A/N: This is my first time writing a story and while I know it is going to be terrible, I still wanted to write it because I like the Highschool DxD universe so much and there were just so many different directions you could take each of the characters. I have a few ideas for stories but I probably won't write them until I know how my writing is received, more importantly, if I should even keep writing. Anyway here is your first chapter of what I hope to make into a short story.

The Silence that Follows

Life is a cruel ride filled with pain, joy and a whole lot of other emotions that don't always translate into words or don't translate well I should say. This is the story of one particular individual who has had his life turned upside down, inside out and then crushed by a multitude of different 'factions'. This is his struggle of recovering what was lost, is he strong enough to do so?

Issei Hyoudou is an eight year old boy in the town of Kuoh Japan, living with his mother and father, happily, however not for much longer.

"Issei, honey wake up, your breakfast is getting cold" his mother calls from the kitchen

"Hehe, he is only eight years old Helen, let him sleep, he has nothing to do anyways'" father laughs from the table as he is drinking his morning tea.

"That is exactly my point, he is eight years old he should at least be able to get out of bed by himself"

"What high standards you have for him" Thomas mumbles

"That's it", throwing the apron on the floor his mother storms up the stairs to the peacefully sleeping Issei.

*BOOM*

Issei wakes up to his bedroom door forcefully thrown open by none other than his already ticked off mother.

"Issei, out of bed now!" shouting "breakfast has been on the table for thirty minutes now, you are going to have to throw it in the microwave unless you want to eat cold food" with that, she promptly slammed the door shut and stomped down the stairs.

'Hmm it's not even 9 o'clock yet and I have already gotten on my mother's bad side' Issei thought as he grudgingly drug himself out of bed to start his morning routine.

' I'm only eight, what does she expect of me?' Issei pondered as he headed downstairs to meet his frustrated mother and quite amused father.

"Morning okasan, otosan"

"There is our little sleepy head, have some nice dreams Issei?" his father asked while putting down his newspaper.

" Ehh, not really, I don't really remember what I was dreaming about" Issei lied as he thought ' I can't tell them I was thinking about Irina all night, oooh I can't wait to see her today!'

"Issei, earth to kido?" his mother called, snapping him back to reality as she put his breakfast on the table before him.

"Huh, oh sorry I was just thinking about random stuff"

"Well try not to think so hard your food gets cold a second time, or else it won't be any good"

'Sheesh, my otosan really doesn't like it when people ignore her food. . .'

"So Issei, do you have any plans for today?" his father asked hoping he could spend some time with his son.

"Well, I was going to play with Irina at the park later, why?"

"I was thinking that maybe you and I could spend some time together and go fishing," his dad said "you could bring Irina too if she wants to come"

"Um, thanks, dad but I don't think Irina would want to go and we have been really looking forward to this for awhile, so maybe next weekend" he replied softly in order to not hurt his father's feelings. The truth is Issei had been looking forward to spending time with Irina for quite awhile now. When they did hang out it was for very short periods of time, and Irina had also mentioned that there was something she had wanted to tell him.

Issei had only just finished his breakfast when the doorbell rang.

'Hmm, I wonder who that could be at this hour' Issei's mother thought as she opened up the door, and found Issei's neighborhood friend, Irina, standing at the front door.

"Is Issei able to play today?" Irina asked cutely

Before his mother could answer she was almost knocked over by Issei as he ran towards the door.

" Hey, Irina I was just finishing breakfast" Issei turns to his mom, "ok well I'm going to play with Irina in the park for a few hours, bye!" just as he finished saying that he grabbed Irina's hand and ran out the front gate.

"Watch for cars while crossing the road, and be careful Issei!" his mother shouts while leaning out the door.

When Issei's mother finally shut the door and walked back into the kitchen she saw Thomas had still not left the table.

"You know if you keep babying him like that he will never grow up" smirked Thomas

"If you actually did something other than sit and read the newspaper in the morning Issei might be more motivated to get up in the morning" Helen quickly responded with a small amount of venom in her words.

"We all have our quirks, Helen"

Meanwhile with Issei and Irina

"Careful Irina you might fall" Issei warned as he saw where she was attempting to climb to.

"Relax I have done this before, you worry too much, besides if I do fall you will be there to catch me right?"

"Just be careful, I wouldn't want to see you get hurt"

"Ahh that's so sweaAAAAAAAAAH" Irina screamed as she lost her footing and was hanging from her hands.

"I-Issei I'm s-scared, please help" Irina cried with tears developing in her eyes

"I don't know what to do if I try to climb up the structure I might fall and not be able to save her, but if I try to catch her she might get herself hurt landing on me. . ." Issei thought for a moment and decided to try and catch her.

"It's ok Irina, I'm right here just let go," Issei said calmly

"I don't think I can do it Issei, it's too long a fall" then Irina looked down and saw Issei there below her, ready to catch her when she let go.
Then she fell

"You were supposed to catch me Issei, however, you do make a pretty comfy cushion, hehe" Irina giggled as she landed on Issei who stumbled as he held his arm out.

"Pl… get of. me Irina" Issei mumbled as she was forcing the air out of his lungs.

"I think I'm going to stay right here" she teased as she felt him trying to move her off.

"Your . . . to . . . heavy" he wheezed as he continued to struggle underneath her.

"You now it's mean to tell a girl she is fat right Issei?" she continued to tease him.

'Oh I am in so much trouble' Issei was thinking until he was interrupted by a hug.

"Thank you though for saving me, it was really sweet," Irina said as her cheeks turned a light pinkish color.

"That's what friends are for right, hey we should probably start heading back, it getting dark out" Issei noted.

A/N: Well this is kind of a setup chapter, it gives Issei some goody goody memories to look back on. Next chapter the tags will make more sense and hopefully, I can do this story justice. Side note, authors notes and things of that nature will always be on the bottem from now on, I never liked them at the top, it interupts the reading. I figured since this is the start of the story this would be an ok exception. Cya peeps!