories about Sirzechs, we could see him with a cloud over his head. Poor guy. Issei had already seen the videos and need some time before being able to do so again cause right now the guilt he feels was already too much. Rias, Irina and Kiba saw him leave the room and they followed. He sat on a chair in the adjacent bedroom.

Kiba: are you okay Issei?

Issei: no...no.im not.

Irina: please talk to us.

He looks at them for a minute and the silence was torture. He gestured for them to sit on the bed.

Issei: first off I want to apologize to you Rias, I took my anger out on you the other day and it wasn't right. I'm sorry.

Rias: don't apologize. I kept going on and on about Kuroka. It was killing you inside and I just fanned the flames. I'm the one who's sorry.

Issei: it's all good.

Kiba:....

Issei: oh and Kiba I don't regret what I said to you. You breached our agreement.

Kiba: yeah I deserved that. I was about to ask you how I could atone for my mistake that day.

Issei: I would have given you two options. Bring back my wife or use sword birth and cut off your own tongue.

The three were definitely freaked out that last part.

Irina: wait..Kiba you knew about all this?

Kiba:...yes....

Irina: but why did you break your agreement?

Kiba: because well...Rias is my master after all, I couldn't say no to her.

Issei: former master, she didn't come to you as a devil king....so there was no need to share the info. I would have told everyone when the time is right.

Rias:.....

Irina: okay changing topic, why did you leave the room after you saw Grayfia and Evelyn laughing together?

Issei: Grayfia is a mother herself, the way she held Evelyn was just like how you would expect a mother to hold her daughter. Evelyn didn't have that for long and now that she's happy with everyone and received motherly love.... I feel like I robbed her of the chance to meet everyone earlier, I know nothing can replace the love of one's real mother but she would have had all of you guys earlier on. A part of me did it to protect her and I don't regret that ....and yet...another part of me does regret it...... Evelyn saw her mother in her dreams this whole time and I was there for her when she carried out for her and even for me....... Am I a bad father?

The 3 didn't have any answers.

Rias: Issei....none of us have endured what you did so it's not right for us to say anything.

Issei:...............

Irina decided to speak up.

Irina: well I can tell that it worked out for the best.

Kiba: how so?

Irina: Evelyn does live a happy and safe life, you protected her from the shadows sure but you did see her grow up and she doesn't blame you for anything. Just like everyone here she only wants to see her mom come back. Just look at her.

Issei looks out the door.

Irina: she's smiling, laughing and bonding as if everyone has been around her all along.

He sees his daughter bonding with everyone, she's happier than ever.

Issei: she could have had all this for 15 years, if only I knew she's been having those visions sooner then we might have already found Kuroka by now.

Rias: Issei don't beat yourself up, we're all in this together. You did so much for everyone here and many many more in the supernatural worlds, this is a way to start repaying you for everything.

Issei smiled at her. Oh how she missed his smile.

Rias: one call and everyone showed up, our old team and then some. Some of which are the most powerful among devils, fallen and even humans.

Issei: I feel kind of selfish now since all of you have your own responsibilities and I dragged you all in this.

Kiba: no, it's about time all worked together again. We can't forget our roots. Team dxd is back and ready for action.

Issei: I love you guys.

Irina: Hey what are family for?

The 3 go back, Issei pulls out his phone and plays one of the memories, he converted the files and transfered to his phone. This memory was different, in it was Kuroka leaving a message for Issei.

Play video.

Issei sees Kuroka looking right at him.

Kuroka: hey honey, it's been a while and I miss you....

Kuroka plays with her hair.

Kuroka: I'm not that good at these so I'll just say it.... I know you blame yourself but in no way it's your fault. I knew the risks and so did everyone else. I didn't want to leave you and Evelyn but I had to. This is the job after all, we risk never coming home everytime we leave, this is the only way I can talk to you, I really wish I could hear your voice or at least see you but I know you're hurting even now........ You're haunted by the thoughts of me being scared or tortured but....I'm okay. I'm not scared and I'm not in any pain...well that's not entirely true...it hurts when I'm not at home with you or Evelyn.....I figured you would look for me and I don't know where I am or how long it's been. After I fell for the enemy's trap I blacked out but I somehow managed to do ..well this. I saw Evelyn just like she saw me.

She begins to cry but had a proud expression.

Kuroka: I got to see her grow up so please make sure she continues to grow and has good people. I know you'll protect her, I have faith that you guys will be okay and knowing that makes me happy even if I'm not around. I don't know how long I can do this and I really hope you can see these dreams, maybe Azazel can help.

She laughed and Issei smiled, she was silent for a moment but the video was distorted for an instant, Issei caught a single frame and saw something that scared him.

The image only lasted an instant then changed back to the Kuroka he knows and loves.

Kuroka: I put this vision in Evelyn's subconscious because I fear she might not understand, anyway tell Evelyn I love her and that I miss you all. Take care love. I hope we can see each other again.

Video end.

Time stamp: 7 years ago.

Issei silently cried for 3 reasons.

1: he now knows that she's alive.2: she's still the same woman he fell in love with.3: she lied about not being scared.

Whoever took her did something to her. He knows when she's scared but that look her eyes displayed pure terror. Something horrified her and he knew it. Whoever took her is hurting her.

Issei was now angrier than ever.

Issei: Ddraig...

Ddraig let's out a roar from within the sacred gear.

Ddraig: WHOEVER HURT HER WILL FEEL THE WRATH OF THE RED DRAGON EMPEROR. ENTIRE ARMIES WILL RAIN HELL UPON THEM. NO ONE HURTS A DRAGON'S LOVER ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAVE A FAMILY. THEY. ARE. FUCKED.

Issei: I will put them through more suffering than hell itself.

He may sound calm but deep inside it was a cosmic fire storm that will kill anything and anyone no matter how strong they may be, wherever they are, they aren't safe. Everyone felt his killing intent, Evelyn bolted to him and jumped on his lap. He calmed down instantly. His long hair that was as long as a super sayian 3 no longer pointing upwards and looking like a raging flame.

Evelyn: papa? What's wrong?

Vali: you found something didn't you?

Issei: I'm okay Eve and yes I did. Kuroka is definitely alive but the one that took her did something to her, she's terrified and once we find those responsible...

He covers his daughter's ears.

Issei: .I ͆W̼I̪͘L̙ͭLͫ BͫRͩI̧͇N͂G̠̒ ̡̘FȎ̵̥URTHͅ ͋T̵Hͧ͘E̕ ̛̓W̩̕R̵͗A͗͡Ţ̪H̡ͭ ̸̲ͨŐ̀F͑ ̬Ą ̷ͦḒ́͡ṞA̼Ğ̵̱ON̥ ̻͝AN̚Dͭ͘ ͊T̝H̡́Ę ̥͢P͝OW͠Ȩ̭ͥR͐ ̡̺O̵̪F ͙E͖V̴͉̅Ê̟R̜̀Y͉ FAͦC̨̖ͫT̾IͦO̓N̘ ̋͡U͘P̷̣OͭN̦͆ ̜̚T̨H̴ẺM.͑͢

Issei ended his sentence with a deep growl mixed with his voice, it sent chills down everyone's spine except for Evelyn because she too was angry that someone hurt her mother.