Life III

The bell had just rang. It was time to go back home. Hyoudou Issei was putting his book to his bag when as usual, Motohama and Matsuda walked up to his desk.

"Yo Ise. We want to go to Heaven's Paradise. Want to tag along?"

"Sorry guys, but I am not in the mood to go there," Issei said while continuing his activity.

Motohama and Matsuda stared at each other for a minutes, before Matsuda nodded.

"Hey Ise."

"Hm?" Issei glanced at his friends.

"Lately, you are acting strange. Did something happen?"

Hyoudou Issei stared at the bald-headed student. "No, don't worry. I'm not sick or anything."

"Lie."

"Huh?"

"You lied. You're not fine," Motohama said.

Matsuda nodded. "Yeah… rejecting Rias-senpai's offer? Are you crazy?!"

"No, Matsuda. It's not about that," Motohama fixed his glasses. "The Hyoudou Issei that we know always smiled when he tried to reassure us."

An expression of understanding appeared on Matsuda's face. "Now that I think about it, you're right. Even though the smile was just little sad and not his prince-like smile, he was always smiling."

"Hell, somehow Issei could do a half-smile and quarter-smile. Remember the time when we went to peep at the girl's baseball club?"

An image of Issei's face with a quarter-smile appeared in both Matsuda and Motohama's mind.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. You are the one who should be worried; the girl's baseball club could use their bats after all."

Hyoudou Issei didn't know why, but he smiled when he heard his two friends say that. "Seriously, I'm fine."

"No, and don't lie to us. You don't need to tell us why you are like this, we don't want to know. But, we just want you to know that you can count on us if you need anything."

"Don't worry, but thanks for the offer."

Motohama shook his head. "I still feel you need to tell us Ise."

"Guys, please. I just want to go straight home."

"Motohama did you hear that? Finally Ise begged on us!" Matsuda's laugh couldn't be louder than this.

"That's why I said you need to tell us, Ise. You're acting strange."

Ise just sighed. Sometimes, he did not like his friends' stubbornness. "Guys, please. I certainly don't have any problem with anything."

Suddenly, Motohama smiled. "Caught you! We did not say anything about a problem."

"Yeah! So, tell us Ise. Maybe we could help," added Matsuda.

Issei's lip curved downwards. "No."

"Motohama! It's no use! He won't tell us!"

"Let's just drag him to the café!"

"YES!"

"Guys–WHA?!"

And, Hyoudou Issei was dragged by his friends toward the maid café known as Heaven's Paradise.

Literally.


"Ne, ne, Nanahama-san, you're really beautiful."

"That's right, those outfit really accentuate your oppai."

Hyoudou Issei could only sigh. His friends had dragged him literally to the last place he wanted to go. Not to mention, Motohama and Matsuda was busy ogling the maids here.

Issei glanced at the maid known as Nanahama. He wanted to open his mouth to say sorry for their antics, but someone beat him to it.

"STOP OGLING HER YOU PERVERT!"

A kick flied towards them, and managed to hit them in the back of their head.

"Seriously, Hyoudou-san. Why did you bring them here again? Scratch that, I don't know why someone as sweet as you are friends with perverts like them," Kiriyama-san asked him.

Issei just smiled bashfully. "Actually, they dragged me here. And what was the last part?"

Kiriyama-san's face who only just realized what she said turned beet red. She couldn't believe she unconsciously stated that Hyoudou was a sweet man. Not that she was wrong of course. She just couldn't believe she said it in front of said person.

"Nothing! No need for you to concern yourself!"

Issei just stared blankly at the maid in front of him.

Kiriyama-san sweated. "S-so… w-what do you want to drink?!"

"Nah, I was really dragged by them, actually I don't have any money on me."

"Oh… okay then. Should I call Owner Gabriel-san?"

Issei winced at hearing Gabriel's name. "No… no need. I'll just wait for them to wake up," Issei pointed his finger at the Perverted Duo.

"Yo kid, I couldn't help but hear about your condition. Order something, it's on me."

"Huh?" when Issei turned his head, a middle aged man with black haired man with a streak of blonde was standing before him. He was wearing a yukata.

"Just order something will you?"

"Uh, sure. Black tea, please," Issei ordered to the maid.

The maid nodded while writing Issei's order before she went back.

"This place is good isn't it? Heaven's Paradise, I feel like I really sit in heaven."

Issei who was still wary of the middle aged man nodded.

"There's a rumor that the owner of this place is an angel. I really want to meet her or him."

The owner really was an angel though, Issei thought.

"Kid, you listening?"

"Yeah... sorry, but something called common sense told me to be wary of strangers."

The middle aged man smirked. "Then tell him to shut up."

"Can't do it. I lost his number."

"Too bad then."

Issei nodded. "Then again, my late mother also said so. Would you like me to tell her to shut up?"

The middle aged man grimaced. "Sorry, kid."

"Nah, it was okay, you I mean."

"Good then, for me, the leader of Grigori to be on the good side of the holder of Boosted Gear."

Issei's eyes widened. On instinct, he got up and took a step back. His face still facing the middle aged man. Leader of Grigori? What was that? But he definitely had a connection with the supernatural. Only the connected ones know of his supposed Sacred Gear.

"What's wrong?" the man in yukata smirked. "My name is Azazel, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Azazel?

Issei remembered there was a neighbor of his that was a Christian. Out of curiosity, he read his neighbor's Bible. He had asked for permission of course.

Hyoudou Issei was not a genius, but that doesn't mean he had a bad memory. In fact, he still remembered every day he spent with the one who resurrected him. In other words, Hyoudou Issei had good memory, and he remembered had read the name Azazel in his neighbor's Bible*.

In the Bible, Azazel was a Fallen Angel.

Then, the man in front of him was also a Fallen Angel.

Did they hear that he was still alive? Did he come to finish the one known as Hyoudou Issei himself?

"What are you doing here?"

Azazel smirked. "What's wrong with me being here? I just want to enjoy the place."

"The other day, your subordinate tried to kill me," Issei started.

"Wait, what?"

"Want to finish their job yourself?"

"No, no, no. Can you repeat what did you just say?"

Issei was confused. "Ha?"

"Can you repeat what did you just say?"

"Huh? What to finish their job yourself?"

"No, the one before that."

"The other day, your subordinate tried to kill me?" It was a statement, but the way Issei said it was like it was a question.

"My subordinate tried to kill you?!" Azazel seemed horrified.

"Yeah… hold on, why are you sounding surprised?"

"Cause they're supposed to monitor you, not outright kill you."

Issei's mind wandered to the memory of his time with Yuuma.

"You were a threat to us, so the higher ups decided to get rid of you early. If you want to hold a grudge, then hate the God who put the Sacred Gear inside you."

"Wait, that bitch said that they killing me was an order."

"Well, I certainly did not order anyone to kill you. There's no way I'll kill a Sacred Gear host as rare as you."

Azazel sounded sincere with his statement. If he really had ordered his subordinate to kill Issei, then why did Azazel seemed glad when he said he was okay with him? If Azazel didn't order his subordinate to kill him, then who?

Issei widened his eyes.

"Seems that you have arrived at the same conclusion."

"…There is a traitors in your ranks."

"Correct."

"So…"

"Hyoudou Issei-kun was it?" Azazel smirked. "Would you do something for me? I'll pay of course."

Issei thought for a second, before he asked, "Why should I?"

"Like I said I'll pay you. Just think of it as mercenary job."

"No."

"So money is not enough huh? Then how about I'll pay you and I'll still owe you something? A fair deal I think."

"No."

"Kid, what should I give for you to accept what I'll ask you?"

Issei stared at the man in front of him. Then, he sighed. "It's not about payment, it's just that… I lack interest in this… you want me to find the traitors don't you? Those kind of job are boring."

"Who said about finding the traitors?" the yukata-wearing man smirked again. For some reason, Issei really wanted to wipe that smirk of his face, he didn't know why. "So you will do anything as long as it will be interesting right?"

"I think yes… oh, and as long as the job does not cross my moral ethics."

"Your moral ethics? No killing then?"

"Who said about no killing?" now it was Issei's turn to smirk. When Azazel saw that smirk, he couldn't help but smirk himself.

"You are really interesting, Hyoudou Issei. I think I'm starting to like you."

"Likewise, Azazel."

"So, like I said your job is not about finding the traitors, beside, there's no way you'll be able to infiltrate Grigori."

"Yeah… now that I think about it, there's no way I could do that." Oh, if only Azazel knew.

"Oh yeah, do you know the name of the one who killed you?"

"She said her name was Amano Yuuma, though I think it was just a cover."

"Then, Issei-kun. I want you to beat the hell out of this Amano Yuuma and bring her to me."

Issei's lip began to curve upward. This is the kind of job that he likes. "I can do that."

"The payment will be delivered after you bring her to me. This is my number, if you need anything, just call me. Though I really beg you, Issei-kun, to always call me anytime. My job is really boring," Azazel handed Issei a paper.

"You sounded like a desperate old men," Issei's eyes lit in amusement. "Or maybe you are one!"

"By the way, have you awakened your Sacred Gear yet?"

"No."

"WHAT?!"

"Um, you don't need to be surprised. I only learned about this yesterday, when the Devil in my school asked me to be their peerage in exchange for waking my Sacred Gear."

"And?"

"I refused."

"I see…"

An awkward silence took over. Azazel was writing something, while Issei glanced at his friends.

"Issei-kun," Azazel broke the silence. "A subordinate of mine has harmed you. Therefore, I ask you to forgive her," he handed another paper to Issei. Issei could do nothing but accepted it.

"What's this?"

"An instruction to help you awaken your Sacred Gear. With Boosted Gear, I'm sure your job will be easier."

And then Azazel left Heaven's Paradise.

"Ugh…"

"Augh..."

Motohama and Matsuda had woke up.

"Ise, what happened?" asked Matsuda.

"Don't worry, you were just being stupid."

"How cruel!"

Issei smiled. His perverted friends antics, while always gave them some kind of troubles, were always able to make him smile.

He pocketed the two papers that Azazel gave him and then stood up. "It's already dark. I think I'll go home."

"Then you can go home first Ise!"

"Yeah!"

"Bye," Issei waved his hand towards them. Leaving Heaven's Paradise.


On the way home, Issei was walking leisurely when he heard something fall behind him. When he turned back, there was a nun who was on the floor. She was rubbing her nose; it seemed that she fallen on her face. Automatically, Issei moved and offered his hand.

"Are you okay?"

"Aww, why do I keep on tripping over? Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you very much."

She spoke in a foreign language when she took Issei's hand. Huh? So she was a foreigner? What language was it again? Issei tried to remember. Oh yeah, it was Italian.

The nun had been able to stand when the wind took her veil off. Her blond hair was falling down onto her shoulder.

"Um… what happened?"

"Ah, sorry. I did not mean to stare. More importantly, are you okay?" Issei spoke in Italian.

When he had nothing better to do, he picked up many foreign languages because he felt it was important. He never expected it to be useful.

"Yes, I am okay. Thank you for your help."

Issei bent down to picked her veil. "Travelling?"

The nun shook her head. "I was appointed to the church in this town. You must be a resident of this town. It's nice to meet you," she bowed her head.

"It's nice to meet you too. And yes, I am one of residents of this town."

"I was troubled since I got here. Um… I can't speak Japanese that well, I was lost and other people couldn't understand what I was saying."

Issei nodded in understanding. He could understand her situation.

"You speak Italian well, perhaps you have been there?"

"Ah… no, no. I have never been there before… though I really want to. On another note, if you want to, I could escort you to this town's church."

"Yes, please. This must be fate," The nun smiled with a tears flowing from her eyes.

On the way to the church, they went past a park.

"Uwaaaah!"

Issei's ear picked up a crying sound. When he saw the source, there was a crying boy who was comforted by his mother. His eyes saw the injuries on the boy's knee.

The nun went towards the boy who was still crying. Did the nun want to comfort the boy also?, thought Issei.

"Are you okay? Boys shouldn't cry because of a minor injury like this."

"She said that Boys shouldn't cry because of a minor injury like this, and she's right."

Issei also approached the crying boy and translated what the nun said to the boy. When the boy heard what Issei said, he stopped his cry, and glanced at the smiling nun.

The nun put her palm on the injury, and the next moment, there was a green light before the injury began healing.

Issei widened his eyes. Sacred Gear.

"Here, your wound's healed. The pain should be gone now."

The nun patted the boy's head and looked at me.

"I'm sorry, but I had to."

"No, no. it was okay."

The boy's mother, who was startled, shook her head and then grabbed the boy's hand so they could leave quickly.

"Thank you, Sister."

The boy's words. Words of gratitude.

"He said thank you."

The nun smiled happily after Issei translated it to her.

"That was…"

"That was a power to heal. It's a special power that given to me by God."

She said while smiling. But Issei can't missed the way she glanced downwards when she mentioned that.

The conversation ended there, and they continued walking towards the church. After walking for several minutes, they arrived at the church.

"Yes, this is the place! Thank God!"

The girl showed a sigh of relief when she compared the place with her map. But Issei looked towards the church.

"Are you sure this is the place? As I thought, the only church in this town was abandoned long ago."

"Yes, don't worry. This is the place."

Issei just nodded at her. Meanwhile, his mind was on another story. What was a sister doing in an abandoned church?

Issei hand grasps something on his pocket.

"Then I'll be on my way."

"Please wait!"

Issei who had started walking, stopped at her words.

"I would like to make you some tea…"

"Thank you, but no need. I was just from a café before I met you."

"Oh… then I thank you from the bottom of my heart! My name is Asia Argento, you can call me Asia."

"Then Asia, my name is Hyoudou Issei, or Issei Hyoudou in Italian. It was a pleasure to meet you."

Issei left the place.

After the church was not in his sight, Issei took something from his pocket. It was a paper. A paper containing Azazel's number.

With his other hand, he brought out his cell phone, and contacted Azazel.

"Hello, Azazel-san."

"Hm? Oh! It's you Sekiryuutei boy."

"Well, yes. Whatever you mean by that."

"Have you completed your task?"

"Are you crazy, old man? No matter how experienced I am, there's no way I could have already completed that," Issei said with a deadpanned tone.

"So… what then?"

"I forgot to ask you this, where does Fallen Angels live? Especially the one in the task like my killer."

"Oh, they mainly use an abandoned church."

"Any particular reason?" Issei asked.

"There is, but it'd be pain to explain it to you. Why do you ask?"

"Well, now I have a place to look to. Thank you, Azazel," Issei pressed the end call button.

After pocketing his cell phone, Issei gazed at the sky. "Enemy stronghold, huh?"


Unbeknownst to Issei, Azazel the leader of Grigori was tailing him since he left Heaven's Paradise. When he saw Issei guiding the young exiled nun to the abandoned church, Azazel had thought the boy would finish the job. But he didn't. Not long after that, his cell phone rang, and he answered the boy's question.

Some would ask, why did a high-ranked Fallen Angel like him tail the boy? Well, Azazel was always fascinated by Sacred Gears, and when he finally meets the Sekiryuutei, he was slightly disappointed when he knew the Sekiryuutei hadn't awakened his Sacred Gear yet. That was why he gave the boy steps to awaken one's Sacred Gear and asked him to do the job.

He wanted to see the boy develop. He felt the boy could be something. Something more dangerous, more peaceful, more bloodthirsty, and more passionate than anyone else.

Not even Vali's aura screamed something like that when he first took care of him.

Thus, when he saw Hyoudou Issei walk with his home as his destination, he couldn't help but smile.

A/N: Hello, it's been a while. So there's another difference between the original and R version. I hope you would like it.

*In Dxd canon, it was said that Azazel's name is mentioned in Bible, but in reality, his name appears in the Dead Sea scrolls that were discovered in 1946 (According to Bigreader in the Omniverse, My Beta. Thank you, my friend)

So, it's review answer time!

kristoper21 & Karlos1234ify: Thank you for your review, and yes, poor Gabriel.

fazrulz21: It's not only you, I want to see her in maid uniform also! Sadly, it would be only in our imagination.

ArcherShirou: Thank you, glad you like their relationship.

Fxtype 456 (Guest): Yeah, just you wait for it. And yes, I want to make their relationship as indifferent. Any other people rescuing Rias? Just you wait for that.

Culaio: Thank you for your review.

Frozen-Requiem: Hahaha, if only canon!Gabriel was like this… Don't worry, they will make up, but I want to make it as humanly as possible. No, he is not King of the Night, and he will eventually meet Magical Girls. Serafall eh? I have a plan for her and Souna. Yes! Koneko and Eu, both are the quiet type, of course they will get along.

Apocalypse Legionaire 117: Yes, the Three Faction know about Necromancers. And please look forward to Raynare.

Infinityheroes: Of course they will make up, but not as soon as you think, because I want to make it as humanly as possible.

myowndefence & : Thank you for your review.

winneroflife: Ah, glad you liked it, and don't worry, they will have neutral and indifference relationship. And yes, many people who write DxD story whether it was Xover or not always made the protagonist close to ORC. I understand this because Rias is hot and she is the main heroine, but I feel this fandom need some changes!

ogre (Guest) & archersupreme & : Thank you for your review. Glad you like it.

Toby860: Thank you, glad you like the rewrite.

gerro: Thank you, as for Masou Shoujo… just wait patiently, I have a plan for her.

tsun: Thank you, and yes. In the old version, I also felt Issei doesn't have a definite character. That's one of the main reason why I write this R version. Why would he refuse it? Think about it. After reading this chapter, you know that Issei accepted Azazel's note on how to awaken his Sacred Gear. So why did he refuse it? Because he doesn't want to be Rias' peerage. In Azazel's case, he gave it for free.

pltrgst & Airhead Fortis: Thank you for your review, and here is the 4th chapter. Hope you like it.