Devil x Darklight
Life 1: Half Devil with the Dragon Sword
"So… I guess this is what one can call fucking up…"
I felt strangely calm for someone bleeding out from the giant hole in my gut… in the middle of an overpass with my eyes stuck on the dusk sky and somehow completely alone. Admittedly I've been in worse shape than this, but that never really involved, well, having a hole in my chest. It's a very weird and long explanation.
And with my vision now going black, likely the blood loss kicking in, my mind went back to how I even got here. It was only a few minutes, but, if I think back on it…
It had actually been rather sudden. I was by myself on an overpass on my way home, checking messages on my phone as one is ought to after several hours of not using the thing, the evening sun lighting the sky a burning shade of twilight, when my silent mulling was interrupted.
"Excuse me… you're Soren Edelweiss, from Kuoh Academy, right? Or am I wrong?"
"Yeah, I am. Not like you're gonna see any other guys around this town with white hair and eyes."
My reply was horribly blunt and sarcastic, but it had that truth to it. I'm not actually from around here. I've been living in this town since I was ten, staying with friends of my parents the entire time, but the fact I'm a foreigner couldn't be any more obvious. Tall (by comparison to most around here anyway), pale skinned, hair as white as snow, and oddly matchingly colored eyes. I stood out like a sore thumb in Japan. And not to toot my own horn here but I'm also rather well up on the "pretty boy" scale.
The girl whose voice asked the question definitely wasn't the type I'd say isn't… well, not my type to boot. She was cute enough, with glossy black hair and bright eyes, and her uniform, not one from my school, so likely the more public high school not too far from here, nicely hugged a rather curvy body for her size. I give an 8 out of 10 on the hotness scale, maybe tentative 9. But at the same time, this odd sort of prickling went up the back of my neck.
"Hey, I uh…"
"If you're gonna say something please just say it."
I can probably guess where this is going. I've been confessed to a few times already, and this scenario is almost too cliché to be anything but… but I could be wrong. I've been wrong about many things.
"I just wanted to ask you a quick question." The girl said, and despite my paranoia, the blush and shuffling about made the first assumption of this situation all the more likely. "Are you seeing anyone right now?"
And that's a flag tripping question right there.
"Well, no."
"That's wonderful! In that case, since you're single… do you think you'd like to go out with me?"
I freaking knew it! Though there's just a slight problem with all of this here…
"You see… I've been watching you for a while now. You come by here a lot and… well, you just seem… gentle, and really handsome, so I…"
Wait, watching? Like, as in, kinda sorta stalking me? Might have to watch for that one girly…
"So, the thing is… I'd like for you to be my boyfriend!"
"Well, I'm flattered, but… sorry, I don't go for girls I just met."
"Huh?"
Probably the most shocked looking reaction I've gotten yet to that kind of thing. Just give me credit for not being too harsh about it will ya?"
"Yeah. Look I get here in Japan things, well, kinda work out differently but personal values of mine don't go that way. I mean, I don't even know your name. It'd just seem kinda awkward. So, sorry, but I've gotta turn you down. I'm sure you were planning this for a while probably, but, that's kinda how it is. Again, sorry."
"Tch."
Did she just click her tongue? Actually, she looks annoyed now… maybe that prickling was for more than I thought, because my body took an instinctive step backwards.
"Well, this does go against what I was planning. Really, I didn't expect that… whatever, it's still evening, so that does fit with what I wanted to do however." The girl's voice had hardly changed, but her words dropped from sweet to downright menacing. It really was a danger sense that had gone off, only affirmed as she turned and showed an amused, violent gleam in her eyes.
And the next I knew, with a flash of black feathers and a keen in the air, burning pain shot through my chest as the girl shot forward with a gleaming construct of a weapon in her hands, a bit of blood coming from my mouth as I cough, the girl yanking the spear-like weapon from my chest, chuckling to herself as I fell back.
"Sorry, but you could've been a threat to our plans here, so I couldn't let you live much longer. Blame God for planting a Sacred Gear inside of you. A shame though, you are rather cute. Maybe I would've liked posing as your girlfriend." The girl's voice was cruel and mocking as she leaned down over me, the glistening black wings on her back blotting out the bit of sun that could be seen, "Ah well, what's done is done, tata!"
And with that, I was alone…
"Yeah… definitely… fucked up… in not seeing that coming."
Even with my vision now blurred from blood loss, it's probably a wonder I'm still forming coherent enough thoughts to be taking this rather casually… though truth be told due to a variety of circumstances I have actually dealt with worse than what I am now... not to say having a gaping hole in my chest doesn't hurt like a bitch, especially when basic body functions don't work right because of it. She just missed my heart though… I should be fine.
"Well, this is a predicament. You've done pretty well before this… though a light spear through the chest would be pretty hard to shake off even for you."
A gleam of red stood out in my blurred, darkened vision, and I could just barely make the voice out as belonging to that of a man, a groan escaping my throat along with a cough.
"Who the hell… are you?" I choked it out between a combination of coughs and blood in my mouth, the mysterious red man giving a musing chuckle. "The blood loss is… making it hard… to see…"
"Well, you don't really know me, so I doubt it'd do you much better if you could clearly see my face." The red drew a bit closer, a hum coming from them, "Interesting, seems you're already developing that ability. It's already healing."
"Yeah that's… kind of… a thing." I muttered, "A wound… like this… won't kill me. Chick didn't hit… the vitals."
"Though it seems blood loss is still a problem for you. You may not be able to tell, but you're kind of in a puddle of it."
"I… assumed as much."
"Hahaha, well, at least you're resilient. Just like your mother and father said." The voice said, and I craned my neck as much as I could to look at whoever the man was at that.
"You… know my parents?" I couldn't see more than the vague shape of the person, but he nodded, "How?"
"You'll learn the answer soon enough, don't worry." The man stated, and the rustling sound of cloth clued me into his arm moving, and a dim red glow came into view… or maybe it was just dim because my vision was almost totally dark now. "Though as it is, I have a promise to keep to an old friend. You'll be fine, don't worry. Hmm… may need to have some extra insurance though."
"I have… no idea what you mean."
Famous last words if anything, because I passed out before I could hear the person's reply.
Beep… beep… BEEP… BEEP
CRASH
My fist came slamming down onto the incredibly annoying blare of the alarm clock to silence the incessant noise, the item only being saved thanks to a rather convenient rubberized impact shell that surrounded the thing. I'd found it at a flea market a few years ago and it's been useful ever since.
If there's one fact about me that needs to be stated right now, it's this: I hate mornings. If I had the choice I wouldn't crawl out of this bed until it was long past noon.
And this morning is only made worse because of last night. I'm not so deluded to think what happened was some kind of fever dream. Potentially to my misfortune, I'm well aware our world isn't quite that simple…
"Soren, are you awake?"
"Yes ka-san, I'm up." My voice was more of a groan as my face fell back into my pillow. Despite the term, the woman who spoke wasn't actually my mother. For the past seven years of my life, I've been raised by friends of my parents, and I call them ka-san and to-san out of respect for putting up with me through puberty to where I am now.
"Are you sure?" The sound of the door opening came through, and a grumble left my throat, managing to roll over and sit up, seeing that leaning into my room was the woman I called ka-san. As appropriate to what I said, she looked almost as typically Japanese as you could get, still young looking but the age was starting to show on her face. "Ah, you are. You were out pretty late again, are you sure you're not getting into trouble?"
"It's just extracurricular stuff ka-san, it's nothing major." I yawned at finishing it, then waving a hand as I flopped down again, "I'll be down in a minute."
"Okay, just don't fall asleep again!"
"Yeah…"
"Extracurricular," heh, I cannot believe I've managed to make that work for about two years now, but maybe it's not quite the time to explain that, as I've got another concern. Getting off of the bed, well, more accurately, rolling off, I shuffled my way over to the mirror near my desk. My concern right now was here… my chest was still totally smooth, not a mark left on it despite more or less having had a hole blown out of me.
"I wonder who that voice was though… he said he knew mom and dad so… maybe. Eh, I'll ask next time they call." I could only shrug as the thought came to mind. My parents are what I'll call archaeologists, though it's a bit more complicated than that to be honest. They have to travel so often trying to raise a kid just wasn't on the options list so it's why I'm living here with the Hyoudos. I don't entirely blame them but… whatever, not the time to mull on this.
Rather, my looking over went to slapping my cheeks to try and wake myself up more, my eyes still nearly closed, but, opening them had to be done. My reflection is at least an okay motivator. Tugging at the white strands of my hair, I also made a point to stare closely at my eyes. The white color was, needless to say, equally abnormal, and the dark band that separated the iris from the sclerae only added to the oddity. The doctor said it had something to do with genetics.
-Then again a seventeen year old with white hair was also equally suspect.
It's a trait I share with my mom, who honestly speaking I do not know much about her life before meeting my dad. She always weirdly avoided the subject when I was little.
But, since everything seems to be all well and in order, no point dwelling on too much. Throwing on my uniform as near haphazardly as I could, not to mention barely patting down my bedhead. As I walked past the door, I tapped my hand onto the wall, on a certain fixture hanging near the door.
"Today's a new day. Let's go out and face it."
Let me restate it: I hate mornings.
The sun is too damn bright and practically makes my skin crawl. I'm the kind of person who's more of a night owl, so when it's not overcast or winter, I especially hate the mornings with a passion. I've just kind of always been that way. There used to be a period just being in the sun made my skin feel like it was burning a bit and my eyes could barely stay open. By now it's almost more like a minor annoyance.
But again, I hate mornings. Even after chugging down an overloaded-with-sugar cup of straight coffee I still couldn't say I was fully awake, at least to a degree of actually not having a tired droop in my expression.
The daily mill of passing students was a dull buzz I tended to zone out, mainly that, due to being a foreigner, I stuck out of the crowd like an overgrown weed. Thankfully for me though, the school I attend actually has quite a few foreign students attending it as well, so my peers aren't really unfamiliar with non-Japanese folks.
The only problem is the gender ratio.
Kuoh Academy, a private school here in the suburban area of Kuoh Town and a much older school than the ones in the inner part of the city, which up until a couple of years ago, had been exclusively female. The lower down you go in year, the higher the number of the split between boys and girl. But, I'm a third year, so it goes something like this: The third years are, between girls to boys, 8:2, second years are 7:3, and first years are 6:4.
Though in layman's terms it basically means an overwhelming advantage for the women in the school. The clubs and student faculty are female dominated entirely so we boys don't have a lot of power one could say.
But, hey, being surrounded by a bunch of hot ladies all day is a bit of a plus. Made taking that hard as balls entrance exam well worth it. But you've gotta be smart about this kind of thing… so far I've played it safe these past couple of years, mainly because most of the other guys in this school are, for a lack of better words, raging horndogs.
I mean pack a bunch of hormonal teens into any place and things are bound to happen, but still. And I'm a third year so I only have a few guy friends in this school… but then there's the mentioned fact I'm also a foreigner.
Let's just say that out of it, is another case.
"Let's see, the school gate is in sight, so, right about now would be…"
"Well well, if it isn't that gaijin kid all the rumors have been talking about! He really does go to Kuoh Academy!"
"… when the banchos show up!" I think the sudden smirk on my face came off to strong considering the group of five rather hysterically dressed up bancho types came out of the woodworks from behind me. My enthusiasm was more to the fact this was a common occurrence. "Finally, the day can really start! So, who's it this time huh? Actually, nah, let's skip the introduction and get right to the fighting, I need to blow off some steam!"
"Wait wha-GUAGH!"
The first, and probably the leader of the five, got my school bag, conveniently carrying a particularly heavy textbook, right to his face from a sharp throw, his four buddies stuck in shock as their boss lurched back onto the ground.
"Hehehe… like I said, let's get to the fight! Don't bother one-on-one, come at me all at once, else it won't be fun!" I pulled my blazer off and tied the sleeves around my waist, slamming a fist into the palm of the other hand, "So, ya' wanna run, or we gonna fight like you came here too huh?!"
"He took out boss with a book bag!?"
"This dude is way scarier than we thought!"
"Now that I think about it those Senba guys did warn us…"
"Grab the boss and run!"
"Eh?"
And within seconds the four banchos had grabbed their leader and scrambled off. What the hell?! Didn't you come here to fight me?!
"Get back here you damn cowards! You came for a fight didn't you?! So come back here and fight meeeee!"
But the banchos were already long gone, specs on the horizon as they scrambled away. Buncha cowards! Have it your way then!
With another huff, I picked my bag up off of the ground and trudged towards the gate on the school grounds, and as I passed that threshold, a color drifted into my vision. Red. Or, maybe more precisely, crimson. A color that's hard to call natural when it comes from somebody's hair, but nonetheless, that's where that vibrant color came from.
The idol of our school, another foreigner like me, apparently from North Europe, if I had to take a rough guess I'd say Scandinavia or something. Her curvy figure was the kind most Japanese girls could only ever hope to have, with the kind of looks the average person would be entirely enthralled by with a mere glance. Note I said average. I am not average.
Her name is Rias Gremory, and like me she's a third year. Known as one of the Two Big Sisters of Kuoh Academy, she's the kind of person who, when she walks by, everyone just stops. Some people stop talking, some stop walking, but everyone turns their head to look at her. From the crimson strands of hair that make the air around her seem the same color as the wind gentle blows it, her pale as snow skin, or sky-blue eyes. A presence that makes people just look.
Even I have to admit the only word to describe this person was "beautiful" and nothing else. In a game one "Describe someone with one word", that is the word you'd use for the girl named Rias Gremory.
But, to me, there's something else. Yes, I agree she's beautiful, but from my perspective she's too beautiful. To a degree I would even go so far as to say inhumanly so. Her very aura gave me this feeling of a need to be wary, to not get as caught up as everyone else and fall for the natural charm this girl had.
I've felt like this for a while now as it stands… I should maybe get to explaining some time soon, yeesh.
My pace fell behind to try and make an excuse to just avoid this girl for as long as I could, but then her head turned. Clear blue eyes turned to meet mine, and I could've sworn a smile came to her face. The skeptic in me wants to think she's not looking at me, but the realist is saying she is. It's not like we have any direction relation to one another, so why?
But then, I remembered last night… a man who had the same aura of "red", and something about it suddenly felt like I was looking at something similar as well. A feeling that was gentle but also cold. It was uncanny enough it actually felt unnerving.
And then we have the biggest case of misfortune in my life: I'm desk neighbors with Rias.
By some probable joke of the divines, this year I ended up seated right smack next to the school idol by sheer chance. I'd already dealt with being in the same class as her for these past couple of years, but I was usually able to just sulk in a corner and be conveniently ignored, to my preference.
But now? Well, needless to say when lessons weren't happening eyes were almost always on me. The various looks I would get communicated such feelings as envy at my convenient seating, jealousy I got to sit next to Rias Gremory herself, rigid contempt of this fact, and a few other things.
That's not even getting into my own reputation that was a source of many of these mixed emotions I tended to get.
"Ahhh, I'm so jealous of Edelweiss-san, getting to sit next to Gremory-sama!"
"Isn't he like, the leader of every bancho gang in town? Or is that just a rumor? And apparently he gets into lots of street fights!"
"Really? Cause I heard he's super helpful and is always lending a hand to the teachers and student council."
"But he's like super hard to approach though! Don't get me wrong he's hot but his eyes just feel like they look right through you…"
"Yeah but I mean he's also supposed to be super nice. I was in first year with him and he acted way nicer back then."
Ahahaha, if only these people knew why I seemed to become sulkier after first year, if only.
"Opinions are divisive as always on ya' huh?" A voice like an old yakuza-type is what caught my attention from behind me, my head craning to immediately be met a head topped with messy golden hair. Which to be straight, would be considered odd since the boy behind me was, unlike myself, very obviously Japanese, moreso since it was natural, which is pretty rare in these parts. Atop the mess of hair, a loose black knit cap covered the rest of it, an the pressed down fringe hovered in front of dark eyes the color of night, sticking out ever more so on his pale skin. And even in his chair one could see he was short, easily mistakable for a first year instead of a third year.
Yet another oddity of Kuoh Academy, the guy who was somehow my best friend since middle school, Tsuno Sakata. He was more well known for being an odd sort, for both his golden hair and odd way of speaking, but also cause despite it he's still considered one of the best-looking guys in the school, despite being, well, as mentioned, tiny.
I don't quite remember the rankings, but I know both he and I rank near the top. Tsuno's more popular with a certain type I'm sure you can easily guess.
"Of course they are. People can't seem to decide if I'm some kind of angel or devil… ironic as that happens to be." My tone suddenly turned to an amused chuckle as the thought crossed my mind, tapping my pen rhythmically on my notepad, Tsuno shrugging as he threw an arm back over his chair.
"You are the Divisive Adonis after all. Your rep is practically built on the fact there's two or more camps with varying opinions about you."
"Please don't remind me of that stupid nickname. Seriously why did you start that?"
"Hmm? Who says I started it? I have no idea what you mean~."
I just rolled my eyes as Tsuno gave a sing song tone. Back in second year I started hearing that dang nickname being thrown around until it became ner constant. It's not the kind of thing that just happens as it is, and I knew perfectly well Tsuno started it, but to this day he plays dumb and acts like he has no clue where it came from. But the sneering look on his face tells me all that I need to know.
"Whatever. So… anything new or we still on the down low?" I said, stopping the tapping of my pen, Tsuno humming as he leaned back in his chair.
"So far not really. Have heard some buzz in the grapevine since yesterday but… oop, we got a listener, sorry~, gonna have to say later!" Tsuno clapped his hands together, then pointing off, and I turned to see that Rias was looking back at the two of us with a vague glance, but her gaze turned back to her notebook the second our eyes me.
There was no denying it that time, she was definitely watching.
"Tsuno, what are we doing here?"
"Peeping on the kendo club girls, what else does it look like?"
"No no, you are peeping on the kendo girls. I am the sorry schmuck who got dragged along!"
My voice was a whisper since I wasn't dumb enough to let myself be heard. After class Tsuno had dragged me out into the school grounds and somewhere behind the kendo building. See, the thing is, Tsuno is also a grade SSS pervert. He's good looking and savvy enough I'm sure he'd have girls swarming him if he actually put in effort, but he's more content to sit back and be a perv.
Tennis practice? He's watching the skirts flap. Swimming club? Remarking on every time a girl has to adjust her swimsuit. Changing rooms? He knows every little peephole one can find.
And the crazy thing is he's never been caught, and he's damn proud of it.
Me? Well I tend to just get dragged into his zany schemes every time.
"You're not just a schmuck, you're my look out! I mean not that I'd get caught, I never will, but can't be too careful. Ooooh! Murayama's chest filled out some more, and Katase's legs are as great as ever!" Tsuno was downright drooling as he kept rattling off random tidbits about the various kendo girls, my hand coming to my face.
"Seriously why are we friends?" I muttered, Tsuno just snickering as he wiped off his lip, "Really?"
"Because who else is gonna hang around the guy all the banchos call aniki but who's also the Student Council's favorite helper?" Tsuno remarked, getting a glare in response, "Hey relax relax, I'm just yankin' your chain."
"Also couldn't you just do, I dunno, something else? The internet is a thing!" I remarked, Tsuno only snickering as he put his eye back to the peep hole in front of him.
"I will not deny that fact, but, there is a merit to voyeurism my friend. Especially when you don't get caught! Besides people used to pay for voyeur shows, all I'm doing is finding another method!"
"The fact that you know thatis what unsettles me more." I muttered, leaning on a hand, "So, about my question from class today?"
"Hmm? Well, no new contracts as of late. I guess the locals in charge started cleaning up a bit." Tsuno stated, not moving from his spot, "Though the buzz in the grapevine has been amusing… though you probably know all about that, right?"
"And of course you know already… geez it hasn't even been a day." I brought a hand to my chest again and sighed, letting it slip down, "So, how much longer you gonna keep this up?"
"A biiiit longer."
"Greaaaat."
"Man, I swear Prez is trying to work me to death with those errands she has me running all the time… that last fight wasn't that bad… we only broke part of the booths."
A sigh escaped my lips as I finally got off the school grounds. Ever since an incident during the last school festival with some of those banchos that go after me, I've had to do occasional reperation work with the student council. Our council president is fair but damn if she can't be harsh. Congratulates me for sorting out the problem, then tells me I've gotta run errands for a few months as reparations anyway!
"Yet I cannot hate her over it… heh, Shitori's charming that way though."
I swung my bag a bit as I continued my walking along. With the sun going down I was starting to feel a lot more energetic. My steps were lighter and any sense of lethargy I'd had left during the day had faded out, so even if it was getting later than usual for when I left school I wasn't bothered by it. Ka-san and To-san are aware I tend to stay out late anyway. Might as well do a bit of shopping while I'm out to be helpful. I seem to recall a lack of eggs…
Now normally I'd have probably left school with Tsuno for those "extracurricular" activities of mine, but after last night and with the apparent lack of things laying low felt like a better option with things. Still, I wanna at least enjoy being out at night despite it.
While I can say unlike maybe say, a couple years ago where it was all the worse, it does tend to be even… of course though after waking up from some serious blood loss of course I'd be cranky in the morning no thanks to anemia. But even still, the night still felt more welcoming to me than the day.
I could see perfectly despite the waning evening light giving way to the barely lit darkness of early night time, the only actual lights starting to come from street lights and the few open stores left like the convenience store I chose to stop by.
But, as I left the convenience store with items in hand, I started getting the feeling I was being watched. A chill came down my spine, a feeling of wariness. Not quite the same one I'd had during school concerning Rias, but the kind of wariness you have when actual danger is about.
"Ugh, seriously? I just dealt with something yesterday, can I get a break?"
I turned my attention back to heading home, though the feeling wouldn't leave, and it persisted as I pushed onwards, eventually finding myself at the fountain square of a park after choosing to cut through it. And that as when a feather fell in front of me. It was black as night, and too large to be from a normal bird. And then there was the feeling hanging off of it.
The same kind as the girl from last night.
"Did you really think I would let you escape? This is why lesser beings are such a pain to handle."
"Hehe, I don't know who you're calling "lesser" but I know damn well it ain't me."
The person who appeared in front of me as I turned was a man covered head to toe in black, a concealing trenchcoat over his body and a hat concealing most of his features, and large black wings protruded from his back and outwards, the subtle movements in the air rustling them.
"Another Fallen Angel huh? Seriously, what the hell did I do?"
"Tell me the name of your Master. If not, then I guess I'll have to assume I was correct… or maybe it'll explain that cocky look on your face."
"Master? Hehehehe, sorry, sorry, you've got the wrong idea. I help people a lot sure, but I'm nobodies servant." I replied, setting down the shopping items and my school bag as I spoke, "And seriously can't a guy just go on a nighttime stroll without being creeped on? Honestly it's insulting!"
No thanks to the brim of that hat I couldn't see the man's expression, but from his scoff I could tell he was amused. He wasn't taking me seriously.
"Well, I don't feel anyone else's presence. No sign of a Master or other comrades, and no magic circle. Analysis of the situation suggests you must be a Stray. So, it won't be a problem if I kill you."
"Did you not hear a word I just said?"
The man raised a hand as I saw a smirk come to his face, his palm directed towards me, and a feeling came to the air. I knew it, it was the same kind of whine from before. Light began forming at the man's palm, and in a flash, it had formed into a solid shape. It was jagged, but the form of a spear was recognizable in the construct.
This wasn't like the other night though. Seeing this coming from a mile away, my body easily shifted to the side as the man threw the spear at me, but rather than just letting it pass, I made a point to reach out and grab it, which got a surprised gasp from the man. It had been just a split second in time, a normal person wouldn't have even had a chance to react, and I'd barely moved at all to do this.
"What?! How are you touching that and not burning up?!"
"Yeah, see, this is the part where I tell you who I am." I said, closing my hand in and crushing the light spear with ease, not a mark on my fingers as I flexed them a bit, holding my wrist as I shut an eye, "See, the thing is, while you're right I don't have a Master, I'm not a Stray either. If you'd done just a bit of research instead of deciding to be a kill happy jackass, you'd have a better idea of just who the hell I am. Honestly imagine if word got out a Fallen Angel tried to hurt business, my buddies would be all over your ass like ugly on an ape!"
The step forward I took came with a sudden surge around my left arm as I lowered, it, red energy beginning to pour off of my forearm while strands of it flowed to my right, the man taking a step back as I continued the slow approach towards him.
"What are you?"
"I'm getting to that, don't worry!" The smirk on my face was likely one that could be best described as wicked at the moment, the man throwing another light spear at me, and my right hand came up as I motioned for it to grip at the surging red light near it, a sudden crashing sound in the air as the spear was struck by something else. In my hand was a sword, the hilt a glaring shade of crimson and scaled like a dragon's hide, a green gem inlaid in the center of the guard and another smaller one at the bottom of the gold marked hilt, gold spikes jutting from both sides of the grip, the meter-and-a-half-long blade of the weapon nearly translucent, more like green crystal than some kind of metal.
"That sword… what is that?!"
"I'll explain that as well." I added, the surging light around my forearm solidifying as I brought the arm up near my face, the red light forming into a close fitting gauntlet the same red as sword's hilt, also layered in a manner akin to scales, a single green gem on the back of the hand while my fingers were covered in darker red plates that gave the look of claws.
"A Sacred Gear user?"
"Bingo!" I said, resting the sword in my right hand over my shoulder, "Shoulda done your research pal! The name is Soren Edelweiss, supernatural bounty hunter, half-Devil, and this era's Red Dragon Emperor! Sure, the Sacred Gear is a bit different than usual, but these are just my own personal tweaks to suit me better."
"Edelweiss?! How? Raynare said she killed you!"
"Raynare? Oh so that's the cutie who shanked me the other night. Nice to know her name now. Yeah, sorry but killin' me ain't that easy. Problem is she missed my heart. Blood loss is a bitch but if ya' don't get my heart or my head, fact is I just won't die! I'm actually not sure if that's where it's limited though, and not like I plan to try it out."
"Tch, cocky Devil!"
Another light spear, this one even larger than before, and with a glow running across my sword's blade, it was slashed out of the air cleanly like before, a sigh escaping my lips as I planted the tip between a couple of the concrete blocks.
"You already tried that once, what the hell made you think it'd work a second time? Would it help if I stopped repressing my aura? I try to stay under the radar, so I usually keep it down. Also, did the words "Red Dragon Emperor" not click in that birdbrain of yours? This is the Boosted Gear you're lookin' at wise guy!"
"Does it matter? Having one of the 13 Longinus doesn't mean you're stronger than me."
"Goddammit, didn't I just… okay, look here featherface, I'm not in the mood for a fight tonight so just…"
Rather than let me finish, the man threw another spear of light at me, but rather than slash it away, I grabbed this one as it came close with my left hand, crushing it and giving a long sigh, the fallen angel taking another step back as he formed another spear.
"Guess I gotta do this the hard way… ugh, this is the worst."
[Boost!]
A green glow came from both the gem on my gauntlet and the blade of my sword as I pulled it back up. My step forward turned into a dash as the man who I could clearly call my enemy raised his spear again, the distance between us closed in a second as the air rushed past, the edge of the blade in my hand coming to rest just against the skin of the man's neck, just enough to make a small enough cut for a small line of blood to start showing.
"So fast…"
"Well the thing is I'm not some weakling like you thought I was. Now I'll say it again, I'm not in the mood for a fight. So just go and fly away, or next time I'm not stopping the sword, and you're head is gonna roll."
"Tch, getting in close and sparing me? You're a fool!"
The man tried to jab the spear forward, but for the trouble it was worth I grabbed it with my left hand and crushed it again, my right leg coming up and slamming the man in the gut with a kick that sent him flying back into the trees.
"You're seriously not giving up, are you?" My question was answered with a bolt of blue, to which I merely angled by head and let the spear shoot by while it missed by a hair. "I take that as a yes."
"Tch, this is me finishing the job you could say." The Fallen Angel stepped out of the trees, though I felt my smirk widen a bit as I saw the blood on his chin. Guess I'd kicked him harder than I thought.
"Ohhh~? You're tryin' to clean up after your boss now? Haha! Well, I admit I screwed up there. She actually got the drop on me then. Now had I been aware from the start with, Raynare, was it, it would've been a different story." I tilted my head the other way as I spoke, a chuckle escaping my lips, "I may not be in the mood for a fight, buuut, if you insist."
As I gripped my sword a bit tighter with intent to cut down the next spear the Fallen Angel threw, just as the motion was about to start something else came. With a sound almost like a scream in the air, a dark, red tinged blast came from behind me and blasted the spear away mid-flight.
And with a drift of crimson, someone walked past me. I didn't even need to see her face to know who it was. And it freaking bothered me she even showed up at all.
"Sorry, but I can't let this fight go on. I'd get in trouble if you hurt him."
"Crimson hair… hah, so that means you're from the Gremory family." The Fallen Angel's eyes were full of abject hatred, and a glance to me said he was trying to confirm something. I guess this was putting my earlier words into some doubt in his mind.
"I'm Rias Gremory. How are you today, my dear Fallen Angel-san?" Rias' tone was as mocking as the contempt in the man's eyes, and he chuckled as he stood up straight.
"Who knew this area was under the jurisdiction of the Gremory family's heiress? Tell me, is that cocky boy part of your peerage or something else?"
"Remember that this "cocky boy" is the same guy who would've cut off your damn head! Maybe show something for me bring merciful!" I snapped in reply, jabbing a finger at the Fallen Angel.
"I wouldn't really say that. More like an assigned protectorate." Rias' statement got me to raise a brow, and I caught the sparks of dark energy at her fingers, "But even still, I won't show any mercy if you mess with him because of that."
"… yeah can I get some context or is that gonna have to wait?"
"Well, I apologize for today." The Fallen Angel said, "But, you'd do best not to let your subordinates, peerage or otherwise, run about freely. Someone like me might just kill him during his walk, you know?"
"HEY! I'm nobodies subordinate, don't just go and assume!"
"Thank you for the most helpful advice." Rias' words on the other hand told me I was being ignored, "Then let me give you a warning too: I will not let you off scot-free should you do something like this again.
"Same to your, heiress apparent of the Gremory family. My name is Donnaseek. Let us hope we never meet again."
"Yeah cause next time I'm kickin' your ass!" My remark didn't seem to reach anything as the Fallen Angel had already flown off, and annoyed click left my mouth as I set my sword across my shoulders, "Geez, talk about an asshole."
"Honestly… I knew you were a troublemaker from you reputation at school alone…"
"Whch is highly arguable."
"… but I can't believe a mere day after I get assigned this, you run into a Fallen Angel." Rias' words were exasperated, her tone scolding like she was talking down to a rowdy child.
"Hey, he attacked me, I was acting in self-defense! And what's this about being some protectorate huh?" I dismissed the Sacred Gear as I spoke, folding my arms as I lowered, them, looking to Rias with narrowed eyes. This was the kind of thing I knew about, why I was wary of her.
This girl, like me, wasn't a human. If you want me to be precise, we're Devils… well, okay, I'm a half-blood. But the other question might be how I knew she's one, right? Simple answer is, I have good sources of information… besides, it's not hard to tell when someone is like you.
"Alright then, I'll be straight with you, since you seem more aware than I anticipated." Rias lifted a hand and pointed a finger at me, the dramatic gesture earning more of a flat reaction on my face, "As of yesterday, on orders from Lord Lucifer himself, you, Soren Edelweiss, have officially become a protectorate of House Gremory. Even if I don't understand why for now, that means you are now under my care. Glad to have you."
Wait… Lucifer himself ordered this?! WHAT?!
But wait… if I've been declared a protectorate then… wait… the red man from last night. No, no way he could possibly be that guy. Though… weirdly it's not out of the realm of possibility when I stop to think about it.
But that still begs the question of why?
"Yeah uh… remember when I asked for context? That still applies." I said, Rias folding her arms, which gave her chest a rather generous bounce… shouldn't those things be still? Hell I know you're a Devil but wouldn't you have some serious back pains?... why am I even thinking about this right now?
I should be more concerned about the possibility my folks know fucking Lucifer.
"Well again I don't quite know the reason for the order… but considering you were attacked just now, and the fact you have a Sacred Gear, it's rather reasonable, don't you think?"
"I've been doing perfectly fine for the past two years so like hell I'd think it's reasonable!" I snapped, Rias looking almost taken aback, "Even if it's an order from freakin' Lucifer, how the hell else do you expect me to take that? Hell my question is why would someone like that order one of the current generation heirs to take me under her wing?!"
"You are surprisingly well informed."
"I have good sources. What you think I've spent the two years running around blind as a bat since I figured out I was a half-blood?"
"It was within the realm of possibility yes."
"I'm out of the loop, not stupid." I muttered, "But… I can't argue against this even if I want to, can I?"
"Ah, and actually reasonable. That's surprising."
"Shove it Princess. So… I'm stuck with this now huh? Great, just freaking great! There goes whatever scrap of normalcy my life had left to it!"
"Look I'm just as confused about this as you are." Rias remarked, one eye shut, an amused smile on her face even when I was giving her a glare, "But, even if we've been in the same class since first year… it's a pleasure to formally meet the rumored "Half-Devil with the Dragon Sword". You've been making quite the ruckus in my territory for a while now with your Stray hunting."
"Yeah well Kuoh Town is a big place with a lot going on in it. You're welcome for helping keep the ruckus low."
Despite my attitude in the remark, Rias only chuckled. She knew it, I knew it. The life I had before could officially be called over, whether I liked it or not. But… maybe this will give me the answers I'm looking for.
Why am I a half-devil?
What bloodline is it? Am I some kind of noble or just bottom of the barrel common blood?
Why do I even have a Sacred Gear?
And just who are my parents… and what does that make me?
A/N
I felt the need to do something DxD now that I'm on summer break and I'm not takin' Re;FD off hiatus for a while… and so I jumped down this rabbit hole. What am I even doing? Eh, whatever. So to answer questions I feel that're coming. No, this Soren is not a member of Rias' peerage, nor will he be one… think of it more as a somewhat unwilling part timer who got volunteered regardless of possible arguments. As for the different Boosted Gear? That'll be explained. Along with the whole "Darklight" bit. Along with a lot of other things… I have problems. I can never make it easy on myself huh?