"I'm your Devil, at your service", Kuro graciously says to a woman as he bows with his right arm across his chest, wearing his usual black and white school uniform.
A woman, whom is standing in the doorway of a large house, looks astonished and surprised, but just smiles as she replies sweetly, "Oh, yes, those flyers. And now do you want my soul?"
Even though the woman was joking, Kuro stood straight with a warming smile, then replies, "Yes, so please hand it over."
The woman then fades into an awkward smile. "Um, you're kidding right?"
He couldn't hold it in, so he begins to start laughing lightly. "Yes, I am. My apologies, Mistress."
She stood shocked as Kuro leans down, taking her right hand and placing a light kiss on her knuckles. "O-Oh my", she spoke nervously, placing her other hand on her cheek.
He stood straight again, giving the woman a warm smile. "Actually, you don't really have to owe me anything in return but just your presence. Or anything else you may want to offer."
"Oh, okay then. Please, come inside." She steps aside, allowing the elder teen to enter her large, wealthy house.
Kuro's eyes gazes at every expensive looking items, such as the vase, the pictures, the electronics, the warm fireplace... Wow.
"Quite nice, hm", she asks, closing the door and making her way to the flat, fixed couch. But, when she sat, she let out a long sigh of relief. "It's been a long day at work for me, so I get just as exhausted as I am."
"Oh?" Kuro only stood beside the bar behind her.
Noticing his position, she motions him to sit next to her. "Come on, it's not like I'm going to kidnap you."
At her comment, Kuro chuckles lightly, then sits on the couch at the opposite side of her. Still flat and fixed like a few rectangles just like the woman sat in, but it was so comfortable.
"So, what kind of service do you do?"
"Well, it all depends on my contractor. But, I do any kind of services."
"Any kind of services, hm? How interesting."
Noticing what she meant, Kuro threw his arms in front of him as defense. "All but that kind of service, Mistress."
She giggles lightly, then thinks for a minute, looking towards Kuro, who still has his hands in front of him in defense, then finally suggests, "Mind cooking for me tonight?"
He then lowers his hands in his lap as he answers, "As you wish. And what would you like?"
"Just surprise me that has an amazing taste."
This brought a slight grin across Kuro's lips. "As you wish." He then got up and went towards the bar, and into the kitchen.
Just for a brief moment, Kuro took note of each cooking equipment she has in store. And it may appear she has the perfect stuff. So, he grabbed a pot, pan, whisk, and a few miscellaneous foods. Then, he got to work on the flat stove. Only a few minutes had passed before he got everything on a large plate and small bowl, entering the living room with the plate and bowl in hand and utensils in the other.
"Gyoza with fried rice covered in seaweed and soy sauce, along with a bowl of warm soup." Kuro lowers the meal on the coffee table in front of her, then lays the utensils next to the meal.
"Wow, that was quick." She eyes the warm meal with widened eyes. "And it looks delicious."
Kuro sits across from her, hands in his lap, then replies with a warm smile, "Please, enjoy."
She begins to eat quietly, then notices that Kuro's main visible red eye is elsewhere as he wears a blank expression, so she asks, "Is everything alright?"
He blinks back into reality as he faces the gorgeous woman again, then gives her a warm smile as he answers, "Yes, I was just remembering some stuff. It's been a long and interesting day for me."
"Long and intereting day, huh?" She finishes her rice and begins with her gyoza before adding, "I understand."
...
Only 2 weeks had passed, nearing closer to winter break. And things are beginning to sum up. Strays are becoming feared of Kuro, which are bringing them to believe that he has regained memories. With that, only a few has been spreading the not-yet-proven rumor.
Kuro is walking along the sidewalk after school, surrounded by girls as he wears a warm smile, listening to each of them. But, he senses something usually common nowadays. So, he looks to the side as he stops, eyeing a boy with the same uniform but with a red shirt underneath his coat hiding behind a bush.
"Excuse me, ladies, but I need to go this way", he warmly says to the girls.
"Well we'll go with you", one of the girls beg.
"I'll be fine on my own from here on out. All of you should get going."
After a moment of hesitation, the girls then leaves as a group along the way. Now, Kuro turns to the bush the boy is hiding in, then starts towards him.
The boy shakens slightly, but doesn't leave his spot.
"What are you doing here", Kuro sternly asks, kneeling in front of the bush.
No response.
"Look, you're not a very good hider, so I suggest to talk. At least through the bush, would you?"
The fellow highschooler only pokes out a part of his head, revealing his dark brown, messy hair, then spoke, "I was, uh, observing you."
"Observing, huh", Kuro replies with a question, then letting out a sigh. "What's you name, bud?"
"Issei Hyoudo." His voice was quiet.
Issei...
Shit. "Issei, huh", Kuro says with a warming tone. "Come on, I'll walk you home."
Issei finally stood from the bush, looking down at Kuro, who is knelt down in front of the bush. "I'm fine on my own, Kuro."
Kuro looks up at the boy, then asks curiously, "How do you know my name?"
"The whole school is talking about you."
As he began to stand, Kuro replies, "Now, I don't think I'm that popular."
With that, Issei sneers at him then walks off.
"That kid has some issues."
...
Two days had passed, now falling three hours before midnight. Kuro was back at the contractor's home, just like the others.
"Long day again", Kuro's contractor asks, slumped on her couch in the dim living room.
"Absolutely", Kuro answers, slumped on the other couch, exhausted. "So much physical work."
She giggles lightly before asking, "What do you Devils do, exactly?"
"Well..."
He thinks for a moment, eyes closed tiredly.
"... get rid of other Devil's that harms our territory or leave their masters."
"I see. Interesting on how good you Devil's are."
"You still owe me your soul, Mistress."
She shutters slightly, looking at Kuro scared. "U-Uh, what? I thought you said it was not needed?"
"Yeah, well..." He looks at her feared expression, grinning slightly, but warmly. "I'm kidding, kidding."
She sighs relievingly, resting back on her couch again. "You scared me half to death."
"My apologies." He rolls up his sleeve a bit, looking at his cheap digital watch, sighing as he says, "I gotta go to this other contractor. I'm full for the night, so this'll be a long one."
"Oh? How much did you make a contract with?"
"About seven in a matter a few weeks. It's very tiring."
"Well, good luck, um..."
"Kuro", he finishes for her, starting out the door with a sway of his somewhat long, black bang.
...
"Oh, you're back", the same woman asks, sprawled all on her couch.
"Yeah, I needed to speed through everyone to get back here", Kuro replied, sitting on the other couch tiredly.
"It's only been..." She looks up at her clock. "... three hours. Impressive."
"It was either that or I wouldn't be much of a servant."
"Or is it because you care of me?"
This brought Kuro's dark red eyes to her gleaming, wonderful eyes. But, he knew not to get affiliated with anymore women, so he replies, "Of course, you are my first contractor after all."
She gives him a small, warm grin, falling back on the edge of the couch with her head and hair laying on the floor and legs over the head rest of the couch. "How sweet of you."
He chuckles lightly at her comment, then replies, "All I am is just speaking the truth." He thought for a moment to have a conversation of. "What do you do during the day?"
At that, she sighs, closing her eyes. "I work for a busy corporation, which has been running me ragged since being hired."
"I see. How troublesome."
"And I'm curious about this one thing. What did you do before becoming a Devil?"
He thought for a moment, debating whether or not to share his dark, painful past. But, he couldn't be so rude to a contractor. He is her servant,so what is said must go. "I was a human once. And you won't believe me when I say that I was born in the year of 1621."
Alright guys, next chapter will explain more of Kuro. Not much, but only on what he is and how he became what he is. I'll try not to screw around with not spoiling too much of this character. For reasons being. But, expect Kuro to be explained in the next chapter. Anyways, I'll be keeping this up until the end. Just know that I have school and school is taking the best of me,so don't worry. Thank you guys for the support, favorites, all those good stuff. Keep dropping down your reviews to let me know on how I'm doing, or even PM me on some info of Highschool DxD that I should know about. Thanks again, see ya :)
-The Red Merc