Chapter 10: Familiars, New Foes and Old Friends.
I don't own DxD; I just use its characters and techniques. All credit goes to its creator. Same applies for anything that I used from other animes.
Welcome to Chapter 10 everybody and things are heating up big time. Last time, Issei and Riser faced off in an epic one-on-one battle that ended with Issei as the victor. Issei not only confirmed his place in Rias's heart, but also gained the affection of Riser's sister, Ravel. With Ddraig's revelation that his childhood friend may have known about him, things became slightly uncomfortable for Issei. What's next for our favorite hero?
(ORC)
"Issei, Asia, I have a special treat for you guys today." Rias said with a wry smile on her face.
"What's that?" Asia wondered innocently. Of course Issei knew what was coming since Sona told him this morning and Asia wasn't aware of their conversations for the most part.
"You're going to be getting a familiar today." Rias said happily.
"What's a familiar?" Asia wondered once again.
"A familiar is basically an assistant that can be sent to do tasks for you when you cannot." Rias explained.
"Ah, I see!" Asia said cheerfully.
Rias was concerned by the fact that Issei didn't react at all. "Hmm, no thoughts, Issei? I would've thought the idea of a familiar would be more exciting to you." Rias wondered. She still didn't have a good read on Issei and she didn't like it.
"Well, the idea is interesting, but I'm curious about your familiars." Issei replied with a smile.
"Alrighty then." Rias said calmly. The rest of the ORC nodded before summoning their familiars: Kiba had a small brown hawk; Koneko had a small white cat; Akeno had an eyeball with wings; of course that left Rias.
"I'm surprised you're not showing off your familiar, Rias." Issei said with a devious grin. After all he knew that her familiar was the creature who he saw before his date.
"Oh fine." Rias said nervously before showing off the very familiar creature. Issei's lack of reaction bothered her even more.
"These are all cool and I hope I get one that's just as fun." Issei said nonchalantly.
"Well, with that over with, I figured I'd introduce you and Asia to the other group of devils in the school." Rias said calmly. The fact Issei didn't say anything was troublesome but she had other tasks to deal with.
"There's another group of devils in Kuoh?" Issei exclaimed with a false surprise.
"That's right." Rias said calmly as a knock on the door interrupted them. "Come on in." Rias said nervously. Soon enough the student council had arrived.
"So Rias, did you explain familiars to them?" Sona said smiling as she walked in the room. Sona was happy to see Issei and she hoped that her secret boyfriend would behave. Unfortunately she knew him well enough to know that he wouldn't.
"HAHAHA! Oh this is rich!" Issei laughed out loud at the student councils arrival. Of course he knew about the peerage but decided to play the fool.
"I don't see what's so funny, Issei Hyoudou?" Sona growled. Somehow Rias still wasn't aware of their relationship so she had to be careful. However seeing him laugh like this wasn't very comforting. Over the year they were together, Sona learned about the many aspects of Issei's personality and she could tell his sarcastic side was coming out.
"Well, Matsuda and Motohama always called the student council president a devil. Turns out they were right." Issei joked causing most of the crowd to face fault.
"Seriously Issei, that's how you react to all of this?" Rias groaned both from Issei's antics and the fact he didn't' react to seeing Sona. She figured that if he knew Serafall he knew Sona somehow but that wasn't the case.
"Hmph, show some respect, pervert." Saji said angrily. Saji Genshirou was Sona's pawn and Issei was well aware of his attraction for his master.
"Enough Saji." Sona said angrily. This was the kind of thing she wanted to avoid. She knew about Saji's attraction to her and so did Issei. As a result she was worried that Issei would bully the young man mercilessly.
"So what brings the humble student council president to our little club? I imagine the meet and greet wasn't the only thing you had in mind, Rias." Issei replied snarkily.
Rias was getting angry at Issei's nonchalance but continued. "Anyway, like I said, tonight's the night to get a familiar. However, only one group can go at once, so Sona and I were going to compete to see who wins." Rias said happily.
"So, before we decided all of that, we figured it would be right to properly introduce you guys to each other." Sona added on.
Issei smiled and decided to play nice for a bit. "Alright, then I'm sorry about that. It's a pleasure to meet you, Saji." Issei said kindly as he offered his hand to the pawn.
"Hmph, don't touch me, you pervert. I still can't believe that a noble woman like Rias added you to her peerage. I doubt you're more than one pawn piece, unlike me who has four." Saji scoffed.
'Okay, he's gonna pay for that later.' Issei thought in his head. Issei didn't take being insulted well and that spelled trouble for Saji.
"Partner, he has Vritra's host inside him. Although it's only a piece." Ddraig revealed.
'Good, so he can take a punch or two.' Issei said to himself. He was already thinking of different ways he could pummel the young man into the ground.
"Come on now guys, be nice." Asia spoke up timidly trying to break things up. "Nice to meet you, Saji. I'm Asia." The former nun said with a more polite tone.
"Well it's a pleasure to meet you, Asia." Saji said happily. His reaction to Asia was one that bothered both Sona and Issei.
'He shouldn't have done that.' Sona thought to herself as she saw Issei's face. The most nerving aspect of Issei's personality was his vindictive side, and boy did he have one. Luckily for her, Issei typically dealt with the remarks about his perversion pretty well. However, Sona knew that Issei wouldn't take this particular insult lying down. Her concern was proven correct when Saji went flying out of nowhere.
"Are you okay, Saji?" Issei said sarcastically. Issei slammed Saji with a very quick elbow to the face in order to make him pay for his actions earlier. Luckily for him, nobody else saw him do it.
"Saji!" Momo cried out as she ran towards the fallen pawn.
"Here, let me help you!" Asia started to run over but was grabbed by Issei.
"No Asia, Saji will be fine. You don't need to use your sacred gear on him." Issei said coldly. Sure enough soon Saji was up and doing just fine.
Sona groaned before speaking up. "I'm sorry about my pawn, Rias. I guess he wasn't aware of the fact that Issei here defeated Riser Phenex and is worth eight pawns." Sona said coldly.
"You gotta be kidding me. That pervert is worth eight pawns?" Saji said in disbelief as Momo held onto him.
"I hope we get along, Saji." Issei said with a cold voice.
"Yeah, let's get along." Saji replied. The pair was staring daggers at each other. After all, Saji knew that Issei had quickly attacked him. However they were going to play nice for now.
'Good grief.' Rias and Sona both groaned internally. Both girls knew that Issei was far stronger than Saji, so any fight between the two would be an easy Issei beat down.
(Scene Skip)
Every so often an event happens that makes Kuoh Academy go crazy. One such event was about to take place after school and Issei and crew were center stage.
"So they're playing tennis huh?" Issei groaned as he stood by Kiba and Koneko. It was ultimately decided that the girls would play a doubles tennis match in order to determine who got their familiars first. Tsubaki and Sona vs Rias and Akeno in what would be a very fun match to watch.
"Yeah, tennis is one of those events that they can do that doesn't favor either one." Kiba groaned as the four girls made their way out. It was certainly a sight to behold as the girls came out in their tennis outfits. Akeno was wearing a yellow button up shirt with matching yellow skirt. Tsubaki was wearing a white button up shirt with a blue fringe and a blue skirt. Sona, to Issei's surprise, was wearing the same thing as Tsubaki, but with pink instead. Of course Rias was the outlier wearing a pink one piece dress. All four girls looked absolutely delicious.
"Very nice." Issei exclaimed. The girls certainly looked amazing and Issei was definitely going to enjoy this.
"GO SONA!" Saji shouted out.
"GET 'EM, RIAS!" Issei replied trying to seem neutral. Though he noticed the frown coming from Sona's face. She knew he couldn't show public support for her, but it still bothered her.
(Scene Skip)
"Next it's dodgeball huh." Issei said with a groan. Sona and Rias were originally going to decide the battle with a tennis match but the two girls got so caught up in winning that they began using magic. Then again, Issei couldn't complain since both Sona and Rias looked fantastic in the tennis outfits.
"That's right. Though don't use too much strength." Rias warned. Apparently the whole school wanted to finally see Issei pay and dodgeball was a perfect way to do it.
'This from the girl who used magic during a tennis match and hoped nobody saw her.' Issei thought with amusement. "I'll try." Issei groaned trying to ignore the booing coming from the rest of his classmates.
"Get the pervert!" "Crush him!" "Die pervert!"
"You're going down, Hyoudou." Saji said smiling. He was the hero and Issei was the villain. It was as it should be.
'This is gonna be fun.' Issei smiled remembering that he did owe Saji a little more pain.
'This is a terrible idea.' Sona thought to herself as she noticed Issei's smile. Whenever Issei smiled like that, it usually spelled problems. During their training the year before she secretly took him on missions with her in order to boost his strength, and whenever he smiled like he was right now, pain was coming.
"Alright everybody, let's go!" Rias said happily as the battle began. Sure enough, everybody targeted Issei who easily dodged most of the attacks.
"That's not possible. He can't be this good!" Momo exclaimed in shock.
"I'd stay focused, Momo." Akeno said cheerfully before nailing the silver haired girl in the side. Thanks to everybody targeting Issei the battle quickly went the way of the ORC.
"Oh come on, Hyoudou. I know you can do better than that!" Saji taunted.
Considering we're winning, Saji, I'd say I'm doing just fine." Issei replied. After all, Saji was the only one left due to everyone else targeting him. He managed to dodge everyone's attacks thus far, and the rest of the team counterattacked.
"Hmph! You're just riding the coattails of the girls. I bet you couldn't beat me on your own." Saji said smiling.
'Wanna bet?' Issei thought to himself. "Hey girls, let me and Saji duke it out!" Issei said smiling.
"Okay then." The girls said as they got out of the way.
"Saji, be careful!" Sona said nervously from the sidelines.
"Don't worry, Sona. I can take this pervert." Saji said confidently.
'You might think that, but I know a way to really throw him off.' Issei thought to himself.
"What's wrong, pervert, are you scared? I'll give you the first shot." Saji said confidently. That was enough to tick off Issei and Ddraig.
"Partner, I've got an idea." Ddraig whispered a new plan which Issei approved of.
'Brilliant, Ddraig. I knew there was a reason we got along so well.' Issei thought to himself. "You've got nothing on me, Vritra!" Issei yelled out just as he was about to fire his attack.
"What did you just- NGHHHHHH!" Saji exclaimed before groaning in pain from Issei's strike. While most of the crowd cringed Issei was smiling like a loon.
"Ouch." Rias said almost pitying Saji. Thanks to the distraction Issei nailed Saji right in the nuts with his throw. It was a move that caused most of the guys in the crowd to wince in pain.
'That was a cheap move, Issei.' Sona thought to herself as she looked at her pawn writhing on the ground.
"Ahh, I needed that." Issei said smiling knowing that he won the battle for his team. That and punishing Saji for his antics felt oh so good. Honestly he'd rather beat the crap out of him but this happened to work just as well.
(Scene Skip)
"That was a cheap trick, Issei." Sona pouted as she lay in Issei's bed after yet another night of passion. Issei's antics won the battle for Rias and the right to get a familiar. Issei ended up befriending the legendary Skidbladnir, who he called Ryuuteimaru. Asia meanwhile got a sprite dragon that she named Raisei. A name which was transparent to Issei.
"Give me a break, Sona. Saji had it coming. At least I didn't try to use magic in a tennis match. You're lucky that nobody noticed otherwise we would've had serious problems."
"Oh, give me a break. You know you loved it." Sona teased.
"What I loved, was you in the tennis uniform. Plus I got to punish Saji, and he might finally have somebody who will cure him of his foolish crush on you." Issei teased as he kissed the Sitri princess on the cheek. Momo looking after Saji was a clear indication that she had affection for the young man.
"Everybody wins then." Sona said happily though she was well aware that the battle between him and Saji was only getting started.
(Scene Skip)
So Vali, do you have any idea why Azazel called both of us over at the same time?" Issei wondered. This was his usual day to see Azazel for the contract, but when he opened the door Vali answered.
"I don't know, but I get the sense he's nervous about something." Vali admitted and Issei agreed. Azazel wouldn't have called for both of them unless there was a problem.
"That's right, and it involves both of your groups directly." Azazel revealed as he walked into the room. While Issei was a pawn in Rias's peerage, Vali was the leader of his own group. There were four other supernatural beings in his group: Bikou, a descendant of Son Goku; Arthur Pendragon and his sister Le Fay a knight and magician respectively; and finally there was Kuroka, who was Koneko's older sister. Vali told him the story and Issei was certain that Koneko would forgive her sister once she learned the truth.
"So where were you just now?" Issei wondered. Calling them both and late, this was a big deal.
"I was speaking to members of the Grigori. We have a massive problem and I wanted to get as much information as possible before I told you guys." Azazel said almost in fear.
"What happened?" Issei wondered nervously.
"Yeah, you're usually never this nervous." Vali added. Azazel was about as nonchalant as it got and if something was bothering him this was a massive problem.
"I'm nervous because my old warmonger buddy Kokabiel stole three fragments of the Excalibur from the church a few days ago." Azazel revealed.
"Wait a minute, did you say Excalibur? He stole THAT Holy Sword?" Vali gasped in concern.
"That's right, Vali." Azazel replied.
"So what's the big deal?" Issei said nonchalantly. Sona told him about Holy Weapons but didn't get into the specifics about the major weapons.
"The original Excalibur was one of the most powerful Holy Swords in existence. It's the reason Arthur was King of Camelot. Legend has it that the swords were split into seven separate blades and six were given to the church, although I don't know why." Azazel explained.
Vali continued. "The story about why is Arthur's to tell, but I can at least tell you about the fragments. The seven powers are Ruler, which my teammate Arthur has in his possession, Destruction, Mimic, Nightmare, Rapidly, Blessings, and Transparency. Each of the blades on its own is dangerous, but together they make a blade that's just a tier or two short of our own sacred gears."
"In other words this is a serious problem." Issei gasped realizing the problem they now had. That blade in the wrong hands would cause some serious damage and he knew it.
"Saying it's a serious problem is a massive understatement. I have it on good authority that Kokabiel is on his way to Kuoh with his stolen blades. That warmonger is going to use the blades to attack your master and girlfriend and you're not powerful enough to beat him." Azazel warned. Issei groaned since Azazel was right. He had no chance against Kokabiel and it annoys him.
"Are you sure it's that simple?" Vali spoke up. Something about the information bothered him.
"What do you mean simple, Vali? Am I missing something?" Azazel questioned.
"Kokabiel only took three of the blades. If he could find the first three, why wouldn't he take the other three? Plus he doesn't need the blades to kill Rias or Sona; he could do that on his own." Vali explained. Issei and Azazel both thought for a second and realized the problem at the same time.
"Damn it! Now I see what you mean. Things are even worse than I ever imagined." Azazel said in a panic.
"He only stole three because he wanted to leave blades for the church to use in attempt to get the others back." Issei guessed.
"That's right. Thanks to him only stealing three blades, the church will send exorcists who they believe can retrieve the swords. They'll be the type of warriors who believe in everything the church stands for and are willing to die for their mission. It's exactly what Kokabiel needs." Azazel revealed.
"In other words now he has two ways to start a war. The first way is if he kills Sona and Rias and causes their siscon siblings to go ballistic. The second way is the exorcists. If he kills them the church will use it as an excuse to attack the devils in the town and make things extremely difficult for said siscons." Vali added in.
"Exactly, and I can't do anything myself because it would cause a division amongst the fallen angels." Azazel said angrily.
"I need to tell Sona and Rias immediately." Issei said worriedly. This was a problem and the sooner the girls knew the better.
"You do realize how stupid that is right?" Vali warned.
"Partner, Vali is right. The Sitri may be smart enough to realize it's a trap, but the Gremory girl will go after Kokabiel, no doubt about it. We need to wait until the exorcists arrive and hope we can work together. That's the only chance you have." Ddraig explained.
"Yeah, I know but that's still dangerous." Issei said worriedly. Something else was bothering him about the decision and he couldn't say anything yet.
"Well for right now just relax. It'll take a few days for the church to arrange everything and send them to us, until then you have to be smart." Azazel said worriedly.
"Alright." Issei said nervously as he made his way home. Not only was he concerned about Rias and Sona but a third factor was brought into play and one he really didn't want to think about.
(Scene Skip)
"So what do we do now, Ddraig?" Issei said nervously as he sat in his room. Not only was he on the verge of battling against a cadre, but when Azazel told him that the church would send exorcists, something else got to him.
"Partner, I don't know what to tell you. This is far more complicated than anything I've ever gotten involved in." Ddraig said worriedly.
"Things are pretty complicated already, but there's another factor that I think will make things even worse for me." Issei said nervously.
"I'm confused, what else could be bothering you?" Ddraig inquired.
"When you told me that Irina's father was an exorcist I realized why she moved away all those years ago." Issei said solemnly. Irina always loved the church and she was as devoted to God as anybody. If Issei was right then his childhood friend was on the way. As he looked at a photo of the two of them playing together he frowned.
"Wait a minute, partner, are you saying…?" Ddraig exclaimed.
"That's right. I'd bet all of my old porn mags that one of the exorcists coming to Kuoh is Irina. She knows the area, and since she's high school age, she could go to Kuoh Academy without looking out of place."
"That's not good partner. Plus she'll have one of those blades."
"Well let's hope I'm wrong." Issei groaned. Things were already complicated enough and if Irina returned things would get even worse.
"Hey Issei, Sona's here for her tutoring session!" His mom yelled out.
"Got it!" Issei replied as he got up to bring Sona to his room. Who knows, maybe sex with Sona would make him feel better. After all in addition to fighting against Kokabiel, he might be facing one of his only true friends.
(Abandoned Church)
Two figures stood in the middle of the abandoned church where Rias and gang fought off Raynare. Their faces were covered by the long church robes they wore.
"It seems like somebody fought a big battle here recently." One figure said with a bubbly voice.
"Apparently so, I heard that a group of rogue fallen angels took on the devils that were in this neighborhood and lost." The second figure said with a more stoic voice.
"This used to be such a beautiful church, too." The first figure said solemnly.
"You've been to this church before?" The second figured asked nervously.
"Well of course I have, Xenovia. I used to live in Kuoh as a kid." The first figure said before removing her hood. The first figure was a girl about 17 years old with chestnut hair in twintails that were held together by matching blue rings and purple eyes. Irina had definitely grown up and was now sporting an impressive bust that was upper B-cup but she was medium height.
"I take it you know somebody we can talk to?" The second figure, whose name was Xenovia, said calmly as she took off her hood. Xenovia was also around 17 years old with blue hair that was cut short and had a small green fringe on the side. Her bust was equal to Irina's but since she was taller and skinnier she looked bigger.
"I know somebody who might be able to help. Then again, it's been ages since I saw Issei." Irina said happily. Even though she was there for business, there was no doubt that Irina was going to enjoy seeing her childhood friend.
That's it for Chapter 10 everybody, and I hope you enjoyed this little display. This was by far one of the trickiest chapters I had to write because of the number of things I wanted to put in this chapter. Between the student council meeting and obtaining familiars, I ran out of space to get everything I wanted. I personally don't like the familiar forest arc which is why I skipped it, but at least I confirmed Issei will have Ryuuteimaru and Asia have Raisei. Plus I wanted to introduce Irina and Xenovia before the beginning of next chapter. For the record, I do have a plan for our favorite church girls for after the chapter, and it won't quite be the conventional way. Next chapter Issei's fears about Irina are confirmed when his childhood friend appears in Kuoh. Of course to make matters worse it turns out that Kuoh's pretty boy has a very ugly history with the legendary blades.