Death.
Life.
They are two sides on the same coin.
They are equal.
However, what does it truly mean to live, and what does it truly mean to die?
Can someone who has forgotten what it means to live find the answer?
A phantom, lost in the endless sea, continuously sinking to the depths.
A roar echoes, sending ripples across the ocean.
And then... the future parts.
A DRAGON DARKER THAN BLACK
OPENING: "Your wa Nemureru kai?" -flumpool
Hey
Hey
Hey
Fukaku nemureru kai kizu wa iyashita kai?
Yoru ga sabishii kara tte atari shidai ni kowasanai de
Yume wo miru koto datte hoshi ga naku koto datte
Shiri mo shinai mama shinde mita kke
Joozu ni kakureta kai iki wa hisometa kai?
Ima ga kurushii kara tte mury shite jibun kaenai de
Yuukan na banjin datte nayameru kohitsuji datte
Mawari michi shite ikiteru tte
Yeah, Yeah
Medata ni you ni
Yeah, Yeah
Tae rareru you ni
Yeah, Yeah
Shikou kairo wa mada tomenai you ni
Koyoi runaway runaway uso mitai da
Dare ka kono tsukande kure yo
Mienai asu wa konakute ii
Ima wa tada nemuritai
Hey
Hey
Raynare wasn't exactly pleased with this mission she had been given. After several weeks of being left alone to her own devices with the rest of her group, she had been finally been given a mission from Azazel-sama. It was rather simple; observe the human Issei Hyoudou. She didn't really mind it, it gave her something to do in this backwater town. She didn't really think much of him. He looked rather average; brown hair and eyes, average height, nothing remarkable about him at all. She was a bit disgusted with him, though. He was one of those disgusting humans, and even worse, he was a complete and utter imbecile. He was a pathetic pervert, hopelessly believing that he would become some playboy with several women surrounding him. His friends were even more pathetic. The glasses-wearing boy wasted his time looking at women, supposedly able to tell a woman's bust size, while the bald buffoon apparently had some sort of fetish with short women.
She honestly couldn't see what made this idiot so interesting. However, it wasn't her place to question Azazel-sama. She merely followed orders, and continued to observe him. She was quickly growing bored after merely a few days, lasting a week before she started to grow irritated. She didn't see it. Why was her beloved leader so interested in this pathetic loser. There was absolutely no redeeming quality about him! No unusual ability he demonstrated, no signs of mental powers, not even possessing a speck of magic power! She couldn't understand it, but all she could do was complain about it to the others. The little brat Mittelt laughed at her for getting stuck with observing an utter moron, Dohnaseek was curious about why Azazel-sama was interested in somebody with no real ability, and Kalawarner was pondering whether or not she could have some fun with the brat when the mission ended.
During the third week of her observations, she received new orders. To her joy and immense relief, it was to eliminate him, and take what garnered Azazel-sama's interest: a Sacred Gear. The boy actually had one… one of Father's holy artifacts! It was unbelievable! To think that someone as pathetic as this perverted fool had one! It was almost an insult to her, really. She would rob the boy of his power, if it would gladly make Azazel-sama happy. She decided to play around with him, fulfilling whatever pathetic delusions he had by asking him out on a date. It was almost hilarious with how excited he looked. They had decided to meet on another day, Sunday, when he had no school to attend.
She was currently lying away in the shadows, observing herself in a window. She mentally smirked, having asked Kalawarner for a few clothes to borrow. She truly looked to be a total knock-out, her attire consisting of a short black dress with a small, light purple jacket on top. "The fool will be drooling over this," she thought aloud with glee, smirking all the while. Her plan was to drag the poor fool around, making him live out a pitiful, beautiful fantasy before allowing reality to fall into place. Once she was done admiring herself, she moved away and looked to where Issei was.
The fool had arrived early, even dressed up nicely. He wore a white jacket with dark blue trims, a dark brown polo shirt underneath with a black dress pants, along with leather brown loafers, a black belt with a silver buckle. He looked to be somewhat nervous, obviously thinking about how the date will go. Raynare giggled to herself. "What an idiot…" she muttered, looking forward to ending his miserable life. Once she was done, she could finally be on her merry way, and Azazel-sama would be pleased with her. He would shower her with affection, the love she so dearly wanted. God, she could see it now!
Her musings and dreams were cut short when her senses flared. She scowled when she felt a familiar stench in the air, glaring at the source. 'Why the hell is a Devil's familiar here?' she questioned, fidgeting. Had they learned about her objective? No, that couldn't be… she's taken every possible precaution. There was no way they could have known. She acted with every possible discretion. Besides, how could they know about this fool? Even she didn't know anything until Kokabiel-sama told her when he delivered Azazel-sama's orders.
She immediately became on edge when the familiar offered the boy a familiar pamphlet. She immediately became concerned, biting her lip. Dammit, this was bad. She recognized the pamphlet, it was a Summoning Contract. If the boy's desire proved to be strong enough, he'd summon a Devil immediately, and her mission would be in jeopardy. If she killed him, there was a chance he might summon the Devil in his final moments. If they knew, there was no way they'd let them go. They would reincarnate him, and if that happened, her mission would get even more complicated. Worst case scenario, Azazel-sama would not be happy. She didn't want that. She needed to find a way to get him to discard it.
Thankfully, it seemed like she didn't need to at all. After reading and examining the paper for a few minutes, Issei crumpled it up into a ball, and then tossed it away into a garbage bin. She breathed a sigh of relief. This made things easier for her. She wouldn't have to worry about him being reincarnated or anything. Poor fool didn't even realize that he had just sealed his fate! Oh well, that was enough gloating. Now it was time to execute the plan.
She put on the face of Yuuma Amano, smiling as she darted out from her hiding place, and quickly approached Issei. "Sorry I'm late!" she said, faking apology. "Were you waiting long?"
Issei appeared to be bashful, shaking his head as he offered her a smile. "No, not really." He lied to her. "To be honest, I just got here recently." Typical human move. Play it off to make them seem more appealing to human females. Absolutely pathetic. A moment later, he gave her a bright grin. It was almost disgusting. "So, you ready to start out date, Yuuma-chan?"
She nodded. "Yes!" she replied. "Let's go!" She grabbed him by the wrist, and pulled him away, all the while smirking mentally inside her head. 'I suppose I can have a little fun with you…' she thought as they began their "date." 'I hope you enjoy it, loverboy…'
My name is Issei Hyoudou. I'm a second-year student at Kuoh Private Academy, a prestigious institution that was once an all-girls academy up until two years ago. I'm an average student, living an average life, with a few oddball friends.
Everyone always avoids me. It's not just me, either. Everyone at school tries to avoid my and my friends. I don't blame them. We're a bunch of weirdoes after all. We're guys who love women in the most eccentric of ways. It's because of that love that I accepted Yuuma-chan's proposal for a date. I made sure that everything was as perfect as possible. I even dressed up for the occasion. I wanted to make this date rather... memorable, for us.
The date started out rather normally. Yuuma-chan dragged us all around Kuoh, going to her favorite places. Clothing stores, malt shops, everything that had caught her fancy. She made it clear that she was focused on me, as no matter the glances sent her way, she never returned them. Through out the date, she kept her eyes on me. She also wasn't afraid to show off her more 'extravagant' parts either. The sweets weren't so bad, but I would have preferred more greasy stuff. I was never really a big fan of sweets, but I wasn't stupid enough to turn down an offer.
By the end of the date, Yuuma-chan was smiling brighter and brighter. We had one final place to go before we ended things here. She said she wanted to go to the public park. I sort of understood why. Not many people go here, and it's very quiet. It's nice and peaceful. It's also where I like to go star gazing when I have the time. I could tell that Yuuma-chan was at her climax of happiness.
I was sure that this moment would be unforgettable to her.
"I had a lot of fun today, Issei-kun..." Raynare told him, keeping her back facing him while looking at her reflection in the water. Her smile was present, cruel and cold with a sinister glint in her eyes. She was telling him the truth, the date had been fun. It was so nice to drag him along and play around with him like a damned fool. He had no idea what was happening, no idea what was going on. His last memories were going to be so bittersweet, it would be something to relish in. She would burn the face of his agony into her mind, and watching him suffer in his last moments while trying to understand just what reality had been given to him. "I really enjoyed our date."
"R-really...?" the poor bastard replied shyly. "I-I'm glad...!"
Raynare repressed a gag. God, could you be any more pathetic? Oh well, it was time to end this show anyway. "Say..." she said, still facing forward. "There's something I really wanted... a wish, you might say. Will you grant me that wish?"
"Of course, Yuuma-chan! Just name it!"
Her smirk grew. She slowly turned around, revealing her true face to him.
'Good-bye.'
"...will you die for me?"
Before Issei had time to react, Yuuma brought up her hand, and a burst of light struck him dead in the chest. He was swept off his feet, thrown into the air for a few seconds before sliding to the ground. His eyes were closed, mouth agape, and a scorch mark right over his chest, where the heart would be. The woman grinned with glee as she leaned back, sitting atop the rim of the fountain. Honestly, this was easier than she thought it would. It was rather pathetic, really. How exactly was this kid a threat? He didn't even look much, hell he was probably the most pathetic and idiotic person alive!
"So easy," Yuuma, or rather, Raynare, giggled as she cradled her face in her hand, admiring the sight of his corpse. "He wasn't anything special at all. How could someone like this be a threat? He didn't even put up a fight!"
"Oh, he will." a voice called out. Raynare's eyes widened, her head whirling around to find the source. "And just so you know, that jacket isn't just a fashion statement." She turned behind her, and found a black cat hanging atop a wall, bearing violet eyes and a red collar with a golden bell. "It's Light-Proof." the cat informed her, almost smirking if it could, as it jumped off the wall. Raynare was stunned before the information registered, and her eyes widened, whirling around.
The body was gone.
No sooner had she turned did a knife come flying at her. She quickly moved back, wincing as it slashed the skin underneath her eye, forming a bleeding scar below her eye. As the knife whizzed past, embedding itself into a nearby wall, she turned sharply to find the flapping backside of a familiar white jacket. A snarl escaped her as she lowered herself, black mist forming behind it. It solidified a second later, forming into feathery black wings. "Your not getting away!" she roared as her wings performed a flap, and her body took to the skies. She was quick to go after him, soaring across the orange skies in pursuit of her target. It wasn't long before she found the form of Issei's retreating back, quickly moving through the alleyways. "Tch, damned human...!" Raynare snarled. Dammit, what the hell was going on?! A light resistant jacket? When the hell did that come into fashion?! Moreover, why did he have such a thing?! Where did he acquire it? All the data showed him to be incompetent, a perverted idiot who couldn't do anything! None of this made sense!
Why was she even thinking about this? It wouldn't matter if he's running or why he had such a thing. He was a human, a lowly pathetic creature who wouldn't be able to do a damned thing. There was no way he would be able to defend himself... he'd die when she caught him, and Azazel-sama would be pleased. If what the intel was to be believed, the idiot actually had something of value, a powerful Sacred Gear. If Azazel-sama wanted it, she would take it.
As Issei whirled about through the next corner, Raynare let out a dark smirk. The fool... he walked right into a dead end! She had him!
However, before she could dive after him, she suddenly felt a massive weight fall on her. "Mnrgh?!" she grunted as her body suddenly dived, slamming into the ground below her. She fell right on top of an old building, colliding back first. She screamed in pain as the fall bent one of her wings in the wrong direction, the bones snapping, left at an odd angle. She laid there, flat on her stomach, groaning from the pain of the impact. She felt disoriented, dazed. What in the hell was that just now? And... what the heck happened? Why does her body feel so...
"Just as planned," a calm voice spoke beside her. Her eyes widened, her head craning to the left. Leaning against the railing was one of Issei's pathetic loser friends, Motohama. He certainly looked as bland and boring as his photograph suggested, wearing an average buttoned shirt with a pair of glasses over his face. His hands remained in his trousers, seemingly not at all bothered by the fact that she was sporting a pair of black wings. His hair was rather messy and unkempt, but in spite of his overall posture, something about him seemed off... and even stranger, his body was outlined by a bright blue light. "Though it was a bit over-theatrical." he commented as he pushed up his glasses, revealing gray eyes with shining red pupils.
Raynare's eyes went wider, shock overtaking her. You had to be kidding... this brat... He was a-?!
"Come on, you know Issei's got a thing for the theatrical." another voice commented. Walking out from behind the entrance leading up to the roof which they currently stood atop was another of Issei's perverted associates, Matsuda. He was wearing a sleeveless red shirt and worn out jeans, revealing a well-toned body, and his head cleanly shaved with little hair remaining atop his dome. A cynical smile was on his lips as he walked forward, also not bothered by Raynare's appearance. "Besides, you gotta admit, this was funny to see." he grinned as he turned to the side. "Still, kinda risky for you to be taking a hit like that. You sure you don't got a death wish we should know about, Issei?"
Raynare felt shock run through her body as Issei stepped into her field of vision. His face was void of any emotion. No longer was the cheerful, bright, and vibrant perverted teen that she had tricked into going on a date with her. His eyes were cold and empty, bearing only a chilling menace that stared right back into her. He glared down at her, igniting a furious light in her breast. How dare this pathetic human look down on him?! How dare he trick her like this?! Once she was free of whatever was restraining her, she was going to obliterate this fool! She would tear him limb from-
"Ah, ah, ah~" Motohama chuckled as the red light in his pupils grew brighter. A second later, her body felt even heavier, forcing her futher into the ground. "No struggling."
Matsuda whistled as he folded his arms. "For a guy who's as calm and cool as the water, you sure are dominating man."
"Y-you pathetic, lowlife..."
None of them made a reply. Instead, Issei walked over to her, and flicked a knife, the same one that had nearly struck her, into his hand. he stepped in front of her, and brought up his foot. The next second, a crunch was heard, and following it, a cry of pain. "...I want answers, Raynare." Issei said coldly, his tone changed. What used to be an innocent and bright boy was now a terrifying and chilling tone that promised only death to those who heard it. "Who ordered you to kill me?" Raynare gave no response to his question. She was cringing and writhing in pain, squirming underneath the pressure that Issei was putting into, as his foot remained sharply on her hand. Whet it became clear that she would not answer him, he sighed as he closed his eyes, and twirled the blade in his hand, his other hand reaching out, and firmly took hold of one of her wings.
That elicited a response from her. "Wait, what are you-?!" She was cut off when Issei jammed the blade straight into her back, right where her wings met her flesh. She screamed out in agony. Her body shook and thrashed about, trying to escape Motohama's grasp as the blade continued to tear away at her flesh. Blood gushed beneath her clothing, some of it seeming into her black feathers, creating a dark red tint. As he did this, Issei applied more pressure on her hand, crushing more of her bonds found in her limb before he pulled.
Raynare screeched out loudly, howling with rage, suffering, and agony as Issei slowly, and brutally, pulled out her right wing.
Meanwhile, his two friends calmly looked on, as if unbothered by the horror they were witnessing. Motohama merely adjusted his glasses as the red glow remained in his eyes while Matsuda took out a box of pocky from his pocket and quietly ate one.
Eventually, what seemed to be an eternity to Raynare, Issei had cut out the black feathered wing from her shoulder blade.
"I'm only going to repeat once more...who ordered you to kill me?" Issei questioned coldly.
Raynare gritted her teeth, tears flowing down her face while her lip trembled. "...K-Kokabiel...!"
At this statement, the eyes of the three males only grew colder. Kokabiel...the warmonger of the Grigori.
Issei closed his eyes. "...I see." he said before he put glared back down at her. "And where is the package?"
Raynare froze.
"Where," he pressed further, cradling his knife in his hand. "is the package?"
"I...I don't know what you're talking about!" She denied.
"Is that so..."
Raynare screamed in pain when a blade jammed into her hand. "I'll ask one more time," he said again, this time more forcefully. "Where is the package?"
The Fallen Angel slowly lifted her head up, fighting back against the unknown force that pressed her down. "You...can...go to hell!" She spat venomously.
Issei sighed, shaking his head as he pressed his free hand against his ear. "Yin," he said into the communicator. "Any movement?"
[...they've passed the Point A mark,] a quiet, emotionless voice responded. [Three minutes.]
"Well, guess that's that." Matsuda looked down by his feet, finding the black cat right beside him, flicking it's tail. "No time to spare. Time to get going." Motohama nodded as the light around his body and eyes faded. Raynare gasped as her body was finally released from her heavy prison. The teen adjusted his glasses, recreating the white glare as he removed himself from the railing, walking over to where Matsuda and the cat was. Issei walked around Raynare, walking toward them as well before he paused, his steps halting. The action did not go unnoticed, the three looking at him curiously as he looked back at Raynare.
The woman froze as his brown eyes bore deep into her eyes. She knew what was about to happen, and suddenly felt fear running through her body. "W-wait!" she cried, desperate. If she could make him lower his guard, she would be able to eliminate him, and use him against his comrades, and end them quickly. This way, she could take what Azazel-sama wanted, and get rid of future potential threats as well. Two birds, one stone. "I can't tell you anything about the package! I-I don't know anything about it! I'm just a low-ranking member! D-Dohnaseek, he's the leader! He knows more! I-if you let me live, I can make a deal with him!"
Issei paused in his advance. His face showed no emotion. "...a rational proposal." he remarked. "I wouldn't have guessed that from a Fallen Angel." Raynare inwardly scowled from that crude remark, but she refused to show her annoyance. She would even swallow her pride if it meant her survival. As soon as he let his guard down... "However..." Issei cut her off. "We all know that this Dohnaseek isn't the one calling the shots."
Panic started to settle in. "N-no, your wrong!" she denied, shaking her head. "He's the leader of the group! Kokabiel-sama was the one who appointed him to lead us!"
"...and?" Issei asked. "Who're the rest?"
"T-two other Fallens...!" she said quickly. That was it, she almost had him...! "A Power named Mittelt, a-and a Principality named Kalawarner!"
"She's telling the truth, Issei." the cat informed the brunette. "Dohnaseek is a Virtue, thus he's of a higher rank than them."
Issei looked at the cat for a few seconds before nodding in understanding, and turning back to Raynare. "...it seems you were being truthful." he said. Raynare smiled shakily. As soon as he turned his back...! "I guess I should thank you for that..."
Suddenly, his hand lashed out, and grabbed her face, his fingers digging into her skull. "Issei!" the cat cried in protest, clearly not approving of this action. Raynare, however, felt fear rushing through her as she saw Issei's eyes overcome with disgust, and loathing.
"...disgusting," he hissed. "Looking at you makes me want to puke."
Raynare couldn't speak. She was too afraid to. She felt that even if she so much as twitched, he'd kill her in an instant. The killing intent radiating off of Issei was unlike anything she has seen.
"It's true you are a Fallen Angel...just as it is true that we're humans...however, what right do you have to treat us 'lowly' humans as if we're vermin and tools to be used?" He spat venomously. "What right do you have to kill us whenever you feel like it? What right do you have to toy with us as if we're your playthings...?!"
The grip over her face was tightening. The bones in her skull creaked, looking ready to break.
"Issei!" the cat snapped again, but he didn't listen.
Issei's eyes glowed red, and a blue outline danced around his body. A second passed, and Raynare let out a muffled scream.
"...yare, yare..." Motohama complained as he shook his head, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "We go to all that trouble to try and extract information from her, and you go and kill her."
Issei didn't respond. Instead, he calmly flipped through the magazine in his hands, staring blankly at the erotic images each page held, revealing women in skimpy outfits, either dressed up as bunny girls, swimsuits, or even bath towels. Matsuda merely continued to eat a stick of pockey, and the cat sat atop the railing. The four were currently at the overpass where Raynare had asked Issei out on a date, looking rather relaxed.
"Kinda brutal of ya," Matsuda said, a smile present on his face. "And here I thought you didn't have any emotion left in ya. But, I do gotta ask... do you have to read that out in public?"
"I have to," he replied blandly. "It's my Payment, after all." He glanced back at him out of the corner of his eye. "What about you? You didn't use your power, so why are you eating pockey?"
"I can't help it. I just like it too much." Matsuda cheekily replied as he bit into another one.
"Its still pretty surprising..." Motohama stated offhandedly. "the track star of our school eating junk food."
"Meh. I have a fast metabolism. So eating this won't hurt my performance."
"Well, at any rate..." the cat sighed, noticing that the conversation was straying away from the current topic. "At least we know who's leading this outfit, and who's backing it. Still, I wonder why they targeted Issei in the first place?"
"It was likely because of the Sacred Gear." Issei replied, flipping through another page. "Kokabiel either wanted to get rid of a potential threat, or take it for whatever goal he has in mind. At least, that's the rational thing to think. After all, it is one of the thirteen."
"Yeah. I still can't believe you are one of the rare few with the potential to kill a God." Matsuda chuckled.
"Keyword: Potential. As far as we know, there was no Longinus Possessor that was able to kill a God, even one that was weakened from the loss of their pantheon." Issei reminded.
"Even still, it's a rare weapon," the cat interjected, flicking it's tail. "One that will be of good use. Anyway, our top priority is to retrieve the package before Kokabiel gets his hands on it."
"Maa, what a pain..." Matsuda whined. "So much work to do..."
"Why are you complaining?" Motohama interjected. "You didn't even do anything. Me and Issei did all the work, and thanks to you being a lazy bastard, my eyesight is all fucked up, so yeah, thanks for that."
"Hey, not my fault that's your price." the bald teen snarked. "So, what now? We just sit and wait?"
"That appears to be the best course of action."
"Yin said that the the rest of the Fallen had passed the Point A mark. It's only a matter of time before they cross our location. Depending on our luck, they may be in possession of the package already." Issei said.
Matsuda groaned. "Greaaat... so we might have to take it from them by force? What a hassle."
"You complain too much," Motohama chided. "Come on, let's go. We've got a lot of work to do tomorrow."
"Yeah, yeah..."
The two Contractors left the overpass, moving away. Issei, however, stayed behind as he continued to flip through the magazine. He paused when he came across a page showing a beautiful woman with red hair, and a large bust. "...red hair, huh?" he muttered absent-mindedly, his thoughts going back to the woman he crossed paths with a few days ago. "I wonder..."
"Something up, Issei?"
"...no." he said as he closed the magazine, slipping it into his bag. "It's nothing, Mao." He moved away from the railing, and turned on his foot. Waiting for him at the end of the overpass was a young girl who looked no older than fourteen or fifteen, having pale silver hair and beautiful, violet eyes. Her hair was tied back into a bushy tail, wearing a black and purple dress, a tie keeping her hair in place.
"...Issei."
The boy's eyes softened. "...Yin." he greeted. "I told you not wait for me."
"I'm sorry." She apologized.
Issei sighed. What was he going to do with this girl? He scratched the back of his head before moving forward. He gently patted the girl atop the head, smiling somewhat. "Come on," he said. "Let's go home." Yin nodded, and followed him close behind. Mao followed after them, all the while staring at the brunette. The boy was a loose cannon at times, and while it seemed like he acted on his own, he was actually going about the orders in a different manner. It was clear that Raynare was hoping for him to lower his guard and strike when the chance opened up. Even still, there must have been some information they could have gotten out of them.
Oh well, not that it mattered now. All that was left was to retrieve the package, and await further orders.
After all, tomorrow is another day.
My name is Issei Hyoudou. I'm a second-year student at Kuoh Private Academy, a prestigious institution that was once an all-girls academy up until two years ago. I'm an average student, living an average life, with a few oddball friends.
At least... that's the truth that others know of.
My life has been nothing but lies. For the last ten years, that has all my life has been: a lie. Every hour of every day, I live in a life of deceit, fooling everyone with this perverse persona that makes others think of me as someone else, someone other than the person who lives in a world different from them.
I told you before that my name was Issei Hyoudou, a second-year student at the prestigious Kuoh Private Academy, and an average student leading an average life... that too is a lie.
Contractors are liars, betrayers, killers... and I, no less.
My name... is BK-201, the Red Dragon Emperor. The Black Reaper.
And I am a Contractor.
Life 0: BK-201
Dossier Files:
Name: Issei Hyoudou
Age: 17
Height: '5, 7" ft
Weight: 137 lbs
Hair: Brown
Eye: Brown
Blood Type: AB
Aliases: The Red Dragon Emperor, The Black Reaper
Dossier Code: BK-201
Ability: Electricity Manipulation
Payment: Adult Magazine
Name: Matsuda Raikeyo
Age: 18
Height: '5, 8" ft
Weight: 121 lbs
Hair: Light Gray
Eye: Green
Blood Type: A-
Aliases: Speed Runner, Accelerator
Dossier Code: SD-808
Ability: Acceleration
Payment: Pockey
Name: Motohama Shinya
Age: 18
Height: '5, 6" ft
Weight: 118 lbs
Hair: Brown
Eye: Gray
Blood Type: O
Aliases: The Gravity Master
Dossier Code: IO-010
Ability: Gravity Intensification
Payment: Damaged Eyesight