Co-Written with Demons Anarchy of Pride, the creator of many great stories such as Code BREAKER, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R-eset, Highschool DxD: Shatter Destiny, Fire Emblem: if, and many more.
Thank you to all who continue to support this story.
Enjoy!
Chapter 2: Winged Affection
"Well, for once, we're actually on time instead of running for dear life." Issei remarked as he and Ludger made their way to Kuoh.
Ludger chuckled slightly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, you can thank Rollo for that one, considering that he was apparently hungry that morning and decided to bite my foot."
The young Kresnik thought back to an hour ago, where a large furball chose it would be best to bite down on his leg. His cringed slightly from the remembrance of pain.
"Maybe it's karma?"
"For what?! Pissing off a gypsy or something?"
"Or maybe a girlfriend you dumped in a past life?"
"Yeah, right." the silver-haired teen scoffed. "I couldn't get a girlfriend to save my life."
"And how do you figure that?" Issei asked in disbelief. "I mean, dude, you got a mug most men would kill for, a bod where you can grill a slab of steak, and you make the most heavenly foods to boot! And must we forget the fan club of yours?"
"Those are deranged mad women. That's different."
"Just how?" He asked in response. "Are you waiting for the right woman or something?"
"I don't know..." Ludger rested his chin in his hands.
"Well, in any case..." Issei waved his hand. "Whoever ends up with you is gonna be one happy wife... provided they earn Julius' approval."
"Ugh...Don't remind me..." Ludger sighed. He knew very well the rules Julius placed on relationships. He wouldn't let him be in part of any relationship with a girl unless he approved of her. He even made a list of the qualities that a woman should have before he would let him date them.
Frankly, Ludger thought he was going overboard on this.
"So, what qualities do they need for Julius to approve of them, exactly?"
"Haa...Let me remember from all the times he recited his list: She must be smart; she has to be aware of how her choices will affect her life as well as be adept in academics. She must be reliable, she must be willing to share the burden of the relationship and be helpful in any situation calling for it. She must be responsible, making proper decisions and accepting consequences of mistakes. She must be strong in mind, body, and spirit in order to keep up. She must be independent as she will not be relying on you for every single thing. She must be compassionate, as to understand you and vice versa. Physical appearance does not matter, as it is what's on the inside that counts. She must also be loyal to you; she must not betray the trust you have with her..." Ludger recited as the list continued...
Issei immediately brought up his arms. "Okay, stop, please..." he begged. "Good lord, isn't that a bit TOO long a list?!"
"That's what I told him, but he just brushed me off." Ludger sighed. "I swear, my brother can be so overbearing."
"Well, least now we know why he doesn't have a girlfriend yet." the brunette grinned. "He's practically married to his job!" That was when Issei suddenly remembered something, which made the smile on his face even brighter. "Oh, right! Speaking of jobs, I heard you've gotten an application for the Spirius Entrance Exam! Nice going, by the way!"
"Haha, thanks..." the other male said, smiling sheepishly as he scratched the back of his head. "To be honest, I'm kind of nervous... I mean, this is Spirius we're talking about here. They're the biggest corporation in the world, since they own a good portion of stock markets overseas."
"Even still, this is awesome! So, when's the entrance exam?!"
"A month from this week." Ludger answered. "That should be plenty of time for me to study up."
'Or, at least, that's what Issei believes.' he thought sadly. 'No one has any idea about what really happens in this world... To most people, it seems like a written test, but in reality, it's combat training to see whether or not you have what it takes to fight the supernatural world.'
That is what an Agent of Spirius truly does: handle affairs of the Supernatural world. They do it in secret to protect the oblivious humankind. That was what Julius was...that was what he aspired to be as well.
"Well, don't worry, I'm sure you'll do great, bud." Issei slapped him on the back.
"Heh, thanks Issei."
"And while on the subjects of getting into the big leagues, how's your training for the tournament next week?" Ludger asked curiously.
Issei gave a cocky smirk, slamming his hand against his bicep, with his hand clenched into a tight fist. "It's been going great!" he said enthusiastically. "Everyone in the club's been giving me hell for when the time comes to step into the ring!"
His friend chuckled, a hand at his chin. "Well, don't turn into a punch-drunk, otherwise you won't get yourself a girlfriend."
"Gah, you HAD to bring that up, didn't you?"
"Heh, sorry, couldn't resist... Still, it's a wonder how you don't have a girlfriend yet." he pointed out. "I mean, you've got a great personality, you'll do whatever it takes to protect your loved ones... Hell, I know you did the same for Irina when she was getting picked on."
"Yeah...Irina..." Issei spoke wistfully. He hadn't seen their childhood friend in years. He used to think Irina was a boy, but he was definitely surprised that she was actually a girl. However, when they were young, she was often picked on by the bigger kids for being so small and scrawny, but Issei and Ludger would always chase them off and help her back up. To them, Irina was an irreplaceable friend. They were all heartbroken when she had to move away. He often wondered how she was doing ever since she left. He really wanted to see her again so they all can catch up like old times.
"Oh, yeah, that's right!" the brunette had nearly forgotten to inform his friend about the news he received the other day. "Irina-chan might be coming back this summer!"
"Yeah, I know." Ludger nodded, smiling fondly at the memories of their dearest friend. "Julius told me that he got a phone call from your mother. Man, it's been so long... You think we'll even recognize her?"
"Dunno. She might still be a tomboy for all we know!"
"Heh, you're probably right. After all, it took us a while before we figured out she was a girl."
"Yep. She was just that good."
The conversation continued to carry on, even as they entered the school grounds. Once they did, a few of the girls walking by noticed their presence, and immediately, hushed whispers began to flood the gates.
"Hey, look! It's Hyoudou-sama and Kresnik-sama!"
"Aah, they look so cute together!"
"They're not as cute as Kiba-sama, but yeah!"
"Ludger-sama's cooking is on par with the gods themselves, and Issei-sama will do whatever it takes to protect us girls!"
Several members of their respective fanclubs squealed in unison, which did not go unnoticed by the two.
"Fangirls?" Ludger asked. Issei nodded, and sighed.
"Fangirls."
XXXXXXXXXX
"Hm, I must admit, that human is adjusting rather well to this world."
The Great Spirit of Time mused. On a whim, he left the Land of Canaan in order to pay a visit to this world. In all honesty, he was rather curious of how the Scion of Kresnik and Seeker were living their lives in this world. If the sight before him was of any indication, it seemed to be an elated normalcy. But Chronos was not so naive.
"It appears his memories from the previous life are locked away..." he said to himself, a hand at his chin. "And his Chromatus has been heavily weakened... It's gone back to its original state."
That was to be expected, however. It would not be as if power could be retained when faced with the chance to be reborn. No, to regain great power, you must work to obtain it... to be once again worthy of it, or to face the consequences once again. Ludger Kresnik had been among the latter sort, willing to risk everything to be able to protect the people he cared about.
That had been the reason he surpassed Bakur. On the subject of that matter, it sickened Chronos to know that the man still exists in this world, and that Spirius was still around.
He knew very well that the Trial was still undergoing in this world...what he didn't expect was to see Bakur and the rest of Spirius still alive and well in this dimension. His tenacity was on par with a cockroach. Every time to put him down, he just gets back up.
Although, it made him curious how he was able to be reborn in the first place. The only souls that he and Origin sensed resonating with this world were Ludger and Julius. How was it that that man and his cronies were here as well?
"...It doesn't matter." Chronos shook his head. He fought against Bisley many times, and his only defeat against him was due to an element of surprise. He wouldn't fall for the same trap again.
Of course, there was something else that intrigued him... namely, the boy that Ludger Kresnik had brefriended. Issei Hyoudou looked like your average human, only with a pen-ship for the mixed martial arts, but there was something within him, his left arm to be precise, that had been the clincher for him to enter this world.
"Boosted Gear, huh?" Chronos felt something tug at his lips. "I have to admit, the last time I saw that eyesore of a gauntlet was when the previous wielder thought he could take me on."
That had been one of the Great Spirit of Time's intriguing battles, locked in combat against a beast of a man on a rampage. Truly, the ones who inherited the name of the Great Welsh were among the most ferocious of beasts. He could still recall staring down the crimson beast that had awoken from it's slumber.
Little wonder Boosted Gear was capable of slaying even Gods, if this Juggernaut Drive was capable of matching a Great Spirit measure for measure... but what is the flow of power against the flow of time?
If the previous wielder of Boosted Gear was a ferocious berserker, how would the current one fare? "Things are getting interesting in this world...I may actually have a reason to stick around and observe." The Great Spirit mused. "But still...what is this presence I'm sensing. It feels so similar to the Scion. And there isn't just one...but three..."
Chronos shook his head. "Well, it doesn't concern me for the time being. For now, let's see where this leads..." He chuckled afterwards. "Knowing the Scion of Kresnik, though, he'll likely do something idiotic and amusing all the same."
XXXXXXXXXX
"Haa... haa...!"
"Oh man, look at them legs... Damn, who knew kendo could make women look so damn fine?!"
The glasses wearing teen panted in heat. The bald teen next to him agreed.
"Not just their legs, but look at those asses. So tight and firm...Oh how lucky I am to be born a man!"
This was one of the favorite hobbies of the Perverted Duo, Matsuada and Motohama: Peeping on the Girls' Kendo Club.
The Perverted Duo were the greatest perverts known to man, taking part in anything even remotely related to the female body. As a result, they were heavily despised by the entirety of the female body. More often than not, however, they were caught in the act, and severely beaten or bruised beyond all recognition. The length of the beatings as in hopes that they would learn their lesson... unfortunately, they still kept on peeping.
Thankfully, there was someone to keep a leash on them.
"And just what are you guys looking at?"
The two perverts squeaked in surprised, turning around with arms raised in defense, about to beg for mercy...
...only to see Issei with a dark expression on his face, his arms crossed over his chest. The two sighed. "Oh, it's just you..." Matsuda said in relief. "We thought it was one of the girls!"
"Yeah, man!" Motohama nodded. "Don't do that, bro!"
"...It seems like you never answered my question...Just what the hell are you guys looking at?" The brown haired teen repeated.
"What does it look like? The Kendo girls! Man, their bods are smoking hot!" Matsuda shouted out.
"Yeah, I can tell you their sizes if you want!" The 'three size scouting glasses' Motohama offered his perverted friend.
"I see..." Issei sighed, shaking his head. "Sorry guys, but this is for your own good."
"Eh? What are you..."
Issei breathed in deeply, and then let out a scream at the very top of his lungs.
"PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTTTTTTTSSSSSSS!"
His shout could be heard all over the campus, some even heard it past the gates.
Obviously, the girls inside the locker room that the Duo was peeking in heard this as well. They turned to where the yell came from and looked through the window. Immediately after, they were itching to grab their wooden swords.
It was the Perverted Duo.
"Wha-oh shit!"
"What the hell bro?!"
"Sorry guys." Issei smiled innocently. "By the way... might wanna start running."
They didn't need to be told twice, as they hurriedly ran off like bullets. Once they were gone, Issei shook his head. "Man, after all the times Katase-san and Murayama-san beat the shit out of them, you'd think they would learn their lesson."
"I agree with you on that one." Ludger voiced as he walked up to him, just in time to see the girls barge out of the room fully dressed with their swords raised. Their eyes were screaming bloody Mary. "I'm starting to believe that they are masochists if they keep going through with this."
"You might be right on that." the brunette nodded in agreement. Once the girls gathered around, he stabbed his thumb over his shoulder. "They went that way."
"Thanks Issei-kun~!" The girls chirped. Their demeanor's changed quickly. They were now sporting friendly smiles and a positive aura. Just as quickly, they reverted back to their bloodlust and continued their pursuit.
"My friend, they say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned...and we are always witnessing it first hand."
"Hey, least we're not on the receiving end." Ludger said, watching the girls chase after the unfortunate poor souls. "And I hope to God we never have to be."
"Amen to that brother." Issei nodded sagely.
Unbeknownst to them, their little conversation had spectators.
"Fufufu~" Akeno giggled, watching the two speak from the windowsill of their clubhouse, which wasn't too far away from the girls' locker room. "How popular are kouhai are."
"Well, that is to be expected." Rias smiled slightly, thumbing her chess piece around in her hand. "They aren't called the Chivalrous trio with Kiba, after all."
"Ara, how true." The raven haired girl nodded. She then turned around to her friend. "Buchou...what do you think of Issei-kun and Ludger-kun?"
"I think you already know the answer to that." Rias replied, setting the chess piece down on the board. "They both have great power... especially Ludger-kun, but that's to be expected. After all, he IS a Kresnik."
The crimson haired senior smiled in knowing. She was fully aware of her kouhai's heritage, given the fact that there were so many stories regarding the Tales of the Great Sage Kresnik and the Spirits. He was the first human in all of recorded history to wield Artes.
"They would make quite the fine addition, don't you think?" Akeno asked her friend. "Also, you would be the first person in history to have a Kresnik in your peerage~"
"Hm true." the girl nodded. "But, I don't think Ludger-kun would accept such a proposal. Besides, I'd prefer it if they joined of their own volition."
"I suppose."
"Anyway, about what Sona was talking about to us earlier..."
XXXXXXXXXX
Raynare had to admit, Issei Hyoudou was certainly an interesting human. "So, this is the one we're supposed to observe and kill." she muttered, sitting atop the skies of Kuoh in her true form, looking at some information Dohnaseek managed to dig up, along with a photograph. She was also willing to admit that he was apparently quite the looker. He wasn't handsome, but he was certainly cute.
"It's a shame...He just looks too cute to kill..." Raynare spoke with a tinge of regret in her voice. But she soon shrugged it off. "...But these are Azazel-sama's orders. It can't be helped. Although...that one Kresnik brat would be the most annoying thing in my way."
She was more than aware of the dangers that the Kresnik family possessed. Even during the Great War, when humanity was forced to take sides, it was the Kresniks who decided to stand against the three. It was their strength that led to them becoming their own faction... but all the same, they were apart of something bigger. She happened to learn more about it when she was on a mission headed underneath Azazel, which led to her coming into contact with the Kresniks for the first time.
She would never forget that image... that armor that covered their body, their weapons capable of severing time and space.
She tried to repress a shudder from remembering that event. The power they possessed was truly terrifying. She barely made it out of that bout alive. If this one Kresnik was anything like the ones she faced before...she would have to proceed with utmost caution in order to make it out of this assignment alive.
"My target is that boy, so I should focus on finding a way to isolate the two of them..." she thought aloud. Once again, she looked at the picture. "Still..."
...
...
...
"...Haa, he just looks so cuuute...!"
She was still torn between killing him and just cuddling him like a teddy bear. SHe was really a sucker for cute things.
"It's orders from Azazel, but... Aaaah!" Raynare shook her head, a deep blush on her face. "He just looks so adorable!"
Now she really had to stop and think carefully. Just how was she going to carry out the mission now?
XXXXXXXXXX
"Yeah, we were on clean up duty a lot longer than I thought." Ludger agreed. The two were walking to their homes from school, as it was their turn to clean the classrooms.
Issei groaned as he stretched his arms out, pushing them until a satisfying pop from his shoulder echoed. "Aaah... Finally got that creak out of my neck!" he sighed in relief as he looked up at the sky. "Man, it's pretty late."
"Well, least we got it done." the boy said. "Now we can focus on getting homework done. Oh, yeah, do you mind if I crash at your place tonight?"
"I don't mind, and I'm sure Julius wouldn't either, but... what's the occassion?"
"Come on, bro, when's the last time we spent time together at each other's houses? My folks were practically begging me to invite you over, but I thought it would be better if I came to you instead."
Ludger looked at his friend for a while, then developed a teasing, and knowing grin. "You just want to free-load off of my cooking."
"What?! I do not...!...Maybe...Yes..." Issei tired to deny it, but Ludger's mocking stare broke his defiance.
"Thought so. Well, you're lucky you're welcome any time."
"Seriously?! Awesome!" the brunette cheered. "I knew you were my bro for a reason!"
"You're just lucky we're best friends." Ludger retorted.
"Even still man!"
"U-um... excuse me!"
Both teens stopped their chatter and turned in the same direction to the source of the voice. If one word were to describe the young girl they were currently facing, it would be 'cute'. She was around their age, wearing an unfamiliar school uniform consisting of a dark red blazer, a dark green skirt, and black knee socks. Her raven black hair flowed down to her lower back. Her violet eyes were focused to her feet as her expression was wracked with anxiety.
"Can we help you with something, miss...?" Ludger asked, looking at the girl carefully. He didn't recognize that school uniform anywhere, so he guessed that she was a student from another school at another part of the country, but he felt something... very off about her. He wasn't sure why, but even though her presence felt weak, he knew he had felt it somewhere before... but where?
"Y-Yuuma." the girl said shyly. "Y-Yuuma Amano."
"Well, it's nice to meet you Amano-san." Issei greeted in friendliness. He was curious as to what she wanted to ask of them.
Strangely, the girl blushed heavily. Ludger immediately realized why she was so shy, and chuckled slyly, patting his friend on the back. "Talk to you later." he said with a wink. "And don't screw up~"
"Huh?" the fighter blinked. "Wait-what are you-Hey, Ludger!" he called out, though his friend continued to walk away, waving at him with a grin. He sighed later. "What the heck..."
"U-um..." Yuuma spoke up. "Y-you're name is... Issei Hyoudou, right?"
"Uh, yeah...that's me." Issei nodded, unsure why she was asking.
"Will...will you..." She continued to fidget in nervousness.
"I'm sorry...?"
"Will...Will you go out with me?" She bowed low upon her request.
Issei blinked. Did she just say... what he thinks he said, or has his hearing gone bad already? He was still seventeen, if he recalls correctly. "Um, sorry, but... could you repeat that?" he asked her.
"Will you please go out with me?" She repeated her request.
"...If you don't mind me asking..." he said slowly, unable to believe what he was hearing. "Why me? I mean, sure, I care about people, but there are a lot of other guys to choose from!"
"W-well...it's..." Yuuma trailed off...too nervous to answer properly.
"H-hey, not that I'm complaining or anything!" Issei assured her, raising his hands. "I mean, hey, I'm honored! A-and..." he scratched his cheek, his face slightly red. "Y-you're... really cute."
"Th-thank you..." Yuuma nodded gratefully. She was still anxious.
"S-so, uh.. Y-you really want to go out on a date with me?" he asked, once again trying to earn confirmation.
"Mmhm..." SHe nodded.
Issei was unsure what to make of this. On one hand...he should be suspicious that this girl, who he never met before, just asked him out on a date right out of the blue...On the other hand...
Her large, eyes were looking at him in anticipation.
...There was no way he could turn her down like this.
"...Warning you now, I don't know the first thing about dating." Issei told her, smiling as best as he could.
Yuuma's smile was as bright as the sun.
"Thank you! Thank you!" she was grateful he accepted.
Issei felt himself warming up. Honestly, he wasn't sure if a girl could look so happy being accepted on a date. "So, when did you want to meet?"
"U-um, does Saturday work?!"
"Yeah, sure."
"That's great! See you then!" without another word, she turned around and skipped away jubilantly.
"Man..." the boy said in exasperation. "Never seen a more chipper girl. Still, she is cute though." Then, finally, his mind went back to when Ludger left. "Why that sneaky little..."
XXXXXXXXXX
"Achoo!"
"Whoa, you okay Ludger?" Julius asked as the boy undid his tie, slipping off his jacket and placing it against the rack at the door. "You're not catching a cold, are you?"
"Geez, I hope not." Ludger wiped his nose. "Why do I feel like someone's talking about me?"
"Maybe Issei?" his older brother offered. "You did say that you left him behind. So, a girl just walked right up to him?"
"Yep, and she had the same sort of looks I've seen several girls give you when they're about to approach and ask the question." Ludger informed him. "It's about time. Seriously, I've been waiting for something like that to happen!"
"But don't you think that the entire situation seems strange?" Julius asked skeptically. "I mean, you did say that is girl wasn't someone either of you knew."
"Yeah, and that isn't all." Julius raised an eyebrow, seeing a serious expression on Ludger's face. "Her presence... I didn't know why it felt familiar, but now I remember."
Julius' eyes narrowed. "So then... a Fallen Angel's taken an interest in him."
Ludger nodded, but then frowned. "But why Issei? He doesn't have any spiritual power, and he doesn't have a Sacred Gear, as far as I know."
"That may not be the case." Julius stated, causing Ludger to look at him in question. "It's possible that he has a Sacred Gear, but hasn't been able to awaken it up to this point."
"You mean, the Grigori sent in a fallen angel to perform surveillance on Issei, without even knowing what Sacred Gear he has?"
"Well, the Governor of the Fallen Angels has been known to be something of a fanatic for them, so it doesn't surprise me. The real question here is, what will they do now that they have him under serveilence? Also, why ask him out on a date?"
"Well, they ARE called Fallen Angels for a reason." Ludger joked.
"Let's just hope he it doesn't come to that point." Julius joked back. "Well, humor aside, it seems to be a strange way to act for mere observation."
"Maybe she thought if she was close enough, it would be easier?"
"Well, that is a possibility."
"Should I keep an eye on him?"
"That might be for the best. We don't know who exactly these Fallens are taking orders from. If it's Azazel or his right-hand man, then there shouldn't be anything to worry about." Julius' face darkened. "If it's Kokabiel, then we'll have no choice but to intervene."
"Kokabiel..." Ludger frowned. "He's one of the Fallens who fought in the Great War, right?"
His brother nodded. "Yes, and he thrives in conflict. A warmonger in every sense of the word."
"Then it would be safe to say that he plans to start another great war?"
"Possibly. It would be a deranged idea though, given how all the factions are still recovering to this day."
"Doesn't sound like that would stop him." Ludger commented, heading to the kitchen. "Oh yeah, brother... about the entrance exam next month?"
"Hm? What about it?"
"What kind of test will it be?" he asked curiously. "Will it be combat? Or a written test?"
"It's both. Half of it will be a written test to get a gauge of your knowledge, but it weighs less than the combat exam. To be an agent, you have to be strong, as well as smart."
"And will I be allowed to use artes and my usual combat skills, or something else?"
"No, you're free to use the fighting style you are familiar with, as well as artes." Julius answered.
"Okay." Ludger gave a small sigh of relief. He wasn't sure how he'd be able to pass if he wasn't allowed to rely on his own style of combat.
"You know, I am still against you wanting to be apart of Spirius." Julius told him. "Although, I know you better than anyone, so I'm just wasting my breath here."
"Sorry, brother, but it's just..." Ludger smiled fondly at the memories. "Ever since our parents died, you've been looking after me in more ways than one. Sure, I've done small things like looking after the house and cooking meals for the both of us, but I never really could repay you for all those times you've looked out for me."
"..." Julius grew silent as his brothers words were true. However, what he knows about their parents was only partially true. No matter what, he couldn't let Ludger know about the truth of their family.
He'd be damned if he ever let him know the truth... of what sort of hellish life they truly led.
XXXXXXXXXX
"So, Issei-kun's encountered a Fallen?" Rias asked with narrowed eyes, looking at her friend Sona, who sat across from her on the neighboring sofa.
"Yes, it appears she's asking him out on a date." Sona Sitri replied. "I don't know what it is she's planning, but considering she's a Fallen, I doubt it is anything BUT pleasant."
"I agree with your sentiment." Rias nodded as Akeno came in and set up cups of tea on the table before them. The crimson haired girl took her own cup and drank from it. "It would be best if we kept an eye on them...to ensure that the Fallen doesn't do anything drastic."
"How do you intend to handle it?" the Sitri heiress asked. "Have one of your peerage keep an eye on Hyoudou?"
"Yes, it would be a shame if he dies. If he does possess a Sacred Gear, then I can't allow them to steal him under any circumstance."
"In other words..." she pushed up her glasses. "You intend to recruit him, regardless if he lives or dies?"
"That's pretty much the gist of it."
Sona sighed, shaking her head within her palm. "There are so many things wrong with that plan, I'm not even sure where to start."
"Oh come now, my plan is fool proof! Just what kind of problems can stem from it?"
"Hm...Let's see, how about the fact that you aren't exactly giving him a choice in the matter. Even I'd he dies and you reincarnate him, it would still be against his will."
"B-but that's-"
"Even though you plan to do so with good intentions of continuing his life, you would be disregarding his own decision in the matter. What if he wanted to still be human? What if he just wanted to have a normal life? By reincarnating him against his will, you could be taking that away from him, Rias."
"...Okay, fair point." Rias pouted, staring into her own reflection shown by the tea in her cup. "Even still, surely you wouldn't want to lose him either."
"You are correct, but at the very least, I would try to outright ask him if he wished to throw away his humanity, and more than that, I would ask him if he wished to be a member of my peerage. Also, one other thing."
Rias really hated it when Sona gained that condescending voice in her tone.
"You do realize that his best friend happens to be a Kresnik, who's older brother is also a member of the Spirius Corporation, right?"
The Crimson haired beauty grew silent as she swirled the tea in her cup. Of course she was well aware of that. She had been keeping tabs on him as well ever since he had arrived at this school.
"Did you ever consider how he may retaliate because of your reckless decisions?" Sona questioned.
"...Okay, I get it! My plan is full of holes!" the red-haired beauty groaned. "Even still, at the very least, he should still be given the chance to live out his life... even if it means to live as a Devil."
"And that's my problem, Rias." Sona sighed. "Your kindness is sometimes cruel."
"We can't help what is kindness and what is cruelty, Sona." she pointed out. "You of all people should know that."
"Yes, yes, I am aware of that." the student council president conceded to her friend's point. "Now, in the meantime..."
XXXXXXXXXX
"So, you finally got yourself a girlfriend, huh?" Ludger chuckled slightly as he began to cook in the kitchen, his cell sandwiched between his ear and his shoulder. "It's about time, man."
"Oh, shut up!" Issei snapped at him. "That whole conversation was awkward as hell! Also, what the hell do I do?! I don't know the first thing about taking a girl out on a date!"
"And your asking ME this?" the silver-haired teen shot back. "Last I checked, I don't even have a girlfriend."
"Well, whatever! What do I do? Should I take her out at the mall here in town? Maybe shopping?"
"Well, based on what I've seen on TV, that seems to be a good start. Maybe you can take her to the movies as well." Ludger offered.
"Well, okay. I got some ideas now...Hey, I know! Maybe I can take her to the cafe you work at!"
"...Are you seriously gonna mooch off of me?" Ludger deadpanned. "Really?"
"What?" his best friend replied, not seeing the obvious jab. "Bro, you're cooking is like that of the gods themselves. Besides, I did kinda skip out on hanging with ya today. Also, why the hell did you leave me alone with her?! I could have used some help man!"
"Oh, quit being such a baby."
"I'm serious! I didn't even know how to make proper conversation, and now I'm going out with her! At least take some responsibility for your actions."
"I did. You're on a date, aren't you?" Ludger responded jokingly.
"Oh shut up!"
"Well, anyway, let me know how it goes, yeah?"
"Whatever!"
Ludger chuckled as Issei hung up, allowing him to slip his phone into his pocket. "Well, glad to know he might be able to have some fun." he muttered to himself. "Still, I wish it was with someone other than a Fallen Angel... hopefully, she isn't gonna be too bad."
XXXXXXXXXX
"Okay, what is up with Raynare?"
It had been Mittelt who had asked that question, seeing as how the defacto leader of the group returned, smiling and giggling with a look that just screamed fangirl/crushing majorly hard. Personally, it creeped the smaller Fallen out, though Kalawarner looked amused, and Dohnaseek was more preoccupied with searching through the old tomes left behind in the church's library.
"If I had to guess, I'd say our little friend has a crush on somebody." Kalawarner giggled.
The Male Fallen gave no indication of hearing them as he continued to flip through pages. He had been doing this ever since the start of the mission, when they got word of a Kresnik within this town.
Fallen Angels earned their name because of their decisions in heaven. Some fell because of lust, greed, envy... any of the seven deadly sins, or just a sin in general. Dohnaseek fell because of his lust for knowledge. He was a scholar by nature, and he wished to learn everything this world had to offer. To him, knowledge was power, and information was strength.
His primary target of interest was the Kresnik family, humans who had the power to stand against the three factions. In fact, it was because of the Kresnik clan that humanity became a faction in and itself, leading the way to defending against supernatural threats. The Spirius Corporation was one such example, being a cultimation of defense against their enemies.
Of course, what he really wanted to learn about them was their supposed 'armor of death', aka The Chromatus.
It was a strange, yet unknown phenomenon that the clan possessed. They were able to equip upon themselves an armor that grants them tremendous power, mighty enough to rival even the leaders of the factions and in some cases, Gods. However, all power comes at a price. Although it is uncertain exactly what this price is for using the Chromatus.
With this piece of information missing, Donasheek wanted to learn more of it. He wanted to learn the truth of it all.
"What do you think about this, Dohnaseek?"
The scholar snapped out of it, blinking as he turned to an amused looking Kalawarner. He also saw Raynare in the air, wiggling around with her hands at her cheeks, apparently gushing over something. "Sorry, what were you talking about?" he asked, closing the book in his hand.
The loli of the group sighed, shaking her head. "And you're busy reading."
"Well, our friend is a scholar." the older member pointed out. "We were talking about Raynare. Seems like she's developed quite the crush on our target."
"Oh is that so?" The man raised an eyebrow. If his sin was lust for knowledge, then Raynare's sin was lust for love. He recalled that she fell from heaven as she was attracted to their leaders Azazel and Shemazai, and willingly left heaven to join them in the Grigori. Ever since then, she had been working hard on all of her missions just to receive recognition and praise from them.
But it appears that she was attracted to someone else now.
"Well, we have orders from Azazel to observe the boy, and possibly eliminate him if he becomes a threat." the Fallen spoke. "Even still, I must admit, even I am curious. His prowess for the martial arts is certainly interesting."
"Once again, sports nut!" Mittelt sneered, throwing her arms up in the air. "Argh, this place is so boring! Why isn't there anything fun to do?!"
"Would you quit your whining?" Kalawarner sighed in mild irritation. "Our mission is observation, which in itself is a long lasting mission that requires patience, something that you seem to lack."
"Hey!" The little fallen angel snapped.
"But nevertheless...it seems that the nun should be here within a week or two." The blue haired Fallen stated, ignoring her friend's comment.
"I see. But I still don't understand why we were told to extract her Sacred Gear. It doesn't seem to be something that Azazel-sama would want us to do. Usually he would want us to bring the Sacred Gear holder directly to him." Donasheek brought up.
"It's even stranger when it was Kokabiel-sama who told us, rather than Azazel-sama coming to greet us himself." Kalawarner pointed out in addition. "A bit odd, don't you think?"
"Hm, true... but, orders are orders."
"By the way, Dohnaseek, what were you looking up?" the older female Fallen asked, looking at the book he laid out on the table. "The Tales of Genesis...? Are you still doing research on the Kresniks?"
The man nodded. "Knowledge is a form of power, something of which I value greatly. Besides, even before we fell, I still inquired information on the power to destroy a false world. The Chromatus is arguably one of the strongest abilities known to humans, able to matching even the Longinus Sacred Gears."
"Seriously?!" The blonde Fallen Angel exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes. The Chromatus bestows exponential might upon the wielder. It's an ability that was brought forth by a single individual said to be a God among men. The Genesis Sage, Kresnik."
"It's curious though, when you think about it." Kalawarner said, opening the book and skimming over a few pages. "They have such great power, and yet..." She stopped when a page showed three beings standing before a black silhouette, one a white, shapeless form, another a being with a cog behind then, and the last in between the two, sitting atop a floating throne. "They haven't completed the Trial."
"Indeed...I would assume that it is due to the flaws of humanity..." Donasheek agreed. "From that the tales of the past entail, when they learned of what awaited at the end of the Trial, they started to fight amongst each other in a race to complete the Trial first and grasp the reward. Truly...humans are as sinful and destructive as any other being. At this rate...this world will fail the Trial and bring ruin to us all."
"A shame only the Kresniks can complete the Trial." the blue-haired Fallen said, a ghost of a smile on her face. "Otherwise, it would have been completed long ago."
Dohnaseek's lips tugged upwards. "I suppose that is true..."
Mittelt sighed, shaking her head at her comrades' conversation before looking at the still gushing Raynare. "Seriously, what goes on in that brain of hers?"
"Do you want me to snap her out of it?" Donasheek offered, now holding a closed, heavy looking book.
"No thanks, I got it." Kalawarner took up the task.
Unfurling her own wings, Kalawarner flew up to Raynare. Up close, the second oldest female Fallen had a giant blush on her face, possibly equaling the Gremory clan's hair, and her eyes possessing a dreamy glaze look. The woman sighed, shaking her head. "Oh yeah, you are lovestruck." she said, giggling slightly before she leaned in and opened her mouth.
Raynare was so engrossed in her daydreams about her date with her target that she suddenly herself suddenly shiver when something hot and wet dragged across her face. "Kyah!" She snapped out of her daydreams, and instantly backed away, her hand at her cheek. "W-wh-wha-what are you doing, Kalawarner?!"
"Just waking you up from your daydream. I take it you met with our assigned target?" Kalawarner smirked knowingly.
"Y-yeah..."
"And apparently he's gotten you all hot and bothered if he got you so worked up." the older woman giggled. Raynare blushed further, turning away with a 'hmph'. "Oh, don't be like that. So... what's this about a date I hear?"
"H-how did you know about that?!" Raynare snapped.
"You were giggling about it like a lovestruck schoolgirl just seconds ago."
"I-I...I thought it would be best to gather information that way. The closer I am, the easier!"
"Oh, reaaally?" Kalawarner teased, a hand at her cheek. "Seemed to me that you were thinking about how great it would be to get so close to him... maybe plant one hot, steamy peck on his-"
"S-stop, enough!"
"Heeheehee~ Teasing you is so much fun!"
Raynare sighed, irritated with her friend's behavior. "Why me?"
XXXXXXXXXX
Issei looked at himself in the mirror, frowning as he turned his body to different angles. "...Are you sure this outfit is okay, Ludger?" he asked, turning to his friend. "I feel like I'm wearing a straight jacket."
The brown haired teen was currently wearing a pair of dark slacks that barely reached his black shoes. He was wearing a dark gray turtleneck shirt, the fabric slightly strained from being stretched across his fit body. Over it was a light gray blazer with the cuffs slightly rolled up.
"Believe me. I know that feeling too." Ludger chuckled. "But Julius said that a guy has to learn how to get dressed up for certain occasions, and I guess a first date qualifies as one of them."
"Still though...I think this seems a bit much."
"Hey, least you look the part." his friend told him. "Just be glad none of our fan girls are you seeing you dressed up."
The fighter instantly shuddered. He could already hear it now, the sounds of deranged women stampeding toward him as he ran for dear life. "Fair point."
"Now, what time did she say she would meet up?"
"She said we were supposed to meet at noon." Issei checked his watch, reading that it was 11:30. "I think I should start heading there now. Better to be early than late."
"Just don't go overboard." Ludger told him. "Also, don't be nervous. Just try to act natural. Take her out to the movies, shopping, hell even out to lunch."
"I thought you said you never went on a date?"
"I didn't, but apparently, Julius had gone on a double date with one of his co-workers when he was younger." he informed him. "He also went on blind dates too, though he never talks much about them, mostly because the girls he got paired up were, well..."
Ludger didn't even need to finish as Issei held a hand up. "Ah, I understand."
Once the two headed downstairs, they were met with Julius, who was sitting at the table fiddling with his watch. "Oh, hey you two." he smiled, turning away from his work when he noticed them coming down from the second floor. "Well, look at you." he said, very impressive with Issei's choice of clothes from his wardrobe. "All fine and sharp... I'm glad to see that some of my clothes fit on you."
"To be honest, they're kinda tight." Issei said sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "Anyway, thanks for lending me some of your clothes."
"No problem. I'm glad to be of help for my second little brother's first date. I still can't believe a girl just walked up to you and asked you out."
"Hey, me neither." the brunette blushed at the memory. "Still, I don't recognize the uniform she wore. Is she from another part of the city?"
"Maybe." Ludger told him. In truth, he looked up that uniform's emblem, and as he expected, it was from a school that was outside of Kuoh. The uniform itself was for students of Jushio High School, which was located in Hokkaido.
Based on the location, it seemed to be too much effort to travel to this town just to ask someone out on a date. If it wasn't for the fact that the girl was a Fallen Angel, Ludger would've been suspicious and stumped. The Fallen probably slapped this plan together without checking the location of the school the uniform came from.
"Well, I better get going." Issei said, looking at his watch. "See ya!"
Ludger nodded, smiling at his friend as he left out the door. Once it was closed shut, though, Ludger's smile vanished, and turned to his brother. "So, anything new on that Fallen?"
"Not yet." Julius stopped working on the watches altogether as he focused all of his attention to his brother. "I contacted Spirius about the Fallen and they kept tabs on the situation, but they haven't told me anything out of the ordinary yet."
"Even though they've been active for two days?" the boy frowned in confusion. "How does that work?"
"Well, for one, they're careful, and keep a low profile. Also, from what little we do know is that they were apparently sent on orders by Azazel... which were issued by Kokabiel."
"So they weren't given orders directly from the top brass? A lower-level leader gave them their mission instead?" Ludger questioned, suspicion laced in his voice.
"I know, it's definitely suspicious. It's also highly likely that Kokabiel purposely misinformed them about what their objectives were supposed to be."
"So then, that means..."
Julius nodded, pushing up his glasses, thus giving them that serious glare that made him absolutely terrifying or intimidating.
"Yeah... Chances are, if they consider Issei a threat, he will be eliminated."
Ludger's stomach dropped. His eyes wide and his mouth open. He processed the revelation, and did not like it one bit. He quickly spun around on his foot and moved towards the door.
"Hold it."
He stopped, and scowled in irritation. He whirled around, about to snap at Julius and demand to know if he was actually going to allow this to happen, only to just barely catch a bag. It came at him so fast he almost didn't see it, and wrapped it around his arms. "What?"
Julius smiled at him, a hand at his hip. "Well, you can't exactly go out and save your friend with your bare hands, now can you?"
Ludger's eyes widened at the implications, and opened the bag. Inside was a familiar object, an Allium Orb, and beside it...
...were a pair of twin blades.
"Th-these are...!" Ludger realized.
"Yep. Consider this an early birthday present. I was planning on giving you these a few days before the exam, but I guess you would be able to practice much earlier for it."
"J-Julius...thank you."
"Now don't thank me yet, you got a brother to save."
Ludger nodded, and bolted right out the door, slinging the bag over his shoulder. Julius couldn't help but smile, pushing up his glasses again. It seemed like he and Sona were doing this out of habit now. "That boy..." he chuckled. "Well, I suppose a man would be more accurate."
XXXXXXXXXX
Okay, at first she just thought it was a small crush... now, however?
It was a full on one. No, scratch that, she didn't just like the boy... she was in LOVE with him!
Raynare had met up with Issei Hyoudou on their date. He actually arrived before her, which was a surprise. Usually it was the other way around. But the nervous demeanor he sported only added to his charm. Unable to wait any longer, she grabbed him by the hand, and the date commenced.
She didn't know much about human society, nor their customs. Why should she? She was a higher being than them: a Fallen Angel. Besides, she merely saw it as mundane prospect, and nothing really worth her time. Now, though, she was beginning to see the appeal during the date. The first place they went to was a movie theater. She had expected him to just choose a movie, buy the tickets, and then drag her on inside, and maybe try to hold her hand throughout the thing.
That wasn't what he had done. He asked her what her preferences were, and what movie seemed to interest her. He was also willing to pay for the popcorn and sodas as well.
He was unlike the majority of the male population she had observed. He was actually being a gentleman to her. This only served to further enhance her attraction to him as they went inside the see the only movie that interested her: A Romantic Comedy.
The movie itself wasn't all that bad. In fact, she was rather interested in it, absorbed through out the whole thing. And during the movie, she noticed that Issei had been staring at her hand every now and then, but made no attempts to do so. It was clear that he was hesitant, likely out of consideration for her feelings. But, she got a bit impatient with him, and decided to grab his hand.
She damn near squealed at the contact of their hands being together. She knew he was a fighter, but they felt so smooth, so soft... A shame it lasted for only half an hour. She would have loved to hold onto him longer.
The next part of their date was a bite to eat. Once again, she half-heartedly expected him to drag her around, and pick his own usual place. Instead, he once again surprised her by asking if there was any place she wanted to grab a bite to eat at, and even offered to, once again, pay for the food himself.
They went into a cafe alongside the street. She ordered herself a chocolate parfait.
"Sorry if I'm boring you, Amano-san." Issei apologized to her, ordering a simple slice of pie with Oolong Tea. "I, uh, really don't know much about dating in the first place, so... Once again, sorry."
Raynare shook her head. "No, I'm having fun! Really!" she insisted. And it wasn't a lie. She was truly enjoying her time with him. He really wasn't like other humans... Kind, honest, and very gentle. Add to the fact that he was also a cute face, and well... little wonder she was falling for him. (No Pun Intended)
Even so...could she really follow through with her assignment? That lone question plagued her mind. She knows she was ordered to kill him if necessary...but he hasn't done anything of the like that would warrant such penalty.
With all the time she was around him, Raynare was able to confirm he possessed a Sacred Gear. She didn't know which one it was, but it obviously held a great deal of power. Even still... why would Azazel-sama consider him a threat? It didn't make sense. Also...
She was beginning to doubt whether or not she really could complete the task.
Once they were done eating, the date continued. Before they resumed, Issei had asked her if there was anything she wanted, and offered to buy whatever it was, regardless of price. She was surprised, but then recalled that he had competed in several competitions, so she supposed he had money to burn from winning them.
They went shopping for clothes, and in order to save him from embarrassment, Raynare avoided the lingerie section.
Instead, she dragged him into a couple stores to select some clothes for him first. She grabbed whatever was on the racks that she thought would suit him. She held up each individual shirt up to his body and asked for his opinion.
Issei was honest in each selection she had, and the large pile she initially grabbed was gradually getting smaller. In the end, they only purchased half of what caught her eye.
Now it was her turn.
When they entered the women's section, she picked out skirts, blouses, dresses, anything that caught her fancy. She was half-tempted to grab a few lingerie, just to see him blush up a storm, but refrained. She tried on each sets of clothes, walked out of the changing room, and asked for his opinion.
She couldn't help but giggle when she saw how red his face was, and how speechless she made him every time. His comments were all positive, but he did give out his own preferences of what clothes he liked on her. In the end, she had bought only one set of clothes that Issei liked her in, and one dress that, needless to say, made his jaw drop. She took his silence as his answer, and took it. She was going to pay for the clothes she bought her target, but he paid for it all, not only his clothes, but hers as well.
He truly was a gentleman. He was so polite and generous to her. She was surprised that this was actually his first date. The way he planned it all, she would've thought otherwise.
She was unable to settle the flutter in her heart. She had fallen for him completely.
It was already leaning towards sunset when they reached the final destination of their date. They had stopped at a fountain in the center of town at a park. It was relatively quiet, with only the rustling of leaves and the chirps of birds and the sound of running water providing any sort of sound. It was a tranquil place, one she felt at peace at.
"I really had fun today." Raynare told him, her back facing him. She stared at the waterfall, and into her reflection. To Issei, he saw a girl that had asked him out on a date... while to herself, she saw a woman with cruel eyes and ebon wings. It nearly made her scowl in irritation. Why? Why did she had to feel this way?
Her heart felt tight when she heard Issei speak up behind her. She could tell he had a bashful look on his face. "Y-yeah... I had fun today too."
This was it. Now, or never. She... she had to complete...
"Say, Issei-kun?"
"Yeah, Amano-san?"
She... she had to kill him...
"There's something I really... really want..."
Sh-she had... to take his Sacred Gear from his corpse...
"W-will you... listen to my request...?"
"Of course." Her body trembled, seeing his kind, gentle smile in the water. "What do you want?"
"W-will you..."
She... she had...
"W-will... will you..."
...
...
...
...She couldn't. She just fucking couldn't.
"Yes...?" Issei gently urged her, not out of impatience, but out of simple curiosity.
Raynare continued to clam up. When she looked into those soft, brown eyes of his...all she felt was warmth, kindness, and innocence...Who was she to extinguish it all.
Why...? Why was she even given these orders? Issei was not a threat to her kind...she knew that first hand...So why?
"...I can't..."
Issei's eyes widened in confusion and shock when he saw her face. Tears were streaming down her round, beautiful face, biting her lower lip. Her bangs hid her eyes, but even then, he could see the sadness, the pain. "I just can't...!"
"A-Amano-san, wh-what's-"
He was cut off when she tackled him, her arms wrapping around his body, and clinging to him for dear life. "I don't..." she sobbed, her face pressed up against his chest. "I don't want to...!"
Her sobs grew louder, and her grip on him became tighter.
"Amano...san..." Issei looked upon her frail, trembling form. He wrapped his arms around her and held her there. He could feel her sobs, and her tears dripped onto his shirt. But he paid no mind as he just remained there, comforting her.
"I can't...I can't do this...! I...I don't want to...!"
Issei continued to hold her, one arm around her trembling, slim form, and the other at her head, closing his eyes. This was really all he could do. What could he say to her without setting her off? What could he say that wouldn't make him sound like a hypocrite? What could he say that wouldn't make her hate him?
Off to the side, watching the two of them, Ludger's eyes widened. "Wait... Does she not want to...?"
This scene itself was a turn of events. Ludger had rushed and followed them all over town to ensure his best friend's safety. But he did not expect this to happen. Not in the slightest. It was as if the Fallen Angel genuinely did not want to kill him?
Was it all a ruse?
...Unlikely...Ludger could sense the honest emotion of sorrow and regret from her.
"Hold on, did she...?" A thought crossed his mind, causing him to shake his head, smiling a bit. "Making a Fallen Angel fall for you... That's one for the record books."
"I-Issei...!" Raynare continued to sob, showing no signs of stopping anytime soon. Issei continued to hold her, and patiently waited for her. His brown eyes reflected concern for his girlfriend. 'Amano-san...'
It was a moment of sadness and peace for the two. However, all peace comes to an end, sooner or later.
"Well, what do you know? The boss was right!"
Raynare's eyes snapped open, her orbs wide in horror. Oh no... please, no! Anyone but him!
"Then again, you know what they say?"
Ludger immediately became on edge, his hands already in the bag while Issei looked up, and found himself glaring at the one walking toward him. It was a man with messy white hair, wearing clothes akin to what a priest would wear, though he seemingly lacked the cross. What disturbed him, however... was the glee of madness reflected in his eyes, and the dark, insane toothy grin he displayed for all the world to see.
"Never send a slutty Fallen Angel to do a priest's job!"
To Be Continued…
Preview: "I'm Freed Zellas! It's very nice to meet you, lover boy! So tell me, how do you and that slutty Fallen bitch wanna die?!" "You're going to pay for trying to hurt my friend." "My mission was to observe and kill Issei-kun... But... After everything, I...!" "There are some things in this world that are better left unknown, Issei... but sometimes, we have no choice but to face the truth." "My name is Rias Gremory. Tell me, Hyoudou-kun, how would you like to become a Devil?" Next Time: Sacred Gear