Hey everybody, Azrael Voorhees here, and I'll be changing my username soon enough. It'll mostly be related to DC (probably Black Flash, Eobard Thawne, 935-related, I honestly don't know...). So, that aside, let me breakdown the story to those who did not check out my second version of the "What if" compilation:

1. As expected, this is mainly Issei x Grayfia. Also, I will NOT be pairing him with anyone from the ORC nor the Student Council, ESPECIALLY from the ORC. Why? There's too many options in the buffet of women, and to get anime sloppy seconds, Miss Grey and Jail Bait? A waste of potential, so to say.

2. The Sacred Gear is a dragon, but I will mention the dragon in a future chapter (hint: not Ddraig, Albion, Vitra/Vritra, howsoever he's called, Tiamat, Ophis, Great Red... I'm sure you all get it, because I'll be introducing this dragon as an Original Sacred Gear (so to say, because the character rights go to their respective mythology)).

3. This is my tribute of sorts to Paynis for making Crippled, YagamiNguyen for making Soundless Knight and Dakkaboy123 for giving me the idea of an Issei x Grayfia fic (hell, maybe I'll do an Issei x Serafall fic in the future!).

One last thing: The following story is a- you know what? Fuck it, DxD belongs to Ichei Ishibumi, and the story name is a big ol' parody of Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, simple as that. Let's begin.

[Sacred Gear speaking]

{Sacred Gear communicating through mental link}

Narration

'Thoughts'

Time, place, etc.

"Dialogue"

Emphasis

Lyrics, verses, poems, etc.

September 13th, 2005

When I was a young boy

My father took me into the city

To see a marching band...

Hospitals were already depressing due to the lack of color, despite the fact that the walls were white. White, being a color that was the merging of the emotional spectrum. Surprisingly, black is a bit more alluring, mysterious to be precise. As for the song, I'm surprised at the coincidence, for more reasons than one. The first is the fact that I lost my father before I reached the age of three, leaving me without any memories of seeing him. Mother a hard-working woman who gave herself no time for fun. I don't really blame her, a shift and a half to make sure we were alright. As if I didn't notice how she would find a way to keep us where we were. How she gave up her personal entertainment to make sure I was happy, despite my condition. Not the one that lead him to the hospital, but rather, the one detected at birth.

This condition I have is simple: I can't walk, simple as that. The only advantage was the fact that I did not need a seat, because I brought my own. Not much done about it, except Irina, who liked sitting on my lap as we would slowly go around on it. Even though I was simply employed as the horse so to say, I was happy, for I had a friend. That is, until she moved away. Time passed by, until the second reason why the song was a coincidence to me: the condition that put me in the hospital. Time ago, I had passed out, and awoken in the hospital. Turns out, I was diagnosed with leukemia. To make matters worse, or better, depending on how you viewed things, it was already too late. There was already an estimate on how long it would be until I passed away. Even if it had been detected on time, with what resources would we have been able to complete the treatment?

10 years old, too smart considering the average child of my age. Yet here I am, waiting for everything to end, among needles and tubes. I can guarantee that my mother gave it her all to try and help me. Medicine, prayers, everything. As I feel my eyes slowly closing, I smiled, without regrets. It is as Marx said, 'last words are for fools who haven't said enough'.

Midori Hyoudou was out of ideas, and there was no sugarcoating it. Her son, the only member of her family left without counting her parents and her two siblings, was on the brink of death, one he had slowly neared the past few weeks. Conventional medicine was useless, and endless prayers to the Shinto gods, and also the Catholic and Christian gods were as useful as talking to a wall. She had lost all hope, as she sat in the empty hallway of the hospital Issei was in. That is, until an imposing man of 6 feet and 4 inches in height with a muscular build arrived. Hair similar to that of purple wine, an attire consisting of a black tank top and matching jeans and boots, he sat beside her.

"What's the occasion?" she asked, looking at him.

"Going to a party, so to say," he answered, looking back at her.

"Funerals don't count as parties."

"Then why do marriages count as such? As for death-related festivities, you clearly haven't visited Mexico, Miss."

"Still doesn't explain the getup."

"Figured I'd kill two birds with one stone: there's always death within a trip to the hospital, and weddings are funerals with cake. Enough about me, let's talk about you. Who's within Death's grasp that has you worried?"

"My son," she simply answered.

"Only member left of your family?"

"How did you know?"

"Seen enough cases through these years. Mind if I pay him a visit?" he asked.

"Walk right in," she answered, opening the door for him. He quickly entered, before sitting beside Issei.

"Hello, brat. I don't really expect you to answer, but given the circumstances, I do suppose a proper funeral is in order..." he said, getting up and looking at him. However, he felt an odd source of power within him. Something mystical, dragon-based to be precise. His ability to detect dragons was one that had yet to fail him, and it would be a pity for a child with an unknown dragon-related power to die so early. Smiling, he pulled out a sheet of paper with a seal on it, before leaving the room. As he handed the sheet to Midori, he said:

"Go home right now and Use this sheet of paper by saying what you wish most. You've nothing to lose, trust me."

"Thank you, sir, she said, looking at him."

"Please, call me Tannin."

So, what do you guys think? I plan on keeping the selected dragon as a surprise, although including Tannin was quite interesting. Anyways, the only woman for Issei (for now) is Grayfia, as you read above. Anything to say, PM or comment, constructive criticism accepted, and if you flame, I'll roast you. Until then, see you next time.