Chapter 2: Settling Down
"…what?"
Is the only reaction Hyoudou Issei could give when he saw a ghostly replica of himself greeting him. He wore the exact same robe he saw in his dreams which means…
"That's no dream… that's reality."
'You catch on quick. That's good. Then again, you are using my brain so that shouldn't come as a surprise.'
"Wait, what?"
'You're dead, killed by that creature known as a fallen angel.'
"Uhh, a fallen angel? Are you serious?"
'Yes. I had a good chat with Ddraig and learn a few interesting things.'
Okay, now Issei's head is… no, his head is not spinning actually. Usually he would've gotten a headache with so much info dumping but not now. He is even processing them calmly. Everything is so weird.
"What happened then? If I died, why am I still alive and you're the ghost?"
'That… is an interesting matter.'
-last night-
When the light died out, Irina saw that nothing had changed… at first glance. Suddenly Issei, the one beside her, slump down unconscious. Irina almost panicked, thinking that something happened to him.
"Ugh, my head hurts."
Irina heard Issei groan in annoyance. But the voice didn't come from his body. Instead, it came from behind her. Irina turn around to see another Issei, this one looking like a spirit, shaking his head. Irina and Serra gaped at the sight as they look alternatively between the ghostly Issei and his body. The ghostly Issei eventually notice them looking at him.
"Hmm? What are you two looking at?"
"Issei, you're…"
Serra couldn't form her words well as she pointed at him with shocked expression. Issei, confused at her reaction, look down and saw himself looking ethereal. And then he saw his body in Irina's arms. Things began to click in his brain (?). He took a deep breath, forcing down the panic he's feeling. It won't do well for him to panic now. Just like his Master taught him, all matters should be considered carefully in a calm state of mind if he wants to find an answer.
Issei reach out with the force to his body. He felt a presence inside of it, two presences. His body is not empty. Next he look to where his look-alike's body is supposed to be in and found that there's nothing left of it but clothes. He again probe his body with the force and can now clearly feel that one of the presence in his body is familiar… or he felt like it should be familiar. But if what he's thinking is right, then it should be obvious why it's familiar.
"Well, it appears that when I touched my counterpart, something happened. He did not become one with the Force but instead entered my body. This is probably the result of that."
Issei concluded.
"That… is that even possible?"
Serra said in disbelief and wonder. Irina closed her eyes and felt what Issei had meant. There is an identical presence in Issei's body along with one other which Irina wonders but she focuses on the more familiar presence. If she didn't know any better, she would've thought that it was Issei himself.
"The Force works in mysterious ways. This appears similar to possession but different. I believe this phenomenon happens because he is similar to you or even another you entirely."
Irina theorized. Issei nodded, accepting the explanation. There's no better theory he could think of. When you found yourself in an unknown situation, keep your mind open for all possibility. That was what his Master always said. And when you found yourself alive and in a mysterious place after being swallowed by a black hole, anything goes.
"This is unbelievable."
Serra muttered.
"Our own situation is already unbelievable Serra. Let's just keep an open mind and assess our situation."
Irina suggested. The eldest of the three Jedi nodded. Issei then thought of something. He reach out with both the Force and his spectral body to his physical body. He touched his body and suddenly he disappear. A second later, Issei found himself back to his physical body. It looks like his theory is correct. He got up and look at his hands. He also touch his body to make sure that he's back. Once he's sure that he's really back, he focus once again on his other self's presence and felt it coming from inside.
"Interesting."
The Jedi recounted his story to his counterpart. He goes on to explain how he could peek at his other self's memory through their connection and that was how he found his other self's home. He was the one who got them back and after five hours of meditating he finally found a way how to enter and exit his body at will.
"…this is just a dream."
Hyoudou tried to convince himself. He rubbed his eyes and open them once again. The spirit is still there. He tried pinching himself. It hurts. Hyoudou Issei, although reluctantly, begin to accept that this is not a dream but reality. Then Hyoudou ask the question that has been bugging him from the beginning.
"Wait, if you can return to your body at will, why am I in control?"
'Mostly because I allow you to. You've had your life cut short by that fallen angel that stabbed you. Speaking of that, I think you need to talk with the other occupant of our body. Ddraig.'
As if on cue, a red gauntlet with clawed finger and two green jewels adorning it appear on Hyoudou's left arm. Hyoudou was surprised at the sudden appearance of the gauntlet, especially when it glows and a loud, booming voice echoed in his head.
[Finally. I thought you won't stop talking.]
'Well, I need to ease him first. Even if he has my brain now that doesn't mean it won't be too much for him to take in.'
The Jedi replied. He turn back to Hyoudou and explain.
'What you have there is the Boosted Gear, the thing that the fallen angel killed you for. Basically it is an artifact of incredible power. Usually you have to reach a certain level of power to utilize it but lucky for you, the Boosted Gear moved to my body along with your soul and my body is strong enough to activate it. You can ask Ddraig about the rest.'
[I still don't see why you allow him to use your body. To be honest, I would prefer you over the pervert.]
Ddraig honestly said. Having lived with Issei for all his life, anyone is much more preferable than the perverted teen, especially since the Jedi is stronger and more disciplined than Hyoudou and of course, someone familiar with battle if his body is anything to go by. The Jedi is of the same height as Hyoudou but his body is more toned and has several scars. He is also flexible and his muscles saw intense usage in ways unusual for normal humans.
The Jedi will certainly do much better than Hyoudou ever could as his host. But unfortunately, he is a little on the soft side since he decided to allow Hyoudou to occupy his body. His reason is because 'the poor boy died before he could live his life'.
'It is not like I'm doing this freely. Hyoudou died and if I were to replace him, too much discrepancy will appear. Someone is bound to get suspicious since I will no doubt act differently from Hyoudou. That will attract unwanted attention, especially if that fallen angel did not work alone.'
[True. It would be suspicious.]
'Plus I believe this is no coincidence. This is the will of the Force.'
"Uhh, the what now?"
Hyoudou asked dumbly, barely keeping up with everything said between them. Ddraig is also interested in this 'Force' thing as what he talked about with the Jedi is only about the supernatural world since that needs to be cleared first while the Jedi only spoke very briefly about himself.
"The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It is an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us, it binds the galaxy together."
[Sounds like magic harnessing the power of nature.]
Ddraig muttered.
"Uhh, what is a Jedi?"
'The Jedi are guardians of peace and justice across the galaxy that serves the Galactic Republic. That reminds me, I don't come from this planet or even this galaxy, I think. From your point of view I am what you call an alien.'
"…WHAT!"
Hyoudou groaned as he fell down to his chair, tired after all that he learned this morning. Despite waking up rather early, a result of habit ingrained into Jedi Issei's body, he almost came in late because of everything that he learned that morning. Devils, Fallen Angels, Sacred Gears and then aliens, The Force, Jedi, the Galactic Republic, it's a surprise his brain is not physically hurting though his mental strain can be felt clearly.
He would've been late actually if he didn't run with everything he got. But he accidentally tapped into the Force and use Force speed to run to school. Jedi Issei told him halfway to the school. Hyoudou will need to train himself in the Force if he doesn't want to use the Force accidentally which might prove dangerous to his surroundings. The Jedi's body is used to channeling the Force and it might respond to Hyoudou's will and cause things to happen.
But it's still a hard decision. The Jedi, invisible to other apart from Hyoudou, is sitting on Hyoudou's desk contemplating. After all, knowing Hyoudou's mind, he might use The Force for minor and very embarrassing things like lifting up a girl's skirt or steal female underwear. But there's also the chance that he might not do that. Despite everything, the boy is quite noble and has his standard. Hyoudou never peeked on a girl or watch porn when he was in a relationship with that 'Amano Yuuma' and that says something.
"Heh."
'Why are you sighing?'
"Who wouldn't after having all that dumped into their head first thing in the morning."
Hyoudou grumbled. Sacred Gears and Jedi, his life has become much more ridiculous than the setting of an anime. It's too over-the-top even by fictional standard. Who would wake up one day finding out he died, met his look-alike and now shares one body, find out supernatural is real, and then found out that his look-alike is actually an alien from another galaxy with supernatural power.
And worse of all… his other self is part of an order that forbids any form of attachment and his body is already numb to the feelings and reactions Hyoudou felt most of the time, namely arousal. Not that he can't but it's extremely hard and it's also hard for him to think about perverted things that it makes his head hurt. It's because Hyoudou's thoughts is alien to the body that the reaction is late or even numbed. Fortunately that doesn't extend to walking or running.
The Jedi though is still somewhat fascinated by the reactions of his body when Hyoudou is in control. He said that this could be used to advance science by figuring out the relation between body and soul more clearly. Hyoudou does not share that fascination though.
"Oi Issei."
Hyoudou hear Matsuda's voice calling him but he's not in the mood to talk. All he want now is too sleep but his body wouldn't listen. If this is how the characters in all those manga where the characters switch body feels then he would have to applaud them. He can't stand one day being in this new body, let alone the rest of his life. Unfortunately, it is either this or die.
"Ahh… Is this perhaps punishment for all the time I spent being a pervert?"
Hyoudou muttered to himself. It was still heard by Ddraig and Jedi Issei though and they both nodded in approval, liking Issei's current predicament.
"Hey, are you feeling alright man? Talk to me."
Motohama shook his body, worried that his friend might be sick. Hyoudou look up with tears in his eyes, surprising the perverted glasses and baldy.
"Matsuda… Motohama… Uwaa!"
The self-proclaimed harem king of the perverted trio cries while hugging his two friends. The Jedi shook his head in embarrassment, an action mirrored by Ddraig. Well, let Hyoudou enjoy his time with his friend. It will become rare once he truly enter the world of supernatural, especially with devils around. He can feel their presence as a small and weak collection of Dark Side power focused on certain areas. Strange. He thought that devils would possess much more powerful Dark Side presence. But perhaps it's because of the different way the Force influence things in this planet? Or perhaps it indicates something else? He will need to speak with Irina after this. She's the scholar, not him.
Suddenly Issei's senses caught another presence when he reached out with the Force to get a general feel of the town. This one had just arrived but this is not what caught his attention. This presence… it is pure and powerful in the Light Side of the Force, just like Irina, and this presence is getting closer to where Irina and Serra are.
And that's that. The second chapter is just Issei and... Issei getting to know each other and Ddraig. To be honest, I originally thought that I made a mistake in still keeping DxD Issei around but after thinking about what I have in mind, turns out he will be necessary in the future. The Force had guided me to that stroke of brilliant idea. It will be confusing, I know, but it will be worth it. So this is how I will deal with things. Hyoudou will refer to DxD Issei while Jedi or just Issei will refer to, well, Jedi Issei. I'm still thinking about a surname for Jedi Issei. In this setting, Jedi Issei has no surname since his culture (whatever it is) doesn't require one.
Next chapter will feature Serra Keto, Irina, and Asia Argento. Irina will adopt a surname for herself and it will be something many of you will probably recognize. Look forward to the next chapter and may the Force be with you, always.
Ohh I almost forgot to answer Dragon Rider 66's question concerning the lightsabers. I won't say much because I will leave it to when they actually fight but here's an idea. Irina is similar to Obi-Wan while Issei is similar to Anakin.
