Chapter 2 - New family
Later the same day, everyone gathered in the house to meet with the new addiction to the team, Tatsumi and it was then that the teen a very nostalgic feeling that he some remembered having when he was introduced to the whole Night Raid and just like then, now he was feeling uneasy being the center of attention. The last four, who they awaited to come were also present – Himejima Akeno, Xenovia Quarta, Koneko Tojou and Yuuto Kiba. Akeno was a girl with a buxom figure, long violet hair and black eyes. Her hair was tied in a ponytail reaching all the way down to her legs with two strands sticking out from the top and sloping backwards, with an orange ribbon keeping it in place. She was tall somewhere around as him. Next come Xenovia, a young woman with chin-length blue hair with a green fringe on the right side and dark yellow eyes and seemed to be close to his age. Koneko was petite girl around 15 years old with white hair and hazel eyes. Her front hair had two long bangs going past her shoulders and several loose bangs hanging over her forehead, while the back has a short bob cut. The three female`s attire was exactly the same as Rias`s and Asia`s. And finally the picture was completed with Yuuto, a young man with short blonde hair, grey eyes and a mole under his left eye, wearing cloths as Issei.
Currently, they just finished with the explanation about the devils, the other factors and the structure of the club by ranks, which at first sounded pretty unbelievable to the former assassin, but it didn`t take him long to accepts those supernatural things. Now was Tatsumi`s turn to explain more about himself as he felt the pressure going through his entire body and if it wasn`t for the training he had while being an assassin, he would have given to panic from the start. Everyone looked at the boy with suspicious eyes, expecting him to start explaining as if their patience was running out or will anytime soon.
"Well, how should I start? As all of you know by now, my name is Tatsumi. To tell the truth, I come from another world without any connections with this one."
"What? Did you say another world?" Issei shouted, being as shocked as everyone rest in the room.
"What do you mean by that?" Rias questioned, looking straight at the standing boy in front of her.
"Just what I mean, since it happened in the blink of an eye and I couldn`t follow the events very well." The former assassin explained.
"But if that`s true, how did you end up in this one?" Xenovia asked with hands crossed before her chest and eyes that were going to eat him, which gave that she didn`t believe him.
"Due to some events in my world I ended up dying in it and though it`s over for me. But instead after my death hour I met a huge red dragon, who named himself the 'The Great Red' or at least that`s what I remember." Tatsumi said and shot a quick look on everyone`s reaction.
"Did you say a dragon?" Hyoudou blinked few times and turned towards Rias, as if he was expecting her to give more a proper explanation.
"I only have heard a little about it, so I don`t know much either." The crimson-haired woman said and sank into her thoughts.
"It`s the most powerful dragon in existence." A voice with an unknown source echoed through the entire room.
Silence moved in the house hall as the center of attention suddenly turned from the green-eyed teen to Issei, who was sitting on the sofa and had an expression that said 'Why are you looking at me?', but soon got the hint and looked at his left arm.
"Ddraig, do you know that dragon?" The pawn spoke to his arm, which slightly shocked Tatsumi, but he remained silent.
"Yes, as I said he`s the strongest dragon of all, who lives in the Dimensional Gap that exists between universes, so it`s unlikely to be seen very much." The voice replied from Issei`s hand. "In fact not many know about him, which is a wonder that this boy managed to meet him."
After that the attention turned back to the former Night Raid member and he felt the weight of every single eye staring at him, which gave him a sign to continue explaining.
"Now that I think about it, he did said something about the Dimensional Gap and the fact that it is almost impossible for someone to see him, but I didn`t pay attention on that much." He said.
"Then on what?" Akeno questioned with a curious look on her face.
"He asked me if I really want to live or die instead and I answered him that I desire to live. After which everything went blank and I ended up in this world." The brown-haired boy said, finishing his story.
Silence moved once again as no one said nor did anything and just continued to observe the former assassin with a feeling of suspicion, which didn`t go unnoticed by Tatsumi. However, he knew that is how things are and it was normal for them to suspect him of lying as it would be illogical and not normal for them to not. After all past experience tough him not to trust every single person he meets, so he understood how everyone felt at the moment.
"I know none of you believe what I said and that you think I am lying, but I assure you that it is just as I explained." He said, waiting for their reaction. "Whenever you believe it or not it`s up to you."
"I see." Rias spoke up first. "It is true that your story caught us off guard and that it doesn`t sound very believing.
Hearing this, the boy prepared for the worst case scenario, which was telling him to leave at once, but got surprised at what followed instead. The President went next to the boy and placed both her hands on his shoulders and smiled at him.
"However, I too can guarantee you that everyone here believes what you said." She said without losing her smile. "From this moment on forward, we the Occult Research Club welcome you to our family."
Looking behind her, the boy saw the rest smiling at him as if he didn`t said something so strange and unreasonable. Even Xenovia, who at first suspected him most, now had an honest smile on her face.
"The President is right. No matter where you come from, now we will be your family." Issei shouted in agreement.
"I think so too." Yuuto supported his friend. "I`m sure you`ll get used to this place very soon."
"My my, I was just about to say that too. You are not fair, Issei-kun." Akeno spoke next to assure the former Night Raid member.
"I too agree with Issei-senpai, he can come up with good speeches sometimes, although he is a complete pervert." Koneko added, which made Hyoudou slightly embarrassed.
"Now that this problem is solved, let`s move the next one, which is where Tatsumi will live from this moment on?" The crimson-haired beauty said, while taking a sit on her chair again.
"What do you suggest, President? Xenovia questioned as if the topic really interested her.
"Well, now that Issei`s house is rebuild and there are two more rooms that are free, I think he can stay there." Rias replied calmly.
"No, it`s not necessary to go through such trouble for me. I can sleep here if you allow me to." The green-eyed teen politely refused.
"I insist, so please don`t be so modest. There is not a single problem with that." She replied back with a voice that supported her decision.
At first, the newest member of the household thought of trying to win this topic, but seeing the innocent smile on the pure-blooded devil`s face and how she insisted of having her way on made him going with what she wanted.
"Okay, I accept." The former assassin said, backing down on the topic.
"Then, it`s settled." Akeno put an end to the little argument with an innocent smile.
"With that said, club`s dismissed for today. We will meet here tomorrow after school ends." The President said, got up from the chair and headed for the door.
And so everyone went home and much to Tatsumi`s surprise it turned out that all the girls lived in the same house as Issei did and only Yuuto and Gasper went elsewhere, which made things even more suspicious, but as how the boy`s parents looked at Tatsumi as soon as he entered the house he forgot about it. Issei`s father and mother looked really shocked at first as if they were expecting another female instead of him, but their hospitality was over the top. This could not but make tehe former member of Night Raid to let himself relax as the stress that he had earlier today faded in no time.
After dinner, Hyoudou showed the brown-haired boy his room and decided there to talk for a while, before going to bed. He gave the new member of the family some extra cloths he had for just in case with the hope to be of use to him. Currently, he was explaining about the city and the most important places to visit, such as the school, the club house, some shops, supermarkets, coffees and more.
"So this is for now. I am going to bed now. See you tomorrow." Issei said and headed towards the door.
"Hey! Issei! I was meaning to ask you, why are all the girls living under the same roof as you? Not that I mind, I am just being curious." Tatsumi asked and saw a grin forming on his face.
"Well, since you are interested, I will tell you." The boy replied and in less than a second was back next to his friend. "The truth is that President`s brother ordered all the girls to live in my house.
"She has a brother?" The green-eyed teen member asked with wide opened eyes.
"Yes, an older one." Hyoudou explained.
"So why did he do that?" The latter questioned again.
"That`s in order for me to strengthen up both me and my relationships with them." The devil proudly said. "So don`t you dare touch where it`s already has been marked."
"What do you mean by that? Are you creating a harem or something here?" Tatsumi asked in a higher tone.
"Are you an idiot? It`s my dream to create my own harem, so I can be able to touch those wonderful breasts and bodies. I am sure that`s a common men dream." Issei said jumping in a standing position.
"Okay, okay. I am sorry I asked." The new member replied, letting out a sigh of a disappointment.
"Man, you are no fun. Good Night!" Hyoudou said and went out of the room.
'That`s just great! He`s just like Lubbock. It`s going to be one hell of a friendship.' He thought to himself. 'Well, I am looking forward to it.'
The newly become devil remained sitting for couple of minutes before deciding to go the bed as well. Lying and looking at the ceiling, the boy began to recall past memories of his world. It was then he realized that the people from his village must be worried about him, Sayo and Ieyasu, but knew it was already too late to think about those things as they didn`t matter no more. The only thing he hoped was that they would have a better life once the Empire is defeated, which was no doubt done by now. Tatsumi believed that Akame, Leone and the Boss certainly did their best to assure that the remaining obstacles in front of them are eliminated. The only problem was Esdeath, the Empire`s strongest soldier, who killed many people and enjoyed doing so. She was someone with an unshakable viewpoint and no matter how hard he tried, it was just impossible to convince her to join the Revolution Army. Even the fact that the woman fell in love with him didn`t helped at all, she just viewed things differently and remained loyal to the Empire to the very end.
While going through his memories, the brown-haired boy didn`t even noticed when he fell asleep with a smile on his face as the last thing he thought about was the pink-haired girl of Night Raid.
When the morning came, everyone had breakfast and prepared to go school. All except Tatsumi, who remained at Issei`s home. Rias told him to go explore the city if he wanted to, but to be at the club house at 15:00 to meet up with the rest. The boy decided to stay at the house and went to train in the backyard, doing exercises like pushups, abdominal presses and others. At noon he caught Issei`s mother cooking in the kitchen and offered to help, which surprised the woman to see a boy at such age to be able to cook. Next, he cleaned and reorganized his room so it can be easier to live for him, until thirty minutes remained before the meeting and he left the house.
At exactly 15:00 he was in the club operating house and went straight to the hall, where they were supposed to discuss something. Entering that certain room, the brown-haired boy saw Yuuto and Koneko sitting on opposite sides on the table and playing chess, while drinking what seemed to be tea.
"Hello!" He greeted them and headed towards the table as well.
"Good afternoon Tatsumi-kun!" replied taking his eyes from the game.
"Good afternoon!" The white-haired girl greeted shortly.
"Playing chess, are we?" The former assassin questioned as he took a sit next to Tojou.
"You are familiar with this game?" Kiba asked finishing his move.
"Well, it wasn`t so popular in my world, but still it was enough so I can learn the basics." Tatsumi answered.
"Is that so?" The blonde-haired boy questioned as if he was surprised. "Want to play one against me, after I finish this one with Koneko-chan of course."
"Maybe some other time, besides I am not that good at it." The new member of the family refused politely.
"I am not that good either." Kiba stated casually. "Well, the President and Akeno-san are a different story."
"If you say so, then I will believe in it." Tatsumi replied.
"We are here." A voice interrupted them.
Looking at the door, they saw the rest coming in the hall one by one with Issei in front.
"Welcome back!" The three greeted in one voice.
In less than five minutes they all gathered around the glass table in the room, except for the President, who was sitting on her chair in front of the desk. Akeno brought tea for everyone with an extra, piece of cake for Koneko, Asia and herself.
"So what are we going to talk about today?" Hyoudou asked as his patience was running out.
"Tonight we have an order to take out a group of stray devils, who by what I heard, killed their master and some other members of the family." Rias explained.
It didn`t take a second more for Tatsumi to memorize what he just heard. The question of killing was once again brought to his life, just like when he was member of Night Raid.
'So there are tasks like those here as well.' The brown-haired devil thought in his mind.
"You said a group?" Asia questioned.
"That`s right. There are cases like those from time to time, but the most common case is only one devil." The crimson-haired woman explained.
"How many they are?" Xenovia questioned next.
"That`s not known." Akeno interfered in the discussion. "At least the higher ups did not mention anything regarding their numbers."
"So that`s how it is?" Yuuto questioned with a serious voice. "This may turn out quite troublesome."
"I agree. We need to be extra careful tonight." Xenovia stated with a hand on her chin.
"We will live at 18:00, until then you are to use the free time to rest and prepare yourselves." Rias said and got up from her seat. "Meanwhile, I and Akeno have to take care of something, so until we get back you just stay here." Saying so and red circle appeared under them and they just vanished.
"What was that?" Tatsumi questioned Issei, who was sitting next to him.
"That`s the Gremory`s magical circle. It can be used for many things including teleportation." The boy answered.
"I see." The former assassin replied. "By the way, you seem rather calm, considering the difficult mission tonight."
"That`s because I know everything will go just fine, since we have such an amazing and strong team." Hyoudou replied back.
"Are you not being a little bit carefree about it?" The new devil questioned.
"You are just being too serious, that`s all." The other brown-haired boy returned.
"That`s just how Issei is." Xenovia interfered.
"Just shut up." Was Issei`s short reply.
Just like that everyone stayed at the club hall, waiting for the President and Akeno to return and to go and eliminate the strayed devils. And although it was question of other kind of enemies, it was a well known thing for Tatsumi, who realized that he is going on a mission to do the very same thing he did back in his world, which was nothing else than kill the enemy.
And so chapter 2 of "Second Life" is done. Not much to say here, just that I was able to finish this one rather quickly, being surrounded by the ideas here and there really busted my motivation to write in few of days. I think it turned quite well for such a short time, but I will let you decide that.
By the way, I plan to give Tatsumi a second name further in the story, but I haven`t thought of a fitting one so far. So if anyone has some ideas, please feel free to share them with me. I will gladly hear them out.
With that said, I`ll be leaving you for now. I hope you liked my second chapter and that you will leave this page enjoyed. : )