This is a new one and one I've wanted to do for quite some time. No spoilers so enjoy.
"N-No! This can't be!"
Raynare unleashed her black wings as she tried to flee from the, now unwinnable, battle.
Issei noticed this and could feel his blood boiling. He couldn't believe that she was now trying to run. After she figured out she was at a disadvantage, that she'd have to the chance to escape. That infuriated the brunette to no end.
*Pmph*
The newly-made devil leapt after the fallen angel just before she got to high, and grabbed her arm. Raynare was shocked to see the sudden speed in the man she deemed weak.
Issei's grip tightened, easily holding the small arm of his former girlfriend. It was so petite, the boy thought it might snap if he squeezed any tighter. But, he didn't care and yanked her back towards him with great power.
"I won't let you get away, bitch!" He shouted at the top of his lungs.
"You're nothing! I'm superior-" She replied in defiance.
"Fuck you!" Issei cut her off.
"Damn you! Low-class devil!" Raynare yelled back.
"Take this!"
The red guantlet released all of its energy into the final blow. The brunette put the remainder of the strength he gathered into his fist and aimed for the last attack.
With incredible accuracy, he landed a solid blow to the right cheek of the fallen angel.
The sound of the attack echoed. His fist dug into her face, and he continued to push forward, making sure he put his all into it.
Raynare went flying backwards with energy behind the attack. Unable to respond, or even scream, she could only feel as she was beaten by a devil who was a human only a week ago.
*GOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNN*
The ravenette was sent crashing into the wall, making a very loud noise as she flattened against it. For a second, her eyes were wide in pain but the wall soon broke behind her and the rubble crumbled on top.
Dust began to spread everywhere, filling the room partially due to it's old age. But, luckily, it cleared quickly revealing the damage.
The hole had continued outside of the building where Raynare now laid upon the ground. She was unconscious and had no more energy to contest the pawn. It wasn't possible to tell if she died but she wouldn't be moving for quite some time.
"I...finally got you back..." Issei muttered, having little energy left.
He smiled in satisfaction, finally getting his vengeance. Never had he felt so relieved after punching someone. It felt great.
But soon, tears began to fall from his eyes. He turned back to one of the pews that still stood. There, a blonde girl laid, unmoving and with her skin losing it's color rapidly. She was dying, if not dead.
"...Asia..."
She wouldn't be able to smile ever again.
...
Issei tried to move towards her but he lacked the strength to do so.
Trying to take one step, his legs gave out on him and he began to fall forward.
*Shift*
The ground never came and the brunette felt the support of another body. Confused, he opened his eyes to see the Prince of Kuoh, Kiba.
"Good work. You were able to beat the fallen angel," he said with a supportive smile.
The blonde had Issei's arm wrapped around his shoulder. He had a few scratches and his clothes were ripped but, other than that, looked relatively fine.
"Yo Casanova, you're late," Issei joked, still feeling exhausted from his battle.
"Haha, sorry I couldn't help, Buchou told me not to interfere," the knight apologized.
This made the brunette look at the blonde in confusion. Rias told him not to interfere? Why?
"That's right. I believed that you'd be able to beat the fallen angel. And I was right," a voice spoke up from behind the duo.
When they turned around to the direction of the voice, Rias was walking towards them, smiling while combing a hand through her crimson hair.
"Buchou? Where did you come from?" Issei asked, surprised to see his master.
"From the basement. I finished my business, so I used the magic circle to come here. It was my first time transporting to a church, so I was nervous," she replied, looking as calm and cool as usual.
The next to show up was Koneko. She walked past Issei, who was too fixated on Rias to notice. He knew the princess was disappointed in him, seeing as he disobeyed her orders. But, she sighed before smiling softly at him.
"You did win and left me with little to worry about," she said.
"Hahaha, I won somehow," the boy responded.
"Excellent. Just what I expected from my servant," she replied, tapping his nose with a proud grin
"Ara ara, the church is in such a mess. Buchou, is it alright?" A new voice spoke up.
The group turned to see Akeno walking up. She was dressed in a Miko outfit, one that caught Issei's eye. More so her breasts that hugged the attire quite nicely. But he soon noticed the mood and turned to his king.
"...Is something wrong?" He asked her timidly.
"Churches belong to God or religions related to him, but there are cases like this where it is used by the fallen angels. In cases like this, if we Devils damage the church, there will be times when we are then targeted by assassins. For revenge and/or payback," the heiress explained with an upset tone. She didn't like how Heaven liked to play their conniving games. Despite being a religion that's suppose to forgive.
Issei, however, was shocked at the revelation.
"S-Seriously!?"
"Don't worry. It won't happen this time," Rias quickly assured.
"Why is that?" The brunette asked, still cautious.
"This church is abandoned. This allowed the group of fallen angels to come here to use it for their own greed. So, we didn't step foot on the enemies' actual territory to have war. It was just a small fight between devils and fallen angels."
Issei could see the logic. It eased him and he relaxed a little easier.
"Buchou, I've brought it," Koneko's emotionless voice called out.
The group turned to see her dragging something from the hole in the wall. It was easy to tell because only one thing went through it. That and the fact that black feathers littered behind the things corpse.
Koneko had went to drag the unconscious Raynare back to face her punishment. Issei didn't mind it.
"Thank you, Koneko. Now then, let's wake her up. Akeno?"
"Hai."
The queen lifted her hand up where a magic circle appeared above the fallen angel. Water then appeared in the air, it's only target being the scantily clad woman below it.
*Splash*
The ravenette responded immediately, coughing and hacking from the sudden wake up call.
She opened her eyes and shot to a sitting position. Rias looked down on her, a sort of superior gleam in her eyes. Issei barely noticed it but pushed the observation aside.
"How are you doing, fallen angel Raynare?" The redhead asked.
"...The daughter of the Gremory clan..." Raynare muttered, realizing where she was and who was around her.
"Hello, my name is Rias Gremory. Nice to meet you, but not for long." Her blue-green eyes flashed red for a second, another thing Issei noticed but didn't comment on.
Raynare, in response, sneered at the princess.
"You think you've won, but too bad. This plan was kept secret from the higher-ups and there are other fallen angels with me. If I get in danger, they will-"
"They won't come to help," Rias answered, her smirk widening. "I've already eliminated all three of the fallen angels with you. What were their names again? Ah, Kalawarner, Dohnaseek, and Mittelt, correct?"
"Lies! They'd never fall at the hands of a putrid devil like you!" Raynare spat.
Rias didn't waiver and took out three black feathers.
"These are the feathers of those three. You can tell them apart since you are fallen angel as well, right?" She asked, watching as they fluttered in front of Raynare.
The fallen angel stared at them in complete shock. There was no way. Her allies, her loyal friends, killed by these devils. That shouldn't be possible.
"Fallen angel Raynare, this boy, Issei Hyoudou's Sacred Gear isn't a regular Sacred Gear. That's why you lost," the heiress suddenly said, breaking her train of thought.
Raynare returned the response with a puzzled expression.
"Boosted Gear, a Sacred Gear that is said to be the rarest of the rare. The Red Dragon mark on the gauntlet displays such a title. Even you have heard of that name before, I'm sure."
Raynare's eyes widened in shock. The rare Boosted Gear!? In the hands of a perverted idiot!?
"B-Boosted Gear...! One of the Longinus!? Even though it's for a temporary time, it's said that it has the power to surpass Maous and God, Himself. Are you telling me that sought after power is possessed in the hands of that blunder!?" Raynare shouted, turning to Issei.
"If it's just like the legend is told, then the ability of the Boosted Gear can double the power of the possessor every ten second. Even if his power starts from one, it doubles his power every ten seconds, and it can reach the power of the Cadre-class fallen angels and High-class devils. And by mastering it, he could even kill God," Rias explained, confirming the ravenette's accusations. Issei was shocked at this and looked down at the guantlet.
He truly had the power to kill God?
"Now then, I'll finish my last work," Rias spoke, breaking Issei from his thought.
He saw his master's eyes become sharp and ruthless as she stared down the angel.
She moved closer and Raynare quickly grew scared of her.
"I will have you disappear, Fallen Angel-san," she said with an ice cold tone. It was filled with a desire for the ravenette's blood.
"Of course, I will retrieve that Sacred Gear you stole as well."
"Y-You can't be serious!? This healing power is for Azazel-sama and Shemhaza-sama," Raynare shouted, clutching the rings close to her chest.
"To live your life for love is beautiful. But you are too tainted with dirt. You have no elegance. And I won't allow you to live such a way," the heiress replied with a steel tone.
Rias slowly rose her hand towards Raynare. A black and red sphere of destruction magic appeared in it. One that would kill the angel in one blow.
"Me, here!" A shout came. Everyone turned to the broken wall to see a familiar, unwelcomed face.
It was Freed Sellzen.
"Wow! My superior is in serious danger! So what's going to happen now!?" He asked looking as crazed as ever.
"Save me! If you save me, I will give you a reward or anything you want!" Raynare shouted in desperation. It was easy to see she had her back to the wall.
Freed responded with a sadistic smile.
"Hmm, hmm, I received a wonderful order from an Angel-sama. So I can have sex with you? To me, having sex with an Angel-sama is like the best honour and it will become a good social status for me," he replied, looking as relaxed as ever. He didn't seem to care.
"D-Don't fool around and save me!" Raynare shouted back. She was very angry. It also seems like she's in a rush.
"Ararararara, you know that I'm actually serious. I mean, something simple like that should be all right, isn't it, Angel-sama? So it's a no? Is that so? Then I will take my leave now. No matter how you look at it, I'm at a disadvantage, so I will just take off," he replied sporadically.
"Y-You are a Priest, aren't you!? You are supposed to save me! I'm an all mighty Fallen Angel! I-"
"I don't need a superior who loses to trashy Devils. You are pretty, but you lack plans and you are brash. The only thing you are useful for is masturbation. A fallen angel who is abandoned by God won't go to either Heaven or Hell. Maybe the experience of turning into nothing will be helpful? Ah, that's impossible. Since there will be nothing left. It's impossible. I'm such a naughty boy!" He truly was a crazed man.
After saying that, Freed turned elsewhere, having lost interest in the angel. Raynare looked miserable with that.
Issei would've thought on it but Freed looked at him with big smile.
"Ise-kun, Ise-kun," he gleefully called. "You have such a wonderful ability. I'm getting more interested in you by the second, hehehe. You are so worthy to kill! You are definitely in my top five devils to kill, so be prepared, okay? Next time we meet, let's have a romantic fight to the death, okay?"
Freed then winked before unleashing a torrent of killing intent. It easily made Issei shiver, feeling the power of the priest overwhelm him.
It was easily described as an advanced notice for killing the pawn.
"See ya everyone! Bye-bye! Don't forget to zip up your flies!" And then, he was gone with a final wave.
With him gone, for now, the devils easily focused back on the original task.
"Now, Raynare, who was abandoned by her own servant. It is shameful for you, isn't it." Rias had no sympathy for her.
Raynare started to shiver at that. Issei saw this and truly felt bad for her. He still couldn't let go of the good memories he had with her. She was his first girlfriend after all. And it left him with a bad taste in his mouth seeing as she was about to die. No friends, no allies, she was left with nothing.
Raynare suddenly shot to him, as if sensing his wavering emotions. She looked at the boy with the most sorrowful eyes she could make. Ones that made Issei grow weak.
"Ise-kun! Please save me!" She cried in "Yuuma's" voice. Issei looked at her with slight signs of regret. "Please, I love you! I'll never betray you again! We can beat these devils, together!"
Issei clenched his fist tightly. He felt conflicted at this point, watching as his ex-girlfriend begged and pleaded for him to save her.
But was it really worth it after she murdered him in cold blood?
Was it worth it after she talked down on him and called him all those names?
...Was it worth it after she took Asia's life without the smallest hint of regret?
"Please Issei, I'm sorry," Raynare pleaded.
Issei stood from Kiba. His legs were still burning but that didn't matter. He felt as weak as a newborn but he stood tall. And he kept a neutral face as he stepped towards the woman he once said he loved.
"Shut up. I know you're lying," he replied finally. It made the fallen angel tense from his dark tone. "You played with my emotions and took the life of me and Asia. While I have been beaten, made fun of, and disrespected most of my life, Asia did nothing wrong and didn't deserve any of this."
"Issei, I'm-"
"Don't apologize to me, apologize to her!" He snapped, pointing a sharp finger to the blonde nun laying on the pew. The fallen angel flinched from his tone, the ferocity filling her with fear.
Was this the power of the dragon within him?
A hand touched the boy's shoulder and he turned to see Rias. Raynare saw the look in her eyes and hers widened in response. If she didn't think of something fast, she knew she was going to die.
"Ise, I'll take care of her," the redhead assured. The brunette relaxed at her touch and her words silenced him from saying anymore.
That was when it hit.
"Wait, Issei, how can you be so trusting of her!?" She asked, more-so shouted.
The brunette looked at her with narrowed eyes. What type of games was she trying to play now?
"She is my master," he replied.
"Oh? And how did that come about?" Raynare asked quickly. The rest of the devils also became curious of the fallen angel's motives. She wouldn't be asking trivial questions if she was about to die.
"What does it matter to you?" Issei responded. Raynare stayed strong and stared at him until she got an answer. It didn't take long for one.
The pawn sighed. "If you must know, after you killed me, she came to my aid an revived me as her pawn."
That was what Raynare needed. Hope filled her as she suddenly found a way to escape. It was a long shot but she could possibly make it out alive.
"Why didn't she try to save you before I killed you?" The ravenette questioned. This made everyone, except Issei, tense at the question. Did she know?
Issei, on the other hand, widened his eyes slightly in confusion. "What are you trying to say?"
The brunette suddenly looked like a fish out of water, just like he was when she killed him. It was as if his sudden cloak of protection removed itself from him. This was perfect. Raynare could play to his unhealed heart and coerce him into helping her.
"On our date, they were following us. At any time, they could have told you who and what I was. They could have helped you and stopped me, but chose to sit in the shadows and await your eminent death," the angel explained, still playing to his emotions.
Issei turned to Rias. The heiress's eyes were wide and she looked like she had been caught red-handed. Why did she have that look? The boy turned to the others to see that they also had the same expression.
"Guys, she can't be serious, right?" He asked. They didn't say anything for the moment and the fallen angel felt like she finally had the upper hand again. They were shocked that she knew and the angel was thankful for that.
"It's the truth Issei. I may have betrayed you in the end but I never lied and deceived you," Raynare said, sounding as sincere as possible. "I still love you and our date was really fun. I was under orders, you understand right?"
Issei stood there, suddenly conflicted. He didn't want to believe what he just heard but the lack of reassurance from his friends made him very doubtful. Raynare also said she still loved him and he'd be lying if he said he didn't love her. His emotions were in a disarray as he thought more about it. But could he really trust her words and his feelings? Did Rias really leave him to die?
"W-Why?" He asked hesitantly. Raynare's grin grew.
"The same reason I was ordered to kill you. The Sacred Gear you possess is all that devil was after," Raynare answered, pointing to the red guantlet.
Issei looked down at it before turning his attention to the people he started to trust.
"Is it true?" He asked. There was no response. "She's lying, right?"
The silence continued. The pawn quickly began to assume the worst. He was lied to and was only being used. At this point, who could he trust?
"Ise, I can still help you" Raynare spoke up. He turned to her. The fallen angel still laid before him, as helpless as she was. Could he trust her? She killed and betrayed him, as well as Asia. She could be lying to him to find a way to escape.
Who should he choose? Should he even choose either of them?
"Fallen angel Raynare, I've had it with you. You've played with my servant's emotions for the last time," Rias spoke up.
This made Issei turn to see his master ready to kill the fallen angel. Her hand was covered in destruction magic and the look on Raynare's face was of hopelessness and despair. Wait, he still had questions.
"I-Ise...?" She called in one final attempt.
He hesitated.
The ball grew bigger, reaching the size of a basketball. He needed to find answers.
"Issei!"
Then, the boy finally snapped.
*Shift*
"!?"
"Issei, what are you doing?" Rias asked, genuinely surprised.
Just before she fired, the brunette jumped in front of the fallen angel. His arms were held out in a protective manner and his bangs hung over his eyes.
The boy said nothing, standing there and shaking slightly. Whether it was because he was weak or upset, no one could tell.
"Issei," Rias said a little softer. She stepped close to try and comfort him.
"Don't touch me," he snapped once she was a few inches away. He then looked up and he had tear stained eyes, filled with rage.
"Issei," the heiress tried once more.
"Shut up," he growled. He didn't know why but he felt angry. Was it towards her, the girl behind him, or himself, he didn't know. What he did know was that he wasn't going to allow anyone else to die. Not while he stilled had conflictions. He wanted answers first and he was going to get them.
The devils were shocked to hear the second year snap the way he did. Especially at the woman he idolized. Not only that but he now stood before the fallen angel, protecting her.
Things were not going as they had originally planned. Not at all.
"Issei, please, we can talk this out later," Rias tried to reason.
"I said shut up," he repeated, his eyes narrowing further. For a moment, the group could see his eyes flash green and they stepped back.
Issei then turned to Raynare, her eyes still wide. The ravenette thought that her end was about to come. She could have sworn the redhead was going to kill her. But the boy came to her rescue and her heart barely took the surprise. She was relieved but too shocked to really feel that way.
"I'm going to get some answers before anything else happens, is that understood?" He demanded more than asked. His tone surprised everyone in the room and they said nothing in response. This only irritated the boy more. "I said is that UNDERSTOOD!?" He shouted, shaking the very foundations of the church.
Everyone in the room could feel it. The dragon in him was awakening and it was pissed. They could only nod their heads for now, still trying to grasp the entire situation. What caused the boy to snap?
"Good. First things first, Rias," he called, the redhead stiffening from his tone. "What was the real reason you saved me?"
She hesitated to answer.
"Lie to me and see what happens," he threatened with a low tone. His tone was cold, matching the way the princess spoke to the fallen angel moments ago.
"...I...I suspected you had a powerful Sacred Gear," she answered reluctantly.
"So you wouldn't have saved me otherwise?" He followed up.
"..."
"..."
"No."
He then nodded his head before turning to look at the other three. They said nothing and looked at him with a mixture of regretful expressions. All of which meant nothing to the brunette.
He turned away from them, as if he was done, scaring the devils more than when he was enraged.
Issei then focused on Raynare, who was now cowering under his gaze. She saw no emotion in his eyes as he looked at her. She didn't know what he would do to her and it scared her.
...
He said nothing to her for a long period of time. He merely stared, looking her up and down. Not out of perversion but as if he was accessing her. It made the angel wary of his next set of actions as it wasn't the way she expected him to ever look at anyone.
"Rias," he suddenly spoke up. His eyes never moved from the ravenette's form.
"Y-Yes?" The king replied.
"If I'm correct, you brought one of your chess pieces, didn't you?" He asked back at her. Issei didn't see it but the devil's eyes widened considerably.
"I did, but-"
"I want you to reincarnate Raynare." He didn't even await her full response.
""What!?""
Both Rias and Raynare voiced their shock while the others silently reacted to the brunette's request.
Issei merely turned to look over his shoulder, a dark look in his eyes.
"I told you to reincarnate Raynare," he repeated, this time with more authority.
"Issei, you can't be serious," Rias tried to argue.
Once again, the boy's eyes flashed green, albeit for a longer period of time.
"Your plan was to reincarnate Asia as your servant, correct?"
"W-Well, I mean-"
"Rias!" He shouted.
"Yes, it was!" She quickly answered out of fear.
"I thought so," he muttered with closed eyes. They quickly opened and he met Rias's with dominance. "I don't want Asia to be brought back to serve a liar like you. She doesn't deserve that."
The heiress looked offended at his words but didn't say a word. Issei, in that time, grabbed Raynare by her arm and yanked her to her feet. The fallen angel squirmed but to no avail by the boy's strong grip.
"This woman, however, fits right in. Plus, she now possesses Twilight Healing. So it'll be beneficial for both sides."
"Hold on, I didn't agree to this!" Raynare shouted, still trying to fight out of the brunette's grip.
Issei, in response, pulled her to face him. He bore his eyes into her and the sheer power behind him stilled the girl instantly.
"You lost your rights when you killed Asia. You're no better than that devil over there," he growled, pointing at the redhead. "You're lucky I don't kill you because, right now, I don't know who to trust and I'm completely unstable."
Raynare didn't respond. For once, she was truly scared of the pawn.
"It's death or servitude, your choice."
...
...
...
There wasn't really much of an option for the angel. She wasn't ready to die and had no other way out of the situation. She stopped her struggling and finally gave herself up.
Issei nodded his head before turning to Rias.
"Do it."
...
...
...
...
It wasn't but a few minutes after that Raynare was on the ground, holding a red bishop in her hands, placed over her chest. Rias casted her spell and the chess piece sunk into the angel's body. The deed had been done. No longer was she an angel but a hybrid mixed with devil.
"Good. Now, all of you leave. I'll see you at school tomorrow, if I choose to even go," the brunette order.
No one argued and quickly dispersed. The dragon had been awakened and they didn't want to invoke it's wrath. They already had enough on their plate.
...
...
Once they were gone, Issei turned his attention to the nun on the pew. He walked over to her and knelt by her side.
She looked at peace. Despite all that happened to her, she looked serene.
The brunette placed a hand on top of her forehead, moving her bangs back. He felt the tears coming as he looked at her, knowing she wouldn't be coming back. He didn't know her long but she was the kindest person he met.
All she wanted was a friend. That was all she wanted. And what kind of friend was he to allow her to die?
Clenching his fist and gritting his teeth, he berated himself for being a terrible person. For letting an innocent girl die when he could have saved her. He truly was the worst. There was nothing he could do for her.
...Or maybe there was.
He looked at her. He remembered how she was and how she looked at life. Her optimism was very strong and it was something the brunette had to become. He had to become better as a person. Just as Asia wanted. To always be her best.
'I swear Asia, I won't be late ever again. I'll be better for you. I promise.'
And with that, he rose with her body in his arms.
"I'll be better for both of us. I'll be sure to change this world. So that no one will feel like they're alone. So that every can get along. I swear it."
I'll leave the story as the closer with a small A/N
Harem ideas. Issei will be LESS perverted. Asia's not in it, replaced by Raynare. No, she won't be coming back it revived. Period.
Nothing more, so I'll see you next chapter.
-stormgreywolf