High School DXD: The Pawn of Eight
So first thing is this story will become very unfocused. As you will eventually see, subplots will happen one after the other. It will get back on track though, promise. This is my story of what happens after the anime for relation information. Also constructive criticism will always be appreciated from anyone willing to give it. Without further wait, here we go.
"Issei," said the Welsh Dragon, "Do you remember nothing of the Dimensional Gap?"
"Not really no," replied Issei timidly.
"Then let me see if this word rings in your thick head. Afterthought."
The word rung so hard it woke Issei up to a full view of Rias's chest. Despite realizing all the girls had snuck into his bed, he didn't take the time to appreciate it all. He got up as quiet as he could and went out to the Balcony. As he closed the door, Rias's eyes popped open. She soon found him talking to Ddraig.
"Did you have to be so blunt?" Issei asked.
"Do you have to be so frail" Ddreig retorted. "Look, instead of complaining, why don't you do something about… Turn around."
Issei was confused but did so anyway. Rias was standing in the door way, looking at him.
"What's wrong Issei?" she questioned.
Issei sighed and took a deep breath. "Afterthought," that's what you said," he began, "You are afraid of becoming an afterthought in my head." As he spoke, her head got lower and lower. "Even your curse came in the form of me, the armor you wore in the gap was mine." Issei began to move forward. "And for everything that could scare you. I don't understand that one." He lifted her chin with one finger underneath it and his thumb on it, "Rias, I am your pawn and because of that I will always think about you. So that said, why don't we go back to bed before the breeze cools us off."
Rias's face was dumbfounded so Issei put his arm around her and lead her back to bed. When they entered the room, Rias took off her thin lingerie. The wheels turned in Issei's head but it wasn't in a perverted way. He laid in the bed, careful not to wake the other girls. When Rias started getting into her spot, he stopped her. Instead he had her lay on top of him, having her head below his chin.
"For every time you held me, this time I will hold you, even while you sleep," he whispered in her ear.
After doing so he put one hand across the small of her back, and the other one on the side of her head. After the first minute Issei felt a sudden tension in his shirt, or two rather, as Rias clenched his shirt into her hands. He felt wet spots on his sternum and in return held her a little tighter. Issei remained vigilant until she had fallen asleep.
Asia woke up near morning to see Rias sleeping on top of Issei. Her mind screamed to not lose to Rias and so she grabbed Issei's arm, wrapping her arms around his and putting her face in the crook of his neck. Soon after the alarm went off, but as always Issei and Rias were the first ones up with Asia soon following. Rias slowly rose, looking Issei in the eyes.
"Guess it's time to make breakfast," she said.
For some reason the words did not ring sweetly in his ears. Instead they rang bitterly because he felt that he never did anything for them. He kept on a smile though.
Classes were a drag and the meeting didn't contain much, aside from Issei's appalling number of contracts.
"All right everyone, I think it's time we head home." The king of the game called.
Issei, however had other plans, "You all go on ahead, I'll clean up here today."
No one thought anything of this and headed out, leaving Issei to himself. He did do the cleaning, but it wasn't why he stayed. He just wanted some undisturbed thought time.
"Hey, Ddreig, got any ideas on what I should do for them?"
Normally the dragon took no care for what Issei did or didn't do, but this time was different, mostly because this time Asia had healed even him so he put in his two cents.
"I have a suggestion I strongly recommend yes," He said, "I think you should dedicate one full period of 24 hours to each girl and do whatever her heart desires. Make it a day of relaxation and happiness for her, especially Rias and Asia."
"Why those two in particular?" Issei asked, looking at his arm on which the dragon lived.
"Rias, because she is very frightened of you forgetting her, and Asia because she healed me."
Issei thought back to when he was unconscious and seeing Asia there beside him. He didn't even realize that the red dragon cared about that or felt like he had a debt to settle.
"Hmm… I think I will take you up on your offer then."
As Issei said this he had opened up a desk drawer that contained a chess board and all the pieces required to play. Without much intent on what he was doing, he sat down in Rias's chair and set the board up. He didn't play a game with himself, he just stared at the pieces. He then took every pawn off of his side of the board except for the one in front of the king.
"Only one," he muttered, "Only one, which leaves the rest exposed."
The green orb illuminated on the back of his hand again.
"Perhaps not partner. You took all eight pieces right? That means you have the soul strength of those eight pieces. There are a few dragons that are known to create illusions that cannot become material. To circumvent this, some dragons have temporarily split their soul to make weak copies of themselves, returning the piece when the copy is destroyed. Your soul is already split into eight pieces, allowing this to be easy. I do not know these moves however, so another dragon must train you. Keep in note though your power would be lost evenly with each copy you make. So for you one-eighth for each copy."
Issei took this to memory before responding.
"One thing at a time then, first let's repay the girls."
Issei headed home much later than he thought, a little after dinner. He opened the door to the greeting of the girls except Rias. They told him that they had already eaten and if he was hungry, they saved him left overs.
"Where did Rias go?" he asked. The girls looked at each other in puzzlement as they really hadn't noticed that she had disappeared.
Issei sweat browed, "Guess I better go find her then."
He never realized just how big his new house was until he had to search every room. It can't be that hard to find a girl with that hair, he thought to himself. After every room, the only one left was his. He went to open the door, but it didn't move. He then heard a large sniffle from the other side of the door.
"Rias, you okay? Issei gently called while sitting down, facing the door. A faint yes was heard from the other side.
"Then could you open the door?"
He didn't hear anything except the faint click of the door handle turning. He slowly opened the door to reveal her face. She had obviously been crying for a while. Issei didn't bother to say anything, but instead gently grabbed just above her knees and lifted her up. Rias was very surprised at his strength as he carried her to the edge of his bed. Issei set her down gently on the edge and then got on his own knees and placed his hands on the sides of her legs.
"Rias, I don't know what's wrong and when you want to talk about it I'm ready to listen."
While Issei said this out loud, the inner pervert was screaming in his head, I'm touching Rias. No. No. No. Not the time.
Rias didn't say anything at first but instead, slowly yet firmly, grabbed Issei's hair in each hand, pulling him into her lap. She then bent over him, completely curling over his head. He didn't fight it, whatever this was, she needed to do it.
"Sorry," she whispered, "just got carried away I guess. I had a thought that you wanted to stay after to meet some other girl…"
Issei snapped out of all the comfort he felt and looked Rias in the eyes, those deep aquamarine crystal eyes.
"Rias, as long as I'm this age, odds are I'll always fall for a girls chest, but I'm not going anywhere with no one you haven't already met. And even then well… don't worry."
He watched as the tears build in her eyes but he wiped them away before they could fall.
"I'm going to head back out; you just relax a bit okay?"
She nodded so he walked back out, gently shutting the door behind him.
"Did you find Rias?" Asia asked when Issei stepped off the elevator.
"Yeah, but I think she should be left alone for a bit, she'll be okay though."
Asia's eyes dropped a little, her healer instincts saddened.
"Why don't we watch a movie in the meantime?" Issei smiled at her.
"What would we watch?"
"Anything you want. I'll make popcorn for us."
While Issei made the food, Asia stuck in a romantic movie. Sappy films weren't exactly his favorite but he was more content with seeing her smiling face. Before he sat down, he got a large blanket for the two of them and wrapped her up in it. The movie was about half over when Issei heard a small whistle beside him. It was Asia who had fallen asleep next to him. He was about to turn it off when Rias entered the room.
"Hey Rias," He said calmly, as not to disturb Asia.
Rias waved back.
"Want to watch the rest of this?" he asked her.
She began to move forward so Issei gently moved himself and Asia over so the crimson devil could lean against him too. By the end of the movie, he was trapped as each girl held one of his arms in their sleep. With a mix of the extra warmth and his own weariness, Issei was almost dragged to sleep himself when Rias called his name. He looked over, she was still asleep. As she did so, Issei felt her arms clench around him and her eyes shut harder.
"Wow Rias is even stronger than I thought. But even so, I didn't think anything could bother her."
The poor dragon, he could never have guessed how bad Rias's dream was.
Rias's Dream
"Issei!" she screamed as Loki's hound threw him into the mountain side. She ran as fast as she could, each second more precious than the last.
"Issei!" she screamed again.
The holes were bigger than her palms. She searched desperately for the phoenix tear in his shirt pocket but she couldn't find it.
"Rias," gurgled Issei.
"Yes Issei, I'm here," she cried as the tears streamed down her face.
Issei coughed blood hard enough that parts of it hit her face. The red liquid was darker than her own crimson hair. The splat of blood onto her skin stunned Rias into complete silence. Her tears completely flowed from her face like a waterfall, unhindered by her raspy breathing. She watched his eyes glass over, the world went dark. She was alone. After sometime she made out a figure in the distance.
"Issei?!" she called, hoping it was him.
As he approached, she was mortified. The hound's wounds were still in him, his eyes still glassed over, and a look of sheer anger was on his face. Neither of them said anything, but with his boosted gear, he pointed at Rias, then his wounds. He was blaming her for it all. She watched his arm rise into the air, ready to strike her down with his claws when she woke up with a start.
End of Dream
Issei was kissing her so hard she couldn't breathe. She startled back, ending it.
"You okay," he asked through a wince.
Rias looked around; they were still on the couch with the sun begging to break. As she looked back at Issei, she noticed his arm was beginning to change colors, the more it changed and turned purple, the more it looked like hands, no, her hands.
"Issei did I…" He cut her off.
"Doesn't matter, what does matter is if you're alright. It must have been a terrible nightmare."
Rias looked away from him, "Issei… do you… do you blame me for what happened when we fought Loki?
He thought for a moment, recalling the bit that almost killed him. He understood why she was asking and because of that, he didn't lie, but he did joke it off.
"Not at all! I should have been paying more attention. Besides, if it thought I was a bigger threat than the rest of you then I did my job as a pawn."
Rias felt a little better but her dream still scared the hell out of her.
"You should have Asia look at that for you."
"Probably, but I'm not about to wake her up just because of some minor problems. Come on why don't we head to the roof."
"Why the roof?" she questioned him.
He didn't say anything but stood up, laid Asia down, and led Rias to the roof. Once out there they watched the sun break down the horizon. Issei made sure to stand just behind her so he could watch the sun shine through her crimson hair. As dark as it was he thought it would look like seeping blood. He was quite wrong. The pawn didn't remember the first time he had seen her hair in the morning sun, but he now made sure to see it every chance he got. When the sun hit her hair, it looked like she had embellished it with rubies all along the outer edge. Not something to be seen on its own but combined with the sun, stood out brighter than Michael's Halo. And the best part was, she never knew how he looked at her in these moments.
Rias, on the other hand, was completely taken in by the sun until it was fully in the air.
"Feel better now?" Issei asked her.
She nodded calmly back at him. She was still left quite upset though because when she turned around Issei's entire arm had become a purple hue and even she could see it throb.
Issei calmly looked down at it. It hurt like a son of a gun but Rias simply took his priority.
"Guess I should have Asia look at it now huh?"
He left before she could say anything and the screams soon followed. He didn't tell any of the girls what had happened, wanting to not grow their concern more than he had to. Asia healed him and the day resumed.
Riiiiiinnngg. The last bell. Issei high tailed it to the club room and got their before anyone else. His only intent was to make that sheet for the girls to sign a day with him. He had just finished when Rias and Akeno came in.
"Oh, hi girls!" he called.
"Oh my. Issei since when do you beat us here?" Akeno said, hand on her cheek and smile on her face.
"Since I have something for everyone here," he replied smugly.
Once everyone was there he began, "So, uh, well, seeing as how all of you have been so nice to me and have taken care of me so well I figured it's your turn to have a break. That said I've made this sheet and I'd like you all to find a separate day to sign it. On that date I'm all yours for twenty four hours. I do suggest more relaxing things though." Issei stopped their and looked at Kiba. "Kiba, can you follow me out?" Kiba nodded so he continued. "okay well I'll leave it up to you girls to pick a day." The guys left and began to walk around.
"So what did you need me for Issei?"
"Well knowing you wouldn't have a problem about not having a day I decided I would actually ask you what you wanted."
"What I want?"
"Hey! Sure I may be focused on the girls but you're still a friend so yeah, something I can do for you to relax."
Kiba thought about it for a minute, "Honestly Issei, I'm good, focus on the girls."
Issei respected his request.
Their return came at a sight to see. The clubs building was half demolished and the magic flares from the girls could be seen.
"That's all you Issei," Kiba said, patting Issei's shoulder and walking away.
"Great help man!" Issei yelled.
When he was able to see the girls, they looked like they were ready for murder. They formed a perfect ring of combat, except for Asia who ran to Issei. After she explained everything, Issei pulled out his sacred gear. The loud "Boost!" was promptly heard. The battle lasted a bit longer before they started getting lethal. There was only one piece of luck in this moment; they all had to charge their spells. Even so it wasn't quite enough time. The spells were cast and Issei went blank. His feet moved without his brain and he threw himself into the middle. All the girl's eyes widened with fear as they saw him jump. Each attack was direct. They stood in horror until the dust settled to reveal the Scale Mail standing strong.
"Balance breaker, Scale Mail!" was then heard.
"That was close for comfort," Issei mumbled under his breath.
The armor soon vanished and the paper slowly floated down in front of him. He grabbed it from the air and looked at it. The sheet was blank except for Asia.
Issei sighed, "Girls if you only fight, this won't get filled out. Now a two week vacation is coming up, why don't we start with those days? It seems Asia took the first day."
The glare Rias gave her sent Asia running behind Issei.
"Now," Issei continued, "what does everyone's schedule look like? Rias, how about you, any days of business?"
Rias fumbled through her memory before sighing.
"I have work the first three days."
"Okay so after that is the earliest you could sign."
He continued to work on all the girls schedules into a working order of Asia, Xenovia, Koneko, Rias, Akeno, and then Rossewerrie.
"Issei?" you coming?" Rias called from the hallway.
"I'll meet you in a minute," he called.
Once she left, Issei leaned back against the wall and looked at the ceiling. So how do I contact Sir Zechs? He thought to himself, after this thought the green orb illuminated on his hand.
"I think you are forgetting about the student council girl."
Issei nodded at his hand in agreement, "I'll talk to her tomorrow."
By the time Issei got home to retire into his bed he had found that all the girls had gone to sleep without him. They must have worn themselves out from fighting each other. Well at least they were getting along better now. Issei took his normal place and the girls subconsciously moved closer to him. Everything was alright for now.
"So what do you need Issei?"
"I need a message given to Rias's brother. I'd like to come visit for a special training, alone, and I'm going to need the old man again."
"What is it you plan on doing Issei?" the council president asked.
Issei smiled menacingly, "Frontline," he said. "Oh and if Sir Zechs agrees I'll need transport."
The student council president nodded in agreement. She didn't know why but she knew whatever Issei had planned was going to be well worth whatever argument Rias had to throw at her.