Luring them out! And Issei talks with Kiba!

"Okay... this is the general area?" Issei asked Kiba as he, Saji, Koneko and Raynare all walked about, dressed in nun and priest outfits. Irina and Xenovia had mentioned previous exorcists had been dispatched, but were killed. So, working with Sona's group, they had split up into groups, disguising themselves as Church members, in hopes of drawing out Kokabiel and his accomplices.

"Yes, this is where those two Exorcists mentioned the previous group had been killed," Kiba replied quietly. "...soon, we should draw out the enemy... And with any luck, those three Excaliburs..." he added darkly.

"...Kiba. do not destroy those blades. Or, if you do damage them, leave them in a condition they can easily be repaired," Issei told Kiba sternly, getting a glare from Kiba.

"Not going to happen. Those blades have to go," he growled, and Issei sighed and faced palmed, before Kiba returned to looking out for the enemy.

"Kiba... You have every right to be angry about what happened to you. You even have every right to seek ****. But your feelings are misdirected, even an idiot like me can see that," Issei told Kiba, whose gaze whipped around so fast, Issei was sure he heard something pop in his neck.

"...I suggest you either shut the hell up, prepare for a fight right here and now, or choose your next, potentially last, words with **** care," he grit out, forming a sword in his hand, and placing it at Issei's neck in rage, the blade sparking with electricity, as if betraying Kiba's rapidly fading hold over his emotions.

Issei stood, frozen. "Kiba!" Koneko snapped, immediately stepping forward, and grabbing his arm, wrenching it away. "You DO NOT threaten other members of the Peerage! And you definitely don't attempt to kill them over words!" Issei stared at Koneko, surprised that she of all people was defending him. He was tempted to point out that she had quite possibly tried to kill him herself under the guise of training, but thought better of it.

Kiba froze, as if realizing what he had almost done. He looked stricken. "...talk fast," he grumbled, looking away in slight shame.

"...what those people did to you and your friends is unforgivable," Issei spoke. "Exploiting you, then discarding you when you were of no further use, I would be enraged and want **** too. But Excalibur... Those swords did none of that to you. Just greedy assholes who wanted soldiers who could use them. They sought to exploit Excalibur and any potential wielders. Those swords... They're just hunks of metal. Powerful ones, yes, but they lack the agency to have harmed you."

"...even so, destroying them would harm the ones who did it," Kiba grit out.

"Not as much as putting one of your own blades through their chests," Issei replied flatly, making Kiba pause, and stare incredulously at Issei. "Which, assuming it wouldn't cause too many issues, I'm perfectly prepared to help you do. But if we break an Excalibur beyond repair, let alone three, that's going to almost certainly kick off the next Great War. Which, quite frankly, I don't want to fight in if I can avoid it. I'll kick your ass if you drag us all into that kind of mess."

"...I'll... Take your words into consideration. But I make no promises," Kiba grunted quietly, and Issei sighed again. Kiba was going to need a lot of work to get over his obsession. With that, they resumed their search in uncomfortable silence.