Disclaimer

High School DxD is owned by Ichiei Ishibumi / Funimation

Dark Souls is owned by FromSoftware

He breathed heavily as he slumped against the cave wall. He knew he didn't outrun his pursuers, but he was too exhausted to run anymore. He heard three sets of hoof falls, and then the creaking of armor. Three knights strode into view, an overreaction in his opinion. They said nothing, merely grabbing him and hauling him outside. One of the horses was hooked to a caged carriage, and he quickly found himself tossed inside.

One of the knights, the leader, he assumed, stared at him for a long moment before speaking, "May I never see you again, beast."

Gwynnus' eyes snapped open, his heart racing. Taking a look around his room and confirming he was still at home, he sighed. He took a moment to make sure his heart was calmed, and looked towards his clock. Six a.m. on the dot, meaning it was time for him to get up. He did the typical morning routine, dressing in his school uniform afterwards. He opened his door and made his way through the grand hallways to the dining room.

The servants along the way gave the usual curt 'young master' as they bowed to him. Eventually he reached the long table where his family usually ate. It was enough to seat at least twenty-six people, but at the moment served only four.

His older sister, Gwynevere, was sitting to the left of the table head. Her reddish hair curled around her shoulder, her white blouse straining against her chest. Next to her was Gwyndolin, dress in a long-sleeved white shirt. Behind him (her, he reminded himself) was their ever present guard, clad in her usual business suit and face wrapped in bandages. Normally, they would be greeting him with a smile, but their faces were carefully neutral. When he saw who was occupying the table head, he understood why.

He bowed at the waist, "Mr. Cindre."

The man at the head of table would never tolerate Gwynnus referring to him as 'father'.

Gwyn Cindre had made it very clear: he was not his son. He was a guest invited into his home by his daughters.

"Rise." Was his simple reply, and Gwynnus did so. He walked past the man, sitting at a much smaller table in the corner of the room. The main table was reserved for those of the family or important guests, after all. A maid brought out toast and butter, and gave only a shallow bow before leaving. Breakfast was held in silence, and when he was finished he brought his plate to the kitchen before heading to school…

The day went on fairly normally once he reached school. Classes were what one would expect, though lunch was something of an issue…

"What… are these?" There was a stack of magazines on the ground between him and the 'Perverted Trio'. The top one had a woman with very little clothing in a very risqué position on the cover.

"These are gonna help you decide on boobs or butts!" Issei smiled, his friends nodding beside him.

'Oh Flames take me now…'

"Issei, I, don't feel comfortable talking about this, and at school of all places."

To his surprise Issei nodded, "It's alright Gwynnus, I understand."

'…He's going to say something strange, isn't he?'

"We can look them over at my place! I have plenty for you to take home, too!"

'…How is he more ridiculous now than before!?'

"Pardon the intrusion gentlemen." They turned around to see Kiba, who was staring straight at Gwynnus, "So, were you able to convince your father?"

"…No, I was not."

"Oh? That's a shame."

"Actually, it's probably for the best. I'm not really comfortable dealing with a large group."

Kiba smiled sadly, "Sometimes, these things are not meant to be. Well. I'll leave you to your… business, then." With that the blond walked off, and when he disappeared Gwynnus hummed.

"That was… odd. He gave up rather quickly."

"Don't tell me you actually want to hang out with that pretty boy bastard!?" Issei shouted, and he turned back to see his shocked face with the other two nodding.

"Why? He doesn't seem so bad."

"Not so bad!? He hoards all the girls to himself, lording them over us! We have to risk life and limb just to see the briefest flash of boob while he has his pick of the litter! All because he looks good! If we-" Issei blinked, then stared hard at Gwynnus.

"…What?'

"That's it!" Issei's smile practically split his face, "You can show us boobs!"

"…WHAT!?" Was the simultaneous shout by Gwynnus and the others.

"What the hell, man!? I know we're desperate but we're not that desperate!" Matsuda shouted.

"Look, we're practically sitting on a gold mine here!" Issei shouted back.

"I-I-I will do no such thing!" Gwynnus could feel his face burning, and he was suddenly very self-conscious about his appearance, "Even if you are a friend, I am not doing that!"

"Please, Gwynnus! This is our only chance at the biggest boobs in school!"

"…Eh?" It was all Gwynnus' brain could get out at this point.

"Think about it! If you join the Occult Research Club, then you'll be able to get close to the two Great Ladies of Kuoh! Then you lay on the pretty boy charm and with a spy camera from Motohama…" A disturbing look came over his face.

"Wait a minute, Koneko Toujou is part of the same club, isn't she!?" Motohama looked pleadingly at Gwynnus, "You gotta do it, man!"

"Akeno Himejima, 40-24-35. Rias Gremory, 39-23-35." Motohoma rattled off from memory.

Gwynnus shook his head, "I can't believe this."

"I know, great plan, right?" Issei beamed.

Gwynnus shook his head, "Issei… no."

"Eh? What's wrong with it?" Issei tilted his head, and Gwynnus stared at him for a moment.

"…You really don't know, do you?" He sighed, and turned away from them, "I'm going back to class."

"Wait, what about the magazines!? We need to know-"

Issei's voice trailed off as Gwynnus walked away…

He avoided the trio for the rest of the day, and he found himself lost in his thoughts on his way home. How could Issei be so… different? He passed into the park, eventually sighing and sitting at the edge of the fountain.

'…Of course he's different.' Gwynnus ran a hand on the fountain's rim, 'Everything, everyone is different. Issei, my sisters, even… even me. If-'

The air suddenly felt charged, and he felt old instincts kick in as he leapt away from the fountain. There was a crash, and he looked back to see a blue spear embedded where he was sitting. Black feathers fell from above, and he looked up to see a man in a trench coat and fedora looking down at him. He hovered in the air with two black-feathered wings, and the two stared each other down.

"Aren't you an interesting one? A little Devil with a gift from the Heavens?"

"I am no Devil!" Gwynnus shouted, and the man laughed harshly.

"You truly think I would believe that?" A blue spear appeared in his hands, "I slayed enough of your kind to know your stink by now. Any last words?"

Gwynnus kneeled, and he slipped the cloth hidden in his sleeve into his hand before he clasped his hands together.

"You truly believe God would listen to the prayers of one of your ilk?" The mam sneered, and he threw the spear-

"Force."

A white shockwave knocked the end over end back towards the man, who only looked shocked for a moment before he dodged out of the weapon's way. Gwynnus' left hand burst into flame, and he slammed it into the ground. Pillars of flame rose all around him, and when they died down he saw the man clutching his burnt right arm and burnt wing close to his body. He started circling the man, and the man conjured a spear in his good hand.

"Damn you!" He threw the spear, but it passed by Gwynnus without issue. In return he sent a Chaos Fireball, and the man disappeared in a flash. After a moment he felt the rush of soul energy, and he walked up to where the fireball landed. The lava had cooled into black, lumped stone, no physical trace of the man remaining.

Instead, a warm, flickering light proved the man once stood there.

The soul was a strange thing, bright, but with dark streaks appearing and disappearing throughout it. As he reached for it, it seemed to almost recoil, and it began releasing sparks of energy when he grasped it. He studied it for a moment longer before crushing it, and he felt the power rush into him. With one last look around he opened his schoolbag…

Issei smiled as he and his new girlfriend walked through the park. He had to admit, it was a shock that a girl would approach him, but he wouldn't complain! He was brought out of his thoughts for a moment when he felt Yuuma's hand slip into his own.

"Issei, I had a really nice time today." She smiled at him, and he could swear he felt his heart stop. The sun shone against her long black hair, her red eyes like rubies, and her chest shifted with each breath.

"Me too." Issei smiled, and he congratulated himself for not blowing this chance.

She looked ahead, "I have a… a…" her smile disappeared, and she blinked in confusion, "What?"

"What?" Issei followed her gaze, and he saw something glowing near a wrecked fountain. They approached the fountain, and Issei saw that there was something written in English on the ground.

"What the heck happened here?" Issei looked around the ruined area.

"Huh, it says 'be wary of ambush'. How fitting."

Issei blinked in confusion as he heard Yuuma's voice behind him, "Wait, why is that fitting?"

Gwynnus quietly entered the Cindre household and made his way up to his room. To his surprise both his sister were there, Gwyndolin in his desk chair and Gwynevere lying on his bed.

"Hello brother." Gwyndolin said softly.

"Brother dearest." Gwynevere nodded towards him.

He felt a smile form for a moment before it dropped, "Sisters, I have an important question."

They gave him concerned looks, and he continued.

"Do I look like a girl?"

AN: Not much plot, just establishing some things and transition. I would've liked to have made it longer, but I just don't have the patience or the energy atm. Also f*ck Patches… That had nothing to do with the story, just wanted to say it.