Chapter 4: New home, new life
Jack was now in Kuoh. A new life was going to begin for him and his mother, Alice, who is now a secretaire in a Japanese enterprise called Hi (Fire) Inc., which in the last few years has been doing good in the international economy merchandising; it's 10 km away from Kuoh. Anyways, Jack and Alice are living in a pretty small house, at least until Alice gets more money from her new job. Also, in one month, Lisa will move to Kuoh too. Jack's life is getting better every day since he met Aegis, for some reason, but that's not an excuse for the work he's going to have while trying to defeat the Dark Draconian and the Chaos Brigade. They're now allied evil factions. Oh, boy...
6 a.m. Jack is getting ready to his first day at Kuoh Academy... and to meet Issei again after years. He does his stuff and gets in the class in time.
"Phew... I made it in time", he thought.
When Issei saw Jack in the door, he shouted surprised:
"Hey, Jack! We're in the same class!"
Then some girls in the back of the classroom started to whisper:
"Oh, for God sake! Please tell me there's not going to be a new pervert in this academy..."
"SHUT UP! I can hear you over there...", argued Issei.
"KYYYAAH! Don't talk to us, you freak!", said one of the girls.
"... What are they talking about, Issei?", asked Jack.
"Hm... n-nothing."
"Ok, now may you present yourself to the class?", asked the teacher.
"Sure!", Jack answered, then said, "Hello guys! My name is Jack Goldwyn, I'm 17 years old and I came from the U.S. Look after me, ok?", he just said quickly and practically as that.
"Ok Jack, now sit down, please."
Jack sat in a desk on the right of Issei's, Matsudas' and Motohama's ones. Then Matsuda and Motohama, friends of Issei, started to ask him:
"Hey Jack, if you want to enter our group, first of all you'll have to answer some questions, ok?", said Matsuda.
"... Ok then... ask...", grumbled Jack.
"So, which of these do you like most: asses or boobs?", asked Motohama.
"WHAT? WHY ARE YOU ASKING ME SUCH A THING?"
"Heh... just respond...", said Motohama.
"OF COURSE NOT!"
"Jack, are these boys bothering you?", the teacher asked.
"CA-HAM! 3 No, teacher! It's fine! 3", Jack answered.
"Ok then...", then she turned and started to write in the board.
Fortunately for Jack, those suckers didn't bother him for the rest of the class. In the end of it, Jack went talk to Issei and clarify everything.
"So, Issei, can you tell me what's recently going on in your life better...?", asked Jack.
"Sure! Well, where should I begin from...", said Issei, "... Ok, some months ago I met a girl called Yuuma, but she was actually a fallen angel and killed me; then I was revived by Rias Gremory, a high class family's demon girl, heiress of his family (the Gremory, obviously), and after that Yuuma killed me again. Cool, yeah? After I died and revived for the second time, I discovered my Sacred Gear, the Boosted Gear, and Ddraig. After all that, my life turned into a mess... but a cool mess. You can imagine some of the things that happened, right?"
"God, man… sure I do… I think…"
"Nice. So anyways, let's go to the Occult Research Club? The guys are waiting for me. And for you too, I think."
"For me too? Why would they be waiting for me?"
"Because I told them you were coming. But only them, ok?! Don't worry."
"Oh… fine, let's go."
After a few minutes, both of them were in the Club.
"Hey everyone! I'm here!", shouted Issei after he opened the door, "This is Jack, the guy who I told you that would come! Here he is!"
"H-hi…", said Jack, shyly.
"Hello, Jack", said Koneko, "And welcome back, negligible."
"Hello guys", said both Akeno and Xenovia.
"Issei-san, I'm glad you're back! And hello, Jack-san!", said Asia.
"Wait… where's the president?", aked Issei.
"Rias-senpai is changing. If you try to peek, I'll destroy you", responded Koneko.
"Ok… also, where's Kiba?", he asked again.
"Yuuto went to the supermarket, for some reason…", ansered Xenovia.
Then Rias came in the room.
"Welcome back, Issei", she said, "So he's Jack?"
"Himself."
"Hello…"
"You don't have to be shy. Now, please have a seat and tell us why you're actually here in Kuoh."
Jack sat and explained everything.
"What? Why would the Chaos Brigade get allied to this Dark Draconian faction?", asked Xenovia.
"Isn't it obvious? Vali is the brain behind all this confusion", said Issei.
"Hm… that actually makes sense…", said Akeno.
"I see… in this case, we'll have to get stronger. And Jack, what about Aegis' allies?", asked Rias.
"None of them showed up yet…", answered Jack.
"They must not have detected your aura yet…", said Koneko.
"Don't worry, Jack. I'm sure you'll find them soon", said Issei.
Suddenly the room got in a deep silence. After a few minutes, finally Rias said something:
"Ok, Jack. Now let's see how powerful you are. Let's go outside a bit."
When they exited the premise, Rias said again:
"Akeno, create a barrier now, please."
"Yes, ms. president", said Akeno, then she started to make the magical barrier.
When the barrier was complete, Rias said AGAIN:
"Right. Now, Issei and Jack, activate your Sacred Gear and fight."
"Wait, WHAT? Isn't it very obvious that he's going to kick my ass?", shouted Jack, surprised.
"I want to see how powerful you are. Now fight!", she said.
"Ok… I'll try not to kill you, Jack", joked Issei, "Boosted Gear!", then the Boosted Gear appeared in Issei's left arm.
"Ha-ha! Shut up", grumbled Jack, "Aegis Shield!", and then the Aegis Shield appeared in Jack's left arm.
[DEFENCE!]
"Crap… I don't think I'm going to win, anyways…", Jack thought.
[BOOST!]
Issei started to attack.
"HAAA…"
[DEFENCE!]
Jack defended the punch with his gauntlet, but he was launched 8 meters, rolling, on the floor by the impact. He got up, and when he saw, Issei was going to punch him again, but Jack avoided and kicked his leg.
[BOOST!]
Issei recovered and kicked Jack's leg this time. He felt pain, but was still standing up.
[DEFENCE!]
Jack got Issei's leg and threw him off, by 5 meters. Then, Issei got up and boosted 7 times in 1.
[BOOST!] [BOOST!] [BOOST!] [BOOST!] [BOOST!] [BOOST!]
[EXPLOSION!]
"Holy crap, finally!", thought Issei, then he shouted, "DRAGON SHOT!"
The small, red energy ball in his left hand started to grow…
"Ok, that's a problem!", thought Jack then he asked, "What are we going to do, Aegis?"
"Try to use the Counter", he answered.
"Oh, yes… that thing… ok then!"
[DEFENCE!] [DEFENCE!]
[COUNTER!]
Issei launched the Dragon Shot. Jack stood still right in front of it though, waiting… it came closer… and closer… then, somehow, Jack jumped above the Dragon Shot, and with his bare hands, he took control of it and launched back on Issei.
"WTF?!", shouted Issei, surprised.
The Dragon Shot exploded close from Issei, and he flew away by 20 meters. He was still conscious though.
[RESET!]
The Aegis Shield disappeared from Jack's left arm.
"WHAT? Why now?", asked Jack.
"I have already said it to you… anyways, you aren't strong enough yet. You must train more", responded Aegis.
"Holy balls, Jack! How did you do that?", asked Issei, a little bit burned.
"Apparently this is my counterattack technic", he answered.
"Cool!"
"Jack, you did well, but you technically lost the battle for your Sacred Gear had disassembled", said Rias.
"Yeah, I know…", he said then thought, "Holy crap, I'm actually stronger than I thought… with only 5 power-ups I almost defeated Issei. How's that even possible?"
"Issei and Ddraig underestimated you and me, that's why you won", answered Aegis in Jack's mind, "If that was a serious training battle, we would have lost it badly."
"You're so positive, mr. dragon…"
"DON'T CALL ME MR. DRAGON, please…"
"Jack, if you train more, I'm pretty sure you'll be able to defeat Vali. Like, train a looooooooooot more…", said Issei, "But don't worry, I'll help you kick the ass out of that bastard!"
"Yeah! Also, I want you to come here every day after the class for you and everyone else to train, ok?", asked Rias.
"Fine", Jack answered.
"Any problem, you can come and let us help you as well", said Akeno.
It was 5 p.m.
"Oops, sorry guys, I have to go now! See you tomorrow!", he said.
"It's good to see you again, buddy", said Issei.
"You too, dude. See you!"
Jack ran home. Meanwhile, he was thinking:
"Looks like I finally found real friends…"
"It's good that you're happy, Jack", said Aegis, "but don't forget about the bad guys, please."
"Oh, c'mon! Let's enjoy this moment of happiness, mr. dragon!"
"Hmph…"
"I don't think I'll enter Rias' group, though… I prefer to be on my own. The only group I'll join will be your friends' one."
"Ok then…"
"I wonder when we'll find the other dragons…", thought Jack.
Since then, Jack started to go to the ORC every time after the end of the class as well as search for Aegis' companions. What everyone didn't know was that Aegis' plan was about to fail…
Continues in the next chapter!
