Chapter 2

Eve


"Darfur."

"Iraq."

"The Cartel."

"Dongo."

"Columbia."

Black eyes squinted at the conflicts listed in the report he held.

"Please, my lord. If you would allow me to speak honestly."

Shirou Sitri sighed as he laid on his bed, staring out the window.

The birds are out to play again.

"Of course, Kimaris."

"I…I don't know why you would trust someone like her with such an important mission," the head butler commented, running his gloved fingers through his white hair.

"What do you mean?"

Kimaris sighed and closed his eyes. He was at a lost, and maybe a tad bit frustrated, but he trusted the young lord enough to go through with whatever he asked.

But he still had his objections.

"What I mean is that why trust someone, who clearly seems to have a questionable past, with something as important as this?"

"Well, from all the information you've gathered from her, she's obviously skilled. And besides, the reports of the Church and several organizations she's worked for vouched for her competency."

"But what does someone like her gain from fighting in all these conflicts?"

He watched as the two birds fly in intricate patterns in the air, one followed by the other.

Ah, a mating ritual.

"Money, I guess," he finally answered. "She did ask for a lot, after all."

"That's another issue I want to bring up. The amount of money you promised her is above your allowance. How do you expect to gather that much?"

"I'll think of a way."

The butler sighed.

"And her history, my lord? It seems like no matter the danger, she would always appear when the combat is at its fiercest. From what it looks like, she clearly has a death wish."

The young, bedridden man looked up, his eyes followed the birds as they sung together in a winged dance.

"What about her latest job?" Shirou remarked, "the one with the soldiers? It was already too late for any rescue, but she was able to save the local garrison from getting overrun with stray devils. Not only that, but she was able to track the source of the infestation to an abandoned church and eliminate it."

"It was a rescue mission, yes, but the chances of them surviving stray devils were low and the job ended up turning into an extermination, like always, something she was good at," Kimaris pointed out. "I don't think I've ever read her take on anything else than that. Least of all, a job where she's required to blend in with the local populace and act as her shadow in an undetermined amount of time."

"We've met her ourselves," Shirou commented. "She can be patient and discreet. And besides, Kimaris, why are you so worried now? Before our meeting, you were satisfied with the information you were able to gather from her."

"Those were eye-witness reports, my lord," he grumbled, followed by a pregnant pause.

"Tell me, Kimaris," the young lord slowly began, "what, exactly, has you so spooked?"

The butler's eyes widened, realizing how frantic he's beginning to sound. "I…I'm sorry, my lord. It's just that–"

The first son of the Sitris stared out the window. Like a painting, it stood still. Unmoving. The birds were gone now. Whether the mating ritual worked or not, he did not care. Not anymore.

"–it was her eyes."

A stillness settled in the room. The clock ticked away in abject silence.

"I...know that I'm asking a lot from you," Shirou turned to face him, his tone morose. "And that you don't trust her. But I just need you to believe when I say..."

She was looking off into the distance, her hair fluttering in the wind. "Sometimes, life intended it to be this way. Maybe...there's a reason for to it all–or there isn't. Either way," she turned to him, the deep purple of her eyes reflecting a sense of hope. "That doesn't mean we should give up."

"...trust me."

Kimaris stared at the young lord who was facing the window once more. His motives were always a mystery, but if there was one thing that was clear.

"I...understand," the butler bowed.

It was that Shirou loves his younger sister very much.

"Please excuse me, my lord." Without waiting for a reply, the head butler of the Sitri family turned, the soft thuds of his oxford shoes audible until the sounds of the doors could be heard open and close.

.

.

.

A young and sick man lay still in his bed, staring outside the brightly lit painting of the outside world. In his aureus-colored eyes, the image of a girl smiled at him, her eyes like pure amethyst behind a violet frame, short, ebon-black hair flowing in the wind.

He took a deep and long breath.

Whatever happened to you, Sona?


"Mizushima-san! Do you wanna have lunch together?"

"Um, excuse me, but I asked her first."

"And? She's free to choose who she wants to eat with."

Genshirou Saji watched with hesitation as a small group of girls surrounded the transfer student.

I would watch yourself, Gen-kun. Both for your sake and for your chances to get with her. Aiki Kiryuu's words ran through his head once more, making his face heat up.

"Hey, you aren't planning on ditching us again for miss popular over there?" Satou Touma asked, snapping him out of his daze. They sat a little further off near the corner, to get away from the small crowd and to steer clear of the growing number of glares sent to the blond haired boy.

Said blond haired boy sighed. "Look, Touma, Hikaru, I'm sorry. She just looked like she needed a guide."

"Did she?" Hikaru wondered, thinking back to yesterday. "She didn't seem like that at all yesterday."

Saji eyed her from the corner of his eye. A rare, pensive look on his face.

"Yeah...she did." It came out as a whisper.

His two friends looked at each other in curiosity before Touma shrugged.

"Anyways," switching topics, "as I was saying before you went and ran off yesterday. We need to meet up in front of the store at least two hours before 10. That way, we can beat the line," his voice went flat. "Or at least get a copy before they run out."

They continued their conversation for a couple of minutes longer, Saji shaking himself out of his reverie and forced himself to take an active role without letting himself wander again. But as soon as they finalized their plans, they heard the sounds of a chair being pushed back.

They turned towards the source. The crowd had gone silent as Mizushima stood and stepped out, exiting the room without a word. She had the same neutral look she always had.

Saji's eyes followed her in worry but before he could go, a hand settled on his shoulder.

"Hey man, just leave it. It looks like she'd rather be alone right now," Hikaru remarked, adjusting his glasses.

"Besides, I just remembered," he grinned, adjusting his glasses, "it's Thursday."

Saji's eyes lit up. "That's right," he breathed out.

As it turns out, Thursday is when they served curry noodles at the cafeteria. The best and most popular item on the school menu.

"Aw, dammit! Why didn't you say anything, Hikaru!" Touma cried out, gripping his hair.

"Hey, don't blame me. We had important plans to go over," Hikaru defended, though he quietly observed Saji stuff his worried thoughts down for a particular girl.

"Yeah, but we could have done it after we got those noodles," an exasperated Touma huffed out. "Whatever, let's just go."

They all quickly packed before moving towards the door in haste.

"Ah! Gen-kun!"

Surprised, they had almost slammed into Shitori Sakura on there way out before Saji was able to skid to a halt.

"Oh. Shitori-san," the blond haired boy said, a little surprised. "Sorry. I didn't see you there."

The Council president giggled, "I would hope not, Gen-kun, otherwise, I would have to punish you."

Saji was quiet for a moment. "Ah…would you?" he shrugged.

The purple haired girl chuckled, "I'm joking. You don't think I'm that strict, do you?"

"Um…no."

She settled her chuckling down and took a look at the boy. Her dark, violet eyes stared deep into his.

"Actually," she gave off a soft smile before tilting her head in an adorable manner. "I was coming in to see you."

"Oh." Saji eyed her before he sighed. "If it's the offer to join the Student Council, my answer is still 'no.'"

"Oh, no, no," Sakura shook her head. "I heard that you took Mizu-chan on a guided tour of the school yesterday and I...wanted to thank you."

"Eh," the boy professed, "don't worry about it," Saji waved off. "I was just trying to help her out."

"Ah, of course," Sakura looked to the side as she struggled to say what was on her mind. "Then–how about I treat you to lunch?"

The room went quiet. The students in the classroom all but ceased their conversation.

"Woah, it's like the whole class has super hearing," mumbled Touma with Hikaru nodding in agreement.

Saji raised an eyebrow before he shook his head, waving her off. "It's fine. Really, Shitori-san. I didn't do it for you," he said, shocking the class and his two friends.

"Besides, I already promised my friends that I wouldn't ditch them," turning away from her.

"Oi, Saji!" Touma whispered from behind, "wha–"

"Anyways," interrupted the boy in question, "we need to get going."

"Ah, um, of course."

Sakura stepped to the side to let Saji go. Touma and Hikaru gave quick and short bows to her before they quickly moved behind their friend.

Whispers began to form as she watched them run down the hall, a still smile on her face as she slowly tightened her fist.


"Um, Saji. What was that?" huffed Hikaru, his light brown hair bouncing as he ran.

"What do–huff–you mean?"

"'What do you mean? What do you mean?!' DUDE! That was Shitori Sakura–huff–one of the school's Three Great Onee-samas! A–and you just rejected her in front of the whole class!"

Saji rolled his eyes, running. "It's curry noodles day, Touma, we never let anything get–huff–in between curry noodles before."

"Yeah, but it's Shitori freakin' Sakura, man! Somethings are just more important than noodles, and she's one of them!"

"And–huff–leave you guys?"

Touma shook his head. "Well, yeah, man. It's not like we never hang out every day."

"Whatever happened–" he breathed, "to 'bros before hoes?'" asked Saji.

"Hey! She's not a hoe! She's a sweetheart!"

"Then–huff–you go ask her."

Satou Touma spluttered frustration before they made it to the cafeteria, a crowd already forming for the popular lunch item.

"R–regardless," Hikaru interjected, breathing hard as he was hunched over, "you–huff–were a bit rude there, Saji."

"I–I was?" Saji wondered, settling his breathing.

"Y–yeah, man," the bespectacled friend breathed out, "you were always like this the few times she asked you if you wanted to join the Student Council," he straightened himself out, "I don't know if you have some sort of beef with her or not, but you sort of brushed her attempts aside like it was nothing."

"I…didn't mean to come off that way," he mumbled, looking away.

"You should apologize." Hikaru adjusted his glasses, wiping the thin sheen of sweat from his forehead.

"Yeah, Saji," Touma grumbled, crossing his arms. "Apologize to that angel."

"At least, before her fan club hears what happens and crucifies you," Hikaru voiced with a gleam in his black eyes, causing Saji to shudder in fear.

After a few moments of thought, Saji finally agreed. "Alright," his tone serious. "Yeah, I'll go apologize to her after class today."


The mood of the room was very apparent when they returned. Throughout the rest of the day, he felt the death stares of almost everyone in the class. His two friends weren't spared and he caught a glimpse of Hikaru slinking down into his chair.

That's why, as soon as the bell rang, Saji immediately stood and approached Sakura, who was gently packing up her things. The girls sitting next to her gave him the meanest look of the day, almost like hissing cats ready to tear his throat out.

Woah, girls could be territorial. He thought, wincing.

"Um, Shitori-san? Can we talk?" the class quieted down, and suddenly, once more, he felt the silent death stares weighing on his back.

The school idol blinked, before giving a quick smile and agreeing.

"But Shitori-san, why do you want to talk to him when he's been rude to you all year?"

Saji mentally winced. So everyone's been keeping track, huh?

"It's fine, Nakamura-san," shook Sakura's head. "He was in a hurry and I was the rude one for getting in the way."

If it was anyone else, that last sentence would have sounded more like sarcasm, but Sakura was someone who made it sound genuine, making Saji feel a little guilty for that.

"No, I was the rude one. I shouldn't have blown you off like that...and the other times too.

"I just–" He gave a deep and proper bow. "Forgive me."

Sakura's eyes widened in silent surprise before she grinning from ear-to-ear.

"Gen-kun. No. Stop." he felt her delicate fingers touch his face, causing him to look up in astonishment. Gasps could be heard all across the room but they all went ignored to the beautiful girl.

"Raise your head. There's nothing to apologize for."

The young man was momentarily taken in by her beauty, before snapping himself out of it.

He bowed once again, her hand slipped away. "No. I can't accept that. I was–" he hesitated, "I was acting like an ass when all you wanted to do was thank me."

At that moment, the world was bereft of color and the blank eyes of a silent girl stared at the bowing boy before her.

Unnoticed.

Unrestrained.

"So please, accept my apology."

Saji waited for a few seconds before looking up, the class stock still as they anticipated her response in baited silence.

"Heh..."

Heh?

"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"

The class watched in absolute shock as one of their school idols, known for her beauty, grace and sunny personality, laughed with such pure unrestraint.

"Oh, Gen-kun, you need to relax," she said, calming herself down.

She turned to him, her trademark smile gracing her lips once more. "How about this? Why not have lunch with me like I originally offered?"

"Uh," Saji hesitated, his mind still reeling from her odd fit of laughter.

"And maybe I can try out that favorite dish of yours–hmmm…" Sakura thought out loud, "Tuesday! Tuesday's good, right?"

"My...favorite...dish…?" the boy whispered under his breath.

How does she know?

"I–okay." The blond boy finally snapped himself out of his daze and agreed, nodding his head. "Tuesday it is then."

Sakura's smile widened.

The class began mumbling to themselves, giving awkward glances at the befuddled boy.

But none of that matter.

None of that mattered at all.

And in the background of shocked and surprised students gleamed the glasses of an unsuspecting individual, silently observing the situation from her seat.


It began to rain that day.

With what the class dubbed Sakura's Date, the news would quickly spread, surely causing an uproar. Her fan club would most likely lead the hunt. And yet, other than his friends, no one approached him. Instead, they all gave him a mixture of looks, ranging from pure envy to outright hatred.

People could be scary, Saji thought to himself before an image of Sakura's face flashed in his head, causing him to frown.

And although the academy has yet to fully know, the (un)lucky boy hid in the bathroom. His friends fearing the repercussions of the situation he got himself into.

They had already left, having other business to attend, although Touma was part of the envious side of the group, whining at how good Saji had it.

Good? No. No way. If I had it good, I wouldn't be hiding in the damn toilet.

He waited as the students trickled out, the heavy rain cutting school practice and clubs short.

He checked his phone.

4:03.

That should do it.


He walked down the empty hallways, the heavy drops of rain beginning to pound against the windows to his right. There's a storm brewing. Heavier than the one from yesterday.

Arriving at the entrance stood the silhouette of a girl with short braids, facing the glass doors as she gazed into the skies above with a frown. With his footsteps, she noticed his approach and turned, a sudden smirk appearing on her face.

"Well, look who decided to show up."

"Kiryuu-san? What are you doing here so late?" Saji asked, taking off his indoor shoes.

"I could ask you the same thing."

"I was," he paused before pulling out his sneakers. "I had some business to attend too."

"Mhmm," she hummed with amusement before looking up at the grey clouds once again.

He stepped forward, a black umbrella in his hand, and stood next to her.

"Kiryuu-san, I, ah…" he struggled to finish his words. Though they knew each other since childhood, they had seldom talked.

She turned to him, waiting for him to continue with those amber-colored eyes.

He didn't know when it happened, but Kiryuu Aika had changed throughout the years. Though she's been strange as long as he remembered, she had always wanted to make friends when they were little. Memories of the days when the other kids were having fun on the playground, a little girl would hang in the background, a look of longing in those wide, amber eyes of hers flashed in his mind.

He watched, and yet, he never once approached her. Never once asked if she wanted to play.

"–I want to thank you for yesterday. For the warning, I mean."

She snickered, her purple frames sliding down the bridge of her nose.

"But it seems like you've gotten yourself into more trouble again, Gen-kun."

"Ah, yeah," he said, embarrassed as he scratched the back of his head. "It was kind of my fault."

"Oh? At this rate, you'll be a loner before the end of the semester."

Like you.

Saji shuddered. "Oh, I hope not. All I want is to have a normal school life without looking behind my shoulder every second."

The Perverted Queen chuckled. "It looks like that dream is about to crash and burn then."

"Yeah…" he sighed, defeated.

"I mean, going after Mizu-chan and Shitori-chan, I could almost say that you're a bonafide player, Gen-kun," she smirked. "I should start taking notes."

Saji's face burned with embarrassment. "I didn't mean too," he pouted, looking away.

"Aw, aren't you cute."

"Shut up."

Aika laughed. "Well, don't let me hold you up then."

Saji looked at the girl who turned away from him to once again stare at the skies above, her face a little brighter than moments ago.

"Here."

To her surprise, Saji held the black umbrella up to her.

"Oh? Trying to win my heart and add me to your harem, Gen-kun? Sorry, but I just don't see you that way."

"Shut up," he mumbled, his face still red. "You forgot to bring one, right? Just take it."

Aika stared at the boy with an unreadable expression. He pushed it towards her, forcing her to grab it to her own surprise.

"I expect that thing back," he grumbled, bursting out in a run. She watched as he pushed his way through the glass doors, his brown bag held over his head as he disappeared into the rain.

The girl known as Kiryuu Aika stood alone near the entrance, the black umbrella held tightly held in her grip.

"'I expect that thing back,'" she repeated, giggling. The girl looked down at his umbrella, a soft look on her face.

"You never do change, do you, Saji?"


It was the next day and Saji felt himself beginning to doze off in class, having stayed up all night playing Persona 5.

Although the loud snap from the teacher's hand slamming into his desk did act as a good wake up call.

"Genshirou-san!" the teacher sweetly smiled. The blond boy felt a cold chill run down his spine. "Thank you for volunteering to read the next passage."

Saji's wide, grey eyes scanned the room in a panic, his classmates snickering to themselves. He noticed the empty seats of Shitori and Mizushima but rather than dwell on that, his eyes landed on Hikaru, the smartest of his little band of three.

His friend begins silently mouthing something off, much to Saji's confusion.

What?

He discreetly leaned in, trying to decipher his silent code until the teacher stepped into his view and blocked his only lifeline, a cold smile on her face.

"Well?"

"Uh…" He gulped, sweating bullets.

"Genshirou Saji. Genshirou Saji, please report to the principal's office immediately," announced the class speaker, saving him from further embarrassment.

The teacher scowled. "Tch."

"Um…" The blond haired boy hesitated, looking at his teacher.

"Go."

Immediately, he stood from his seat and went off as he smiled to himself.

Thank the Persona gods, he cheered in his head, happily jogging down to the principal's office.

Arriving at the entrance, he wondered what he was called in for.

It doesn't have anything to do with the rumors, does it?

"Excuse me," he announced, opening the finely crafted doors to the office.

"Genshirou-kun, thank you for arriving," greeted the principal upon his appearance.

Saji made a quick bow, though his eyes roamed around the room, sensing the heavy tension in the air.

Shitori-san and Gremory-san? What are they doing here? Why the grim looks? And… he saw the presence of an unknown man with a sharp look in his eyes. Who's this? He wondered.

"Hello, Genshirou-san," the guest stepped forward to greet him, dressed in a dark suit and trench coat.

"I'm Detective Yoshinobu Mikami from the Kuoh Police Department and I've got some questions to ask you."


Author's Note–

I want to make things clear.

There are no central OCs in this story. This includes Kimaris.

Satou Touma and Hikaru are OCs but they serve to fill in a role as Saji's friends outside the Student Council. Though, there might be someone OCish, when he's not.

Which brings me to this point.

High School DxD centers around Issei, Rias and their group. Outside of it and the denizens of the Underworld, there is a remarkable lack of characters. This includes humans, angels, fallen angels, mages and members of the Church. What this means is that I'll be having to make some up, since there are areas of the DxD world I want to explore that has seldom been explored in other DxD fanfics. I will give them depth to make them feel like seamless characters but once again, they won't be central to the story.

My goal for this fic is to diverge from the well-worn out paths of canon without changing anyone for the sake of change. That means we'll be getting more character insight in those that have been seldom explored. So if things seem confusing at first, don't worry, everything will piece together.

This is not your average AU fic.

Thank you for reading, and keep those reviews coming, so I can at least address the flaws.


Published 1/5/2018