Issei was standing on his home doorstep. Well, it had been his home. 3 years ago, when he walked out, unwillingly the term ''home'' for this house had become false. His home had been the Zero Army headquarters for the past 3 years.
At first, while he was still not fully lucid, he just did what he was told there. As time passed, the memories, everything started slowly come back. All that he sealed to survive the torture and to not go completely mad, had returned to him. Not all at once, but slowly. And at the end, he understood, that the only thing that had not changed was his name.
''Issei Hyoudou''. And even then, he wasn't called Issei there. He was just ''Ddraig.'' The name he choose. The name he held proudly.
Even his appearance had changed. His body had changed to what people would call ''athletic''. It was covered in scars. His hair, that had been brown, now was blond. Maybe, a better description was white. It was short and spiky. He was tanned. It had come from his first battlefield.
Back before, when he couldn't even use his power, only hear the voice of the Red dragon. He was left there, behind enemy lines, with a rifle and a knife. No food, no water, no backup, with only sand around him.
He killed and moved forward. Killing came easily for him. The soldiers there stood no chance. For a bit he considered the thought of ''talent'', but he just laughed at himself. Margit, his first teacher, had taught him everything he knew. The weapons themselves, how to fire them, how to repair them and how to actually use them to kill.
When he came back, soaked in blood and sand, smelling like iron and gunpowder, he was congratulated. Called an ''One Man Army''.
[Enough reminiscing, partner.]
''Yeah.''
[Remember, you were a lazy teenager with a sex drive of hundred men. Become him once again.]
He knocked on the door. A moment later, the door opened. It was his mother. Her eyes widened, in shock. Her mouth wide, tears started running down her face.
His mask cracked and a tear went down his cheek. Hearing the commotion, his father came to the door.
''..No way..they told us you were dead..Issei?''- He was bewildered.
Both parents hugged the once lost son.
''Welcome back, son.'' – His father spoke
''..I'm home.''
After talking for a while his parents had let him to his room. It was easy for him to manipulate them to not ask too many questions, actually. All he had to say was ''I'm sorry, but what I went trough was traumatic, so I don't think I'm ready talk about it yet.'' With a sad look in his eyes.
His room had not changed at all. The bed was still there, the small tv, the shelves and the ''waifu'' clock that played different girl archetype voices.
The wardrobe was empty. He knew that he had to go buy some clothes. When he went downstairs.
He was now the ''Issei Hyoudou'' from 3 years ago.
''Mom, can you give me money for clothing?'' – He said, while smiling.
His mom smiled back at him. She went to get her wallet. When she came back, she gave him money.
''There you go.''
Issei counted it. –''This is a lot money, are you sure?''
She smiled.-''Of course I'm sure. My son comes back from god knows where and has no clothes. Do you think I'm gonna let you walk around as if you were homeless?''
''You wouldn't. Thank you!'' – He said, as he walked out of the house.
''Honey''- Issei's father spoke. –''You know, at first I was really worried. His appearance has changed, so I thought he would be too. But it doesn't seem that way.''
Issei's mother smiled. – ''Yes, although It would be better if his perverted tendencies had disappeared. ''
Issei had bought a lot fitting clothes with simple colors – gray, black, dark blue. Nothing flashy, nothing with eye-catching designs. If you had to blend in there was nothing better to wear than that. Another thing that was taught to him by Margit. He had bought two big sports bags to hold the items. Both of them were only half filled.
He had a reason for that. He was being followed. He could get rid of her, but that would rise suspicion – and that couldn't happen. He waited for a crowd and blended in. As he went trough it, he stopped by the ladder and climbed to the rooftop of the building.
The one following was Koneko. The one who wanted to follow Issei was her. She didn't trust him one bit. He was bad news. Even though she didn't use her Nekomata power she could smell the evil in him.
At first everything seemed fine. He bought clothes, he smiled and said ''Thank you'' to the cashiers. It was then when her suspicion rose when he bought those two bags. And then it was that she lost him. He blended in the crowd like a ghost.
She noticed him on the top of ladders to the building next to the shops. She didn't run, but she was in a hurry. When she climbed the ladders, she masked her presence.
She peaked over the edge and saw Issei holding the two bags as previously. Near him stood a girl, in a cute, frilly dress. Her hair was long and black. She held a similar bag as Issei.
She concentrated and listened to their conversation.
''[..]well, it was nice talking to someone as cute as you! Lets meet here again.''
The girl blushed and waved to him.
Issei started to come back. Koneko jumped down and hid. She followed him back home. Nothing had happened.
She teleported back to the Old School building. Rias, her master was sitting at the table, reading. She looked up at Koneko.
''Well?''- She implored.
''..Nothing. He bought clothes and talked to a girl in a frilly dress.'' – She looked at her feet. – ''Completely normal. As you said.''
Rias exhaled and smiled. – ''See, I told you, if my brother told it's safe, then it is safe.''
''..Yes, Buchou.''
Issei sat in his room, smirking. The follower had probably reported back to Rias by now and told how ''nothing had happened''.
The girl was Fleimel in disguise. She really didn't want to wear a frilly dress, but he made her do it. She did indeed look cute in it. It was pleasurable too look at her in it.
Issei opened one of the bags. It held firearms – an M416 assault rife, a MK23 pistol, a knife, tonfas and ammo. Special, exorcist ammo got off black market, his battle clothes and cash. A lot of cash.
He picked up the tonfas and started spinning them. He was still on top of the game.
The whole shopping part was a decoy to change bags. Of course, if Rias didn't have anyone following him, it would have been a lot easier, but he was ready for anything.
That was a lesson that had been taught to him by Margit very early in the training.
To be ready for anything. To expect the unexpected. To never loose your composure. He put the tonfas on his desk.
He sat down on his bed and closed his eyes, reminiscing.
''No matter what, you never loose your composure. If your squad gets wiped out, if you weapon breaks, if everything you believe is crashed and burned into ground, you never do it. It shows weakness. If your enemy sees your weakness, he will strike.'' – She had grinned. The grin seemed strangely arousing for Issei.-''But what if the weakness is faked? Your enemy will think you are weaker, he will look down on you. You have a chance to do strike.''
''Then what, do I fake it every time or I don't loose it? You are making no sense whatsoever.'' – He had been angry at her.
''It is your choice. Perhaps, for others using a tactic like that may seem unfair or simply cheap. But,-''
''On a battlefield, there is no cheap tactics. You do what you need to win. Nothing more, nothing less.''- He finished the sentence.
Margit smiled – 'Exactly.''
Issei had went for a morning jog around the neighborhood. It had mostly not changed. It was early morning, 6 am.
He enjoyed jogging. It allowed him to not think. He just concentrated on breathing and looked at the scenery.
As he came back into house about an hour later, his father, who was eating, looked at him with wide eyes.
''..You were.. actually morning jogging?'' – he was seriously surprised.
''..Yeah.''- He chuckled- ''Do think I got this body by sleeping around?'''
He lifted his eyebrows looking at him.
''Now that you mention it, you do look wider. Although with that hoody, I can't really see anything.''- He put down the dish he was holding. –''Why did you train, anyways?''
Issei looked him straight in the eyes and smiled.
''I had to catch up to a lot people, so I trained. The stronger you were, the easier it was.''
His father looked at him with quite sad eyes.
''..I have no idea what you went trough, but judging by the scar on your eyebrow, it wasn't anything fun. But you have to know, you are back home now. You can relax and when you feel ready – you are free to tell us everything.''
Issei smiled sadly. –''You have no idea how much that means to me.''
His father got up and ruffled his hair.
''What the hell happened to your hair anyway? It feels like you became a delinquent!'' –he chuckled.
'''Oh, that. We made a bet, and I lost, so I had to color it.''
''..I see. I'll make you breakfast.'' – He went to the refrigerator.
As he made Issei breakfast they talked about what to happened to his family, and as Issei ate, he asked what happened around his neighborhood.
He stood in the shower, letting water run down his hair.
Why was it white? Simple. It grew white. After Maria's torture the hair had become a dirty mix of white and brown, so he decided to cut it, so it can regrow back to normal. But that failed. It regrew pure white.
He touched his chest. It was covered in scars. Just under the right collar bone there was a tattoe of a rough zero. It wasn't created with ink. It was carved into him. The cuts, the bullet wounds, the scrapes and burns were scattered all over his body- but mostly could be covered with clothes.
''..Judging by the scar on my eyebrow, huh.'' –He let out a small chuckle.
[You shouldn't allow your parents to see the scars, partner.]
''I know that Ddraig. They won't know. If I can help it - they won't know anything.''
Issei opened the door of the old school building. He walked in the main room where the Gremory Base was.
''Ara, Issei. Welcome back.''- Rias smiled.
''..Hello.'' – the small girl with white hair said in monotone tone. He could see it in her eyes – she had gone trough something bad.
He went over to her. He scratched his head.
''Umm, I didn't get your name.'' –he said while chuckling.
''..Koneko.''
''You don't seem too fond of me.''
She nodded.
''Ouch. Any way I could turn that around?''
''..snacks.''
''You want snacks?'''
''..I do.''
Issei chuckled. – ''I'll see what I can do.''
Rias on looked their interaction with a smile. She didn't know what to expect from a terrorist, a leader of a squad to be precise. He was smiling now. Completely different then when they fought. That probably meant that he really was forced to attack.
A beautiful girl with black hair and a voluptuous body walked in.
''Ara ara, welcome back Issei.'' – She spoke.
She understood when I looked at her, not responding.
''Ah, right, I am Akeno Himejima, the queen of Rias Gremory.''
''I see. Nice to meet you.'' – Issei answered politely.
They exchanged small talk.
''Ah right, Issei, your uniform is right here.'' – Rias walked over to him with a uniform in her hands. Issei took it in his hands.
''I'll use different a different room to change.''
''If you wish. Your classes start soon. I enrolled you as a second year. The classroom is 2-1.''
''...I see. Thank you.'' – He smiled at her.
Of course he knew the names of the peerage, but he faked not knowing them. It helped for the enemy to see them as unorganized and uninformed.
When was the last time he actually sat in a classroom? The learning that he went trough the last 3 years was dangerous to say the least. Broken bones and scars were usually what he got after lessons. Now he was standing in front of the class, as the teacher talked.
''Class, this is Issei Hyoudo. He will be our classmate from now on, so treat him nice.''
Issei on looked and listened to the class. They whispered.
''I heard he died.''
''Yeah, I heard he went missing for 3 years.''
''But look at the way he is at the scar and his body build, doesn't he kinda look like a soldier?''
''Now, now class, calm down. Do you have anything to say to introduce yourself?''
He narrowed his eyes. The class fell silent.
''I am Hyoudo Issei. I am an ex-soldier, currently a mercenary and a hit-men, if you have enough money.''
The class went wild.
He started laughing. – ''Just kidding, haha. I'm just an average high school student that likes to sleep, listen to music and read. Please take care of me.'' – He bowed while smiling. He found himself a seat at the back of the class.
The books were already there. Probably the doing of Rias.
An introduction like that worked. He spend half the day fending off new people and making useless small-talk. Whenever someone who knew about his disappearance appeared, he just dodged the question. Like that, rumors spread.
It was the end of the day and Issei felt someone follow him. The hallways were pretty empty. He waited for a good opportunity to present itself.
And it did, when he turned at the corner of the hallway and it was empty in front of him. He waited for the girl following him to turn at the corner. He caught her by the throat and rammed her against the wall. She didn't even get enough time to react.
She looked at him in horror as she saw Issei's eyes. They were narrow and dark, it seemed like he had walked trough hell and back.
''You obviously aren't a human, so do tell me, who are you?'''
''I-I am Raynare, a f-fallen angel.'' -She was frightened out of her mind.
Issei smiled, amused.
''And why are you following me?''
He loosened the grip on her.
''I was ordered to by-''
Her voice was cut off as he completely released her when he heard someone coming. A boy about Issei's height with blond hair and gray eyes came around the corner
''I am Saji Genshirou from the student council. Sexual relationships are forbidden in school grounds.''
They stood there in silence for a while.
''What the fuck is wrong with you?'' – Issei asked in a cold tone, bewildered
''What else could have you done with a beautiful girl like that at the end of a empty hallway?''
He looked behind him. The girl had ran away.
Fucking hell.
As he was walking away Saji tried to stop him by grabbing him by the shoulder. He was flung in air with a crunching noise. He fell down face first and was knocked out. It didn't matter who he was, he needed to contact Suicide Squad.
He ran along the rooftops to get home faster. He jumped in using the window without making a sound. Stealth was useful on a battlefield so he had done some training. He took a look at the bag and took out of it a small necklace of a wolf tooth. He went out of the window and got up to higher place on a random buildings rooftop.
He hit the tooth against ground two times. The sound resonated and a minute or two later a girl with short black hair and cute facial features appeared. It was Fleimel. She put her right arm on her chest.
''Sir.''
''Find out everything about a Fallen Angel by the name of Raynare.''
''Everything, sir?'' – She was surprised, but Issei didn't care.
''Everything.''
''Yes, sir. Anything else?'' – She asked, as usually, loyal to the bone.
''Tell Maria to not move around outside too much until we find out who is this fallen angel bitch and who is she working for.''
''With pleasure, sir.''' – Fleimel spoke as she flashed a seductive smile.
Like that, she disappeared with the wind.
2 months after torture.
Margit was sitting on top of him as he was doing push-ups. Her soft buttocks were motivating Issei to push even harder.
''The next weapon I'm teaching you is the tonfas.'' – She spoke –''The tonfas are a perfect weapon in close range. They are easily mastered for those with less time. They aren't long so you can fight in close quarters, unlike with swords. You can block most weapons and you can use them in various ways. You can easily knock out someone if the mission isn't to kill a target.''
''Is it your preferred weapon?''- Issei asked while he was breathing raggedly.
''It is, yes.''- She answered courtly.
''How did it became your preferred weapon?''
''..Are you flirting with me?''
''..Maybe?''
''..100 more push-ups.''
Yo, it's me, Blueprints.
Few things I need to specify. I read some things and understood that the whole ''perverted trio'' thing happened when he enrolled at the academy, first year. So I didn't feel the need to bash those brothers in perverseness, when it didn't happen in my DxD universe.
Issei is usually composed, but as you can see, it can easily be broken by certain things. Example nr.1- touching him when he is angry.
It seems like you guys like the whole ''double-agent'' thing.
There was a question about him, about Issei. Is he evil? Is he good?
Who knows? *whispers innocently.*
See ya next time, and leave a review if you like it. I appreciate it.
Margit fluff incoming.
/For everyone, if anyone, reading Ouroboros, a new chapter is incoming. Possibly- tommorow.
