Thanks, ShutInLoser, double bullet shotgun and OwlsofDarkness for the reviews.
Don't have anything to say really, besides that the question from last chapter was more for the sake of you getting my head to work and less about you telling me what to write.
Sorry if there were any misunderstandings, this is MY story after all, but all input is appreciated.
Disclaimer: I don't own Highschool DxD.
Preparing for a Game
"Good, I found you guys before you arrived." I said to Issei, Asia and Kiba.
"Good morning, Max-kun."
"Good morning, Max."
"Good morning, Max-san." Came their replies.
"I have something to tell you, it's about Rias-senpai." I said, and that got their attention in various levels.
"What is it?" Asked Asia.
"It's about that thing that only you and Akeno-senpai know?" Asked Kiba, I should have guessed he would try that.
"Did you say Rias-senpai?" I just stared at Issei. That guy needed to get his priorities straight.
"She has a marriage contract." I almost got deaf from Issei's shout. When he finished and started stammering, I continued. "That's why I wanted to tell you before we go, you can't do things like that Issei-kun, you will embarrass Rias-senpai." I said still staring at him. That seemed to shut him up. "I don't know if he will be there. But if he is, don't do anything. We don't want to show anything, much less weakness or something to embarrass Rias-senpai. Am I clear?"
Issei seemed to still be processing the information. I am really glad I thought about telling him before going. He would have made a scene. That wouldn't have been good at all. I would have to keep an eye on him just in case. If the Phenex was there and he was like Rias had said then Issei could still do something stupid. We arrived at the club room and Kiba said he felt a presence he knew.
When we entered there where the others. Grayfia was there too. Rias had an unpleasant face, Akeno had one of her fake smiles and a cold aura surrounding her, Koneko was in a corner and she wasn't eating anything. To say that the atmosphere was tense would be like saying that Issei was just a little perverted.
"Looks like everyone is here. Before we start the club, there's something I need to tell all of you."
"Ojou-sama, do you want me to explain the situation?"
Buchou rejects Grayfia-san's offer by waving her hand.
"The truth is-"
That's when a magic circle appeared in the opposite corner of the room. It was not ours. Maybe-
"Phenex-" Said Kiba. Internally I cursed. Externally I grasped Issei's shoulder. He looked at me.
"Don't do anything." I said locking eyes with him. He nodded at me.
"Fuu, it's been a while since I came to the human's world." Said the Phenex.
He was wearing a red suit, without tie and with the shirt half opened. He didn't look bad but he had the look you would expect of a playboy. He also had short blond hair and blue eyes.
"My lovely Rias. I came to see you." He said, I was already seeing that I would have trouble stopping Issei just by his tone. I never let go of his shoulder. "Now then, Rias. Let's go and take a look at the ceremony hall. The date of the ceremony is decided so we need to check it before then." He grabbed Rias arm. I felt Issei tense up and I saw Kiba do the same, I just hoped I wouldn't have to stop him too. This guy wasn't doing my work any easier.
"… Let go of me, Riser." Spat Rias with a deep and serious voice. I felt a chill run down my spine. Fortunately, nobody did a scene for this. Grayfia seemed to detect the atmosphere because she intervened.
"This person is Riser Phenex-sama. He's a pure-blood High-class Devil, and the third son of the House of Phenex." Explained Grayfia to us.
"Huh? You haven't introduced me to your servants, Rias?" Asked Phenex, like it was a shock that someone didn't know him.
"There was no need." Rias said, I wanted to disagree but I was not the moment nor the place.
"He is also the husband of the next heiress of House of Gremory. He is engaged to Rias Ojou-sama." I held Issei's shoulder with so much strength that I almost was worried I would break something. He seemed to get it, because he only opened his eyes really wide. Rias seemed surprised, probably by our lack of reaction, specially the idiot. Then she seemed to realize what happened.
[}-o-{]
"The tea made by Rias's Queen is superb."
"Thank you very much." Her smile was so void of everything that I shivered. They seemed to continue talking, I had to keep an eye on the idiot to make sure he didn't do anything stupid. Although, he was having lecherous thoughts now of all times.
"Stop it already!" 'What the hell? I just turned for a second!' "I will not marry you, Riser!" Shouted Rias, she seemed pretty angry. I had never actually seen her like that.
"I heard that before Rias, but that won't do. The situation of your household is serious."
"That's none of your concern! I am the heiress of House of Gremory, I will choose who I marry!"
"Your Otou-sama and Sirzechs-sama are worried. We lost a great number of pure-blood Devils in the last war. For the High-class pure-blooded Devils, it's only natural to get together." The guy disgusted me. Those were all excuses, everyone knew, but they were excuses with a base. This seemed to shup Rias up, and the guy just continued to explain all his bullshit.
"I won't let my House die out. And I am willing to take a husband." I stared at her in disbelief, what had I been doing here this whole time then? A smug face formed on the Phenex. "But I won't marry you Riser." 'Don't do that to us, woman!'
"Are you insulting me Rias? Because I came all the way to this filthy place for you. Me, who carries the name of House of Phenex!" Flames busted from him like an aura. Yeah, he seemed angry. "I will take you to the Underworld even if I have to burn your servants." I got ready to summon my Sacred Gear. I could feel a weight on my shoulders just by being in his presence, killer intent, I learned that was. Then an even stronger aura appeared. I looked at the maid.
"Ojou-sama, Riser-sama, would you please be quiet?" She asks calmly, although, it sounded more as an order. The Phenex withdrew his flames.
"If I'm told that by the 'Strongest Queen' then I have to, don't I?" I filled that information for later.
"Master, Sirzechs-sama, and those from the House of Phenex knew it would turn out like this. To tell you the truth this was to be the last discussion meeting. Everyone knew that it wouldn't be solved, so they decided to make a last resort." I kept my eyes going between all of them.
"Last resort? What do you mean, Grayfia?" Asked Rias.
"Ojou-sama, if you wish to push your opinion forward, then how about you settle it by having a Rating Game against Riser-sama?" Rias looked at her in fake surprise.
So, her family had told her beforehand. That made sense. 'Maybe that's why she didn't tell the others, it was a secret.' I heard Kiba explaining what a Rating Game was to Issei. Meanwhile, Grayfia seemed to be explaining the situation to Rias, all of this as if she didn't know.
"Then Ojou-sama, you are saying you would also decline to participate in the game?"
"No, I won't, since this is a chance. Alright then. Let's settle this with a game, Riser."
"Heh, I am already a matured Devil, you know? I have already participated in official games, and I won most of them. Do you still want to play?" He bragged, provoking Rias. She replied back.
"I do, and I will blow you away, Riser."
"Understood. I, Grayfia, have confirmed both sides opinion. I will be in charge of the game between the two households. Is that ok?"
"Yeah."
"Yes."
"I will inform the households then."
Then Riser looked around and saw us. He smirked; I knew what was coming.
"Hey, Rias. Are these your servants?" Rias twitched at his words and tone.
"Yes."
"Then this match will be easier than I thought. Only your Queen can do something against my peerage." Then he flicked his fingers and circles for a full peerage appeared behind him. I prepared myself to beat some sense into Issei, just in case.
"Well, these are my cute servants." He said. I looked at all of them.
As I thought none of them looked particularly dangerous except for the Queen. The others, not so much. One of them was carrying a sword on her back. A pair of twins had cat-like ears on their heads. I would have to ask Rias about them. Kiba should know something about the Knights just by seeing their swords. There was one girl that looked surprisingly similar to Riser, a relative maybe?
I elbowed Issei, the idiot was already losing it. Either by seeing so many good-looking women or by seeing Riser have an official harem, probably both. The Phenex went and gave one of the girls a French kiss. Right in front of his fiancé, I blinked a couple of times. Yeah, I knew why Rias didn't want to marry this idiot.
"Mira, I don't like the look on that idiot's face." He said pointing at Issei. "You know what to do."
"Yes, Riser-sama."
Said girl had blue hair and brown eyes. Her hair tied in a pair of pony tails and two bangs framing her face. Her outfit consisted of a white haori with a red obi, which was worn under a red happi coat. She wore bandages on her forearms and shins, and wears black guards over her hands. For footwear, she had a pair of zōri.
She charged at Issei and started to swing her staff. I got in front of her and kick her stomach. She is knocked back and then falls on her knees.
"Sorry, that's a comrade of mine you are attacking." I said simply.
"She is just a Pawn, don't get all cocky." Said Phenex. However, I could see that I pissed him off. At least Issei didn't show his Sacred Gear, and neither did I. He narrowed his eyes for a second before returning to his relaxed expression. "You are all pretty weak from what I can see. Either way it should be interesting. Rias, how about we have our match in ten days?"
"… Are you setting a handicap on yourself?"
"Are you against it? Is it humiliating? A Rating Game is not something that can be won by emotions alone, you know? Ten days, with that you should do something that is worth my time." He turns to me and smirks. "Let's see what you say after the game. See you at the game, Rias." And with that he disappeared.
"Well, I can certainly see why you don't want to marry him." I said plainly. I sat on the couch where Koneko was and laid back against it. "What now, Rias-senpai?" That broke Koneko and Akeno out of their cold auras. That was something, I guessed.
"Shit!" And the atmosphere was killed again by Issei. I guess he contained himself pretty well.
"Issei-kun, shut up." He looked at me like I was Riser himself.
"How could you just sit there and let all that happen?! I know you don't care about anything but to leave Buchou alone with that asshole!"
"What would you have done? Shout nonsense at him and brag about a Sacred Gear you barely control? You wouldn't only embarrass yourself but you would embarrass Rias-senpai too." I said calmly. My green eyes staring at his brown ones.
"Max is right, Issei. It was better like that. Thanks, Max." She said.
"Anytime, Rias-senpai." I said. "What now?"
"I will have a look at his previous Rating Games and ask my family for a place where we can train." She said, seemed to be deep in thought. "Would you have a look at it with us, Max?"
"Sure" I followed her to another room of the old school building. The others were dismissed.
We were looking at the games for a while.
"So, that was his sister after all." I said simply. Rias and Akeno were on their own world looking at the videos. I flicked my fingers in front of them to bring them back. "What do you think? I stand by what I said before seeing them. The only concern is Riser himself and his Queen, even his sister isn't one. It looks like she is there just to see."
"Probably to get experience." Explained Rias and I nodded. "We have to train as much as we can."
"If you can get us a pass to be out of school the next ten days it shouldn't be a problem. Kiba-kun and I can practice swords. Koneko-san and Issei-kun can practice close combat and you two can practice magic. Asia-san can practice healing us after practice." I laid out my thoughts.
"I was going to teach Ise and you how to use your demonic powers." Said Rias.
"You mean his non-existent demonic powers?" I said raising an eyebrow. "He can't even use the transportation circle. With the Boosted Gear he could probably do something but it's not worth it. Maybe when we are not pressed for time you can do that." I told her. She nodded at me. "And I only need more reserves to use my Sacred Gear. We don't have the time to get me started on real magic."
"You are probably right." She stopped to think for a second. "I'll contact my parents."
"Ara ara, is this a dominant side of Max-kun?" Said Akeno, I turned to her.
"Interested? Is Akeno-senpai secretly a submissive?" She pouted but I could see the faintest blush in her cheeks. "I'll leave you two to that. Call me if you need me or when you decide when and where to go." And with that I left to take my classes. I could feel a headache coming my way.
[}-o-{]
"Yahoo!" Issei shouted. Was it in order to hear the echo? Was he a child?
We were currently climbing stairs. Apparently, Rias got her parents to give her a house (I was betting it was a mansion.) in these mountains for us to train. Everyone was currently with huge pieces of luggage on our backs. The only ones struggling were Issei and I. It was frustrating. My only comfort was that at least I wasn't complaining like Issei. Rias had to get him to move once in a while. He got motivated quite easily seen the others with the same luggage walk so casually though.
And like that we arrived at the peak. Yeah, it ended up being a mansion made of wood. It was hidden from normal people by the use of demonic-powers. We left the luggage on the living room and everyone went to change.
We had general training in the mornings. Issei, Koneko and I had large rocks tied to our backs. The petite girl moved like it was nothing, it was mindboggling. Rias sometimes sat on top of one of them as we walked. It reminded me when she sat on top of Issei or me when we did push-ups, maybe she had a thing for sitting while others worked out.
After that was our normal strength routine, but with the rocks still on. I was hard, I'll admit. Thank Maou for our Devil bodies because I was sure I would have died if I was still human… and I would have died a lot.
After lunch we went with the kind of training I said. Everyone had their specialties after all. I couldn't see Issei using magic or a sword but I could definitely see him bashing heads with that gauntlet of his.
I got Kiba to make me a lightning sword, Shocking Edge he called it. I asked for it because of exactly that, it may not do much damage against strong enemies but it should at least give them a shock that should instead give me an opening. Akeno definitely approved.
So, we were training like that. Kiba vs Me. I was demolished if someone had any doubts. He has been a Knight for much longer, and that also goes for his use of swords. I'm faster than him when I use my Sacred Gear but I barely have control when going full speed. I ended up falling on my face or butt or just rolling in the ground a couple of times because of that.
Sometime later we were having dinner after everything was finished.
"Uoooo! It's delicioooous! It's really delicious!"
"Do you have to shout about everything?" I asked Issei.
We were having a boar that Rias hunted apparently. Accompanied with some herbs that Kiba had gathered in our way up. It tasted amazing. She also seemed to have caught some fish. And there were several dishes more apart from that. It was a great meal to be honest. I would have to ask for one like this before I died.
"Ara ara. We still have more food left so eat as much as you want." She said refilling the plates.
"Just to be sure. You made all this?" She nodded with a smile. "It's really good." She beamed at me.
"Akeno-senpai, you are the best! I even want you as my wife!" Shouted Issei. He was always so smooth.
"Ufufu, you are embarrassing me." She said smiling and putting her hands on her cheeks. Maybe he actually was good, who would have thought? I didn't see her peek at me.
"… I also made this soup." Said a sulking Asia pointing at an onion soup. Poor Asia, she has such a hard time getting Issei's attention with the senpais here.
"It's good Asia! It's the best! Give me another one!" No one could say Issei didn't enjoy the food.
"It is!? I'm so glad… Then now I can become Ise-san's…" 'Woah, so bold of you, Asia.'
"Hmmm? I couldn't hear the last part. What was that?" I looked at him. That was strange, I heard it and I was further. Maybe he was distracted by the food…
"N-No, it's nothing!"
"Now, Ise, Max. What have you two found out during today's training?" Asked Rias.
"… I am the weakest among us." We both said at the same time. I look at Issei, he was looking at me with a dumbfounded expression, and continued. "You are not the weakest; you have the Boosted Gear for crying out loud. I'm just a little faster if we don't use Sacred Gears. But there's no comparison when you do use it. And you leave me behind in the speed department after the second boost." I explained to him. He looked at his plate for a second and nodded.
"Thanks…" He whispered, I'm sure I was the only one to hear that.
"Yes, that's true." Confirmed Rias with a nod of her own. "Akeno, Yuuto and Koneko have a lot more experience in battle than you two and Asia. But Asia has Twilight Healing, Ise has the Boosted Gear and Max has Volt Speed. But what you have to learn most of all is how to run away."
"Run…? Is it that hard?" Issei said.
"It is when you are against someone that is much more powerful than you. So, you have to learn how to run away. If you can do that you can get to Asia and get your injuries treated. With that in mind we'll teach you how to do it. Same goes for Asia, she needs to be able to get away from the enemy as she can't fight by herself." I nodded, Issei still looked a bit confused but seemed to get the idea.
After that we all go to take a bath, it's an outdoors one. I could already imagine Issei's face without seeing it.
"I'm not going to peek, Issei-kun." Kiba seemed to read his thoughts too.
"Idiot, don't blurt it out!" He said. Like it was a secret…
"Oh, Ise. Do you want to peek at us while we are taking a bath?" We all looked at Ise and he froze. Rias chuckled. "Then how about you bath with us? I don't mind." His brain seemed to have stopped working. "How about you, Akeno?"
"I don't mind if it's Ise-kun. Ufufu. I might want to wash a gentleman's back." I almost snorted at that, 'gentleman' yeah, and I was great at parties too.
"How about you, Asia? You should be alright if it's your beloved Ise, right?" Said girl froze and turned a shade of red that put our King's hair to shame. She gave a barely noticeable nod.
Now you may wonder why I'm not freaking out about this or something. The answer is simple really.
"Lastly, Koneko? How about it?"
"…No" Exactly because of that. Koneko would kill any pervert that dared to even get near the very thought of peeking at them in the bath.
"Then it's a no. Too bad, Ise. What about you, Max?" Said Rias in a provocative voice. I looked at her.
"No, thanks, I have to live long enough for the game. Maybe after that." I answered.
Issei then seemed to recover his capacity to think and starts to sulk in a corner. Koneko looked at him.
"… If you peek, I will hold a grudge against you forever." Ouch. That must hurt more than one of her punches.
"Ise-kun, let's have a naked bath together. I will wash your back." Said Kiba. I couldn't help it. While I was walking to the bath, I chuckled at that. If I had turned at that moment, I would have seen everyone frozen looking at me. It had been the first time I had given any sign of happiness at all.
The next day I also found out that Rias planned to teach us a bit about the supernatural world. All the easy stuff, like the Seraph, the Maou and the leaders of Grigori, most of it I had already read about. Issei was already having problems though. Then Asia explained the exorcists together with Rias, it was interesting.
They also explained what I already knew about holy water and crosses. Asia seemed to sulk a little at not being able to make contact with what was a great part of her life. I hope she can let it go soon for her own good. She actually cried a little when she found out she couldn't read the bible anymore.
A couple of days after that, I found Issei sulking in the living room. I sat next to him in the couch.
"Something in your mind?" I asked and he turned to me surprised.
"I just…" He trailed off and I just waited. "I feel so useless."
"Don't be stupid." I admonished him. "If someone like you that has a Longinus Sacred Gear is useless then what about someone like me that has a low-tier Sacred Gear?" I asked him, "You even became a Devil before me. Now, get your act together. We need our favorite pervert to fight with us, not to sulk here." I gave him a pat on the shoulder and left. I'm really not good at comforting people. I just hope I didn't make him feel worse.
"You are not joking, are you?" He asked. I froze.
"Hahahaha, did you see him? He practically ran to buy the drinks; he is so desperate to have friends it almost isn't funny. Almost. I'm so glad you invited him, Jack. He is a joke all by himself."
"No, I'm not. You are as useful as anyone else on this peerage." I reassured him trying to keep my voice from cracking.
I left to my room but I collapsed against a wall on my way there. I didn't even know why I remembered that right there. I drew my knees to myself and put my brow against them. I let a couple of tears fall. I hadn't cried in so long. I never saw a pair of eyes looking at me.
I finally got to my room after a few minutes. I looked at the things I had brought. It was basically the same stuff I had brought with me from the US. I searched below all the clothes and found an old shoe box.
I took it and started caressing it with my thumbs.
"Always be happy, Max. Just do whatever makes you happy and everything will be fine."
I left the box in the night stand.
That night I couldn't sleep. In the end, I gave up and went to the kitchen for something to drink, maybe a cup of tea would help. I found Rias at the table in the middle of books and papers.
"Couldn't sleep either?" I asked, she looked up surprised. Then she nodded weakly. "Didn't know you needed glasses." She had a pair on, I had never seen her with them.
"It's just for looks. I can think more clearly while I have them on. I think I have spent too long in the human world." She joked.
"Looks good on you." I said. She seemed surprised for a second. "But I still think the normal Rias-senpai looks better." I think I saw her cheeks get a bit pink at that. I was being honest though. "Late night planning?" I point at the books.
"I can't think about anything else besides what we already did to defeat Riser." She said frustrated.
"Have you asked Asia about the crosses and holy water?" I asked, she nodded.
"But still, what if that fails?" I didn't have an answer for that. If it failed, there was little we could do. I got myself a cup of tea and sat in front of her. We sat there in silence for a while. Until she broke it. "I like it here."
"Here as in this mansion?" I asked curious. She shook her head.
"I like being here in the human world. That's why I'm so against this marriage, besides Riser being an idiot. I like it here, were no one sees me as Rias, heiress of House Gremory. Here I'm just Rias. I really like that feeling." I nodded.
Must be hard. Carrying the name of you family your whole life. Never being recognized as an individual and just being seen as your family. As if your whole family was the same.
"I also feel proud of carrying that name. It's a complicated feeling. But I want to leave my life as just Rias, I want to decide what to do by myself, I want someone that can love me as Rias. That's a small dream of mine."
"For what it's worth," I started and she looked at me. "I just see you, Rias-senpai. I know next to nothing about the Underworld, and I care even less about nobility. So, you will continue to be just Rias for me, senpai. And I'm sure the same goes for the others." I told her. Now her cheeks were definitely red. "I'm bad with these things. So, sorry if I said something wrong or weird." I said to her looking back at my cup of tea. Seriously, was I the only one that ended in situations having to comfort someone? Couldn't someone that was good at that do it?
"N-No, it's ok." She said, her voice weak. I saw her shaking her head from the corner of my eyes. Then I turned to look at her. She was still red. She didn't say anything and neither did I. Until the silence was broken again.
"What…" I started, she put her full attention on me. I did my best to not fidget under that gaze. "What do you think of me?" I asked, somehow keeping all the insecurity out of my voice. She thought for a minute.
"I think you lived a hard life. You gave up being happy and being close to people, maybe too fast. I just hope I can change your mind before the game." She looked sad. "I… We like you being here. I never saw Koneko let someone near her so fast, much less a boy. And the others like you being here too." I stared into her blue eyes for a while. She even started to fidget a little.
"I see." I said, I looked at the empty cup of tea. I gave her a small smile. "Thank you." She just nodded, probably unsure of where I was coming with the question or something of the sort. "Get some sleep, Rias-senpai. We have to train a lot if we want to defeat an immortal." I stood up and left. I felt so… vulnerable after asking that, after hearing that. 'Maybe the third time's a charm?' I told myself, I wasn't sure of anything.
"Thanks, Max." I heard behind me.
"Anytime, Rias-senpai." I told her and went back to my room.
I looked at the box again, patted it and then went to sleep. Rest came so much easier.
[}-o-{]
It had been a week of training and I was being pitted against Issei using his Sacred Gear. We were going to fight after he charged it for two minutes. That's around his limit, more than that and he will faint due to his body notwithstanding the power his gear gives.
[Explosion!] That's my cue. I activate my Sacred Gear and wait.
"Very well." Came the voice of Rias from the side. "Now then, I'll ask the both of you to start."
With that I instantly ran around Issei. I only had a bokuto as a weapon, I couldn't use a real sword just for a spar. Not yet, at least. But Kiba taught me how to reinforce the sword with my demonic power. I didn't have much to go around casting spells (of which I knew none but that's beside the point) but using it to strengthen the sword? I had more than enough for a reinforced weapon.
He seemed to be unable to follow me. I had increased my speed a lot, that was my main objective after all. I got close from his right side. I would avoid that gauntlet as much as I could. I would also have to avoid being hit at all. With twelve boosts he could probably knock me out in one hit, two at best.
I hit him behind his knee and he falls to the ground. While he was surprised and struggling to stand, I hit him again in the back of his head. I tried to knock him out, didn't work out too well. With that I got away just in time to avoid a punch he threw at me by twisting his body from his knelt position.
The wind sent by his fist hit my face like a mini-storm. I definitely had to avoid being hit. This time I stood in front of him. I waited until he got impatient and charged at me. He had a time limit of sorts on his gear before it would reset after all.
When he ran at me, I did the same at him at full speed aiming to pass right under his fist and guard. I thrusted the bokuto to hit him in the stomach. I did, but he got my shoulder with his punch. The hit barely touched me but it sent me rolling in the ground. Those are some heavy fists.
I stood up mid-roll and face him again. Thank Maou he isn't as fast as he is strong. I ran to his left this time and aimed a strike from above. He put up his gauntlet as guard. I hit it but I just used the bokuto to push myself in the air to the side and spun to strike again in the side of his torso.
I got away again. He was panting and holding his side with his right arm, where I just hit him. I was gasping for air myself holding my shoulder where he had hit before. Fighting felt good. I guessed that was how people that do sports felt. I wanted more, I wanted to win.
I ran up to him but when I prepared to strike, I put everything my legs had to make a circle around him. His fist connected with air and my bokuto with his head again. This time he fell to the ground, his eyes rolling back.
I fell to my knees. My legs were burning, my lungs demanded more air than I could give them and mi vision blurred from time to time. But I won. I let out a chuckle.
"That felt amazing." I fell face first to the ground next to Issei. I barely heard Asia running up to us.
"Are you ok, Max-san?" I wanted to tell her no. But I was just tired.
"Just treat your boyfriend, Asia-san." I could feel the heat going up to her face. But she didn't deny anything.
"Nice spar, Max, Ise is out." I let my lips form a small, almost unnoticeable, smile.
"Well, I have to take advantage while he isn't full Longinus, don't I?" I said somewhat bitterly. "In no time he will kick my ass. Talent and luck are unfair."
"… Good battle." I heard Koneko near me. I made an effort to sit on the ground. Asia was still healing Issei. Rias was watching all of us, Kiba and Akeno on each side of her. Koneko standing next to me. "You have talent though." She continued still with her impassive face that rivaled mine.
"Thanks. You can tell the world that I beat the Red Dragon Emperor when he leaves me in the dust." I said.
"Ara ara, are our cold pair Koneko-chan and Max-kun opening up to one another?" We deadpanned at her though I noticed a little pink on Koneko's cheeks, maybe it was just my vision still messing around.
"So, was it decent or we both just suck?" I asked bluntly.
"It was a good battle, you put more effort in that spar than ours though. I'm hurt." Said Kiba, I snorted. Everything seemed so much easier at that moment, after that night with Rias.
"Issei and I were reincarnated around the same time. I guess I have to compete with him. Although, competing with the Red Dragon Emperor will be a pain." I said looking at said Emperor, he had just woken up and was asking Rias and Asia how was the fight.
"Ara ara, competing with a Dragon Emperor? How ambitious Max-kun." I heard Akeno joining in our little group.
"I guess?" I said in a low voice but I knew they heard me. I avoided looking at everyone. I didn't want to think. Because when I thought, the future came to mind and I didn't want to think about that. I didn't want to plan ahead, to be positive. Because when I was, everything always went to hell.
"Always be happy, Max. Just do whatever makes you happy and everything will be fine."
For once I left that thought in my head, pondering. I stood up.
"I'm going inside to look for something. Does someone want something?"
"Water, please!" I heard Issei behind me I waved over my shoulder and went inside the mansion.
Walking up to my room was much more difficult than other times for some reasons. Hands seemed to grab my legs, pleading me to stop. I knew them. They had been following me ever since we had first moved, ever since the first time I felt alone.
My family had gotten rid of them. But had come back with a vengeance after they died. After I was left alone, again. They grabbed my body. Everything they touched felt numb. My limbs felt cold.
I reached my room and the door felt like it was made of the lead. I almost had to put real strength to open it.
I reached the box on the night stand. My hands felt like they were burning just by touching it. Or maybe they were freezing? I had to force myself to open it.
Photos. My mother. My father. Every single relative I had, except my aunt. She didn't count, she was not family. My family was in those pieces of paper.
The first book my mother had gifted me. It had taken me months to start it. Once I did, I couldn't stop myself for a long time. I practically ate books for a couple of years. It was ironic how it talked about a boy finding an underground world with its own inhabitants. Looked a lot like my situation except it was the actual Underworld.
A necklace. My grandmother had given it to me. It was a simple silver chain with a beam note pendant attached by a corner. It had been a sort of set with my dad's gift.
That was a pair of wireless headphones. They were black, with a few blue details here and there. I loved music. I couldn't pass a day without listening to music. When I studied, when I read, when I walked, when I everything. I would have used them during meals if my mother didn't threaten to take them away. They blocked away everything. With them I didn't have to be uncomfortable for not talking.
But I had stopped wearing them when they died. I didn't want to remember. Because when I did everything inside of me hurt. But I also didn't want to forget them, I had noticed recently. I wanted something to remember them, as contradictory as it sounded.
I put the necklace around my neck. Connected my phone to the headphones and put them in my ears and went outside my room.
Not long after that I had joined the others again. They noticed the headphones and probably the necklace but they didn't comment. From then on, I always had them on, even if it was just around my neck.
I'd be lying if I said that I was fine
Cause I feel pain sometimes that I cannot describe
So, do I raise my fist and curse up at the sky
Or do I close my eyes and realize, that's just life?
[} Chapter End {]
Hey guys! How's it going?
If you are interested in the song it's That's Just Life by Memphis May Fire. I'll probably throw little pieces of songs here and there during the series.
RANDOM QUESTION: Who are your favorite male and female character of the DxD series? They don't have to be related or a ship or anything.
See you.