I do not own Highschool DxD.
"Hey, Mom."
Hands shaking, Issei's mother reached out slowly towards him, steadily crossing the distance between them to grasp his shoulders. Steadily, their grip tightened until his mother suddenly pulled him close to her. Her arms snaked around his shoulders, squeezing them as though to never let go.
Issei could hear her sniffles and her struggling to hold back tears, and didn't try to pull out of the embrace. Instead, he gently hugged her back, giving her all the time she needed. He wasn't surprised by the reaction in the slightest.
It wasn't until several minutes later that her grip loosened and she finally withdrew. The tears she'd been fighting back were flowing freely now, and she looked him over with bloodshot eyes.
"I-I thought you were…"
She didn't, perhaps couldn't, finish that sentence.
Issei nodded. "I know. I'm sorry, Mom."
"Where… where have you…" His mother was stumbling over her words, not quite able to string thoughts together; Issei wasn't about to blame her for that.
"Where have I been?" Issei asked, reaching up to scratch the back of his head. "Well, it's… kind of a long story." He gestured to the Seraph standing behind him, and his mother seemingly took notice of the King of Clubs for the first time since she'd opened the front door.
"Oh…" She shook her head, as though attempting to find her manners. "I'm… very sorry… for my lack of composure…"
Raphael put a hand up. "There's no need for apologies, Mrs. Hyoudou. I fully understand. However, I do have some things I must help Issei explain. May Issei and I come inside?"
"Y-yes, certainly…" Issei's mother said. "I… I'll go find Gorou…"
Issei's mother stepped back and turned, striding towards the stairs that lead up to the second floor, while Issei, while taking great care to avoid the shards of broken porcelain, stepped into his own house for the first time in two weeks.
A fortnight wasn't a long time at all, of course, but it felt as though an eon had passed between his date with Yuuma and now. The home in which he'd spent more than seventeen years now felt almost foreign to him. Yet even as he took a breath of that familiar woody scent, that feeling started to fade as the nostalgia washed over him.
The sound of thumping footsteps broke Issei out of recollection as his father tore into his view. He was at full sprint, barely slowing as he snatched Issei up in a hug. Unlike his mother, who'd attempted to be at least somewhat restrained, his father wasn't even bothering.
"Issei!" his father yelled, tears flowing down his face. "You're alive! You're alive!" His voice was a mix of happiness and evacuating grief.
"Yeah," Issei said, struggling to avoid being crushed by his father's bone-crushing hug. "It's… good… to… see you… too," he squeaked.
After twenty seconds or so, his father pulled back and grabbed his shoulders. "Issei, where the hell have you been?!"
"Like I told Mom, it's a long story…"
"We've got time!" He looked up, taking his turn at noticing Raphael. The Seraph had an amused grin on his face at the energy of Issei's father. "And who's this guy?"
"Perhaps if we could find somewhere to sit," Raphael said, "we could begin that story."
"Of course! Follow me!"
Issei's father led them down the hallway and into the living room, where Issei's mother was seated. She appeared to have regained some control over herself, and she seemed to be joyous even through her tears.
Issei's father promptly took a seat on the couch next to his wife and slid an arm around her shoulder.
The brunette and his King, however, did not sit. They knew they'd probably be standing again in a few moments anyway.
Issei swallowed, wondering how to start the conversation before discarding all the possibilities.
"Well," Issei started, "I could try to slowly build up to it, but really… there's no way to prepare you for what I'm about to say." He took a slow, deep breath. "I was in the Heaven of Christianity for the last two weeks."
Issei's parents blinked at him.
"…what?" Issei's mother said after several seconds. Her tone was blank, as though her mind simply hadn't and couldn't process what he'd said.
"And I was, uh… turned into an Angel, too."
It was at these words that his father's face became a frown. "Issei, while I'm glad you're back, you must know that lying to us isn't acceptable. Least of all at a time like this!"
Issei looked over to his King, who nodded at him, before looking back at his parents.
Without bothering with another word, Issei released his wings and halo.
As they looked on, Issei could see his parents' eyes steadily widening and their jaws spreading to gape. It wasn't until several seconds had passed that his mother, the first speaker of the two, found her words again.
"This… this… this has to be a… a…"
"A dream?" Issei asked knowingly.
"Yes, that's it…" his mother said. She was speaking more to herself than Issei now. "I'm dreaming all of this, and I'll wake up and my son will still be missing…"
Issei shook his head and stepped forward, his wings curling around his body so that their edges were within arm's reach of his parents. "This isn't a dream, Mom."
"Th-those must be fake," Issei's father stammered. "This is all some elaborate joke, and that man is helping you!" His father pointed at Raphael.
In response, the Seraph shook his head. "Mr. Hyoudou, this is not a trick, illusion or prank. Your son is an Angel, one of the Heavenly Host."
Issei stepped another third of a meter closer to his mother and father. "Mom, Dad, if these wings were fake, would I be able to do any of this with them?"
Without moving a single other muscle, Issei let his wings flap and maneuver as much as they could. It was a slightly odd sensation for Issei, using these new muscles and instincts; his first attempts at flight or using his wings had made him feel like a toddler struggling to learn to walk. Hours of practice, however, had granted him that understanding.
Once again, his parents were struck silent by what they saw, unable to respond for several seconds. When they did speak again, Issei knew exactly what their question would be.
"How…?"
The brunette looked back to his King, who stood a few feet off to the side. "I think, sir, that this is where you come in."
"And you'd be right about that," the Seraph said, stepping a couple of meters forwards. "Oh, where are my manners?"
All twelve of his wings spread out, his halo appearing above his head.
The jaws of Issei's parents, which had been in their laps before, were now tunneling down to the center of the earth.
"I am Raphael, one of the Four Great Seraphim of Heaven." He gave a slight bow. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you both."
Stammering, shocked, Issei's parents gave their own greetings in turn before Issei's father spoke.
"C-could you clear this up, Raphael? How did our son end up as an Angel?!"
"That would be my doing," Raphael explained. "He is now one of my Brave Saints – a reincarnated Angel, reborn to Heaven's grace."
"So, uh…" Issei's father said. "…Christianity is the 'right' religion, then? Which denomination?"
Raphael's eyebrow quirked up. "What do you mean, 'right'? You have me somewhat confused."
"What they're asking, sir," Issei interjected, "is if Christianity is the religion that's real, as opposed to the others that exist. Am I right on that?" Issei looked at his parents, who both nodded.
"Ah," Raphael said. "In that case, it both is and isn't. It's 'right' in the sense that we do have a Heaven to which believers and certain people are taken upon their deaths, but we are far from the only religion in existence."
"Which other ones are real, then?" Issei's mother asked.
Raphael shrugged. "All of them. There are as many Heavens as there are mythologies. Your son is now aligned with the Christian Heaven by the simple fact of being an Angel."
"Okay," Issei's mother said, slowly exhaling. "Let me see if I understand this right. Our son has been absent from our lives for two weeks without a single notice that he's not dead because he's been in Heaven. And he's in Heaven because you turned him into an Angel."
"That's the case, yes," Raphael said. "I do sincerely apologize for the heartache I've caused you, but I could not send your son back here due to several issues."
"And what were those, might I ask?" Her voice had shifted somewhat. There was still some elation at Issei's return, but now there was a hint of anger as well.
"You see, Mrs. Hyoudou, this town's supernatural side is run by Devils – our opposite in Christianity and, oftentimes, foes. We have been at an armistice for a very long time, but simply sending your son back here as an Angel without going through the proper channels would certainly be taken as an act of aggression that could lead into an all-out war between our factions. It took those two weeks to get those affairs taken care of. I had to prioritize avoiding a new conflict over your worries for your son's safety, and for that, I am truly sorry. I hope you can find it in yourselves to forgive me for that."
These words did nothing to reduce the steadily rising anger of Issei's mother; if anything, it seemed to be building up even faster. "Then why did you turn my son into an Angel to begin with if you knew it would cause us this kind of heartache?"
"Mrs. Hyoudou, when I descended to answer a prayer your son had made, he was dying. I would have brought him to Heaven to treat his injuries if he would have survived the trip, and I would certainly not have reincarnated him if there were any other way to save his life. Becoming an Angel comes with several benefits to a human, yes, but it also comes with new restrictions and requirements one must consider. I would never force it upon someone if it could be avoided, if only for the burden it heaps upon them."
That snapped any anger out of Issei's mother.
"Dying…?" she whispered, horrified. "He was dying? What? How?!"
"Your son was bleeding to death when I descended, Mrs. Hyoudou, courtesy of an injury to his chest."
"How the hell did…" Issei's father said, eyes swinging back and forth between Raphael and his son.
"I don't know," Raphael said, looking at Issei. "As far as I am aware, your son has yet to reveal to myself or anyone else exactly what happened to put him in that state."
Issei swallowed as his frightened and confused parents looked to him, their eyes begging him for answers.
He didn't want to talk about Yuuma, about how she'd asked him to "die for her". He didn't want to remember being impaled through the chest. He didn't want to recall bleeding to the point of unconsciousness, believing that he was about to die and still not understanding what he'd done to provoke it.
Yet Raphael had demanded he give them the truth. And besides that, there was no story he could come up with that would explain it.
And so, he began.
As Issei explained the events that had led to his reincarnation as an Angel, Issei's parents were struck silent, faces etched in absolute horror. Neither bothered asking him why Yuuma had tried to murder him and very nearly succeeded; Issei had made it clear that he didn't know. All he remembered was being asked if he'd die for her, then pain and a prayer.
Raphael, meanwhile, took the news differently. His expression was sympathetic, but he did not show appall the way his parents did, and Issei could only guess that he'd heard too many stories like this in his very long life.
"Long story short, Mom, Dad," Issei finished, "I'd be dead if it wasn't for Lord Raphael. Don't be angry with him – he did what he had to do to rescue me."
His parents didn't, or perhaps couldn't, reply. How, after all, is a parent supposed to absorb the news that their child was the target of a murder attempt that nearly succeeded?
It wasn't for nearly a minute that they found their words again, and even then, they were halting, unsure and communicated nearly nothing.
"I… Issei…" his mother said, choking back tears. After a few moments, she stood from the couch and hugged him once more. His father rapidly followed suit.
Once more, Issei made no move to extract himself. They'd earned this, at least.
Minutes went by before Issei's parents finally released him.
When they did, Issei's mother almost immediately turned to Raphael and bowed.
"Lord Raphael, I wish to offer my sincerest apologies to you. I was extremely rude and judgmental, and I ask for your forgiveness."
"There's no need to apologize," Raphael said. "Your anger is perfectly understandable. Also, there's no need to call me "Lord". You're not church members and you're certainly not my subordinates. You have every right to address me as an equal."
"If that's what you wish, Raphael, we will abide by it," Issei's father said. "But… I have another question."
"What is it?" Raphael asked.
"If our son is your… "Brave Saint", was it?"
"Yes. What about that?"
"Is he considered your subordinate?"
"Naturally," Raphael said, nodding. "He's one of several, and my other Saints have spent the last fortnight or so training your son both in the workings of the factions and the church as well as in physical fitness and combative skills. They tell me he learns quickly."
Issei's father looked down. "So… if he's part of Heaven, will he have to…?"
"Spend a large amount of time there?" Raphael asked.
Both of Issei's parents nodded.
"Yes," Raphael said. "I won't mince words, Mr. and Mrs. Hyoudou. The reality of his situation demands much time spent in Heaven. He requires a vastly larger amount of training than he received initially and I also expect him to perform duties for Heaven once I feel he's ready." He put a hand up. "Don't misunderstand. I have no intention of monopolizing him completely. If you'd like, we can sit down and discuss a schedule that ensures you can spend as much time with him as possible."
Issei's mother slowly nodded, understanding. "I think we'd both like that…"
Raphael gave an appreciative nod. "Now then, I'd like to speak with your son alone. Perhaps we might use his bedroom?"
She and her husband nodded, their expressions numb.
"Sir," Issei interjected, "I, uh… I don't think that's a good idea. There's some things in there… well, I don't-"
"Is there anywhere else, then?"
Issei nodded. "The spare room down the hall from mine should do fine."
Issei led his King up the stairs that the Jack had climbed innumerable times. Walking in front, he took him past his own bedroom door, the first on the right. Then, his parent's bedroom on the other side of the hall. Past that, there was the bathroom. The wood creaked beneath their feet at every step, that same nostalgic smell washing in Issei's nostrils once more.
At the end of the hall, Issei opened the door to the back room and ushered his King inside.
To call the spare bedroom such a thing was accurate on two levels. The bedroom was the unused one for guests, of course, but it was also simple, plain in its furnishings. It was dominated by a double bed on one wall, with a simple nightstand and alarm clock to the bed's right. The sheets were a plain gray and black, easily cleaned and not requiring bleach should they be stained. On the other side of the room, a simple desk stood with a modest chair, in case the guest should want to write, use a laptop computer or whatever else a desk might be required for.
As Issei closed the door to the room, Raphael cleared his throat. "That's quite the awful tale you tell, Issei. Whatever they might be worth, you have my condolences. I'll keep that story to myself if you wish."
"That won't be necessary, sir," Issei said, not wanting to discuss this topic much further but also knowing that he wouldn't be able to fight the question off forever.
Unbeknownst to Issei, there was anger simmering beneath the surface of Raphael's calm expression. Yet he picked up on his Jack's discomfort all the same, and promptly changed the subject.
"Very well. Now, I'd like to get into the meat of what I wanted to talk to you alone about – your meeting with Rias Gremory."
"Yes, sir," Issei said. "What is it you wanted to discuss about that?"
"Mostly how to act," Raphael said, the Seraph's face as serious as he'd ever seen it. "While my own respect for Rias Gremory has just taken a massive hit, I still expect you to act according to your station. In a sense, Issei, you're effectively an invited guest to Kuoh. When you meet with them, be extremely polite, calm and friendly."
Issei was curious as to what exactly Raphael meant by his first comment, but he simply nodded. "Yes, sir. I understand."
"That said," Raphael continued, "under no circumstances are you to agree to anything or make any promises to them except to stay out of their affairs. It may come back to bite you later if you do. Devils are often excellent at twisting one's own words to their own agendas. I'm not saying that either of the Devil King's sisters or their peerages will try anything like that, but better to not take the chance at all. Am I understood?"
Issei nodded.
"Very good," Raphael said. "Now then, since we've addressed that, there's one other thing – how much time would you be willing to devote to your training in Heaven?"
Issei blinked. "You're asking me, sir?"
"I think it's important to take your wishes into account as much as your parents'. You'll have the pressures of schoolwork to deal with as well as your training and anything else we send you to do."
"If that's the case, sir…" Issei said, scratching his head, "I'd like to spend every second I can spare on it."
"How much time would that be, Issei?"
After Issei explained his school schedule, Raphael nodded. "Very well. I can discuss this with the others in Heaven and present a possibility in a day or so. I hope you don't mind, but I took the coordinates of your house while we were here."
"So you can come here and find me anytime you need me, sir?"
"Precisely," Raphael said. His lips turned up in a grin. "I'll be sure to knock… though I might well not bother with the front door. Your window should work just as well."
"That'll be a sight," Issei said, grinning.
"Though of course, I won't expect you to do any training for a few days. You're being given a temporary stay of torture, Issei."
"What for, sir?"
"You'll be returning to school, Issei, and you've been out for a fortnight. Rias Gremory has already agreed to get your absences excused and the chance to make up what you missed."
Issei's eye twitched. "Yes, sir. I understand."
"Right, then. I suppose I ought to let your parents know what you've said and bid them adieu before I return to Heaven." He stood, and Issei turned and led his King out.
Yet as he passed Issei's room, Raphael stopped, a slight grin curling onto his face.
What on earth could truly be so awful that his Jack didn't want him to see it? Sure, his Jack had been a bit of a lech, but what was the worst thing that could possibly be in his room?
And so, as Issei took to the stairs to descend back to the living room, Raphael slipped into his room.
"And I recommend that you burn the furniture."
Raphael sat on the Hyoudou's couch, looking as though he'd just returned home from a war zone. There was a haggard look in his bloodshot eyes, and his hands were shaking so badly that he could barely hold the mug of tea that had been placed there by Issei's mother.
"Sir, there was a reason I told you to not go in there…" Issei said, red as a beet and trying not to look at either of his parents, who were each taking the opportunity to laugh themselves silly. Issei did nothing to stem this amusement; his parents had certainly earned a hearty laugh after all they'd heard today.
If only it didn't have to be at his expense.
"You haven't seen too many women naked, have you, Raphael?" Issei's mother asked with a knowing, lecherous wink.
"N-no!" Raphael spluttered. "I'd never seek out such… obscene material! The things that were on your son's walls! Words fail me…!"
"I get the feeling you don't have much of a sex life, either," Issei's father added, earning a smirk from his wife and an embarrassed groan from Issei.
"I-I still have my purity, thank you very much!" Raphael choked out. "As do all my… well, I suppose Elizabeth probably doesn't, but the point stands!" He swept his half-crazed eyes toward Issei. "Issei Hyoudou! Attention!"
Issei snapped to a rigid position, arms stiff at his sides with thumbs pressed along the seams of his pants and feet locked together at the heels.
"Your order is to clear your living space of those vile materials! Immediately! DISMISSED!"
Issei pulled a perfect about-face, before nearly running to the closet where garbage bags were kept, snatching several and bolting up the stairs.
It was as he ripped the posters from the walls and disposed of the hidden magazines (all of which he made sure to not examine too closely to ensure he'd feel less temptation to keep them), Issei made another mental note.
Never, ever let Raphael meet Matsuda or Motohama…
And cut.
Hopefully Raphael didn't come across as too much of a prick in this chapter.
Yes, canon does show Issei's parents to be rather lecherous themselves. And that scene was much funnier in my head than on the page. I'm sorry.
As for the slight military-type gesture near the end, that's simply meant to show that Heaven is a military organization. While Seraphs rarely act this way, they will occasionally treat their Saints as soldiers… which is kind of what they are.
Next chapter is his meeting with the ORC and perhaps the obvious next thing after that. It depends on my level of laziness.
