Freelance DxD
Life 9: Memories
That same dream once more… that same room, that same kid, that same routine. A dream that keeps repeating itself is usually seen as a sign of something… if so, then I'm not having any sort of luck in figuring out the meaning behind this one…. But this time, for once, something actually stood out when the kid opened his mouth to speak.
"… memories…"
I raised a brow at the fuzzy statement. The only word I could make out, even if I can read lips, for some reason I was never able to make out what the kid was saying, as before it was always like his voice just wasn't there, but for once, I heard something.
But, why "memories"? What was being said?
"You really haven't caught on? Hmm, no wonder that bored dragon is frustrated."
I shot around at the sound of a new voice, being met be a figure wearing ornate white, blue tinted robes, the figure's face obscured by the massive hood of the robe, strands of long, messy white hair peering out and framing the person's pale chin… but something about the voice was soothing, calming, giving no sign of threat… just a friendly tone and a friendly smile.
"Poor child, locked away in here with no way to get through. I have to applaud that man for his work, he's been diligent… but he put the key too far out of reach." The robed figure hummed, walking over to the child and placing a hand on the boy's head, the shimmer of the cracked barrier appearing over the boy as the figure turned their gaze towards me. "I wonder, do you at least have a vague idea who this is?"
I simply shook my head in response, the figure chuckling as he ruffled the child's hair, a resounding snap of his fingers, the barrier around the boy vanishing. His body suddenly changing into being similar to my own, his hair became black as a raven's feathers with this odd tint of blue, and I was finally able to see his face, his eyes coming into view first.
They were blue, a shade as brilliant as a sapphire. A color my own eyes had been years ago. But then his face… his face was my face.
"AAAAGH!"
Soren snapped awake as a yell left his throat, shooting upright on his bed as he felt a cold sweat running down his face and drenching his black thaktop, Soren letting out a small groan as he put a hand on his throbbing head, laying back down.
"The hell was that?" Soren sighed, turning, then stopping when he saw another face… Lucina's.
The blue haired girl was peacefully asleep, using her arms as extra pillows, an instinctual scan revealing to Soren she was dressed in little but a criminally thin tanktop and white panties… and that was when it registered completely, Soren feeling his face warm up.
"EHHHHHHHHHH?!" Soren yelped, shooting up again, feeling himself lose balance as he teetered at the edge of the mattress, waving his arms to try and steady himself, "Whoaoaoaoaahhh!"
THUD
A pained groan escaped Soren's throat as he found himself staring at the ceiling, a dull pain at the base of his neck as he sat up, his eyes wide as Lucina shifted in her sleep, the demi-dragon's face burning red as he shot around and covered his face with his hands.
"What the hell?!" Soren muttered, then looking at his hands as he stopped, "Wait… was I just… did I freak out about that?"
"Yeah… what?!" Bahamut yelped, "You… you don't freak out about that stuff! You get annoyed! You just… huhhhhhh?!"
"That dream…" Soren muttered, seeing flashes pass through his mind, scenes of childhood, scenes of times he knew he didn't remember, the image of his own reflection… but of a smile, not a flat frown. "AAGGHH!"
Soren held his head as pain shot through his mind, the pain eventually stopping, Soren breathing heavily as he lowered his arms, his expression starkly shocked as his hands shook like leaves in the wind, steadying his breathing to calm down.
"Kid, you okay?" Bahamut asked, Soren nodding, a hand still on his head.
"Yeah… I think." Soren muttered, then looking back at the bed, slinking over and peering up over the edge, red coming to his face again as he stared at the sleeping Lucina, "Now for the main question… what is she doing in here?"
"I bet one hundred bucks it was Naga's idea." Bahamut chuckled.
"We'll see." Soren murmured, finding himself oddly fixated on the girl's sleeping face, her peaceful expression keeping him from moving, "Cute…"
"Kid… you just said… okay what the hell is going on with you?" Bahamut asked, Soren's face going redder as he shook his head.
"Doesn't matter and I don't know!" Soren spat, standing up, leaning on the bed and poking Lucina's cheek, the girl merely weakly moving his hand away and rolling over, Soren then finding himself staring at Lucina's chest… which for some reason was bigger than he thought it was, "Wait… I thought she was smaller."
"Another one hundred saying she wraps those things… damn, Gremory's got a rival in that area." Bahamut chuckled, Soren's look becoming… embarrassed rather than cross, the young man slapping his cheeks.
"Don't think about it don't think about it! Hey, Faustus, wake up!" Soren raised his voice a bit, gently shaking Lucina until the girl's eyes fluttered open, the sleep girl turning to Soren with her hair a complete mess (well, more than usual), a few strands stuck to her face and more sticking about as she let out a long yawn.
"M'ornin' Soren… huaaaaa! So shleepy…" Lucina murmured, her head meeting Soren's chest as she fell forward, the girl then wrapping her arms around him, "So warm…"
"Let go of me!" Soren yelped, Lucina to drowsy to resist as he moved her away, "What are you doing in my bed?!"
"Naga's idea…" Lucina answered, only staying upright because Soren was keeping her held up.
"I am not surprised." Bahamut hummed.
"What? A little physical closeness between master and student isn't problematic." Naga chuckled.
"No, it is!" Soren snapped, Lucina falling back onto the pillows as he let her go, "What kind of logic are you even following?!"
"The logic of a former mate."
"That doesn't apply here!" Soren yelled, yelping when Lucina shot up and yanked him down, the boy's face scarlet as it was shoved right into her chest, Lucina sleepily murmuring as she stroked his hair.
"Too loud… just sleep…" Lucina murmured, Soren struggling against her surprisingly vice like grip on him, getting out and flying back, the room shaking as his back slammed into the wall, Soren letting out another pained groan, one of the shelves then happening to tilt, the books on it falling onto Soren's head in time until he was left stunned from a rather large tome that was left stuck on his now bleeding head.
"Well that was… weird." Bahamut murmured, Soren tilting his head and letting the tome slip off, trudging out of the room and making his way to the bathroom, where the next thing to happen as Soren dunking his head into the basin of water, "Kid, you okay?"
"No idea." Soren grumbled, pulling his head back as he dried face, thinking back to the dream and how it had changed… all because of that cloaked figure. The reflection he saw changed into that of the him he saw in the dream. The black haired, blue eyed one with a more casual expression on his face. "That was just a dream… right?"
"Hm?"
"Nothing." Soren muttered, stopping dead when he opened the door to see Lucina standing there, rigid as a board and with a red face.
"Uh… I'm sorry!" Lucina bowed her head rapidly, Soren trying not to think about earlier now, "Naga uhm… well she said maybe if I… did that then, well… uhm…"
"I told her that seeing as the two of you are Dragon Gear holders, and considering Bahamut and I were mates, we have a certain synergy. I simply informed Luci of it and how that could help." Naga informed, her tone matter-of-fact.
"You say that like you were the only mate I had. Dragons don't mate for life y'know?" Bahamut grumbled.
"My sister doesn't count. She went after you."
"Tiamat goes after everyone! Or at least she did." Bahamut bit a sharp reply to Naga's statement, the female dragon letting out a huff.
"Okay… can we not listen in on your lover's spat?" Soren sighed, pinching his nose, "My morning is already getting weird as it is."
"We'll keep it private then. You two do as you will." Bahamut muttered, Soren feeling the Dragon's presence fade, Lucina blinking.
"Uhm… so, what are we going to do?" Lucina asked, Soren running a hand through his hair.
"Training."
"Huh?"
"EHHHHHH?!"
Lucina let out a loud gasp when she found Soren had transported the two of them to a gym… but for a gym it was odd, almost too spacious, the walls seeming to hum with some kind of power, the girl still shocked at the sudden move via magic circle.
"Where are we?"! Lucina gasped, Soren tapping a side wall, drawing out a practice sword from a rack that slid out.
"This is the training gym in the Freelancer base. We have… well, a place set aside in a pocket dimension." Soren stated, Lucina blinking.
"Pocket dimension? Is that really possible, even with magic?" Lucina inquired, Soren nodding.
"Devils use it all the time. Devil rating games are always held within magically constructed pocket dimensions that serve only to exist for that battle. This base functions much the same. My oldest siblings set it up with the help of some mages, and, technically, until someone who can enter is inside, the space and everything in it doesn't exist." Soren explained.
"Cool." Lucina hummed, "So… how are we gonna train? Magic? Swords?"
"Basics." Soren stated, Lucina blinking, Soren getting a slight smirk, the girl tilting her head in confusion.
"Come on, only five more laps, this isn't that hard!" Soren called out from a chair he'd pulled up, Lucina, outright heaving for breaths as she wearily ran along with a tire tied around her waist.
"How… is this… exercise?! This… is torture!" Lucina complained between breaths, Soren leaning on a knee.
"Pulling a tire gets easier after so long. Come on, for more Faustus. This is just to test your stamina."
"TWENTY… LAPS?!" Lucina shouted as she passed, Soren nodding in reply.
"This is just a warmup for the rest of us. Combat for the supernatural is just as much physical as it is supernatural. If you want to strengthen your Dragon Gear, then strengthening your body comes into play as well! Your body is draconic, which means by nature you'll be faster, stronger, and far more durable than even a Devil or Angel, but you have to train that up as well. Durability is a given strength, but speed and power have to be built up." Soren stated, Lucina letting out a loud groan of discomfort.
"But… my Gear… isn't even… a physical type!"
"Neither is mine, but even if I didn't have Balmung I still would have trained my body up as well. Our Gears only provide benefits, buffs to our physical prowess. Just because I can function as a spell caster mean I should neglect physical training." Soren added, Lucina groaning again, "Two more laps. Speed it up!"
As Soren continued to keep an eye on the slowing Lucina as she kept up the run, he turned when he heard the shimmer of a magic circle, the newcomer being a tall man with very messy, almost mane like brown hair and handsome looks marked by eyes of a sea colored blue, the man dressed rather casually in a sleeved shirt in jeans, but still keeping this air about him radiating with power.
"Hyoga? I thought you were busy in India." Soren hummed, the man shaking his head.
"Finished that job days ago and went back to England." Hyoga pulled up another chair, observing the exhausted Lucina, now on her last lap, managing to keep up a jog, "And who is this?"
"My… protégé." Soren murmured, Hyoga raising a brow in surprise at Soren admitting that. "It's kind of complicated. But, long story short, she's another Dragon Gear user… and the Faustus' kid, so can we keep this quiet?"
"A Faustus?! Surely you can't be serious?" Hyoga asked.
"I'm always serious, and don't call me Shirley." Soren quipped, Hyoga narrowing his eyes at him, "You walked into that one Hyoga."
"Yes… I did…" Hyoga admitted, "So… in other words, how is Japan? I imagine Kira was…"
"Nope. Happened one time, never again!" Soren spat, not noticing how his face heated up while he made an X with his arms… Hyoga however, surely noticing the embarrassed snap that was not normal for Soren… at all.
Though before anything else could be said, Lucina finally finished the last lap she was on, collapsing in front of the two young men, barely managing to stay on her hands and knees.
"And… done… ugh… I feel terrible." Lucina grumbled, managing to sit and take off the rope on her waist.
"You're out of shape." Soren murmured, kicking the tire and easily knocking it into the air, Lucina's eyes going wide as he caught it on one finger, "Give it a while and something like this is gonna be easy… as… pie!"
Soren then tossed the tire and bounced it once before kicking it into the wall hard enough to smash the wall a bit before Hyoga stopped the item himself with a foot, not even budging an inch despite the speed of the tire.
"Normally I'd reprimand you for damages… but then again." Hyoga hummed, Lucina giving a stilted stare of confusion as the man leaned on the tire, "Ah, forgive me, you must be wondering who I am. My name is Hyoga, and, technically speaking, I'm one of Soren's older siblings."
"Of three." Soren added.
"He… mentioned having siblings but… well, you don't… look like siblings." Lucina stated, Hyoga chuckling at the obvious comment.
"Well, of course. It's only technical. Those of us called Freelancers grew up in the Associciation, so we see each other as family. Of course Soren here is a bit more grudging with it at times." Hyoga ruffled Soren's hair, Soren sighing at the gesture but then feeling a pang shoot through his head…
The warm smile of a mother and father… the gentle feeling of a parental touch in a reassuring manner… reassuring words and praise given to a child's wonder… and echoing words jumbling together…
"… don't worry…"
"… you'll get it right next time!"
"You're a tough boy Soren. Believe me."
"… when you're old enough, you'll definitely see more than this world."
"Soren!"
Soren felt his mind clearing as he sat up, still feeling a pain in his skull while a warm feeling was on his lips, though it took a moment and movement for him to realize it was blood running from his nose as his pale fingers were stained red, Soren looking up as his vision cleared to see a very concerned looking Hyoga and Lucina looking at him, Hyoga sighing in relief as Soren wiped the blood off his face.
"What… happened?" Soren murmured, holding his head.
"You suddenly keeled over in pain… and you were muttering something." Hyoga stated, Soren blinking in confusion, "You were clutching your head like someone had just run a sword through it. Are you sure you're fine?"
"I'm… not really sure." Soren grumbled.
"Well, take the rest of the day off then. After that, it'd be better for you is your rested. Ms. Faustus, can you make sure he doesn't try anything… well, stupid, at least for today?" Hyoga asked, Lucina nodding rapidly as she snapped back.
"S-Sure." Lucina nodded, Soren rubbing the back of his head again.
"Come on, I'm fine!" Soren grumbled, Hyoga giving him a look.
"Don't act tough like Xander does. Now head on home and rest a bit. Whatever that was, take a break. I'll tell Xander and we'll see if we can figure out of anything is.. odd." Hyoga stated, Soren sighing dejectedly
"Fine. We'll talk again at the meeting this week. And don't tell Camellia." Soren murmured, Hyoga nodding, giving a wave as Soren snapped his fingers, he and Lucina appearing back in the living room of his house, Soren flopping down on the couch as he held his aching head.
"I'll got get some water." Lucina brushed herself off and trotted to the kitchen, Soren just waving an arm and covering his eyes, though uncovering them when he felt a weight on his chest, being faced with Fou staring at him very closely as Licht appeared as well, Kuro picking just that time to show up too.
"Fou?" Fou mewled, Soren raising a brow.
"He's asking about the headache." Bahamut asked.
"Yeah first there was this morning and now this. I FELT THAT. Woke me up from my nap." Licht complained, Soren shooting a narrowed look, "But as your Familiar I'm also concerned for my Master's health."
"Fou!"
"Now that you mention it fur ball, Soren did mutter something about a dream… but wouldn't it just be the same dreams you typically have?" Bahamut inquired.
"Something about a dream huh?" Kuro hummed, though before the topic could continue, Fou seeming to be dwelling on the topic, Soren's attention was drawn up by rapid knocking on the door, Fou jumping away as Soren went to the entrance, throwing the door open, and to his surprise, being met Issei, who's motion for the next knock didn't cease, causing him to fumble in his stance a bit.
"Hyoudo, what are you doing here?" Soren asked, a brow cocked, Issei catching his breath, his expression firmly determined. And in the back of things, Lucina peered out from the corner to listen in herself.
"Senpai, I need your help!" Issei stated, Soren's brow raising even more, "It's… it's Asia! The Fallen Angels have her, and I can't just leave her there with them!"
"Wait wait… you do remember what I said yeah? I'm not against you doing this, but keep in mind where you stand on the power scaling ladder!" Soren said, feeling weird about the concern in his voice now, feeling this little voice at the back of his head starting to be more than just a small buzz.
"I know! I know I'm weak, but that's why I'm asking for your help! You're crazy strong, so please! Please help me save Asia from them! I can't leave her around that crazy priest and those guys." Issei declared, Kuro jumping up to Soren's shoulder.
"What a happy coincidence, nya!" Kuro chuckled, "Soren here was just getting started on a deeper investigation of his own and was about to head up there!"
"EH?!" Soren yelped, Kuro chuckling at him in a scheming manner.
"Really?!" Issei gasped, Soren sighing as he realized he couldn't back out now.
"Yes. I even told your boss to stay out of it because… because I was going to see what was going on. It's way too suspicious, all of it." Soren stated, "But, you do realize, even with Promotion, you're gonna have a hard time. That Raynare chick is your fight… are you really willing to risk your life for a girl you just met?"
"Of course! Asia is my friend! It doesn't matter if I've known her for a day or a year! She's my friend and I'm gonna save her from those fallen angels." Issei declared, Fou and Licht now listening in. "But, I also realize that I can't do it alone, and I have no idea if anyone of the others will help me… so I'll ask again, please, help me save my friend!"
Soren dwelled on it for a moment, folding his arms and letting out a low noise of his own.
"Normally I know I'd be told not to, just stay out of it… It goes against all better judgement to get involved with this… but god dammit, I can't let it slide! Something is off and I wanna know what it is!" Soren thought, holding his head for a moment, his arm lowering, Issei's looks changing, "Alright, I'll back you up! It's a senpai's duty to help his kouhai after all!"
"YES!" Issei cheered.
"First off, did Gremory recognize that church as enemy ground?"
"Yeah, she did! I went to her as soon as I could but, she, well, she told me off." Issei sighed.
"You should have stuck around for a bit longer then."
Issei turned and Soren peered around, Kiba and Koneko happening to be at the gate of the house, the princely young man waving, Soren noting Kuro vanishing from his shoulder in a split second before she could be noticed.
"You ran off a bit too quickly." Kiba chuckled.
"Oh shut it pretty boy!" Issei snapped, Kiba holding up a hand.
"Hold on. I'm not saying I'm here to stop you. Quite the opposite in fact." Kiba then produced his sword, Issei's expression becoming surprised as Soren let out a bemused chuckle. "Buchou said "even with the help of Promotion", and while I'm sure we'll be reprimanded for working with…. Him." Soren was not one to miss the resentment Kiba was keeping down, considering how the knight had reacted to the fact Soren was a holy sword user, "Buchou did imply we should help you."
"Koneko too?" Issei asked, Koneko looking away from Soren, her eyes having been boring into his shoulder were Kuro had been.
"You two going alone would worry me… and I don't trust that guy." Koneko quietly stated, her deadpan expression moving back to Soren within that moment.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence shorty." Soren sighed, a hint of subtle anger flashing through Koneko's eyes at the comment about her tiny stature, Licht appearing on Soren's head, "Licht, can you head up to the church and scout around?"
Licht simply waved his tail back and forth, Soren picking the cat up off his head and staring him in the face.
"You know my price." Licht stated, Soren sighing.
"Alright, fine. Here, one for the road." Soren reached into his pocket and produced one of the square cookies, Licht snapping it up and leaping off as he ate, Soren turning back to the three Devils, Issei and Kiba surprised by Licht in general, Koneko… uncaring, "Yeah… he's a lazy bum unless I feed him those."
"Interesting familiar…" Kiba hummed.
"Y'know, I remember telling Gremory I'd handle it… peh not really suprised, well then, guess we'll just have to beat her to the punch then." Soren hummed, twisting a strand of hair, a small smirk rising on his face, "Alright then, let's go save a nun!"
"Hold on!" Lucina spoke up and stepped out form behind the corner, Soren turning to face her, "I don't really understand this much… but I can understand you're going to help somebody, right? Then I'm coming too! You could use all the extra help you can get, right?"
"Well yeah but… Lucina, you're kind of in the same boat as Hyoudo in terms of power." Soren said, Lucina then getting right in his face.
"I know, and I don't care! Helping people in the right thing to do! It doesn't matter if you're weak or you're strong, stepping up and helping no matter what is something everyone should try to do!" Lucina's tone was firm, and there was the immediate sense she would stubbornly stick to this no matter what Soren said.
He thought about it for a few moments, and the dragon boy then sighed.
"This is the worst…" Soren grumbled, Lucina raising a brow, "But… fine. I can see you won't let me argue. But stick close all right? You're barely getting a handle of your powers, so don't push yourself, capiche!?"
"Got it!"
A/N
Alrighty, things are underway and here we go, the train is heading uphill and it ain't about to slow down folks! I've got me some plans for the coming bits, and ohhh have I put thought into it.