Issei let out a satisfied smile as he sank into the bathtub. Actually, you couldn't even call it a tub, it was more like a swimming pool.
He closed his eyes. The water was soothing for his sore muscles. Buchou had made him train all day, harder than usual.
Something was wrong, even someone as dense as Issei could feel it. Something had thrown Buchou off her game, and now she was preparing for the worst.
The door opened. Buchou came in, her long red hair waving behind her gorgeous body.
"Oh, here you are." She seemed surprised, as if Issei didn't live here and had just trained all day. "You mind if I join you?"
"G-Go ahead," Issei managed to say, despite the perverted delusions that attempted to hijack control over his body.
She stripped out of her school uniform, as usual, she made no attempts to hide her body from Issei. He felt his blood gathering...down there, as usual.
"Can I ask you something, Buchou?"
"Go ahead, Ise."
"Why are you wearing your school uniform in summer?"
She halted her movements for a moment. "What do we wear during a Rating Game, Ise?"
That sounded weird. "But," Issei was confused. "This isn't a Rating Game."
She didn't reply.
Issei would have pressed on, but she unhooked her lacy bra and let it fall to the ground, and the sight of her perfect breasts kinda sucked out any other thought.
Buchou took off her panties and joined him in the bath.
"Hey, Ise, you wouldn't mind washing my back, would you?" She asked, turning towards him with her back.
"Of course not," Issei proclaimed, jumping to his feet.
"Now now," Rias said. "Don't get over excited, Ise."
"Oh." He quickly sat back down so the merciful water could hide his body once more.
She scurried closer towards him until he could feel the heat radiating from her body.
He took the shower gel and started rubbing her back. Her skin was so smooth.
Not good. Focus, Issei, before you faint.
He tried his best to keep his hands from drifting of to…more interesting regions.
After a few minutes, she took his hands and guided them to her belly. "The front needs washing too," she said, a seductive tone seeping into her voice. She leaned back against him.
He carefully rubbed her belly. He could feel the strong muscles keeping her belly flat. Without saying anything, she guided his hands higher.
Stay focused, Issei. You've touched her oppai before, it's no big deal. No reason to faint. Just keep-
"Ise... Why do I feel something hard against my-"
The lights flickered.
They both looked up. With a soft buzzing sound, the lights went out completely.
"Blackout?" Issei asked, his hands left her breasts. It was really dark now.
"No," Rias said, grabbing his hands. "Keep holding me."
She wasn't scared of the dark, was she? Yet there was something in her voice, a certain, fear.
A magic circle appeared, one with a very weird crest. It looked ivory, as it it has once been gold or white and had faded away, lost its radiance.
"Exousia," Rias whispered.
"Buchou?"
Two men appeared from the circle. One was tall, dressed in a kimono. He had black hair that formed a bun. His eyes were dark as well, and his skin was pale as snow.
Next to him was an even taller man with a grey aura. He had black hair too, but it was smooth and quite long for a male. He wore jeans and black boots. A chain dangled from his right hip. A black leather jacket with spikes adorned his chest.
In his hand, he held a floating grey orb which illuminated both of them.
"Good evening," the shorter one said.
"You," Rias said. "I knew it. You're with the Exousia. You're here to kill Alex."
"Not exactly," he said. "I'm Rayner, a fallen angel. This guy, however," he pointed at the taller delinquent. "Is Caleb, leader of the Exousia."
"If you're here to kill Alex," Ise said. "You'll have to kill me first." He made a fist. His other hand still held Buchou tightly against his body.
"Everything on time, Hyoudou-kun," Rayner said. "My revenge comes first. After that, Caleb will have his way with...what's left of you."
"Revenge?" Rias seemed confused. "Are you with Kokabiel?"
"Not exactly. My revenge is with the two of you, personally."
"I don't even know you," Issei said.
"No, but you did know my girlfriend. You betrayed her."
Girlfriend, just who…?
Rayner took out something from his pocket. A small pink bracelet.
Issei felt his heart freeze. He recognized that thing. He had given it to-
"Yuuma-chan," the fallen angel said. "You let her die. She begged you for her life."
Issei's eyes widened in shock. Yuuma-chan? How…?
Only the fact that he was naked, and holding Rias, kept him from standing up.
"So now you plan to kill my precious Ise," Rias said, anger gathering in her voice. "I'm afraid that won't be happening." A dark red aura gathered in her hand.
"Indeed. It won't go like that. Hyoudou-kun will feel the same as she did. He will beg his precious little Rias for his own life, and you will let him die. In fact, you'll be the one to kill him."
"You're insane," Rias said. "I would never betray Ise like that."
He smiled. "We'll see," he simply said
"I'm afraid not." She aimed her hand at him.
He made a strange gesture. Suddenly, Rias screamed. A blinding light radiated from her chest. It formed an 'R'. Her body became limp in his arms, and he had to keep her head up to prevent her from drowning.
"You see," Rayner said. "Hyoudou-kun wasn't the only one being monitored. While you were busy with Yuuma-chan and her friends, I took a Sacred Gear from another kid. A cursing type."
"Buchou?" Issei tried waking her up.
"See you soon," Rayner said. A blinding light made both of them disappear.
"Hang on, Buchou. Azazel-sensei will fix this." I hope.
\
\
"I've been looking for that particular Sacred Gear for a very long time," Azazel said, rubbing his chin. "Curse Writer, extremely rare."
"Can we focus on Buchou?" Issei said, slightly irritated.
Azazel cleared his throat. "Of course. Don't worry, she'll be all right. The curse is not nearly as strong as the one from Vritra."
"She sounded like she was in pain."
"Ah, yes, that's possible. But I've sealed it away now. The seal will contain it. I think it will fade away in a few days or maybe a few weeks."
"That fallen angel said he was Raynare's lover," Issei said.
"Ah, uhm about that." Azazel seemed uncomfortable. "I kinda assumed you guys killed him along with Dohnaseek, Mittelt and Kalawarner. I probably should have confirmed this."
"He said he would make Buchou betray me. Sensei, I have to know, is that possible? Is there a Sacred Gear, or maybe something else that could make her do that?"
"No. No Sacred Gear can take away a person's free will, Issei."
Issei nodded. "Good."
Azazel felt a slight stab next to his heart. He knew this was not entirely true. He knew what had been sighted recently. But he couldn't let Issei know about this. No one could know.