After the gauntlet of the school day, Ren Takakura found himself drawn back to the old, secluded building that housed the Occult Research Club. He needed to see Asia Argento, to make sure she was truly alright, and to understand what her future might hold now that her old life had been so violently torn away.
He found Asia in the main clubroom, sitting quietly on one of the plush sofas, a cup of tea steaming gently in her hands. She looked small and fragile, her simple clothes a stark contrast to the ornate, antique furnishings of the room. Her eyes, though still shadowed with the trauma of her recent ordeal, held a new, hesitant sort of peace. Koneko Toujou sat nearby, diligently working her way through a bag of chocolate chip cookies, offering a silent, comforting presence.
"Takakura-san," Asia said, her voice soft, a gentle smile touching her lips as Ren entered. "It is good to see you again. Thank you… thank you for coming."
"Of course, Asia-san," Ren replied, returning her smile. "How are you feeling?"
"Better," she said, her gaze dropping to her teacup. "Much better. Everyone here… they have been so kind to me. Rias-sama, Akeno-san, Kiba-san, Koneko-chan… and you, Takakura-san. You all risked so much to save me. I… I still don't understand why Devils would do such a thing, when everything I was ever taught…" She trailed off, her brow furrowing in confusion.
Rias Gremory, who had been observing from her desk, rose and approached them. "The world is rarely as simple as our teachers would have us believe, Asia," she said gently. "There is good and evil on all sides, among all factions. What matters are the choices we make, the actions we take." She sat beside Asia, her demeanor surprisingly warm and reassuring. "You are safe here, under the protection of the House of Gremory. Raynare will not dare to trouble you again within our territory, not after her recent… defeat."
"But… what will happen to me now?" Asia asked, her voice trembling slightly. "I cannot go back to the Church. Not after… not after they sent me to Raynare, knowing what she was. And my Sacred Gear… Twilight Healing… Raynare said it was a curse, that God had abandoned me…" Tears welled in her eyes again.
"Your Sacred Gear is a gift, Asia," Rias said firmly but kindly. "A rare and powerful one. It is true that such power can attract unwanted attention, as you have unfortunately discovered. But it is not a curse. And as for God abandoning you… perhaps it is merely that your path has diverged from the one you once knew. Sometimes, our greatest trials lead us to unexpected destinies."
Akeno Himejima, who had entered with a fresh pot of tea, added her own soothing words. "Ara, ara, Asia-chan, don't let Raynare's cruel words trouble your heart. She was a bitter, ambitious creature who saw only power, not the gentle soul who wields it. Your ability to heal, to bring comfort… that is a true blessing, no matter its origin."
Ren listened, feeling a profound sense of empathy for Asia's plight. Her entire worldview had been shattered. She was adrift, her faith shaken, her future uncertain. He thought of his own disorienting experiences, his own fragmented memories of a past life, the sudden burden of his Vongola heritage and his uncontrollable Flames. In a strange way, he felt a kinship with this gentle, wounded nun. They were both lost souls, thrust into a world they didn't understand, struggling to find their place.
"We will help you, Asia-san," Ren found himself saying, his voice filled with a conviction that surprised even himself. "We'll figure this out. Together."
Asia looked at him, her tear-filled eyes searching his. A small, tremulous smile touched her lips. "Thank you, Takakura-san. Your kindness… it means more to me than I can say."
Reborn, who had been brought along in his carrier and was currently "napping" on a nearby bookshelf (a nap that Ren was fairly certain involved at least one open, observant eye), made a soft gurgling sound. "Careful, Dame-Ren," his mental voice prodded. "Making promises is easy. Keeping them, especially in this world, is considerably harder. And a Vongola boss always keeps his promises, or dies trying."
Ren ignored the baby hitman's usual brand of uplifting commentary. He knew this wouldn't be easy. Asia's situation was complex, dangerous. The Church might view her as a heretic now, for associating with Devils. The Fallen Angels, or at least Raynare's faction, would undoubtedly still covet her Sacred Gear. And she was now living under the protection of Devils, a fact that would surely cause her immense internal conflict.
Rias seemed to sense this. "For now, Asia, your priority is to rest, to heal, both physically and emotionally," she said. "You are welcome to stay here, in the Occult Research Club building, for as long as you need. We will ensure your safety. And when you are ready, we can discuss your future, your options. You are not alone in this."
The words, spoken with such calm assurance, seemed to offer Asia a fragile lifeline. She nodded, tears still streaming down her face, but this time, they seemed to be tears of relief as much as sorrow. She had found an unexpected sanctuary, a group of unlikely protectors in a world that had suddenly become terrifyingly hostile. Her new reality was still a frightening, confusing place, but perhaps, just perhaps, it was not entirely devoid of kindness, not entirely devoid of hope. And Ren Takakura, the strange boy with the fiery powers and the even stranger infant companion, felt an undeniable responsibility to help her find that hope, to shield that gentle soul from the encroaching darkness.