"Ugh, it's him again."

"Why does he even bother showing up if all he does is sleep in class?"

"What a nuisance."

"How has he not been booted out already?"

"And to think that a guy like that gets to hang around Rias-onee-sama and Akeno-onee-sama."

"Scum."

"He should just die already."

I do nothing to hide my smile as the student body hurls its sticks and stones. Please hate me more, you low-lives. I'll accept all of it unflinchingly. The insults of lesser beings mean absolutely nothing to me. You are worth less than the dirt my shadow falls upon, but please continue to berate me.

...Hehehe.

Just kidding~.

I couldn't be such a haughty person even if I tried.

And oh, how I've tried.

Unfortunately, I simply lack such a disposition, no matter how hard I've attempted to fit myself into that mold.

The king-type persona that allows nothing to bother him, smirking at the children displaying such revulsion towards his very existence. Yes, I'd very much like to live in such a way, with such a persona. Or even Kiba Yuuto's princely demeanor, always smiling even when our fellow males curse us, both behind our backs and to our faces, I wouldn't mind having that kind of personality either.

Although, the reasons we're cursed are wholly different. Kiba receives scorn for being the "Prince of Kuoh Academy", while mine seems to revolve around the fact that I'm a deadbeat layabout who has somehow found his way into a mutual friendship with Himejima Akeno and Rias Gremory, my fellow third-years.

I still fail to see how such a thing is my fault. Does my very presence somehow strip Akeno and Rias of their autonomy and personal freedom? Are they not allowed to make friends with whomever they wish? Or perhaps it's the fact that such a good-for-nothing like me has succeeded in becoming the friend of those two beauties by accident while they can do nothing but stand off to the sides, praying desperately that their idols will even glance in their general direction.

Regardless, I'm in possession of neither types of personality. I'm still but a normal teenage boy, weak at heart and susceptible to the harshness of those around me. Being the target of such open hatred and distaste, it's almost enough to make want to crawl to Akeno's side and ask to be comforted by her kind words and affectionate head pats. The students of Kuoh Academy are so vicious. If I was any lesser of a man I would undoubtedly be brought to tears by such heartless remarks.

Nevertheless, I walk on with a smile on my face. Their words can't hope to bring down my mood today, no matter how valiant their efforts.

Today is my fifteenth date with the illustrious, the gorgeous, the stunning Amano Yuuma-chan. Such a wonderful girl, she is. Silk-like long black hair that I've had the pleasure of running my hands through. Kind, soft, violet eyes that radiate innocence and enthusiasm on every one of our little dates. A body that's to die for, slender but with curves in all the right places.

Kind, caring, doting, loving, intelligent, and, most importantly, fun, Yuuma is definitely a dream girl that men would kill one another for. More specifically, and if the glares by the male student body in my direction are correct as I greet Yuuma at the school gate before taking her hand in mine and leading her away from the campus, a dream girl they would kill me in particular for.

I don't think Akeno and Rias like my new girlfriend though. The single time I introduced Yuuma to them, they wouldn't stop glaring at her when the two thought I wasn't looking. Akeno in particular, her own gorgeous purple eyes take on such a cold, hard gleam anytime I mention Yuuma in conversation. Rias isn't immune either, smiling politely but I can see just a bit of anger behind it.

However, it's not only those two. Yuuma was rather uncharacteristically cold towards the pair during that meeting as well. It makes me sad. I can undoubtedly and without hesitation say that Akeno and Rias are my closest friends, and Yuuma is a girl I'm really serious about. I want them to get along.

Could they be jealous of each other? Such a thought is almost enough to make me laugh. Wouldn't that be something, for a guy like me to attract the affections of both Great Ladies of Kuoh Academy? Yuuma has no reason to be jealous. I'm pretty sure Rias and Akeno see me more as a younger brother figure than anything, which is kind of depressing in its own way. Even if I'm already in a relationship I still want to be seen as a man!

I shouldn't be so greedy though, even in my thoughts. Yuuma is already enough, if I were to take away Akeno and Rias too I think the other students would actually put a bounty on my head.

Nobuyuki Ren
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Reward: The undying gratitude of the Kuoh Academy student body

Ah, I can already see such a poster in my mind's eye. I hope they use a good photo of me for it. Something flattering and with the proper lighting, preferably when I'm awake. Akeno's told me that I drool in my sleep sometimes and I don't want such a trait displayed.

The entire train of thought gets a chuckle out of me.

"What's so funny, Ren-kun?"

"It's nothing. Just a joke from school."

Yuuma looks at me with a pout. Such an expression could melt the heart of even the coldest of men, young and old. Please don't display such a dangerous weapon, Yuuma. You'll steal my heart entirely in a single move. I wouldn't mind but Akeno and Rias may get angry if I become yours exclusively.

"Geez, to think of school when you're out with your girlfriend. Ren-kun is so mean."

Don't say that with a frown, Yuuma. You'll make me feel bad for letting my mind wander.

"Sorry, sorry. I promise to only focus on you for the rest of our date."

I receive a quick kiss on the cheek as Yuuma links our arms and rests her head on my shoulder without another word as we walk. It seems as though I'm forgiven, how fortunate. I have little to no experience in the dating world but even an idiot like myself knows better than to tell the girl on my arm that I was thinking of my two female friends for a moment. My survival instincts as a male dictate that I have more common sense than that.

Our predetermined destination for the evening? Karaoke, a two-person party for just us. Yuuma seemed to enjoy it quite a bit when I took her here on our first date and listening to her wonderful voice was a joy. I'm not too bad myself, in my own opinion. She always insists we sing a few duets and we sync up with one another very well. We don't sing love songs to one another, neither of us are, for lack of a better word, cheesy enough to do so seriously. At least, not traditional love songs.

Believe in love, even though
There're borders and disturbances and more
I'm the only one who loves you
Because I'm crazy about you

MYTH & ROID, one of my first loves of the musical variety. I'll never forget you. Please release another album soon.

Yuuma was overjoyed and we spent the evening singing. She looks so wonderful that I can hardly believe she's real. She's long since shed her red school jacket and bow this evening, only clad in her white undershirt and green skirt as she dances while singing, body swaying back and forth. Such movements inevitably draw my eyes away from her angelic face and down to her bodacious, bombshell body.

I'm not a pervert. I just have a healthy appreciation of my girlfriend's form.

Her long legs that seem to go on forever and ever. Her pale white thighs that I catch a glimpse of every time she twirls and her skirt lifts just a bit higher. Her slim waist and wide hips. The curvature of her behind. Her downright incredible breasts, a pair large enough that I'm all but sure they're testing the limits of her shirt buttons.

The face of an angel, innocent and kind, combined with the body of a succubus, tempting and devilish.

Well, maybe I'm a bit of a pervert.

Aren't all teenage boys perverts?

The answer to that question is yes, obviously. Those boys that claim otherwise, they're liars. Even worse are those that say they're "above" such urges. Those are the dangerous types, because of how self-righteous they are. Always be wary around such guys, they definitely have bad intentions.

Of course and as with all things, there are limits to perversity and one should always exhibit some self-control. If 1 is being asexual to the point that you may as well be an amoeba and 10 is being a member of the (in)famous Perverted Trio of Kuoh Academy, I would rank myself a 4 on an average day. Perhaps a 7 when Yuuma and I are getting particularly frisky.

I cannot claim to be anything less than a virgin, but I can say with one hundred percent certainty that Yuuma's breasts are every bit as soft as one would think just from observing their size. A boy never forgets the first pair of breasts he's felt with his own two hands, even more so when the boy's girlfriend puts his hands there of her own volition.

If there truly is a God in Heaven, I send you my thanks once more for allowing me to meet Yuuma. My apologies for stealing one of your angels but I won't be giving her back anytime soon. I kindly ask that you forgive this sin. I'm the greedy kind of person that refuses to ever return what he's taken away, even if divine punishment is to be my sentence. But you should already know this, being that you're the Creator and all that.

I feel a light rapping of knuckles against my head. Ah, I was so wrapped up in my own thoughts that I hadn't noticed Yuuma trying to get my attention. I've been doing that too often lately, getting in my own head to the point that I ignore my surroundings. Its gotten so bad that it's started to cut into my designated sleep time during class! Please forgive my absent-mindedness, Yuuma.

"You're spacing out again, Ren-kun. Are you okay?"

"I was just admiring you."

Yuuma's cheeks redden.

Not bad, Nobuyuki-sama. You're slowly getting better at this "boyfriend" thing. It's not even a lie, I really was doing just that. Granted, my thoughts were maybe a little less than pure but she doesn't need to know that little detail.

To spare Yuuma any further embarrassment at my hands, I grab the mic and cycle through the songs to find us one to finish this session with. Deciding on the perfect one, I offer her my hand as slow jazz comes on. She smiles and takes it, knowing the song I've picked by heart. It is one of my favorites, after all. Despite the lyrics of the song I definitely wouldn't consider it one about love. No, I'd say it's closer to accepting the loss of it.

subete wa mou owatta to
mimi o fusaida mama de kimi ga iu
kotoba wa tada nagarete'ku
yasuragu koto no nai ashita e…

"Ren-kun, can I tell you something?"

"You can tell me anything, Yuuma-chan. What is it?"

We stop our little walk through the park as Yuuma lets go of my hand and takes a few steps in front of me. She looks conflicted, as though she's not sure whether or not she wants to say whatever's on her mind. She looks around as if checking for other people that might overhear. There's no one around, if anything the entire area seems deserted. It's rather odd, actually. I wouldn't call this park particularly popular but for it to be completely empty is strange.

"These past two weeks have been wonderful."

Have been?

Oh no.

This is a break-up speech, isn't it? Have I done something wrong? Did I say the wrong thing at some point?

"To be honest, you've made me really happy. Happier than I thought this would make me. I really enjoyed our time together. I never thought this would go on for so long, but after the first date, I felt really happy. You were different than I expected, so I kept putting off what I had to do, but I can't continue it any longer."

Please stop speaking in the past-tense, Yuuma. If you keep talking like that you're going to break my heart. Haven't we had some good times? There are still more of those ahead of us, I promise! Don't do this. I know we haven't been together very long but you're important to me.

Yuuma walks forward and wraps her arms around me in a hug, her face pressed against my chest. I can feel my shirt dampening where her face is touching it. She's crying. I wonder if I'm crying as well. I hope not. I don't want that to be one of the last memories she makes with me if this really is the end.

So this is it, huh? This is what it's like to be broken up with.

I don't like it.

Even worse, I don't like that this hurts so much that I can't say anything to try and change her mind. It's as though my mouth has been locked shut. No matter how hard I try I just can't open it to say anything. I've been shocked into complete and utter silence. All I can do is close my eyes and put my arms around her as well.

"I'm sorry."

I'm sorry too, Yuuma…

A sudden buzzing noise begins to fill the air, as though something is vibrating. Am I seriously getting a phone call, now of all times? How awful. Whoever it is that's calling me, when this miserable event is over you can look forward to me cursing you out. Then you can listen to my pathetic moaning and griping about my break up. That'll be your punishment.

But then, suddenly, a flapping sound makes itself known, not unlike that of a bird beating its wings. That's...odd? It sounds so much louder than a bird though. I finally open my eyes and what I witness shocks me. If there's a state beyond being shocked into silence, I've reached it.

Black wings.

Great, huge, black wings are sprouting from Yuuma's back.

Yuuma has wings. Literal wings.

I know I thought not too long ago that she's an angel but this is a bit much, I think.

My eyes trace from the wingtips all the way down until they reach her back. They're not some prop or costume, they're real. Actual, real wings. Out of the corner of my eye, I see something else. Yuuma's holding a pink something in her hand. A spear? Is that a spear? Where in the world did she…

My thoughts are cut off as the spear I'm so curious about is suddenly thrust forward, through my stomach and out my back. I hear Yuuma give a small sob as she stabs me all the way through.

"I'm sorry."

Is she apologizing for trying to kill me? No, it's not "trying", is it?

She's killing me.

The pain I'm experiencing in my stomach is unfathomable. It feels like that entire area is on fire. I can't move, even if I wanted to. The only thing holding me up is Yuuma. The feeling of the spear inside of my guts suddenly disappears but it brings me no relief. With nothing left to block it, blood gushes out of my entry and exit wounds. I feel it soaking my uniform, dripping down my lower body.

"I'm sorry, Ren-kun. Really, I am. You were a threat to us."

Was I a threat? Who was I threatening? I don't understand. I can't understand. Why are you doing this, Yuuma? Was I so horrible that you felt the need to kill me?

"The Sacred Gear inside of you, that's why this was necessary. This, all of this, it's God's fault."

God.

She says the name with such anger. Such hatred.

This is the work of God? I'm dying because of God?

I cannot help but think that if this is God's work, then with such beautiful wings Yuuma must be an angel of death. Is this that divine punishment I was joking about earlier? What a cruel joke for God to play. Truly cruel.

I feel Yuuma's hand, the one that previously held the spear, caress my face. She finally raises her head up from my chest and looks me in the eye. She's still crying. There are tears running down her face. She looks utterly miserable.

"Reincarnate, Ren-kun."

Reincarnate? I'm not a Buddhist, Yuuma. I'm not sure I believe in such things. Actually, I'm not sure what I am. I never really followed any sort of religious belief or scripture. All I ever felt for sure was that there must be a God in some form or another. But if God would force your hand like this, force you to kill me, is such a being truly "God"? Is it the same "God" that took away my parents? If it is, I despise him. Where is "God" and his supposed mercy at a time like this? Where is this supposed "love" that "God" has for his children?

"Come back in another life, just the way you are now. When you come back, without a Sacred Gear, I'll have the strength to stand on my own, away from Grigori. Then it can just be you and I. I'll wait for you until then, okay? I promise."

Sacred Gear.

Grigori.

These sound like important names and titles, but I have no idea their meaning. Why would I? I don't even fully understand what's going on right now. Yuuma is asking me to come back in another life so we can be together. She's promising to wait for me until then. Wouldn't it have been easier to just not kill me in this life?

Yuuma finally lets go and my legs begin to give out, no longer able to support my weight. She catches me before I can fall, laying my body on the cool pavement. The hand that was previously caressing my face, that previously held the weapon that would be used to commit my murder, runs through my hair affectionately.

I should be angry at her. I should hate her. Regardless of her reasons, she's stabbed me. She's killed me. Despite everything we've shared together, I'm dying in her arms because of her actions. I would be fully in the right to despise her at this moment.

But I can't. I can't hate Yuuma no matter how hard I try to muster up any bitterness. How can I hate her when she's looking at me with such fondness? Underneath the sadness, past the tears she's shedding, there's warmth in her eyes and it's all directed at me. Don't look at me so kindly if you're going to kill me, Yuuma. It makes things more difficult.

She presses her lips up against mine in a kiss for what feels like the final time.

Is this the kiss of death?

I wish I had the strength to talk. Yuuma would have loved that joke. She always laughed, even when I made the stupidest ones. The kiss of death from a literal angel. I couldn't have written a more poetic, more flowery death if I tried.

"Bye, Ren-kun."

She flaps those beautiful wings of hers and, as black feathers rain down upon me, she's gone.

Bye, Yuuma.

If I really do reincarnate I hope I'll see you again in the next life. You better expect a serious talking to if I remember all of this though. Killing your boyfriend is a very unkind way of breaking up with him, and one that's far too final for my tastes.

I feel my blood pooling beneath me. I'm really dying, huh? This sucks. I don't want to die. Death is scary. Not just the pain, but the not knowing what happens to you after your life leaves your body. The knowing that you're leaving people behind to mourn you.

Rias. Akeno. Will they cry for me? I hope they don't. Tears don't suit them. The two gorgeous onee-san-type girls that picked me up from my own misery back when we three were just first-years, after the horrible accident that took the lives of my mother and father. The two girls that weathered my terrible mood swings and bitterness and anger aimed at the entire world, until I reached the point where I cut myself off from everyone and everything, becoming a shut-in and nearly flunking out of Kuoh Academy. They had been there, always showing up at my home, always looking after me, always ready with a helping hand if I ever wanted to step outside once more.

Ah, mother and father. Kaa-san and Tou-san. Will I see them again after this? I'm dying, but is there a Heaven for me to go to? Surely I haven't committed so many sins that I should be doomed to Hell. I've done some bad things in my life, been a burden more often than I'd like to think about, but I would hope that isn't enough to send me to an eternity of suffering. I want to see my parents again. I want to tell them that I'm sorry their son didn't achieve anything when they were gone.

But Yuuma said something about reincarnation, didn't she? Do I go straight from death to being born again? Do I not get any downtime? And is there a possibility of me reincarnating into a non-human? I don't want to live my life as something like a bug. That sounds like a lot of work and a rather poor second life.

Those Light Novels I used to read always had the main character die and be reincarnated into a fantasy world where they grew up to be super strong and loved by all. Can I have that? Is that an option I can choose for my next life? Oh, but then I definitely won't see Yuuma again. That's not good. Rias and Akeno too, I want to see all of them again.

I don't want to leave this world.

I don't want to leave this life.

I don't want to die.

I bring my hand off the ground, off the puddle of blood its been soaking in, and raise it to my face to look at it. I try to clench it, to see if there's enough strength in my body for any type of more strenuous movement. Maybe there's still a chance I can drag my body to someone and they can help me? My fingers twitch but my hand remains open, blood dripping from it and splattering on my face.

It's a beautiful color red. Rich and vibrant, it catches the setting sun's light in a way that makes it shine. Kind of like Rias' hair. No, her hair is much prettier than my blood. Any beauty that this liquid has, it's outdone by Rias' gorgeous crimson tresses.

I want to tell her I'm sorry. I'm sorry that she and Akeno looked after me for so long, only for me to die alone in this park, never having done anything to lessen the debt I owe her. I'm sorry that she and her family supported me with a scholarship, free housing, and a weekly stipend so I wouldn't feel the burden of trying to juggle school and work. I'm sorry for leaning on Rias' kindness so much without being able to repay it before I died.

I hear footsteps approaching me. No, it's two sets of footsteps, one seemingly following the other. That's nice. I won't die alone. Someone will at least be around to witness my last moments. I wish Yuuma had at least stayed for that, but I suppose being the one killed me it would have been too difficult for her to watch me slowly die as well.

I hear one of the two people gasp. I suppose I must be quite the grisly sight. Hole in my stomach, in a pool of my own blood, life slowly escaping my body. I hope the image doesn't traumatize them. I don't want my last moments to cause someone else any suffering. If you can't bear to see this then please turn away now.

"Thank you, Koneko. I'll take things from here."

Koneko? Toujou Koneko? The unofficial school mascot of Kuoh Academy? What was she doing here? And why do I recognize the voice that just spoke?

"I'm sorry, Ren. Because she was a Fallen Angel I couldn't interfere without causing issues between the other two Factions."

Fallen Angel? Is that what Yuuma is? Fallen angels, they're angels that fell out of God's good graces, aren't they? Angels that have sinned. Is that why she had spoken God's name with such venom?

And what were these "Factions" that prevented this unknown person from saving me?

"I should have pulled you away from that witch the very moment you introduced her to us as your girlfriend."

...Rias? Is that her? My sight had already gone dark not soon after I had heard the two people walking towards me. I can't see whoever it is that's talking to me, but the only people I introduced Yuuma to personally are Rias and Akeno. My hearing is fading as well but this voice, it's definitely Rias'. I wouldn't mistake it for anyone else's.

"Don't worry. I'll save you. From this moment on, you can stand at my side. I promise that you will live a wonderful life as a member of my family."

Family.

I miss having one of those.

The warm feeling of being greeted by my loving parents as I would walk in the door. The scoldings I'd receive from Kaa-san for slacking off, be it on my chores or on my schoolwork. Tou-san sneaking me snacks before dinner despite my mother's strict orders not to because it would spoil my appetite.

I don't understand what you're promising me, Rias, and I don't think you understand the full magnitude of it either. But, if you do, please keep your promise. Please let me infringe upon your kindness once more. Please save my life.

My body can no longer take the strain, and I slip into the sweet embrace of darkness.

I hope I'll wake up as myself, and that this will all have been an unfortunate dream.

Just an experimental thing I wanted to try. I've never written in first-person before, at least not a serious attempt (or with something that wasn't smut) but I feel that it comes to me a lot more naturally than close third-person narrative. If you have any thoughts, interests or feedback please let me know in the reviews! I love reading them and knowing that I have an audience. Even just a small review of a few words is fine.

Tiny mini-rant, but why is it in the DxD fandom people always paint Rias as the villain for not stepping in and stopping Raynare from killing Issei on his date? Not only could she not have known that was her intention, she literally can't. As far as she knows at that point in the story, Raynare is still affiliated with the Fallen Angel faction as a whole. To try and stop her could literally spark a second Great War.

Yes, she reincarnates Issei for her own purposes, no duh. Nobody in DxD does anything out of the kindness of their hearts except for maybe Asia. Everyone has an agenda, yet Rias seems to get the most flack for it because she doesn't want to be married to a womanizing pig like Riser and brings someone back to life, someone that would have died and lived a (self-admittedly, Issei literally says as much before he almost croaks) pure shit life up until that point.

Just rubs me the wrong way that people try to make Rias out to be this grand Chessmaster that planned for Issei to die when, if they had read the Light Novels, they would have known it was nothing of the sort. If anything she expressed surprise when he summoned her and at his condition.

Anyway, that's just my rant. Ignore that if you want to, it's not really important, just something that grates on my nerves. Please read and review if you want to see a second chapter of this!