DxD 28 – The Hard Truth

"Where is my child and wife, Abyssal King?" Baraqiel asked, looking into the red eyes of either the boy's or the mask's.

"They are safe, but I don't think it is a good time to see your family, especially your daughter right now." Went the Abyssal King, which caused Baraqiel's eyes to narrow at the boy before him.

"Don't give me that look, just you know… if I didn't step in. You be lucky if your daughter only survived." The Abyssal King said.

"What you mean by that…" Baraqiel asked, feeling uneasy by this boy's remarks.

"Your wife shielded your daughter. If I wasn't there, your wife will take on all of the incoming attacks onto herself. And it took you less than two minutes to arrive, you know. If your wife managed to hang on for that long, what do you think of Akeno's mental state? She watched several men closing towards them, wishing for her dear daddy to come to her, and save both her and her mother. But you will be too late, if I didn't step in, you think your daughter will forgave her super daddy?"

When the Abyssal King said that Baraqiel's eyes widen. That is because he knew what kind of person his daughter sees him as. A superman that can save her at any given moment, it be nearly impossible for Akeno not to hate him, since even if he did managed to make it back home, after sensing the dangers… but he was too late.

Even if his daughter and wife are still alive, doesn't change the fact, he broke the promise, to protect them until his last breath. And made them forced all that danger, when they needed him the most, because of that. Baraqiel already failed as a father, and as a husband.

Will they forgive him?

What if they hate, and resent Baraqiel of not saving them in time?

Will they call him a liar, and a fraud, of failing to protect them?

It those doubts that made Baraqiel question himself, is he even worthy as Akeno's father, and Shuri's husband? And cannot help to lower his head, not daring to look at the boy's red eyes, while he opened his mouth.

"I-I-I…" Baraqiel was unable to say anything and shut his mouth. As he cannot help to tighten fists. He was going to say, 'I swear I will protect them this time, so give them back to me!'.

Biting his lips, Baraqiel cannot help to think, what if this happened again? That he had to go outside, and away from home. Does he had to pray that another stranger to save his child and wife again?

In the end, it doesn't change a thing, he had failed to protect the two people that meant everything to him. As a father and as a husband, he has failed them, which is why this tall muscular Fallen Angel, went onto his knees again, realising this fact, that he, one of the top leaders of Grigori, the Lighting of God, cannot even protect his own family at the end of the day.

"Doubting yourself, I see, well in a way, I don't blame you." Went the young boy, the Abyssal King, as he walked towards the defenceless Baraqiel, who didn't bother looking or speaking to the boy.

"You should have known, it is impossible to protect them by yourself, no matter how strong you are… it is the reason, why I begun Black Gate, the reason because I know. I know I could become stronger, even one of the strongest if I tried. And yet, I am not omnipotent, just like you." The Abyssal King went.

"..." However, Baraqiel still didn't say a thing, it hard to tell if he is listening or not, with his purple eyes still looking at the ground, that he has charred with his Holy Lightning.

"Of course, there is Grigori, full of other Fallen Angels, and Half-Fallen Angels… But, if I am not wrong, that place is still not safe, because are many Fallen Angels who disagrees with your leader, Azazel, with his carefree personality, and will do anything to have an upper hand against Azazel himself. Even if it means harming or taking control of the family, that belong to his best friend's. Not to mention, many among the Fallen Angels don't like hybrids like Akeno, I am right? Making Grigori the most dangerous option. Even if it should be the safest, how ironic, don't you agree?"

Baraqiel didn't say anything. That is because he knew that as well. It is not shocking to know, that this monster, the Abyssal King know that. That Grigori is nowhere nearly as safe, as one imagines. Specially with the inner factions between Azazel, and the other high-ranking officers.

And everyone know that Baraqiel is Azazel's right-hand man. The one that normally is in control of the safety of Grigori. If any of those Fallen Angels, that want to restart the Great War again. There is no telling what will happened to his family with the inner conflicts within the Grigori Faction.

Not to mention, many among the Fallen Angels actually look down at Half-Fallen Angels, nearly as much they do as normal humans. Some even dislike them to their cores, and will kill Akeno, since they believe that Fallen Angels hybrids are immoral beings, that must be remove at all costs, even if that means earning Baraqiel's wrath.

In the end, Grigori might be the most unsafe place for his family.

"Then what other choices, you have? Himejima Suzaku? True, she will try her best to protect both her aunt, and her cousin. However, even Himejima Suzaku is still underestimating the Himejima Clan's hatred towards the Fallen Angels. It is true, that some distance relatives might take them in… but what of the chances they will not harm or harassed them? I tell you this… they will, your family will be starved to death, mocked, and even stepped on… you should know that as well."

When the Abyssal King said that Baraqiel's eyes widen, even if he didn't looked at the Abyssal. The proof that he is biting his lips again, shows that Baraqiel has been listening to this boy's words.

"When… what choice I have… abandoning them?" Baraqiel said, as he turned his violet eyes towards the boy in the demon mask.

"No… you cannot protect them alone… is what I am saying. Plus… you really don't have much choice in the matter… do you think your daughter will be able to use her Fallen Angel's powers any longer? Especially when they will remind her of her father, that failed to protect her, and her mother?" The Abyssal King said.

"T-That… I know… but…!" Baraqiel tried to protest, but the Abyssal King interfered at the last moment.

"Your daughter doesn't need to protect herself…? Look at reality, Lightning of God, it time to stop treating Akeno as a baby girl, whatever she liked it or not. Akeno is already one step too deep into the Supernatural. Everyone knows, once you entered, you could never leave… and your little girl is being forced in this world. Grigori and the Himejima Suzaku are both incapable of protecting her, and that goes the same for you as well." The Abyssal King said, which caused angry and lightning to formed around Baraqiel.

"Then Abyssal King! What should I do!? I can't protect them… I can't keep them in Grigori either… even if it should be safe place for our kind! But… Akeno is not a full Fallen Angel… even if I ordered them not to harmed her, I know my enemies, and those that hate her kind, will harm her and my wife, like you said…! Even if I left her in Suzaku's care… it will not work… I am fated… to lose everything… I am not allowed to have a family!?"

It not easy to see a grown man crying like that, especially the lightning around Baraqiel is coming stronger. However, the boy in the demon mask didn't blame the grown man, that felt the world is after him.

He is strong, and powerful, but the current state of Grigori is dangerous for his family, even the distance relatives of the Himejima Clan, will pick on Shuri and Akeno. Not to mention the core members of the clan, still want Akeno and her mother to die or be punished.

No matter how this great warrior, that defeated countless people in his life, he still cannot see a way out of this. A way to keep his family, Shuri and Akeno safe like any father and husband wanted to.

The only reason both his wife and daughter hasn't died yet, is because Baraqiel was around. And it was proven to Baraqiel, the moment he left home for a day or two for the first time ever. He nearly lost his family, if it wasn't for the Abyssal King.

And because of that, made Baraqiel accept the hard truth of his reality, that he cannot protect his own family, no matter how he looked a way to do so.

"Rias Gremory." The boy suddenly mentions a name, which caused Baraqiel to look at the boy in disbelief.

"You are telling me… to have my daughter and wife handed over to the Devils…?" Baraqiel went with blank look, that carried a hint of killing intent at the end of his words.

It is no wonder why Baraqiel felt like killing this boy again, even if the boy was the one that saved his family.

Isn't handing his family over to the Devils more worse, than letting relatives of the Himejima Clan or the Grigori Faction protect them? No matter how much Baraqiel looked a this, is basically telling them to become slaves, or tools against him, or Grigori!

"I didn't say the Devils, I said a Devil named Rias Gremory." The Abyssal King told.

"That doesn't make a difference!" Baraqiel begun to roar, as Holy Lightning begun to lash out in their surroundings. And yet, the boy in all black, with the black demon mask on his face, didn't bother with this. And looked at Baraqiel with no change in emotions in his cold red eyes. That is hard to tell if it is the mask's doing, or the boy's.

"It does, the House of Gremory is known to treat their servants as family, and Rias the next head, as well the same age as Akeno. Is quite soft when it comes to her servants that she treats the same, as her parents. Of course, if Akeno goes to other Devil families, without a doubt both Shuri and Akeno will be used… but the House of Gremory prided themselves as a noble household, that loved their servants, as much as their own blood.

Over there, Akeno and Shuri will be protected. And one day, when things clam down, maybe Shuri and Akeno will forgive you. But for now, Akeno and her mother needs protection, and a place that Akeno can become stronger, and learned of this world, and… if you worried for her being a slave for the Gremory for the rest of her life… I can always do this."

When the Abyssal King said that, a black mist appeared on the palm of his right hand. And from the abyss itself, several red growing chest pieces was shown there.

When Baraqiel saw them, his eyes widen, knowing what they are. Those red growing chest pieces are in fact the Evil Pieces themselves. Sometimes you can get one of them when you stayed a Reincarnated Devil, or Stray Devil. The very thing that can turned a human into a Devil.

However, unlike those ones, that Baraqiel seen from their corpses, that are dulled and lost any kind of shine to them. The ones that appeared in the in the hands of the Abyssal King, are shining, proving they are the Evil Pieces looked like, before they been used.

"I can always ripped the Evil Piece out of her, that enslaves her to the Gremory Household if she refuses to belong to them in the future… It is not the first time I managed to remove something that attached to one's soul. And this ability of mine, isn't limited to Evil Pieces either. The Abyssal King said, while Baraqiel looked at the boy in the mask, and at the Evil Pieces… and nodded his head.

"Fine… you right… now I think about it… I had shown such a pathetic side of myself, to a child no less… while if you still count as a child. It feels like I am talking to someone who over 1,000 years old, to be honest… Now what to do, to get my family to be protected by others…?" Baraqiel shown a pitiful smile, it no wonder his pride has been shattered in this single night, when he failed to protect all he had promised.

"Don't worry about that, they will met, that I can promise you." Said the Abyssal King.

"How can you be so sure about that? And will you really removed the Evil Piece from Akeno…?" After all, it no wonder for Baraqiel to doubt that, since there no benefit for the Abyssal King to remove the Evil Piece from of one of the servants of the House of Gremory. After all, what the Abyssal King most likely will gained is the wrath of the House of Gremory, if he were to forcedly remove one of their own.

"It's a deal, plus I get a feeling, that Akeno will fit into the Peerage of Rias Gremory. I do hope you excuse me, Baraqiel, the Lightning of God. I hope we get to fight once again someday, with a cleaner state of mind, of course. Until then, farewell." When the Abyssal King said that Baraqiel eyes widen, as the body of the Abyssal King begun to fade into the black mist itself, and when the black fog disappeared, so did the Abyssal King himself disappeared from the spot.

Baraqiel could only show a bitter smile, when he saw the Abyssal King easily leaving with a trace. It almost like the rumours, that the Abyssal King is not only good at assassinations, but also escaping as well. Otherwise, there be no way for such a monster to last thing long. Even if the Abyssal King might count as an immortal. There still ways to sealed him in this world.

And yet, no one never managed to capture the Abyssal King, nor the Black Gate members once. With their leader who have ghost like powers as well, when it comes to fleeing, and the Faction Black Gate, who main weapon is something the Supernatural never dealt with, until they appeared.

"No wonder Azazel is interested in him… everyone sees him as a monster… but fight again… he's more like a warrior to me, than a monster…" Baraqiel said with a bitter smile, as he looked at the moon in the sky with a lonely look on his face, and he knew it will be a long time before he could meet with his wife and daughter again.