High School DxD: Scattered Cherry Blossoms

After Mizore was introduced to James' friends and family, Venelana and Rhea decided it was time to go home. Needless to say, Rias, Sona, and Akeno were not quite ready to leave.

Seeing the severity in both Venelana and Rhea's eyes, James did the only thing he could. He promised that he would not leave to continue his training until he talked with the three girls. Although they were not satisfied with having to wait, the girls agreed to wait since it seemed that there was something important that needed discussion.

Sure enough, the next day, Zeoticus, Venelana, Sirzechs, Grayfia, Dante, Rhea, Serafall, and Cassiel all came together for a discussion.

===Next day; afternoon===

Underworld, Gremory Territory, Gremory Estate.

In a small conference room in the Gremory mansion, Zeoticus and Venelana were seated. While waiting for the other attendees, Zeoticus had to ask, "What could be so important, requiring two of the Four great Satans, two of the 72 Pillar Family Heads, and four devils with ultimate-rank or above power?"

"Zeoticus, Dear, you're so impatient." Venelana said with a chuckle. "I promise, Rhea, Cassiel, and I will explain everything once everyone arrives."

Zeoticus could only snort, a way to show his displeasure for having to wait. Then he said, "This better be worth it."

Venelana giggled at her husband's childish behavior. However, after a moment, a frown made its way onto her face.

Seeing this, Zeoticus asked, "What's wrong, Lana?"

"*Sigh* Have you heard about the way Rias has been treating James lately?" Venelana asked with a deep sigh.

At Venelana's question, Zeoticus also frowned.

"According to Heinrich, she talks to him like he's one of her subordinates. No... like he's one of her possessions." Zeoticus replied, recalling the report his [Bishop] made when Rias "recruited" Akeno.

"James is starting to react negatively." venelana responded softly.

Zeoticus frowned.

"While James was out for training, he found his first prospective peerage member and brought her home." Venelana began to explain the sequence of events. "... Once James finished with the introductions, practically frothing at the mouth, Rias questioned James with one of the most demanding tones I've ever heard."

Noticing the confusion in zeoticus' expression, Venelana asked, "You don't see an issue with that do you?"

"Before I answer that," responded Zeoticus, he then asked his own question. "What did Rias ask?"

"In a tone demanding an answer, she asked, and I quote, 'Where did she come from? And why did you bring her here?' end quote."

Venelana noticed that Zeoticus still did not notice the issue.

"*Sigh* Zeoticus, let me ask you." Venelana said, trying to help her husband understand. "First of all, this happened in James' home. Why does he have to explain to Rias why he brought someone there?"

Zeoticus finally showed a glimpse of understanding. Venelana, however, was not finished.

"Second, Does James owe Rias an explanation?" Venelana asked rhetorically, then continued. The fact of the matter is, he does not. But he would have told everyone the answer to those questions anyway, because he treats us as family and friends."

Zeoticus was starting to understand the issue more as Venelana explained.

"But what really made me start to take this seriously..." Venelana trailed off.

"What is it?" Zeoticus asked.

"Other than when concentrating on something, have you ever seen James completely drop his smile while talking to others?" Venelana asked, placing her right palm on her forehead.

In response, Zeoticus shook his head.

"When Rias questioned him in that demanding tone, his expression morphed from a bright smile, to a deep frown instantly." Venelana explained. Feeling exasperation just thinking about it.

Zeoticus only sat in silence.

"Not to mention," Venelana began listing all the things James had done for Rias. "James is the reason Rias' control of her demonic energy and [Power of Destruction] are so precise. He saved Akeno's life, at Rias' request, and instead of thanking him, she barked orders at him like he was one of her underlings. Then, instead of getting angry about it, he took care of Akeno's mental health. And once again, instead of thanking him for it, she let her jealousy take over and began berading him. For the love of Satan, I doubt she even knows about that last one."

Zeoticus began dripping cold sweat.

"How did things get this bad?" Zeoticus asked, tone full of concern.

Hearing her husband's question, Venelana deadpanned.

"Please, oh Zeoticus, please tell me you're just playing dumb." Venelana asked hoping that was the truth.

Zeoticus' cold sweat output rose exponentially one he heard Venelana's question.

Venelana finally exploded. "This is all your fault! You and Sirzechs turned our daughter into this."

"But all we've ever done is try to give her a good life." Said Zeoticus in his and Sirzechs' defense.

"A good life, huh?" Venelana said in a low and menacing tone. Then she exploded once again. "For Satan's sake, she's the heir of one of the 72 Pillar Houses, how bad could her life be?"

Realizing Venelana was not expecting an answer, Zeoticus wisely chose to keep his mouth shut.

"On top of that, you're defending yourself, but do you even know what you've done to contribute to this?" Venelana asked as she tried to get her ragged breathing in order.

Zeoticus lowered his head not daring to make eye contact with his wife.

"Other than nit picking her etiquette, you have never reprimanded, disciplined, or denied a request, no matter how ridiculous it is." Venelana growled with her finger pointed between Zeoticus eyebrows. "And don't get me started on Sirzechs. On top of all the things I just mentioned, he doesn't say anything when she shows poor etiquette, and he even rewards her disproportionately."

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

If not for those knocks on the door, Venelana would have, undoubtedly, kept going. Venting all her dissatisfactions with Rias' upbringing.

"Master, Madam, Lord Lucifer and lady Grayfia have arrived." Said a member of the servant staff from the other side of the closed door.

Taking a moment to calm down, Venelana threw a fierce glare at Zeoticus and said, "Me, you, and Sirzechs need to have a nice long talk after this meeting is over."

Zeoticus shuttered at the intensity of her glare.

Once Venelana got her emotions in check, Venelana answered the member of the servant staff, allowing Sirzechs and Grayfia's entry.

When the two entered the room, sirzechs, a tall, young man with shoulder-length crimson red hair, blue eyes, and devilishly handsome facial features, and Grayfia, a beautiful, red eyed, young woman with long silver hair that flows down her back with bangs that cover her forehead and side bangs that end in braids with small blue ribbons that end at her chest, noticed the tense atmosphere. Also, Sirzechs was confused when he saw the pitying look his father was giving him.

Shortly after Sirzechs and Grayfia arrived, the rest of the attendees began filing in. With Serafall, a short, blue-eyed, beautiful girl with black hair tied into twin tails and a slender body with disproportionately large breasts, showing up last as she had other duties to attend to in the morning.

With everyone seated and the pleasantries out of the way, Venelana stood and addressed the group.

"I'm certain not all of you are aware of why Rhea and I called everyone here." Venelana said, pausing for a moment before continuing. "We called this meeting because of what we heard from James when he returned from his training after being away for three months."

Everyone perked up slightly at Venelana's explanation.

"What amazing thing did Jay-Kun do this time?" Serafall asked with her ever present abundance of positive energy.

"Well, as Rhea and I only got the abridged version of events from James while he was explaining another matter, why don't we hear the full story from Cassiel.

As she passed the baton to Cassiel, Venelana took her seat once again.

Rising from his own seat, Cassiel briefly made eye contact with everyone in attendance, then began.

"Well as you all know, James left home for three months with my [Knight] Auron. They spent that time traveling Canada in the Human world. At the end..." Cassiel went on to give a detailed account of the battle between the stray exorcists and the six-winged fallen angel. Also, how he saved a yuki-onna and added her as a perspective member of his peerage.

When Cassiel was finished with his report, the room fell into silence. No one was ready to hear that an eleven-year-old boy could easily dispatch a six-wing fallen angel and her accompanying group of stray exorcists alone.

Like always, Serafall was the one to break the silence.

"I knew Jay-Kun would do amazing things." Serafall exclaimed in glee as she clapped her hands loudly.

Dante and Rhea could only smile wryly at their eldest daughter's enthusiasm.

"Although I agree with serafall, I'm assuming that's not the main point, right?" Asked Sirzechs.

"That's right." Rhea replied, she then continued and asked Cassiel, "Auron must have given a comprehensive of evaluation of James' combat prowess, correct?"

"That's correct." Cassiel replied while nodding his head. "Auron evaluated James' combat ability at the very peak of middle-level of the high-rank."

Everyone in the room drew in a sharp breath.

This time the first to speak was Sirzechs.

"We have to make sure he's not exposed to the Angels or the fallen."

Shaking her head at her son's naivety, Venelana interjected.

"There is a group of people who we need to pay even more attention to than just the angels and fallen angels." Said Venelana with her tone heavy.

Not waiting for Venelana to finish, Serafall finished Venelana's thought. "You mean the Great King Faction, right?"

"Exactly." Venelana said, nodding in agreement.

"And how do you propose we keep him under their radar?" Grayfia asked calmly.

With that question, the room fell silent again.

Some of the people had notions of simply hiding James away. They then squashed that thought, as it would stunt is growth severely.

With no one producing any promising ideas, Cassiel eventually spoke up.

"Well, we don't have to rush a solution." Cassiel said, drawing everyone's attention. "James won't be going back out for at least another month. That way, we can think the issue over, and we can make the best possible decision."

With no better option at the moment, everyone agreed to Cassiel's suggestion.

"Well, I guess that's it for now." Said Zeoticus.

"Let's try to meet up a few more times in the coming month." Sirzechs suggested.

To Sirzechs suggestion, everyone nodded in agreement. With nothing left to discuss, everyone stood and prepared to leave.

As Sirzechs was making his way to the door, he was stopped by Cassiel.

"What's up, Cassiel?" Sirzechs asked, curiosity in his tone.

With a stern tone, Cassiel replied. "Leona is quite unhappy right now. I think you should stay back and talk to your mother. She will fill you in on the details."

Hearing what Cassiel had to say, Sirzechs turned to look in Venelana's direction, what he saw made him wish to run away.

'Shit, Mother is pissed off. And judging from that look in her eyes, I'm at least partially responsible.'

As he turned his head back, Cassiel was already gone. Sirzechs then remembered that pitying look his father gave him when he entered the room.

'Ugh, Today is going to be a long day.'