The Lone Vigilante Issei – High School DxD
Hello again! It's me – Hide Shinyama!
Sorry for the long wait. Our house has been changing providers and it took us some days, before everything was fixed. Plus, I also forgot to send this chapter to my home computer (because I write it at work whenever I have time).
I really hope whatever has been interrupting my attempts to write my story will go away. I mean, I really am getting the creeps as to SGVsbG8gYWdhaW4u why it has been happening lately. I mean, it feels like my computer VGhlIGVuZCBpcyBuZWFyLg== is being hacked… as if someone is trying to take over my story.
I don't know what it is, but I have the feeling something is going to happen. VGhlIG1vbWVudCBvZiB0cnV0aCB3aWxsIGNoYW5nZSBldmVyeXRoaW5nLg== Speaking of happening, what is going to happen to the perverted trio? Will the key Julie gave Motohama help them find Yuusuke? What is Julie hiding? What did Motohama find out about her?
UHJlcGFyZSB5b3Vyc2VsZiwgSGlkZSBTaGlueWFtYS4uLiBmb3Igc29vbiBJIHdpbGwgYmUgaW4gY29udHJvbC4uLiBBaGFoYWhhaGEuLi4gQUhBSEFIQUhBSEFIQUhBSEFBQUEh
[…]
AND WILL THESE ANNOYING HACK MESSAGES EVER END!? *Sigh*…
I guess we'll have to find out in…
Chapter 13 – Getting closer…
14th September, Friday, about 8:43 pm – Outskirts of Kuoh, Sakabasu Detention Facility, dorm rooms
Dinner had just ended and everyone was preparing to finish his or her final duties for the day and then go to sleep.
To Matsuda's relief, he found out that Nathalie was fine. She said she had something to do, which is why she got out of bed earlier. Matsuda made sure to ask her that after dinner. After all, asking this question in the presence of everyone else was foolhardy. Before they departed, Nathalie and Matsuda shared a kiss, something that had Issei seething with jealousy. Sure, Issei had a girlfriend and they had their moments of passion, too, but he never had sex with Sally – and his relationship began much earlier than Matsuda's and Nathalie's relationship.
Motohama on the other hand reflected on what Julie had told him earlier – about him being better off than the Issei and Matsuda. What did Julie mean when she said that their relationship wouldn't last very long? He didn't know, but he did know one thing. It was something that he had to tell the others, but couldn't do so with the wardens around them.
As soon as Motohama managed to get their ear, they agreed to convene their meeting as soon as possible. It took them quite a while, since they were out raking leaves again, but eventually they were able to finish their task. This is why Matsuda, Motohama and Issei retreated to their dorm rooms and were now sitting on Issei's bed. Issei's Boosted Gear was on his arm, in order to make Ddraig audible for everyone. Thus, all the participants had assembled and the meeting could commence.
[This meeting is officially in session. I, the Red Dragon Emperor Y Ddraig Goch, one of the two Heavenly Dragon Emperors now preside this meeting] Ddraig announced with full formality and majesty. This caused everyone else of this formal-informal meeting to frown.
"Ddraig, what are you doing?" Issei asked with a frown.
[I always wanted to do this. This is a dream come true] Ddraig replied.
"But this a totally unnecessary!" Matsuda remarked.
[Well… in hindsight, you may have a point…] Ddraig admitted. [Anyway, let us begin. Issei, tell everyone about our findings] Ddraig told Issei.
"Why don't you?" Issei asked Ddraig. "In fact why not Motohama? He's the one who said, he had important information."
[First, because I am presiding this meeting. Secondly, because we want to get the less significant findings out of the way, lest we forget them once we talk about Motohama's discovery. Now, tell everyone what you have seen, council member Hyoudou] Ddraig insisted playfully.
He sometimes wondered how Ddraig managed to become a Heavenly Dragon Emperor. He was such a troll sometimes and yet someone like him is one the Welsh flag. Nonetheless, Issei just sighed, before starting.
"Anyway…" Issei began. "Ddraig and I went around the building, trying to find Yuusuke, but to no luck. Since he is probably dead already… and rotting away, too… Ddraig thought we could smell him out, so we did. We tried our best but we couldn't find him. There is one good thing that we have to share, though…"
"What have you got? Do you have a clue?" Matsuda asked curiously.
To their disappointment, Issei shook his head. "No. Ddraig has been training me how to sense people's energy levels. He even taught me how to smell out things by myself, however…" Issei trailed off, leading to Matsuda and Motohama to wonder what Issei was going to say.
"However… what?" Motohama asked.
"Yeah, quit beating around the bush. What happened?" Matsuda pressed Issei for answers.
Issei gulped, before continuing. "Ddraig had me dragonify my nose in return…" Issei admitted.
""WHAT!?"" Matsuda and Motohama shouted with their eyes bulging out. Issei flinched at their shout, before responding.
"It's just like I said, I turned my nose into that of a dragon's so that my sense of smelling could be enhanced. Ddraig told me that was the only way. I did so. It wasn't painful or anything, but it does feel kind of weird having a dragon's nose… After that, Ddraig taught me how to use it… and the rest is history…" Issei explained. Matsuda and Motohama moved closer to look at Issei's nose. They looked but it seemed like his nose was normal.
"But… I don't see any difference between your nose then and now…" Matsuda remarked.
"Yeah, if it's dragonified, shouldn't your nose look like a dragon's snout… or something like that?" Motohama asked.
Issei just chuckled embarrassed at that. "Well, it really did dragonify. Really… Ddraig made sure of it… Outwardly my nose stayed the same, but it really is different now…"
Satisfied, Matsuda and Motohama backed off. They still had one question, though.
"Say, how good are you at smelling things?" Motohama asked.
Issei just raised an eyebrow. "Like… What for example?"
"Like… I don't know… like something in the distance for example…?" Matsuda's eyes looked around, his eyes finally landing on something. "…Like the deodorant on the bathroom! That one always smells!" he pointed to the bathroom, which contained the deodorant. The bathroom was approximately three meters away from where they were sitting – not too far away from the bathroom, but still far away for anybody to smell anything from it.
"OK..." Issei closed his eyes and started sniffing. He tried to ignore the sweaty bodies of his friends, which stung his nose first. Issei wrinkled his nose. Issei resisted the urge to tell them to move aside, after all this was a good challenge. His nose finally picked up the scent of moist bathroom air, which was filled with a number of aromas, including… the toilet bowl, ugh! Following Ddraig's instructions on smelling, he blocked out all other smells and managed to find the deodorant.
"Guys! I've got it! I've got it!" Issei exclaimed. Matsuda and Motohama were also excited and exchanged high fives with each other. After settling down, Matsuda spoke up.
"Guys, this is great! Now, we can find Yuusuke!" he exclaimed excited. Issei nodded in agreement.
"Yeah… but the next time we do this, you guys should go take a shower first…" Issei muttered. The other two picked up what he said and looked at him questioningly.
""What?"" Matsuda and Motohama asked in unison. Issei quickly shook his head to dismiss what he had said.
"Nothing, nothing…" Issei replied with a sweat drop rolling down his face, hoping they wouldn't question him further on his comment. Thankfully, Ddraig came to his rescue and took over the conversation once again.
[Anyway… That was all we had to say… Now tell us, Motohama. What is it that you've found out?] Ddraig asked, bringing everyone's attention to Motohama.
"Wha… Oh yes…" Motohama cleared his throat before beginning. "Well… Matsuda and I were checking out every door inside the building as possible, but there were so many of them and a significant number of them were locked. There was no way we could go in and check them all…"
Issei and Ddraig were frowning. Locked, huh? This was going to be a problem.
"While we were looking," Matsuda continued. "Julie came up and asked what we were doing. We managed to make up a lie on the spot, saying that we needed to toilet paper… which was true of course, thanks to a certain someone here…" Matsuda turned to glare at Motohama.
"Hey!" Motohama protested. "You'd do the same thing if you've been stuck in an illusion like I was!"
"Anyway…" Matsuda turned back to Issei and Ddraig. "…Julie opened one of the doors for us and gave us a toilet paper roll. She then told Motohama that she needed to talk to him in private, so we agreed to meet later. He went with Julie and I checked out the rest of the rooms on the floor, before calling it a day. There were just too many of them and that police driver was probably in those locked rooms anyway, so… what could I do?" Matsuda asked hoping the others would understand (which they did, if one were to judge by their nods).
"And what did you do after that?" Issei asked.
"I took the paper roll and put it in the bathroom. It's there now, so no problem doing some 'big business'. You know what I'm saying?" Matsuda asked. Everyone nodded. Well, at least that problem is solved.
[All right, thank you Matsuda. Now let us get back to you. What was it that you have found out, Motohama?] Ddraig asked again.
"Yeah… about what that… I think I should tell you guys… what happened…" Motohama said. To everyone's surprise, his face became rather serious and melancholy. They wondered what was wrong with him, but decided to let him speak.
"Well after Matsuda and I separated, Julie and I went into her room," Motohama recounted, leading everybody to widen their eyes in shock and interrupt him immediately.
"You went into Julie's room!?" Issei yelled in surprise, before his mind made a certain conclusion. "Did you two have sex!?"
"How dare you do that, you b*****d!" Matsuda yelled in anger not realizing his hypocrisy.
[YEEEHAH! Ride my saddle, cowgirl!] Ddraig said, deciding to join in the heat of the outrage with his… ridiculous trolling.
Motohama remained calm, despite all the outrage that was coming at him. Motohama took a deep breath, before he looked at Issei and calmly debunked what they said.
"First: No, we didn't have sex… even though we both wanted to…" Motohama replied, his face becoming a bit melancholy, as he remembered their conversation. He quickly managed to regain his composure.
"What do you mean by that?" Issei asked confused. How was something like that possible?
"I'll get to that," Motohama assured Issei, before continuing, as he turned to Matsuda with a deadpanned expression on his face. "Second: Matsuda. Even if I did have sex with Julie… you're the last person in this room to lecture me. After all, you had sex with Nathalie, remember?" Motohama reminded his friend, whose face turned away with an embarrassed blush, as he finally realized his own hypocrisy.
Finally, Motohama turned his face towards the Boosted Gear. "And last of all, Ddraig: SHUT YOUR FRIGGIN' MOUTH, YOU PERVERTED REPTILIAN! WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE SEXUAL REFERENCES COMING FROM YOU, CUZ' I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU A SERIOUS FRIGGIN' STORY, SO SHUT YOUR TRAP!" Motohama shouted, causing Issei and Matsuda to flinch back in surprise. Ddraig only grumbled at Motohama's retort.
[Perverted reptilian…? Grumble… grumble… Do not make me into a member of a potential perverted quartet… grumble… grumble…] Ddraig grumbled. Seeing everybody silenced, Motohama resumed with his barely started story.
"Where was I… oh yeah! Julie and I went into her room, when… well… how should I put it? We were talking about the boundaries of student-teacher relationships," Motohama explained.
"Why? Were you two talking about getting into one? I mean, Sally and I did so and Matsuda and Nathalie did the same. So… I guess it's no wonder if Julie wanted to do the same," Issei reasoned. Motohama continued his story, not caring too much, about what Issei said.
"Eventually, I confessed to her…" Motohama said with a slight smile. "I told her how I fell in love with her...how many good things I learned from her… and because of that I asked her to be my girlfriend."
[Did she say yes?] Ddraig asked.
"She didn't answer that… yet..." Motohama answered. "Instead, she asked me about what I thought about losing my virginity…"
"What for?" Issei asked this time.
"At first, I thought she wanted to have sex with me, but what she really wanted was to challenge my reasons on having sex in the first place," Motohama replied. "She told me that I shouldn't see my virginity as a burden or something that I need to graduate from in order to get into adulthood… but instead to see it as a treasure of a kind… so that… well… your first time may become precious…"
Matsuda and Issei just looked at Motohama with a frown. Clearly, they could not understand that kind of concept.
"Dude, why would you ever want to value your virginity?" Matsuda scoffed. "Having sex is… like the best thing ever!"
"That's right, man! Unlike loli-lover next to me…" Issei joined in, earning a frown from Matsuda for his comment. "…I may not have had sex yet, but even I can say that it's the best thing ever."
"Well… Julie and I don't deny that… in fact, we both want it – And we still do! It's just the timing and sharing your first time with the right person… that's what she wanted me to do… unfortunately…" Motohama lowered his face with a saddened look. Once again, Issei, Matsuda and Ddraig were worried for him.
"What's wrong, man?" Matsuda asked him concerned. Motohama stayed silent, before mustering himself up to speak.
"…she rejected me,"
""She rejected you!?"" Issei and Matsuda exclaimed incredulously.
"Yeah…" Motohama confirmed, still disappointed that he was the only one who didn't have a girlfriend.
"Dude… I'm sorry…" Issei tried to console his friend.
"Yeah, me too," Matsuda added, putting a hand on his shoulder.
Motohama nodded, he appreciated their concern, except that he wasn't done yet.
"Thanks, guys… but… at the same time… she did something… contradictory," Motohama revealed. Matsuda removed his hand from his shoulder a little surprised.
"Contradictory?" Matsuda asked.
"Yep… She hugged me and started crying. Julie told me how much she wanted to be together with me, but she couldn't… Julie said that circumstances prevent her from doing so… and that everything will be explained later… it was then that I realized something was wrong…" Motohama explained.
"W-wait! Hold up!" Issei interrupted. "What could possibly prevent Julie from pursuing a relationship with you? I mean, Sally and I have a relationship… and Nathalie and Matsuda have one, too! So we have at least two wardens ok with a teacher-student relationship, so why does Julie think she can't?"
"Yeah, but here's the weird thing," Motohama said. "There were two things that she did that bothered me." Issei, Matsuda and Ddraig paid attention to what Motohama just said.
[What were those two weird things Julie just mentioned?] Ddraig inquired. Issei and Matsuda moved their faces a bit closer in curiosity. Was this what Motohama was building up to this entire time? Motohama backed away a bit, since he wasn't feeling comfortable being this close to his friends, yet nonetheless was ready to satisfy their curiosity.
"OK… here goes… number one: I complained to Julie at one point about how unlucky I am in being the last to lose my virginity among us three… Thanks you two…" Motohama threw a glare at Issei and Matsuda, who feeling intimidated, flinched back.
"Hey, it's not my fault that Sally said yes to me and Julie said no to you!" Issei said defensively.
[Partner, we're getting off track. Go on, young Motohama…] Ddraig beckoned him.
"Anyway… Julie told me… that despite not ending up in a relationship like you three… for some reason… she thinks I'm… better off that way…" Motohama explained with a blank look on his face. Issei and Matsuda looked at Motohama as if he said something crazy.
"Why?" Issei questioned. "Is it because of the 'your first time should be precious' thing she mentioned earlier?"
"To be honest, I don't think it's that… Julie told me that your relationships with Sally and Julie wouldn't last very long for some reason…" Motohama answered, making his friends' eyes bulge out of their eye-sockets and remaining frozen like that with their mouths agape. Motohama looked at them worried, before he waved his hand in front of them.
"Uh… guys?" Motohama asked, concerned for his friends. That eventually became a fear for his own skin, when Issei woke up from his frozen state and grabbed Motohama at his shoulders.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN OUR RELATIONSHIPS WON'T LAST LONG!? DO YOU MEAN THAT MY RELATIONSHIP WITH SALLY WILL COME TO AN END!?" Issei demanded, shaking his friend, making him literally shaken up.
"I…I DON'T KNOW! SHE TOLD ME THAT THEY WON'T LAST LONG AND THAT'S THAT! NOW LET ME GO!" Motohama shouted frightened, begging Issei to let go, which he did.
Motohama took a while to recover, before speaking up.
"And that's the weird part. She says it won't last long, but the way how cagey she acts… I have the feeling that for some reason she knows something that we don't," Motohama said. However, as he looked at his two buddies, Motohama saw that Issei was lost deep in his thoughts and Matsuda was still frozen in shocked position. Only Ddraig was responsive.
[Wait a second, Motohama. I'll wake Issei up, you wake your friend Matsuda] Ddraig instructed him. Motohama nodded and shook Matsuda awake, while Ddraig called from his consciousness to get him back.
"W-what…?" Issei said a bit dazed.
"OK… OK… Let me go! Sheesh!" Matsuda said a bit annoyed at how he had been shaken awake.
[Are you two awake?] Ddraig asked, getting nods from the two of them.
[Good. Then let us continue] Ddraig told the three of them. Motohama cleared his throat, as he repeated himself.
"I said that Julie was acting all cagey and suspicious when she told me about how short-lived your relationship might be. I think that she may know something we don't," Motohama answered.
"And… what makes you so sure of that?" Matsuda wondered.
"Well, that's where the second thing Julie did comes into play," Motohama explained. Motohama looked at his friends, who beckoned him to go on.
"After replying to my confession, she gave me this," Motohama pulled out something out of his pocket. Issei, Matsuda and Ddraig looked at what Motohama had in his hand. It looked like a key of some kind.
"Why did she give you a key?" Issei asked Motohama. He inspected to see if there was anything unusual about it.
"Well… that's where things got weird: Up until then, we were only talking about love, romance and starting a relationship. Then all the sudden, she gives me this key and tells me to… What did she say again? Oh yeah! 'Try out every door. Follow your smell. The door to the room that opens with this key will have what you're looking for.' I didn't know what to think about it, until I left Julie's room and somehow connected it to our search for Yuusuke. It made sense. Us three looking through every door, Julie showing up and giving me the key, in light of all this, it all made sense…" Motohama told them solemnly.
Ddraig, Issei and Matsuda had to take in everything they had just heard from Motohama. If Motohama was saying was true, then judging from what Julie had told Motohama that would mean…
[Julie! She knows!] Ddraig deduced.
"She knows where Yuusuke is!" Issei said, jumping up from his bed.
"Of course…" Matsuda reasoned. "She saw how we were checking out the doors. And if she knows where Yuusuke is…"
[…then her cagey behavior and her giving Motohama the key... it all makes sense…] Ddraig finished the conclusion.
"Yeah, but how does she know all that, if that were the case?" Issei asked. Motohama sighed sadly, raising Issei's attention.
"What's wrong, Motohama? Is there something else bothering you?" Issei asked concerned.
"Well… I had a suspicion… it's just a theory, but the more I think of it, it just makes sense…" Motohama told Issei.
"What theory? What else have you got?" Matsuda queried curiously. Motohama sighed again, before speaking up.
"…I was thinking… There's got to be a reason as to why Julie knows about Yuusuke…"
"How so, man?" Matsuda asked, tilting his head in confusion.
"Well… I think… She may have been responsible… for his kidnapping…" Motohama explained.
""WHAT!?"" Issei and Matsuda shouted, causing Motohama to close his ears.
"Ouch! Guys, your shouts hurt my ears!" Motohama complained, taking his hands off his ears.
"Sorry, man… What you said just now… Are you sure? Do you think she may be working for the succubus?" Matsuda asked.
"I don't know… but Julie did say she couldn't be with me because of the circumstances… she also seemed quite upset… I wonder if this may be why…" Motohama reasoned.
[You are saying that Julie is feeling guilty for her involvement of Yuusuke's kidnapping… am I right?] Ddraig concluded. Motohama nodded, before turning his face away, trying to hide the tears running from his face. The more he thought about how Julie may be one of the culprits in league with the succubus that has been after them for more than a week, just filled his heart with sadness. The fact that she felt guilty and sad about it, made it even harder for them.
"Julie… *sob*… Why Julie…? *sob*…" Motohama grieved. Issei and Matsuda wasted no time. They immediately gave their friend a good hug (in a bromance kind of way).
"It's ok, man…" Issei comforted his friend. "It's gonna be all right…"
"Yeah, at least she was honest with you. I mean, if she had ended up with you dishonestly it would have been worse…" Matsuda said, as he rubbed his Motohama's back.
"Why Julie… *sob*… why…" Motohama was shedding tears unto Issei's shoulders. Neither of them said a word for a moment until Ddraig spoke up.
[People… I do not like to interrupt, but we need to make a decision on what we want to do. Therefore, if you do not mind, here is my suggestion: We wait until all the wardens are asleep and then we check all the rooms. We sniff out every one of them until we find Yuusuke's remains. Then we will try opening the right door with the key. We start at midnight. Until then, make sure that you all stay awake. Do you understand?] Ddraig advised the grieving and comforting perverted trio.
The perverted trio looked at the Boosted Gear and nodded their heads. They had no problem with Ddraig's plan, yet at the same time, they were too busy huddling among themselves. Ddraig loved to make fun of their pseudo-sexualized situation, but this situation was not something to be made fun of. After all, this was a real-life event full of shock, guilt, rejection and love.
Ddraig, being the mature dragon that he is (most of the time) decided to dismiss the Boosted Gear and himself, since Issei was too busy grieving with Motohama and Matsuda to do so.
And so, they sat there. Comforting each other on Issei's bed in the darkness (not in a sexual way of course!), grieving and strengthening their bonds with each other.
The sun had already set; the red glow of the evening had already passed away. The wind blew in the trees as the night came and replaced the day. The autumn leaves were falling down the trees and unto the ground, leaving the perverted trio with more leaves to rake for tomorrow.
Tomorrow, however… was not going to happen the way they expected it to be.
14th September, Friday, about 9:25 pm – Outskirts of Kuoh, Sakabasu Detention Facility, lunch hall
After leaving Motohama in the dorm room for some privacy, Issei went to the lunch hall. He was getting himself a cup and some apple juice to drink. Issei knew that there were bottles and carts of water and apple juice in the dining hall. The wardens said that they were there for everyone to drink and right now, Issei needed something to drink.
He sighed, as he remembered what Motohama told him not too long ago. For one, it was good that they finally had a lead on the missing police officer Yuusuke – and possibly even the succubus itself. To think that Julie may have been involved in Yuusuke's disappearance, however...
This came as a shock to him. Who would have thought that sweet, quiet Julie might be working with someone as devious and cruel as the succubus…? It just baffled Issei as to why someone would do something like that…
Then again… Why did Julie go out of her way to help Motohama find his body? If Julie were conspiring with the succubus, then… for what reason would she help him?
Issei thought about that, as he picked up a cart of apple juice and poured into his cup. He drank from it, as he let those thoughts go through his head.
Perhaps Julie felt guilty for what she was doing… That would explain why she broke down into tears earlier and why she gave Motohama that key. It could also be that Julie was forced to work with the succubus for reason. Yeah, and maybe Julie decided to undermine the succubus in secret by giving Motohama a lead.
Though wait! Something was weird about what Julie had told Motohama. What was it again…? Oh yeah, it was 'Try out every door. Follow your smell. The door to the room that opens with this key will have what you're looking for'. Using the key to try to open every door was one thing. But why would you follow your smell?
The obvious answer of course would be because Yuusuke's corpse was already rotting away. Just using the key to discover which room Yuusuke was hidden in should be more than enough. SO WHY USE THE SMELL AS A HINT? IT IS AS IF JULIE WAS AWARE OF DDRAIG AND THE BOOSTED GEAR AND WAS TELLING MOTOHAMA TO… QUhBSEFIQUhBSEFIQS4uLg==
!?
Issei put his cup down and looked around alarmed, as if expecting an enemy to show up. There was nothing. It was just like that other time last week. It felt like there was some kind of glitch. Issei didn't like this. Was it the succubus doing this?
Issei relaxed, took his cup in his hand again and drank the juice in one go.
This couldn't go on.
They needed to do something before anyone else gets killed.
Issei sighed as he sat down.
Speaking of strange: Motohama mentioned something about his and Matsuda's current relationships not lasting long.
Now why is that? What have Sally and Nathalie to do with this?
Issei shuddered as he realized something. Could it be that something is going to happen to them?
'No… not Sally…' Issei thought. He got up and wanted to find her – to see if she was OK. Before he could do more…
"Issei?" someone spoke up. "What are you doing here?"
Issei whirled around and saw the person he was looking for – Sally. She was already wearing her pajamas and slippers and it looked like she was going around to check up on the facility to see if everything was OK.
Issei went up to her relieved and hugged her. Sally yelped in surprise, and then giggled as she hugged him back. They faced each other and kissed. After they separated, Issei sighed in relief.
"Thank goodness, you're OK…" Issei said.
"Umm… yeah… Why wouldn't I be?" Sally asked slightly confused. Issei hesitated a bit, before answering her.
"Umm… well… never mind! I'm just glad you're here, that's all!" Issei made up an explanation, something which Sally seemed to buy, if one were to judge by her cutesy giggling face.
"Oh, Issei…" she cooed as she kissed her boyfriend again. They continued kissing for a while, until Sally interrupted to ask Issei a question.
"Say… What are you doing here? It's already past nine. Shouldn't you already be in bed?" Sally asked.
"Well… I wanted to get a drink, so I came down here to get some juice before I go to sleep," Issei told her. Sally tilted her head in confusion.
"But… if you do that does that mean you haven't brushed your teeth yet?" Sally asked curiously. Issei just chuckled nervously.
"Well… yeah…" Issei admitted. Sally giggled again.
"You know… Drinking juice before you go to sleep is not good for your teeth. It leaves behind sugar in your mouth. You should drink water instead," Sally advised Issei.
"Huh? But I said I'm going to brush my teeth later," Issei responded slightly confused.
"No, silly," Sally playfully rebuked Issei. "Even if you do brush your teeth, it still leaves a sugar in your mouth that you could have avoided if you hadn't drunk juice."
"Really. Huh?" Issei asked, while looking at Sally with a teasing smirk. "Did you brush your teeth?"
Sally was a bit surprised at Issei's question, but she giggled about two seconds later. "To be honest, no… ehehehe…" Sally giggled. Issei chuckled as well.
"Well, I guess we both have sugary mouths with rotting teeth, huh?" Issei responded playfully. Both of them laughed, as Sally jumped on Issei and started kissing again.
14th September, Friday, about 9:32 pm – Outskirts of Kuoh, Sakabasu Detention Facility, in the hallway
Similar to Issei, Matsuda, too, left Motohama alone for some privacy. He, too, thought about everything that Motohama had told them.
Julie was a spy for the succubus… or so he thought.
Matsuda felt he was right all along. Nathalie was the best girl in the facility. Normally, he would have rubbed that fact into Motohama's face. However, after seeing Motohama's defeated and tearful face, Matsuda had to admit: This went beyond their petty contest.
Matsuda shuddered to imagine. How would he have felt if he had been the one rejected like that? Matsuda certainly didn't want to be in his friend's shoes.
As Matsuda paced anxiously up and down the hallway, Matsuda wondered just what were to happen if they were to find Yuusuke?
Would they call the wardens for help? Would they even be able to do that before the succubus found them and ambushed them?
Either way, they were going to have to fight… or do something worth the adrenaline rush.
But that wasn't the only thing bothering Matsuda.
He was also mystified over the words Julie said – about how his and Nathalie's relationship won't last long. Now why did she say that? Why won't it last long? If one were to judge Julie's connection with the succubus as a factor for saying that, then… could it be… that the succubus might do something to cut their relationship short?
"Something like this…" Matsuda said in seething anger with his teeth clenched. "…won't ever happen!"
"What won't happen?" a voice came from behind Matsuda, causing him to whirl around surprised. To his relief and delight it was Nathalie, who stood there smiling and in pajamas.
"Surprised to see me, Matsuda?" she grinned. Matsuda and Julie looked at each other, before they tackled each other in a hug. They wasted no time kissing each other, their kisses full of passion. They even stuck their tongues into each other's mouths as both of them treasured their presence.
They stopped to catch their breath for a few seconds, panting as they did so.
"Nathalie…" Matsuda said. His eyes shimmered in lust, as he pressed her closer to his body.
"*giggle* It only has been a few hours and you're already so horny…" Nathalie giggled, as she wrapped her legs around Matsuda's waist.
"Of course…" Matsuda responded as he panted. "After all, you're so beautiful in every way I could hump you forever…"
"Well then… Why don't we take it in my bedroom again?" Nathalie purred seductively.
Matsuda nodded quickly and carried her up to Nathalie's room. At that moment, he forgot everything about Motohama, the succubus and finding Yuusuke. All he cared for was Nathalie – and only Nathalie. One thing he did not forget though, something that he wished he could just forget about.
'What kinda nonsense is Julie talking about? Our relationship will never stop… I'll make sure of it…' Matsuda thought in defiance, as he smashed his lips against Nathalie.
They went upstairs as fast as Matsuda's legs could carry for another long-awaited round of lovemaking.
14th September, Friday, about [Time unknown] – [Location unknown]
WW91J3JlIG1pbmUh
[looks around]
What's going on?
[…]
Why am I on? Why am I on…? Why isn't the story continuing?
[looks around some more, until realizing something]
Seriously!? Whoever is doing this, stop it!
[…]
Anyway… back to my story.
14th September, Friday, about 9:35 pm – Outskirts of Kuoh, Sakabasu Detention Facility, meanwhile with Issei
Issei and Sally had just finished kissing and were just sitting next to each other on one of the tables. Sally leaned on Issei's shoulder, while they held each other's hands. They both felt the warmth of each other's presence and they were enjoying it.
While the two of them did so, Issei couldn't help but resume thinking on whatever ordeals he and Sally might face. Sure, he was strong and had the Boosted Gear, but that wouldn't help him against the succubus, Issei thought. Taking out a vengeful police officer was one thing, but back then, that rogue cop didn't know what Issei was capable of. The succubus was another matter altogether…
She or it had been watching him – maybe it already seen his fight with the rogue cop for all he knew. And what did he have, anyway? Issei wasn't skilled, he barely even got started with the Boosted Gear and judging what Ddraig had told him about it, he still had a long way to go. So… what was he going to do if things went south…?
"Issei?" said Sally, turning her face with concern towards Issei, which in turn startled him.
"Y-yeah?" Issei replied startled.
"You were spacing out for a while. Is everything OK?" Sally asked. Issei tried to brush it off.
"Yeah… I'm fine… I'm fine…" Issei said dismissively, though he partially resumed his musing. "I just… had to think about something…"
"Think about what?" Sally wondered. Issei thought for a while on whether to answer her or not. He decided to do so.
"Say…" Issei spoke up. Sally didn't turn her face, but she gave out a sound, indicating she was listening. "Do you think… that we can be together like this… forever…?"
Sally looked at him in surprise, before looking at him a bit saddened (much to Issei's surprise). She let go of his hand, turned her face away from him, and looked towards the hallway.
"So… it's about that matter… huh…?" Sally whispered. Issei didn't quite hear her whisper, but managed to hear something, making him curious.
"Umm… Did you say something…?" Issei wondered. Sally shook her head quickly, still looking away from him.
"No! It's nothing…" Sally responded.
"Oh… I see…" Issei answered. Just a minute ago, they were embracing each other tenderly, but now they had broken off and there was an awkward silence between them.
'Hmmm… I wonder what her problem is,' Issei thought. He wondered why she was so upset.
Sally finally decided to turn her face back to Issei. She looked at him tenderly, yet still saddened, as she answered his question.
"…To be honest… I don't know…" Sally replied, something that made Issei a bit unsettled. Deep in his heart, however, he had a feeling that their relationship… might not last forever. Why is it…?
"You're thinking about what Julie said to Motohama. Aren't you?" Sally interrupted Issei's train of thoughts. Issei looked at her flabbergasted.
"Wait. How did you…?" Issei wanted to know, but Sally answered him, before he could finish his question.
"Julie told me. She told me about how she rejected Motohama… and how she told him that Matsuda's and Nathalie's relationship and ours might not work…" Sally confessed. "…I figured Motohama must have told you, so… that's how I knew…" Issei didn't know what to say at first. He was shocked that Sally knew in the first place. Now, that he knew, he had to get the elephant out of the room first.
"So is it true?" Issei asked earnestly. "Is it true what Julie said about our relationship?"
Sally didn't say anything. She did nod her head in silence.
"Why?" Issei asked again a bit louder.
Sally didn't say anything again, but this time she proceeded to throw herself into Issei's arms. Sally's action startled Issei once again until he noticed that Sally was making muffled noises into his t-shirt.
She was crying.
Issei didn't know what to do. All he could do was to comfort her with his presence. He patted her head, trying his best to comfort her. As Sally continued to sob, Issei knew that something was wrong.
"I'm…" Sally started, trying hard to stifle her sobs. "…I'm sorry, Issei… I'm sorry… I love you… *sob*… I just wanted to be with you forever… but…"
Sally couldn't continue, as she started wailing. Issei hugged her close to himself, trying to console her. He didn't want to press her… not while she is like this, but he had to know.
"Sally…" Issei spoke softly, while stroking her hair. "I have to know… Why can't you be with me…?"
Sally sobbed for a few more minutes, before she calmed down and looked up into Issei's eyes. Her sky-blue eyes were shimmering with tears, as she began to speak.
"I… No, we… Monique… Julie… Nathalie and I… aren't really prison wardens…" she revealed to Issei's surprise. Issei couldn't believe what he was hearing. He blinked his eyes in confusion, as he stared at her with confusion.
"Wait… But you've bee-" Issei tried to say, but Sally quickly explained.
"Yes, we've been guarding you. We've also been teaching you… tutoring you… taking care of you… feeding you… But… While you were here… Haven't you asked yourself about why the quality of the detention facility is so good?" Sally asked Issei.
"Well…" Issei replied, while thinking a bit. "I have to say I was surprised at how good you've been to us all. I mean…" Issei chuckled, while counting all the good aspects of Sakabasu Detention Facility.
"…your tutoring sessions are great, the food is great, our rooms and beds are top-notch, all the classrooms are excellent and you yourselves are… great girls yourselves!" Issei commented, something that temporarily caused Sally to giggle a bit, before turning serious again.
"Yes… you're right. Everything is good…" Sally replied, before she looked away in shame. "…too good…"
"Too good?" Issei questioned.
"Issei… How many crimininals and offenders do you think are in Kuoh?" asked Sally, turning her face back. Issei was a bit annoyed at how she seemed to beat around the bush yet figured out that there has to be a reason for her question. Nevertheless, he couldn't come up with an answer, so he shrugged his shoulders.
"A conservative estimate is that there are about at least 1.200 of them inside Kuoh. At least 500 of them are serving their sentences in correction facilities, at least of a two hundred of them stay there for at least a year," she answered. Issei just nodded at her answer. He didn't know whether he should be shocked or not, since he knows little about these kinds of figures. He just beckoned her to continue.
"There are currently three such correction facilities in Kuoh, not counting Kuoh Police Prison. Now let me ask you this: Assuming that these two hundred are evenly distributed among these four facilities and that we are the fifth one. How many prisoners should logically be distributed here?" Sally asked.
"I guess it would be… forty each… I think…" Issei replied. Sally nodded her head.
"That's correct," Sally affirmed. "Now here's my next question: Have you ever wondered why only the three of you are here?" Sally asked.
Issei widened his eyes in realization. Something about how it was only the three of them here was weird.
"Yeah… Now that I think of it," Issei reasoned. "I did find it fishy that only Matsuda, Motohama and I were transferred here. There are plenty of bedrooms in this big facility and yet we were the only ones there. I always wondered why that was the case…"
Sally started to show a guilty expression on her face, as she continued. "…Not only that, but have you wondered why the facility is clean? No detention facility in the world is possibly this clean. Especially if it's this big…" Issei also found that aspect strange. Yeah, that was not normal. Issei tried to reply, but Sally went on.
"…Or why there are only girls like us with charming looks and demeanors that would swoon any man… or why we seem so perfect… or-"
"Sally!" Issei said suddenly, causing Sally to stop in surprise to hear what her lover had to say. "What are you trying to tell me?"
Sally recovered from her shock, before she spoke "…What I'm trying to tell you is…"
Issei listened intently, trying to hear her answer.
Suddenly, she turned her head around in panic. She looked around her in the dark lunch hall and to the ceiling, as if something was approaching. Issei tried to look about as well but couldn't find anything. While he was frantically looking around he remembered to use his newly draconic nose. Issei sniffed around and was certain that he smelled something from the distance but couldn't pinpoint where. Who or whatever carried that scent quickly vanished. Issei wondered what it was, however, Sally tugged on his shirt and looked at him with a sense of urgency, before speaking.
"Issei! You've got to get back to you room!" Sally urged him.
"What? Why? What was that just now?" Issei demanded.
"It's not safe here! Get back to your room, you'll be safe there!" Sally insisted. Issei hesitated since he didn't want to leave.
"Sally, I don't want to leave you…" Issei said, but Sally quickly shook her head.
"There's no time! You've got to go back to your room to the others! Don't worry about me… I'll be fine… I'll be…" Sally tried to speak, but she for some reason, she seemed to fall into a sleep of some kind. Issei grabbed her shoulders and tried to wake her up.
"Sally? Sally!" Issei tried to get her attention, but it was no good.
She was unconscious.
Issei got up from the table, he was sitting on, picked Sally up in a princess-carry and ran out into the hallway.
'Ddraig, what's going on? Sally just fainted right before she saw something suspicious. Did you see anything? All I did was smell and for a moment I thought I smelled something in the distance…' Issei spoke mentally to Ddraig.
[Yes, so did I. I didn't see anything, but I'm pretty sure that Succubus is behind this again] Ddraig deduced.
'That succubus again…' Issei replied mentally, as ran towards his shared dorm-room. 'I should have known it was there…' He looked down at Sally and saw that other than being unconscious, she was completely fine otherwise.
Though wait! The way Sally warned him… Could it be that she too knew about the succubus? So, it wasn't just Julie alone who knew…
Issei decided to lay these thoughts aside for the moment. He had to get to the dorm-room where the other two were. That way he, Ddraig, Matsuda and Motohama could huddle together and fight the succubus together.
14th September, Friday, about 9:46 pm – Outskirts of Kuoh, Sakabasu Detention Facility, in Nathalie's room
Nathalie and Matsuda had just finished having sex on Nathalie's bed. Although, they have done it before it felt good every time they did so.
Yet, just like Issei the big mental elephant in his mind still was there.
"Nathalie… Do you think… our relationship could ever be cut short…?" Matsuda asked.
Nathlie widened her eyes in surprise. Matsuda immediately tried to defend himself.
"I… well… I'm sorry!" Matsuda apologized. "Forget what I said… I-"
"You talked to Julie, didn't you?" Nathalie asked, as her eyes looked downward sadly.
"Well… it was Motoha- Wait. How did you know?" Matsuda asked in surprise.
Nathalie sighed. "Julie told me about her conversation with Motohama… and I had an idea either he or she would have told you…"
"So…? Is it true… What Julie said about our relationship being doomed…?" Matsuda looked at her anxiously. To his surprise, Nathalie started to shed tears. She sobbed as she hugged Matsuda.
That action alone told Matsuda volumes. He hugged Nathalie tightly. It confirmed Julie's words, the future of their relationship and confirmed a theory he had been thinking after he had left the dorm room.
"Nathalie… You know about the succubus, don't you…?" he asked quietly. Nathalie nodded, as she continued to sob.
Yes. Matsuda had been thinking that if Julie knew about the succubus, then that would mean all the other guards knew about it as well, including Nathalie – perhaps even colluding with it. Matsuda had no way of confirming it, of course. For all he knew, it could have just been Julie who was in cahoots with the succubus. However, Nathalie's guilty tears and reply proved what he feared was the truth.
She knew about the succubus all along and was letting it prey on them.
Why…? They had come so far into their relationship… only for it to end so soon…? Why… was life so unfair? Why did the girl he gave his virginity to turn out to be working for the enemy?
As he was pondering all this, Nathalie broke off from her hug and looked into Matsuda's eyes in tears.
"Matsuda… You know I love you…" she confessed, tears flowing down from her face. "…but… we can't be together anymore…"
Matsuda froze in shock, before gritting his teeth in anguish. He wanted to tell her that he wouldn't accept that. That he would be with her whatever the circumstances. But on the other hand, he knew that their relationship was built on lies on Nathalie's side. He knew such a relationship couldn't last long…
Frustrated, the bald-headed pervert started to shed tears. He leaned on Nathalie's shoulders for support. Matsuda didn't know what to do. He was lost… and grieved because of the turmoil of what he was going through.
Nathalie comforted him by kissing him on the cheek.
"Matsuda… I've said it before… My job here is to help you overcome your past and move towards the future… That is why… you have to let go of me…" she told him. Matsuda violently shook his head.
"I… I can't…" Matsuda said tearfully.
"You must… The succubus… is coming for you… she plans on consuming your souls… You and the others have to go… leave this facility… and us…" she told him in tears.
"I… I don't want to leave you behind… You can come wi-" Matsuda tried to persuade her, but Nathalie shook her head sadly.
"No… I can't… I cannot leave the succubus' influence… You on the other hand can… Find your friends and find the missing guard…" Nathalie instructed him.
"Who cares about him!" Matsuda wailed. "I don't want to…" he stopped speaking when he saw that Nathalie was becoming transparent.
"NATHALIE!" Matsuda shouted.
"Matsuda… there's not much time…" Nathalie told him, as she slowly faded away. "Listen carefully… the succubus will be coming to find you… so you've got to get back to them as quickly as possible… Find your friends and tell them this: You can't get out of this prison by breaking out like on the news or TV… You have to find the body of the prison guard Yuusuke, using the key Julie gave your friend… it's the only way… And as for us… you have to let me go… forget about me… You on the other hand… have a whole future ahead of you…"
"NATHALIE! NO!" Matsuda begged her. He wanted her to stay, but to no avail.
"…I hope you find someone who will love you… just as much as I did… Please… live on… I… love… you…" Nathalie smiled one last time tearfully, before disappearing...
Matsuda sat there, as he saw the love of his life disappearing before him.
He couldn't believe it.
She was gone! Just like that!
Matsuda broke down and wept on the bed, naked and alone.
He cried his heart out, just like Motohama had earlier. What Julie told Motohama earlier was right. Motohama was better off than the rest of the others. At least he never had to go through the heartbreak and pain that Matsuda had to go through… namely the heartbreak and pain of losing your girlfriend…
14th September, Friday, about 9:48 pm – Outskirts of Kuoh, Sakabasu Detention Facility, in the dorm-room
Issei reached the dorm room. With one hand, he managed to open the door, despite carrying Sally in his arms. Inside, Motohama was still sitting on his bed in melancholy, but was quickly interrupted by Issei coming in. He was shocked to see Issei carrying Sally and immediately got up to ask what's wrong.
"It's that succubus! It's on to us!" Issei answered urgently, as he laid Sally on his bed. He gently laid her head on the pillow and covered her with the blanket on the bed.
Motohama widened his eyes at Issei's response. "That succubus! It's here?" Issei nodded.
"Yeah, we need to get ready! It could come any time fo- Wait a minute! Where's Matsuda?" Issei asked, as he looked around the room for his friend. Motohama just shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't know!" Motohama replied honestly. "He went out just like you did, though he hasn't come back until now."
Issei was filled with dread. The succubus was out there. Who knows here it was and if it knew the facility like the back of its hand then…
"No time to waste! I've got to find him!" Issei exclaimed, as he summoned the Boosted Gear.
"Wait… I… You…" Motohama tried to voice his objection but couldn't because of the hectic.
"Motohama, stay here and take care of Sally. OK?" Issei added, before he rushed out of the room.
Motohama stood there dumbfounded, yet fearful at the same time. He went to the unconscious Sally to see if everything was alright with her. So far, he couldn't see any problems with Sally. Her breathing was fine, she had no injuries… Maybe the succubus had cast a sleeping spell of some kind.
Motohama shuddered the moment he thought of sleeping spell being used. It reminded him too much of his experiences falling under the succubus' spell. Motohama looked at Sally in worry. He just hoped she didn't have to go through what he had to go through.
"I hope that succubus didn't do anything to you…" Motohama said quietly to the sleeping Sally. He reached his hand to her head to check her temperature. However, …
"What the…!" Motohama exclaimed.
Before his hand reached Sally's forehead, a bright flash happened, causing Motohama to cover his eyes. When he removed his hand, Sally was no longer lying in bed.
Motohama froze in shock at what had happened. Sally had disappeared! Before he could do anymore…
"You should be worried less about her… and more about you when I devour you…" a sultry, yet creepy feminine voice whispered into Motohama's ear.
The woman was holding him with a strong grip from behind, wrapping her arms around his body so that he couldn't move his arms. Motohama also saw the long black hair flowing down from her head.
If Motohama hadn't frozen in shock already, he was doubly frozen in horror now, his memories of psychological torture coming back to him
He recognized that voice.
It was the succubus.
"You always wanted to lose your virginity before you die, right?" the succubus asked seductively. "How about I take it and kill you slowly at the same time… now…"
Motohama reacted instinctively, not even considering her offer for a second. He may have been a pervert who would have given into such an offer. Right now, however, his horror and will to get out of here was stronger.
"NO!" he screamed in a panic. Motohama headbutted her, hitting her left eye. She immediately let go, rubbing her eye in pain.
Not being distracted by her scantily clad black one-piece suit and high heels, Motohama grabbed the blanket on Issei's bed and threw it over her. A second later Motohama pushed her to the ground and ran out of the door, slamming the door shut behind him.
After a few seconds of untangling she threw off the blanket and got off the floor. She dusted herself off, as she looked to the door in anger.
"Just you wait you little brat…" the succubus hissed dangerously. "…This is my facility… It won't be long before I get my hands on you…"
Took me long enough!
Hello everyone. It has been quite some time, hasn't it?
Anyway, let's discuss the chapter.
Now, our perverted quartet (Issei, Matsuda, Motohama and Ddraig) is now filled in on what Motohama knows and figured out. And yes, unfortunately Julie was collaborating with the succubus at some point. However, it seems there is some redemption for her because of the things she said and the key she gave Motohama, you know.
Things are really starting to unravel here. As you may have already realized, the facility is anything but normal. I mean what kind of facility has cute girls as guards, top-notch food, good tutoring and comfortable beds? They might a few of the things listed here, but not cute girls!
And the truth is coming out, too. All the wardens, probably have at some point worked together with the succubus, fully knowing its goals.
To make things worse, Nathalie has faded away and Sally disappeared in a flash – all because of the succubus.
What is going on? What's happened to them? What about Julie and Monique? Are they going to disappear as well? Where are they anyway?
And yes, the succubus has appeared in the flesh right behind Motohama. Thankfully, Motohama managed to put up a fight and run away.
Now all that's left is for the perverted quartet to find each other and to find Yuusuke.
You're probably wondering why finding Yuusuke is a must, well… you'll find out soon…
Man! All these hacks are annoying! Sorry for the disruption right in the middle of the story. But I get the feeling that as the story goes on, the worse it gets! That was me earlier by the way wondering what was going on. I feel like somebody is trying to drag me into the story or something.
This is seriously creeping me out!
First: all these random decrypted codes are constantly interrupting my story.
Second: My narration gets hijacked.
Third: A creepy poem show up.
And now: The focus of the story is now being turned on me!
I mean what is this? Well, whatever the case I'm not IT-specialized, nor do I have the time or will to call one who is. All I can do is just wait and see what happens next.
Speaking of happening, I think we should take a look at Kuoh and the devils again.
14th September, Friday, about 9:55 pm – Occult Research Club, Kuoh Academy
A red-haired big busted girl was looking out the window of the occult research club, looking at the beautiful moonlit night sky.
Normally, students shouldn't be on academy grounds at night but being the sister of a Maou and co-ruler of Kuoh gave her a lot of privileges. Plus, the club was kind of like a second home to her.
While she sat on the sofa, the spectacle-wearing student council president Sona Sitri came in, wearing the same serious look as ever.
"Rias, I've got something about that detention facility called Sakabasu Detention Facility that the perverted trio were sent to," she said. Rias turned around to look at her friend with a bit of confusion.
"I thought you wanted to check out the court and the judges?" Rias asked.
"I did," Sona replied. "But I didn't find anything there, so I did the next best thing and looked up the Sakabasu Detention Facility on Google."
"And…?" Rias asked, gesturing her friend to go on.
"Nothing," Sona simply replied.
Rias frowned slightly at that. "If you've got nothing to say about that facility, why did you come here to tell me about it?"
"No, no… You misunderstand," the student council president quickly corrected Rias. "I mean to say for a prison facility there's nothing online. No website, no article, no mention anywhere or anyhow."
Rias widened her eyes at that. If what Sona said was true, then that meant…
"If that facility is somewhere in the outskirts of Kuoh, then that means that something supernatural is operating on our territory without permission and kidnapping people," Sona concluded.
"Do you think it could be any of the Grigori or Heaven?" Rias asked. Sona shook her head.
"No, if it was the Grigori they would probably target Sacred Gear users and the only one with a Sacred Gear was Issei Hyoudou. Matsuda Hibiki and Motohama Todoriki didn't have any," Sona told Rias. Hearing that Issei had a sacred gear, piqued Rias' interest.
"And what Sacred Gear did Hyoudou have?" Rias asked.
"I don't know. I also know that Heaven and the church, though not perfect, would definitely not do something this low, seeing as they completely disavowed themselves from the Holy Sword Project – at least officially. So, I can presume it is some independent actor. Maybe even a stray devil," Sona explained.
Rias got up from the luxurious-looking sofa to stretch herself.
"Either way, I think we should check out all the surrounding region of Kuoh then. I'll get Akeno, Yuuto and Koneko to come along. Are you bringing your peerage along?" Rias asked.
"Yes… It's better to be safe. We don't know who or what is out there," Sona said as she got ready to go.
As she went, she turned around breaking her normally serious façade with a small smile.
"Let's go…" Sona said.
Please read and review. I hope you enjoyed it.
I'll see you until then.
Hide Shinyama