DxD: Lost in Time

"Hisashi, calm down." I felt the familiar bosom that had been my comfort for years. Purple hair and red eyes framed a face brimming with worry. My mother's embrace was tight—too tight, actually.

'Geez, I just arrived!'

"Mother… I can't… breathe…" My muffled voice barely escaped as I tapped her shoulder.

"Oh! Sorry!" She loosened her grip but still held on. "You were unconscious for days! How could I not come when I heard?"

From the corner of my eye, I caught Serafall standing frozen, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief.

"You have a mother!?" she finally managed, pointing at the woman clinging to me. "And how did she even get in here?"

"She's here because of me," a deep voice answered as Sirzechs stepped forward, his calm aura filling the room.

"You brought her?" I asked, glaring at him.

Sirzechs nodded, unfazed by my reaction. "When I received word of your condition, I felt it necessary to inform her. She deserved to know what was happening to her son."

"I warned her not to come here," I said sharply. "This place is dangerous for someone like her."

My mother's voice cut through the tension. "And what kind of son expects his mother to stay away when his life is on the line? I'm your mother, Hisashi. If something happens to you, I have every right to be there!"

"She has a point," Sirzechs added, his tone diplomatic. "I ensured her safety during her journey. And while I understand your concerns, I also understand her decision to come. She cares about you deeply."

Serafall raised an eyebrow. "She's just a normal human, huh?"

"Exactly my point," I shot back. "She doesn't belong here. This isn't her fight."

"Stop it!" my mother snapped, silencing me. "I don't care if it's my fight or not. I'm here now, and I'm not leaving." Her voice softened. "I know you're scared, Hisashi. I know you've been hurt. But you don't have to carry this alone."

Her words hit harder than I expected. I hesitated, my glare softening. "Maybe," I muttered. "But that doesn't mean I—"

"Shush!" she interrupted, pulling me into another suffocating hug.

I sighed, leaning into her embrace despite myself. "Fine. But if you insist on staying, promise me you'll stay out of harm's way."

Her grip tightened. "I promise. But I'm not going anywhere until I know you're safe."

Serafall crossed her arms, her gaze bouncing between us. "You've got quite the family, Hisashi."

I gave her a flat look. "Don't start."

---

When Serafall led us down the ornate halls to the meeting room, the tension between us had eased slightly. As I walked, my mind raced, dredging up fragments of knowledge from my past life about the dangers lurking in this world—some familiar, others terrifyingly uncertain.

As I walked through the grand halls, his thoughts churned with unease. The Old Satan Faction

Lucifer, Leviathan, Beelzebub, and Asmodeus.

Their names echoed like specters of destruction, representing the pureblood supremacy ideals that fueled the Devil Civil War. Each leader embodied chaos, and their descendants carried their oppressive legacies forward.

But my concern wasn't limited to them. Every thought lingered on Grayfia Lucifuge, the infamous "Silver-Haired Queen of Annihilation." She was a pivotal figure in the Lucifuge Clan, bound by tradition and loyalty to the original Lucifer.

Canon knowledge implies that she was woman who stood on the wrong side of history, but a force to be reckoned with.

Did she truly believe in their cause back then?

I couldn't help but wonder. Was her allegiance to the Old Satan Faction born of faith in their ideals, or was it mere duty to her clan?

Canon never elaborated on whether she despised humans or was indifferent to their suffering.

Her reputation during the war was terrifying. The Lucifuge Clan's power to bring annihilation struck fear into any opposition. And yet, he knew her future self.

One who defected to Sirzechs, rejecting the faction she once served. That shift hinted at internal conflict, perhaps a disdain for the senseless bloodshed she'd once been complicit in.

Or was it something else entirely? Could she have seen the futility of their cause and sought a way out, not out of conscience, but survival?

Perhaps, beneath the cold exterior of the Queen of Annihilation, there was a woman torn between duty and an unspoken desire for freedom

A prisoner of her own legacy.

I clenched my fists. Grayfia might not hesitate to kill a human right now…

What if she saw me as nothing more than another target? Though my mother's safety had been assured for now, a part of him couldn't shake the possibility of betrayal.

If Grayfia's loyalty to Lucifer or her clan outweighed her conscience, then what choice do I have? I need to figure out a way to bring her on our side.

But this was the Devil Civil War, a time when alliances shifted and loyalties wavered. He had no choice but to stay wary, especially of someone as formidable as her.

Eventually, we reached a massive door guarded by two sentries. Serafall smirked. "Show us what you've got, Hisashi."

I rolled my eyes but complied, pushing the heavy door open with ease. The guards exchanged nervous glances, clearly impressed, though they said nothing.

"See!" Serafall was satisfied with my show of strength, gloating even.

Inside, Sirzechs stood waiting, his calm demeanor masking a faint curiosity, not minding her remarks at all which made her veins bulge, but she said nothing more.

"Hisashi," he greeted me with a nod. "I've heard about your condition. I'm glad to see you're recovering."

I returned the nod reluctantly. "Thank you. But you should have left her out of this."

Sirzechs met my gaze evenly. "Your mother has a right to be concerned. Her presence here is not a liability but a reassurance—for her and, whether you admit it or not, for you."

I said nothing, unwilling to argue further.

At that moment, I felt a flicker of energy beside me—faint but undeniably familiar. My gaze snapped to Natsumi, who stood quietly behind the others. Her eyes widened as if startled by the sudden connection, a faint glow swirling around her.

The resonance wasn't intentional. It felt instinctual, like two threads of energy intertwining on their own.

"What was that?" Serafall asked, her tone uncharacteristically serious.

Natsumi shook her head quickly. "I-I don't know. I didn't do anything!"

But I knew what it was—or at least, I had a feeling. The connection between us had deepened in ways I didn't fully understand yet, but it was there. Resonation.

Sirzechs observed us carefully, his gaze thoughtful. "This… might be worth investigating further. But for now, let's focus on why we're here."

Natsumi gave me a worried look, but I shook my head subtly, signaling her to stay quiet. This was a mystery for another time.

As I stood there, piecing together the possible reasons behind the resonance, dread began to creep into my thoughts. Every possibility—from shared energy signatures to deeper, unknown ties—pointed to something troublesome.

"Shit!" I exclaimed, unable to hold back my frustration.

A sharp thwack followed, as my mother's hand bunked me on the head. "Language, young man!" she said, her tone scolding yet familiar.

Rubbing my head, I muttered an apology, which only made Serafall and the others chuckle.

"Still the same Hisashi," Serafall said, smiling wryly.

The nostalgic scene drew soft smiles from everyone, reminding them of simpler times. For a moment, the weight of the mysteries ahead seemed lighter.