The First Flame
Alright, here we go again. Some people have commented on the inner dialogue and how it runs on too long, but I'm afraid I must disagree. If you think about it, Issei's past lives are pretty much his only trusted allies right now, so it should be no surprise that he would value their presence and advice.
Also someone has complained about canon Issei, but I'm not a big believer of changing a character's personality on the outset, I plan to do that along the way. And I never really disliked canon Issei. I do agree that fan-service can only get one so far, so I won't rely on that.
On with the show!
(Oh yeah, I don't own High School DxD)
Chapter 4: Ignition
A magical Pact, as Seraphina had explained to Issei, was a binding contract between two people, one of whom was usually a human Magician. The contents of the Pact may vary according to what the Magician desires or requires. It could be anything from knowledge or tutelage, protection in times of conflict, or simple prestige by allying themselves with a high-ranking member of another society, Devil or otherwise. He recalled the conversation last night...
I don't get it. How is a pact going to help me? There's no guarantee they're going to keep their promises. They're Devils.
Actually, there is.
Huh?
It is true that a magical Pact is instigated by the human party, but it is woven and bound using the Devil's magic. A Devil will have no choice but to uphold the terms of the contract lest they suffer an extremely negative magical rebound. Not to mention, despite their propensity for trickery, Devils are too prideful to break a pact that they have agreed to. In a society where treachery is commonplace, their word is all they have.
You're forgetting something, Sera. There's more than one Devil at that academy. Nick pointed out.
That is irrelevant. The point of this is to prove to the Devils that you are willing to co-exist with them peacefully. And what better way is there to cement a partnership than in the heat of battle?
Which is how they assured him, this would be the perfect way to ally with them.
Unsurprisingly, Everyone in the room, bar Issei and Souna were shocked with his suggestion. Even Rias' composure had slipped, and Saji's face was just hilarious.
"Let me get this straight." Souna began, pushing up her glasses. "You want to form a Magical Pact with one of us?"
"Yes." Issei smiled, wishing that he looked in any way confident. "It would give you the excuse you wanted to rightfully expel the Fallen Angels from your territory, and it would give me necessary protection for the future."
"...You realize that a Magical Pact is not a contract to be entered lightly."
"I do, and I also realize that negotiations are normally long tedious procedures that can take several days. Unfortunately, I do not have that kind of time, so I request we settle this as soon as possible."
Rias' eyes narrowed. "You are not in any position to make demands."
"I'm not demanding, I'm requesting." he stressed. "I assure you this would be very beneficial to you, and your peerage." This is one of his numerous sources of worry. These were Devils, what use could they possibly have for one human, albeit with mysterious powers?
"I've already said that the Devils and the Fallen are under a non-aggression treaty. We don't care if the Fallen Angels are here. We won't risk an all-out conflict for you."
Issei clamped down on his growing sense of trepidation, as Nick continued feeding him lines. "I would think that High-class Devils would be more concerned that a Fallen Angel slipped so seamlessly into their territory without permission or even announcing their presence."
An eyebrow twitched. It was a tiny, almost imperceptible movement, but he caught it. Just a little more. "Or perhaps you already knew of their presence and chose a hands-off approach as a safety precaution."
Rias placed her teacup back in the saucer with enough force that Issei was worried she cracked it. They're hooked. Issei could feel Nick's satisfaction. Now to reel them in. The provocation couldn't be more obvious, but knowledge of it was irrelevant once the real issue was brought to light. Issei had all but accused them of weakness and complacency, a huge insult to a species as prideful as Devils. They had no choice but to respond seriously now.
"You claim this... partnership will benefit both of us?" Rias stood up, her eyes hard as emeralds. "Prove it."
And that how Issei ended up behind the old school building, his opponent warming up twenty meters in front of him. The two of them stood in a circle drawn in the ground fifty meters in diameter, while Souna was reciting the rules.
"The fight will continue until one of the participants has either been knocked unconscious, forfeited, or killed." Issei winced when he heard the last condition. "it will also be considered a loss if a participant steps out of bounds. Do you both understand these rules?"
"Perfectly." Issei replied tersely.
"Understood, president." Kiba Yuuto smiled that infuriating smile that made all the girls swoon.
Issei knew that this was coming. Devils valued power above all else, and a duel would be the quickest way to prove his strength. However, that doesn't mean he wasn't scared shitless. His last combat scenario lasted less than a minute and he had the element of surprise. Here the opponent would not underestimate him, and would be undoubtedly leagues above him in terms of skill. He wasn't looking forward to it.
But now?
Call him spiteful, but he had wanted to smash Kiba's pretty boy face into the dust for years, and the only thing holding him back was the threat of retribution from his rabid supporters. So when Kiba had been chosen as his opponent, he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. Anyways, he would've preferred fighting him over all the others.
Devil or not, he couldn't imagine trying to burn cute little Koneko-chan.
Furthermore, this ensured that he would only be fighting one of them, not an entire horde. Violence was unavoidable, but this solution minimized the risks, and maximized the chances of success.
Easy there, Issei. Don't get ahead of yourself. said Seraphina. Remember, it matters little if you win or lose. What's important is you make an impression.
I know, Sera. Leave this to me.
"Are you ready?" Souna held her arm out in an imaginary line between them. "Then, begin!" She leaped back gracefully, and just in time as Kiba disappeared in a gust of wind. Issei's eyes widened before he called out the flame inside him. Instantly, the white fire burst from his chest. The flame expanded to form five rings moving in random patterns around him. Kiba seemingly materialized to his left, not even a scorch mark on his clothing.
Issei eyed the gleaming Western style sword in Kiba's right hand. He could feel an ominous, yet familiar feeling emanating from the wicked blade. It almost seemed like a weaker feeling he got from the Devils. Where the hell did that thing come from? He put the question to the back of his mind as he saw Kiba hold his sword with both hands.
Issei took the initiative. He raised a hand, bending the flames to his will, sending three fireballs rocketing towards Kiba. As expected, the blond Devil dodged it easily, ducking and weaving through the trails of fire. Issei growled and willed the flames to intensify and rotate around his body faster.
Issei was no fighter. He was average in terms of strength and speed. All he had was the power of the white flame, and the experience of those who came before him. But that was everything he needed.
One touch, and victory was his.
But he wouldn't get it just standing here. Within the confines of the flames, Kiba couldn't touch him, but at the same time, he had shown that he was capable of effortlessly dodging the fire. The Devil was obviously more experienced than he was, and he wouldn't take any unnecessary risks. Even now, Issei could barely keep track of the clouds of dust his opponent was kicking up. If this continued, they would be locked at a stalemate.
So Issei had to make it worth his while.
With a mental push, he expended as much flame as he could, but only in one concentrated ring at the level of his knees. If shounen anime had taught him anything, it was to aim for the legs when fighting a faster enemy. He whirled around in time to see Kiba five feet in the air. I got you now! The flames changed direction towards the swordsman, coming from three directions so there was no way for him to spin his body around them.
Or so he thought.
Pitch-black bat wings sprouted from Kiba's back, propelling him safely away from the danger. He glided above him, outside the range of his control for fire. Oh, that is such bullshit!
Annoyed, he sent more fireballs towards Kiba, who swerved to avoid each one. Issei grew more and more frustrated, lashing out with whips of flame in random directions. Kiba created a sword with a blade of ice in each hand. As he flew, the swords flashed through each projectile he sent, scattering the flames into little more than white ribbons.
What! My flames... how is he-
Seraphina's soothing presence emerged from the back of his mind. Calm yourself, Issei. Clear your mind and think. The strength of your fire is predicated on the strength of your will, and now your will is in turmoil.
Issei took several deep breaths, forcing out his rage through each exhalation. Sera was right. The white flame is the strongest in existence. As humiliating as it was to admit, any weakness came from him. It wouldn't be right for their plan to come apart just because he got overexcited.
Once had calmed down enough, rational thought took over, analyzing Kiba's movements as he evaded the evershifting fire. He's much slower when he's airborne. Issei manipulated the fire into thin cords, sending them hurtling towards Kiba, forcing him to rely on his swords instead of cleanly dodging them.
More... get hotter... burn brighter!
Kiba didn't know what hit him.
Well, actually, he did know what. He just had no friggin' clue how.
The battle was going relatively well. He had been startled by the flames, but he had quickly regained his composure. He had much experience dodging magical projectiles from his spars with Akeno-senpai. And lightning was so much faster than fire.
After the flames grew in number, he simply used [Flame Delete], the Flame-Freezing Sword, a product of his Sacred Gear, [Sword Birth],to nullify them, which turned out to be a great decision. Ordinarily [Flame Delete] could absorb the energy of flames for himself. Whatever kind of magical energy Hyoudou-san used to create these flames were, they actively resisted the demonic nature of [Sword Birth], but at the same time, he knew that the energy was not the least bit holy in nature, so [Holy Eraser] would be useless.
What kind of magician was he?
Shrugging off the questions for the moment, he turned his focus back to the fight. While it was true that his speed was greatly diminished in the air, he was still agile enough to avoid being burned. He fought back a smirk. Hyoudou-san might be a formidable magician, but he must be reaching his limits. At first, he was excited about facing a new opponent, but it wasn't as fulfilling as he had thought, especially if fire was the extent of Hyoudou-san's repertoire.
Sure enough, he could see the flames beginning to slow, the gaps between them becoming larger. His enemy had presented an impressive defense, the rings of fire ensuring no entry from all directions. But it also rooted him in one place. He was like a stationary turret; powerful, but vulnerable to attack.
He moved quickly, but he kept his flight patterns erratic so Hyoudou-san wouldn't catch on to his intentions. Soon, he saw an opportunity. Pushing his wings to the limit, he darted to the opening. He quickly changed directions and dove straight down, his sword poised to strike, like an eagle with its talons ready to capture prey.
It was the heat he noticed first. In hies eagerness to strike, he failed to see the fires form a funnel shape around him, with a speed he could have sworn was instantaneous, before the open end of the funnel above him closed. He was trapped in a spherical prison of blinding white flame. Hyoudou-san's voice came from all directions, like the fire itself was speaking to him.
"Surrender, or these flames will swallow you."
Kiba supressed a snarl. Rias-senpai had instructed him to only used the basics of his Sacred Gear as well as his speed and swordsmanship, but he didn't know how else to get out of this. Raising his magical energy, he manifested eight swords, each one a perfect copy of [Flame Delete] and sent them spinning into the flames.
To his amazement, the blades of ice failed to even weaken the flames that they were easily cutting through not one minute ago. Changing tactics, he withdrew his swords before they were overwhelmed and melted down. He aimed them in one spot, straight above him, where he knew it was furthest from Hyoudou-san's reach.
The flames weren't negated, but he did succeed in pushing the flames aside to create a small hole that he immediately flew through. But despite all of his speed, he was nowhere near fast enough to dodge what happened next. The ball of fire behind him grew brighter than the midday Sun, and even if it was behind him, he could feel light searing his retinas. His eyes didn't suffer for long.
The light grew to unbearable levels, then his whole vision turned black.
"So, have you judged me worthy of your partnership?"
They were back in the clubroom, now. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows through the window of the room. Despite the growing darkness, Issei couldn't help but feel elated.
He had done it. He had beaten Kiba. Defeated him to such a degree that even after Akeno had pulled her magic on him and healed the burns that covered half of his back and legs, he remained unconscious and had to be taken to a separate room to recuperate, while Akeno continued her healing spells.
Okay, so maybe causing an explosion at point blank range while his opponent's back was turned was not really in the sense of fair play. But come on, how else was he meant to beat a flying Devil swordsman? It wasn't as if he was aiming to kill the guy. Sure that explosion would have done serious damage to a human, but Seraphina had assured him that Devils were made of sterner stuff than that.
Although, right now, sitting across from Rias, he couldn't help but feel that he was projecting an air of smugness and self-satisfaction. Which is probably the cause of the incessant twitching of Rias' left eyebrow.
It seems Souna did not trust her companion to speak and answered his question. "Yes. Kiba is an experienced combatant. If your claims of being a pacifist until now were true, your magical capabilities truly are impressive." Issei didn't need to be an expert in politics to read between the lines there. I expected you to lose. Soundly. "I am confident that an alliance with such a proficient magician would come with several advantages."
"You flatter me. I had the element of surprise. If Yuuto-san had been more aware of my abilities, I'm sure he would have beaten me." He really didn't know what would count as defeat since he would have just healed over and over again, but he couldn't just say 'Yup, I'm freakin' awesome' to their faces.
It was kinda tempting, though.
"So let's talk terms." Souna brought up the elephant in the room. "What do you propose?"
"I'm not asking for much." Issei said in a reassuring tone. "A simple defense pact, and a mutual indemnification clause should suffice." Nick had given Issei a crash course in strategic alliances, what he just asked for simply stated that if one party faced a crisis, the other would be obligated to come to their assistance. As well as that, if either party suffers harm or any form or loss due to the contract, the other party shall compensate them.
In terms for strategic alliances, it was pretty barebones, but it didn't need to be complex. It needed to be airtight. And the more stipulations they added, the harder it would be to keep track of any loopholes.
Souna nodded as if expecting this, and Issei was pretty sure she did. "I can agree to those terms, but there remains a problem. I do not have permission to form a magical contract."
Of all things, Issei was not expecting that. "May I ask why?"
"Both Rias and I belong to high-ranking families. Even for a contract as simple as you are requesting, clearing the bureaucratic red-tape could take weeks, which defeats the purpose of you coming here."
Damn... They were so close. But there were other ways around this. Nick was already sending him the words he needed to continue. He can't panic now, all he had to do wa-
"Let me do it."
The small voice caught all of them unawares, even Rias was broken out of her contemplations. They all turned their heads to the one who had spoken, who had moved so she was standing less than two feet away from Issei.
"Koneko-chan?!" Rias exclaimed, completely dropping any semblance of calm. "Don't you think you're being hasty?"
"Rias-senpai, please let me do this. I don't need your parents' permission, just yours. The contract isn't dangerous. I can handle myself. Please." Her eyes, which had been orbs of blank indifference, were now tinged with an odd combination of determination and curiosity.
Master and servant locked eyes, a silent debate passing between them that Issei had no hope in understanding. After a few tense seconds, a victor emerged.
"Alright, Koneko-chan." She stood from her seat and came in front of Koneko, who had fallen to a subservient position, down on one knee, her right hand held over her heart.
"Koneko Toujou. I, Rias, heir to the clan of Gremory, hereby grant thee permission to contract with Issei Hyoudou." A crimson sigil with a stylized rose appeared on Rias' right hand, just as an identical symbol glowed on Koneko's chest. The two sigils glowed brightly before dispersing into faint red lights. "May this endeavor bring honor and glory to you."
How odd... Seraphina's confused voice flowed into him.
How do you mean?
Those words weren't standard. Often, if a servant wishes to form a contract with a third party, in this case, us, the master granting permission would include something to ensure they would not be held accountable for our actions. Basically, if we do something bad, Koneko would have to deal with it herself. But what she did... she might as well be saying, 'I'll stand with you, no matter what he does'. Strange, for Devils.
Strange indeed... Issei wondered if Devil masters could hold some form attachment to their servants, or vice versa. Another thought wondered if thinking like that was slightly racist.
Once Koneko stood, so did he. She held out her right arm, which he grasped with his own. He nearly buckled from the surprising strength in her grip, and he was sure that the force was enough to leave a nasty bruise. How can such a little girl be so strong?
Repeat these words, Issei.
"I, Issei Hyoudou request to contract with the Devil, Ko-"
"No." she cut him off there.
"What's wrong?"
"Not Koneko Toujou. Shirone." she corrected him, not once changing her voice. And yet, Issei couldn't help but feel a sense of indignation in her tone, and couldn't help but nod. To the side, Rias' shocked expression returned with greater force, while Souna and the rest of the Student Council wore confused looks.
"Shirone, then."
"I, Issei Hyoudou request to contract with the Devil, Shirone."
"I, Shirone, acknowledge and accept your plea."
"By this contract," the two of them now spoke in unison, their voices laden with magic, the air around them thick with power. Her grip became even tighter, but he paid it no head. A crimson circle appeared underneath their feet, shining brighter with each word. "I swear to give aid to you in times of distress, to fight alongside you to the best of my ability in times of battle, and I shall expect the same from you. "
White fire leaked from his hand, just as white energy was exuded from hers. The two energies, intertwined, coiling around each other as they wrapped around their outstretched hands.
"I shall never inflict any form of harm, or loss to you, my fellow contractor. And should I fail to uphold my vow, I swear to do everything and anything in my power to do whatever needs to be done as restitution." They were in perfect sync now. Issei could feel his connection to her strengthening, ad he knew she could feel it as well. The words were short and simple, but pacts really didn't require the kind of pomp and circumstance Rias had shown earlier. As long as the words were sincere, and were understood completely by both parties, the pact will take effect.
"By my power, this I swear to you."
Their magic flared, and the crimson circle rose through them coming in line with their entwined hands. Issei could feel a foreign presence within him. His first instinct was to reject it, but he restrained himself. He knew what it was, it was Ko- no, Shirone. It was as if a tendril of her energy reached out to him, coiling around his, and he reciprocated.
It was a new feeling, but not unwelcome. Earlier, when he had died and been reborn, he had met and connected with and assimilated more than a hundred personas, but all of them were already a part of his being, like he was remembering a memory he had long thought he had lost. Here, he knew it was a completely different person he was forming a connection with. Granted, the connection was nowhere near as strong, but he could feel the power and authority it represented.
The glow of the magic circle dimmed, and then faded completely. Issei released a breath he didn't know he was holding. He saw his junior-now-contractor relax, while still keeping up her stoic expression. For some reason, he got the feeling that she was satisfied, like she had confirmed something good. They maintained eye contact and he saw something in her eyes. Respect? Curiosity? He wasn't quite sure, but he resolved to find out.
"...Well. Now, that that's done." Rias clapped her hands, breaking his reverie. "Can you two let go of each other already?!"
Issei looked down and saw that he was still clutching Koneko's hand. He released her hand and awkardly rubbed the back of his hand. "Sorry, Koneko-chan."
"It's alright..."
Rias sighed before walking to her desk at the side of the room. She opened a drawer and pulled out a familiar sheet of paper. "Here, take this."
The paper was rough, and looked like it was a hundred years old and belonged in a museum. Runic markings ran along the edges, and a magic circle was inscirbed in the center, with the words, 'We grant your wish' below it. "This flier..."
"Yes. It's a summoning circle for a member of my peerage. Now that you and Koneko-chan are contractors, you really shouldn't need it, but better safe than sorry." Normally, she would be right. The relationship between a magician and another party was special. Either party need only think of the other, and express their desire to summon them, and they will come.
Of course, they didn't have to know that he had no idea how to cast a summoning circle on his own.
"We can't lead an assault on a Fallen Angels with a man down, so we shall wait until Yuuto-san has healed fully, but if they attack you again, do not hesitate to call upon Toujou-san, as it would be an assault on the clan of Gremory. And of course, due to the alliance between my family and Rias', the Student Council would be allowed to assist." Souna explained. "We can destroy the nest with a minimal risk of casualties for our side."
Issei nodded. He would have preferred to urge them to deal with the Fallen as soon as possible, but Nick warned him that he shouldn't push it. And he agreed. The fact that they had agreed to contract with them was more than he really expected.
"I thank you for indulging my selfish request."
"I do hope that your worth all the trouble I just know you're going to bring." said Rias, pinching the bridge of her nose. She probably didn't expect Koneko to jump at the chance to contract with him. Well, he certainly wasn't complaining. "I think it is time for you to leave. We have to plenty discuss tonight."
"Thank you. I will see you all tomorrow." Just barely restraining the urge to run, he walked out with as much dignity he could muster.
The door shut behind him, and he pumped his fist with a silent 'Yes!' That worked, and it fucking worked brilliantly!
Told you so.
Yeah, you told me so. Rub it in, I don't care. This is the first thing that went right for me since my resurrection.
Issei. You may relax slightly, but keep your guard up. We have only eliminated the threat of the Devils. The Fallen Angels still remain. Nick chided him.
Sera retorted. Now, now. We have achieved a victory here, one that is crucial to our goal of securing our safety. Let him celebrate.
Thanks, Sera. Maybe now, I can get a decent night's sleep.
"What were you thinking?!"
Rias' voice wasn't so much angry as it was exasperated. Koneko sat wordlessly on the sofa, munching on some candy that Akeno had laid out. Beside her, Kiba was sitting after just having woken up, a bandage wrapped around his head, covering one of the many burns on his body. Akeno had filled him in on recent happenings, and now both of them were watching Rias pace with a bemused expression.
"...I don't know what you mean."
"Koneko! You know well what I'm talking about. That man is dangerous! What possessed you to jump at a chance to contract with a magician we've met less than 48 hours ago?"
"...Don't know yet."
"Koneko!" Rias nearly collapsed from sheer irritation. "That is not good enough! Disregarding the fact that we are now affiliated with an unknown magic organization, a fact that my brother will undoubtedly hound me for, we are now obligated to start a fight against the Fallen!"
"You could've said no. And weren't you gonna do it anyway?"
"Yes, on our terms! If I had said no with him right there, he would have caught on to our intentions. The idea was to force him to agree to our conditions, not the other way around!"
"...Sorry."
Rias sighed, falling into the seat next to Koneko, pulling her into a one-armed embrace, and Koneko couldn't bring herself to resist. "I just don't want you to suffer because of this guy. We have no idea what his real intentions are. And I still have no idea why you were so eager, you hate perverts!"
Koneko had to concede that. "...He is a pervert." She really did want to tell her friend and master why she felt so drawn to him. But really, she didn't have much of an idea herself, and she was determined to find out.
She had spent the rest of the evening thinking about it. It was the only thing on her mind even as she went to bed. Yes, he was probably a pervert, and he was definitely dangerous. But there was so much more. She lay there, thinking about the excitement that stirred within her upon feeling that iridescent white fire, the power held within the palm of his hand, the comfort she felt as they completed the contract. Why did she feel this way, and why was she compelled to tell him her real name? And why was she the only one? Surely Kiba should have felt it too, when fighting him.
She held up her right hand, and a small bluish-white flame burst to life in her palm. "So warm..."
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Chapter 4.
Okay, before I get a shit-storm of people asking me if I'm planning for this to be IsseixKoneko, or IsseixHarem, let me just clarify right now. Who the fuck knows?!
Let me explain my thought process as I write this story. I write what I feel like, then I think of a random idea, and if it fits with the already established rules of the DxD universe, I include it. Otherwise, I make up my own rules to include it or scrap it altogether. With that in mind, some of you might already be able to guess why everyone's favorite cat-girl (or maybe just mine) is so drawn to this pervert.
Furthermore, when I add the romantic elements to this story, (and yes, I said WHEN, this is High School DxD, after all), I'll let you guys know. Or maybe I'll have you guys decide. Who knows? Somebody said in the reviews that this is the kind of story in which I don't know what I want to do, and it's a pretty accurate description.
Anyways, 'til next time! I hope you enjoyed it.