Haven't watched any movie as of late. I do watch the news tho.
I added a bit of tidbits in the A/N at prologue. I'll put it here so you don't have to go back
May or may not feature characters or mechanics from other shows, which are potentially as follows but not limited to:
-That useless goddess from that useless world isekai (hint hint, she can do party tricks and is thicc in both head and body, but that's really about it)
-That other useless goddess from fate (same quality as above minus party tricks)
-Fate babes (aren't actually useless)
-Some useless goddesses from danmachi (actually aren't that useless)
-Shinmai no Maou something-something aka DxD 2.0: Electric Boogaloo with incest and borderline porn (likely just the mechanics for the luls. Maybe Zest because Issei need to experience some exotic chocolate goodness DxD severely lacked. ( ͡ʘ ͜ʖ ͡ʘ)
Katarea doesn't count because she's a dumb B-movie villain
Note that I won't just include every single character from the above because it'll bloat up the already bloated up cast. Differentiating their personalities from one another via their actions and dialogues will be a pain in the arse to deal with.
Aight that's it. Have some epic fun kk
Death's Chosen
[VIII]
||Event Horizon||
Issei had seen countless of deaths in the cinematic universes.
He realized how scarily accurate the movies were with their portrayal of death – save for the B movies that you'd watch just for the heck of it, or if you ran out of A-list movies to watch, or if you didn't have any better ways to spend your time.
He always heard about how movies exaggerated deaths with all the blood and gore, but after seeing a particularly gruesome death in front of his two eyes, movies weren't that far off.
Red, red, and red. Too many reds coming out from a human's body, you'd think they'd start marching to a certain glorious battle march song of a certain dissolved federal sovereign state in the northern Eurasia that existed from 1922 to 1991.
It happened so quick that even with his 'gifted' eyes, he almost couldn't see how it happened – he wished he didn't see how it happened, no matter how it happened. Seeing a person's soul snuffed away was an experience he'd rather not have. But what could he do now? That scene was forever seared into his memories, and no matter how hard he tried to distract himself by utilizing the only pairs he could think of; Raynare's barely covered boobs, or Tiamat's firm round ones, or Rias' marvelous underwear, he couldn't shake that grisly image away.
'Am I gonna get PTSD from this?'
{That's an insult to every soldier on earth. Listen, boy.} Balthazar ushered while his host was sitting on the bench, Yumi's legs on top of his thighs. {It's unfortunate, true. I didn't expect you to see death this soon, not to mention a macabre one, but it is what it is. This, too, is a part of their world. If you still wish to take a part in it, then I'm afraid you'll either have to get used to it, or see enough so you are desensitized to it. But I'm sure the second option is rather grim for you.}
'…Yeah I know.' Issei replied, hunching forward as he brought his palms to his face. 'It's just that… I mean-… damn. Do I really have to get used to… to that?'
{I understand.} Said the dragon, sympathetically. {You live in the part of the world where the rule of law and decent morality exist. You can spot a predator with relative ease. But this is their world, Issei. Their rules differ from yours. Their morality mayhap the same, but they're more… say, loose about it. As an outsider, you will think their morality is skewed, but to them, you are the odd one out.}
Balthazar then ended with something that engraved itself deep in his {It's the land of wolves you're stepping into, boy. If you're not a wolf, they'll know.}
Issei took a deep, shaky breath, sobering from his stupor. 'I really thought it was going to be all pretty girls and absurd sexy moments, you know?'
Balthazar let out a deep rumble of a chuckle. {Oh make no mistake. It's a part of it still. It's up to you whether or not those moments are worth what you must sacrifice. You can't cherry-pick and decide what you want and don't want.}
Issei thought about it. 'Tell me, Raz, I mean… I guess I'm already in waist-deep to just get out, but what else am I gonna need to… you know… sacrifice? Other than getting used to seeing a bunch of dead people.'
{I'm not saying you'll see people die left and right, I mean to say your chances of seeing a fight to the death has taken an increase. It's not as though you'll witness a murder in a daily or weekly basis.} Said the dragon, casually. {As for your question; the thinking that there are only two ways to digest every conflict. Good versus Evil. Black and white morality. Cast that thought out. This isn't a fairy tale. No grays either.}
'Wait, no grays?'
{Nope. Only white that's got grubby. And sin, boy, is when you treat people as things. Yourself included. That's what sin is."
'I thought it was going to be more complicated than that?'
{Surprised? When people say things are a lot more complicated than that, they mean they're getting worried that they won't like the truth.} The dragon stated, {People as things, that's where it starts.}
'Oh, I'm sure there are worse crimes—'
{Crimes began when you see people as things.}
'…Okay... I see your point.' He at least knew that even in his world, it wasn't always good against bad. Most of the times it was just bad with money against bad with more money. 'I'm still a bit skeptical about devils being good… what with Senpai saying 'she'll kill' that easily and all. But I don't think they're bad people or anything- but that priest was really wacko.'
{Oh yeah. That one's an exception. He's mental.} Balthazar agreed, speaking in off-tune. {That's all there is to it. One that you didn't know, that is. The rest you already know; you can't live in just your world anymore, you must devote yourself in building yourself as in learning and mastering your gifts, all of it, and to stop hesitating. If it makes it easier, it's not 'kill or be killed'. It's 'hurt them very badly they'd rather dig a hole for themselves to hide or be killed'.}
{Remember, lad. No one's forcing you to kill anyone. Not even Death demands you to.}
And Issei was immensely grateful to have a superior that didn't demand such extreme commitment. Issei pondered about it some more, staring off to the sinking orange orb, thinking about the webified version of the sun since Earth-chan fucking existed.
But that didn't help. A human body shouldn't have that many holes in it and the inside organs should stay inside, because they were meant to stay there, not sprawled away on the ground like some spilled red gob of mess.
He even didn't feel a thing when he was carrying Yumi's soft, supple body! He had his hand just below her shapely butt, not to mention he held hands with Asia's soft and small hand, and all he could think about was that gory holy mess of a sick priest.
{It's all right. Take your time.}
He took another deep breath. He wasn't going to quit regardless, he just needed time to digest… all of this. He wasn't sure about getting used to deaths, but if that meant he could be any more useful, then maybe it wasn't so bad. Nothing gained if nothing was risked. Issei just needed a bit more consideration before he could gamble his sanity.
"Mmnnn… Nnh…" His deep pondering was cut short as Yumi stirred awake, groaning softly as she brought an arm to wipe her eyes. "…What…?"
Issei wasn't sure on what to say, so he let the girl regain everything first.
It didn't take long for her. Sitting up, instinctively, Yumi patted her chest, where Raynare's lightspear pierced through her, ripping a good portion of her wine-red tracksuit. Some portion of it had spatters of her own blood, darkening the color. The tear in her clothes wasn't exposing enough -sadly- to reveal any of her innerwear.
She looked conflicted, possibly thinking there should be a gaping hole on her chest. "…How did I…?"
"Asia-san…" Issei said, nervously. "She uh… she healed you, Yumi-chan."
Yumi looked up with the same face. "Healed me? But I was on death's door- only Senpai can heal me from that condition."
Now the bewilderment infected him. "Really? I thought you guys have like… white magic. Y'know, like the one in Final Fantasy?" Which never was the final one, despite the title.
She pulled away her feet off his lap once she realized it. "W-well, not in particular, but healing comes in various ways… Senpai's, for example, accelerates the healing process, but she can only do so with direct physical touch. And even then, it's not going to heal instantly like… like this…"
Yumi stroked her chest again, going so far as spreading the rip on her clothes to see her unwounded chest.
"Amazing… There's not even a scar." Yumi said in amazement.
"Hmm. Yes. Indeed." Issei said in different kind of amazement, as he saw a semblance of her black sports bra. "Very nice skin you have."
"…" Yumi had to take a moment after that, shaking her head as she played it cool. "Then… Asia-chan, where is she?"
"Oh she uh…" Reminded of his failure to act, Issei hung his head low in shame. "She got kidnapped by Raynare. She thought you getting hurt was her fault. I erm…. I'm sorry I didn't help."
Yumi smiled reassuringly. "It's okay Issei-kun. Don't blame yourself. It's unfair of you to blame yourself when this is probably your first experience, right?" She said, biting back a scowl. Not at him, but at the knowledge of having someone she thought she could protect taken away from her. Again.
"Y-yeah. Still though… I was kinda lame… Not saying that I could've protected or saved her and you both, but I could've done something still. Woe is me, woe is me- haha…"
"It's pointless to waste time mulling your past, Issei-kun. You can't change the past, but you still have the present to shape the future, right?"
Issei blinked owlishly. "That's pretty wise. N-not to say you're not wise or anything, I just wasn't expecting that."
"Experience is the best teacher." Yumi quipped, with a somewhat saddened look that she didn't allow to last more than a second.
"…What's it like, Yumi-chan?"
Yumi spared a glance as she got up the bench. "Hm?"
"Erm… killing."
She studied his face. For once, it wasn't showing any stupid debauched leering look she often caught him on doing. Just an ordinary boy, having experienced his first murder.
"To tell you the truth, Issei-kun, it only bugs me the first few times." She smiled teasingly as if she was proud over the fact she had been desensitized to murder. "I get used to it pretty quickly, but that's because; just like you said; I'm a hardcore girl."
He gave her a skeptical look.
She played a smile. "I'm just kidding~ I think me being a devil has something to do with it, but me as a person as well... well, considering the way I was raised."
Issei dumbly 'oh'ed. She let it hanging because she wasn't prepared to tell him about her 'dark and troubled past' yet, and Issei wasn't one to push it, lest she became infuriated. Hell, he only knew she was a devil just a week ago. For now, he settled on his imaginations. Maybe she was like the girl from Kill Bill only younger. Who knows?
Death, most likely.
"But… dang, we're in the same class, same lessons… but you have like… you live in different worlds. It's like you have two lives." Issei pondered, stumbling his words since he wasn't particularly adept in conveying his thoughts into words. "I-I won't tell anyone, promise!"
"You can put it that way. I know you won't, I trust you, Issei-kun." Yumi giggled. "But anyway. I'll have to report this to Senpai. The Prez, I mean."
Issei tilted his head. "The Prez?"
"Mhmm. Rias-senpai. She's the president of the ORC?"
"Oh right, right… Prez. Buchou." Prez Rias. Rias-buchou. Priaz. Prias. That sounded as great as Prius, which wasn't really great.
As Issei trailed off, Yumi then glanced around, making sure the space was clear. It was, since it was starting to darken.
"I better get back now-"
"O-oh yeah. Uhh… about Asia-san…" Issei rubbed the nape of his neck. "I mean… I don't want to push this onto you but… I don't think I can do anything to help her y'know haha… Pathetic, but it is what it is."
Yumi let off a kind smile. It was somewhat different to her usual boys-and-girls-swooning kind of smile. "But you want to help her, don't you Issei-kun?"
"Yes!" Issei said wholeheartedly. "Definitely! If there's anything I can do to help then, I goddamn will! Just don't make me kill anyone, please."
"Fufu, that's you and me both, save for the last one." She tittered, "Prez won't listen to me no matter what. My guess is the fallen angels have taken her to their base; their territory. Senpai won't risk triggering a war over a girl moreover a sister… but if she is who I think she is… then…"
"…Who?"
"Asia-chan."
"I know, but who do you think she is you think she is?" Issei got confused at his own sentence there, but Yumi didn't.
"Well, who I think she is." Yumi insisted with a playful giggle.
"Come on man- you can't do that."
"Why not? Doesn't it build up the suspense?"
"Wha- but this isn't a movie!"
"Hmm. True." Yumi chuckled. She seemed to be taking this lightly. Almost as if she was enjoying it, rather. "Asia-chan. She can heal, Issei-kun. And she's from Italy. Don't you know what that means?"
"…She's a potential coronavirus suspect?"
"What? No!" Gasped the Knight, appalled at the suggestion. "Right, I forgot you're really a newcomer to this whole thing. Sorry about that- but what I'm saying is, I think she's the Holy Maiden."
"…I see…"
"You've heard?"
"Definitely- but I think I'm thinking about a Holy Maiden from another… er… media."
The devil lowered her eyelids like a person who was getting disinterested. "It's from porn is it."
Issei thought for a moment. "Eroge game." He said, as if that would make any difference.
Yumi sighed aloud. She should start taking him a bit less seriously.
"Hey! I learned more about nuns from there than I did from a quick google! Like why they wear veils… and those black tunics…" and how they actually got a drop dead, bodacious, certified-thicc figure beneath all those, but he knew that was strictly fantasy and reality was far more disappointing, so he left that part out. Asia's an exception, however. "While what I got from google is that if you want to make a nun pregnant, dress her up as an altar boy."
Yumi did a loud, audible 'snrk', almost snorting, but managed to contain her mirth. "Issei! That's horrible!"
Balthazar, on the other hand, cheerfully laughed inside him, causing it harder to stifle his own laughter. A quivering, tightlipped smirk was all he could manage, looking stupid-like.
The devil shook her head disapprovingly, despite she, as well, quite enjoyed the dark, morbid kind humor herself, as audibly shown by her giggling akin to a five-year-old schoolgirl. Something nobody would've guessed or knew. Not even her own King knew, or the always-knowing Queen. Rias was intelligent, charming, and diplomatic. But Akeno had always been the cunning one. Not once she nearly caught her true intentions resurfacing, that she wasn't dedicating her power solely towards Rias alone, that Yumi was, in fact, had never forgotten about her past.
Or enjoyed dark humor, for this matter.
Maybe because she always had her guards up around them. She trusted them, but clearly not as trustful as she'd thought. Meanwhile, this bumbling idiot had not only made her truly laugh and truly enjoyed his stupid spiels, he lowered her guard. No need to be Mrs. Perfect. No need to be the loyal Knight, sworn to the Gremory. No more of the 'Cute Foreign Beauty', or whatever silly titles those school goers could think.
Just her. Just Kiba Yumi being herself and enjoying being herself.
"Anyway…" Yumi then continued, saving the thought for another time, smiling to him and that thought. "I think she's the Holy Maiden. It's a not exactly a well-known story in the supernatural world since it's relatively new, and, well, devils don't really like anything related to the church no matter how touching. There's an orphaned girl raised in Italy in one of its abbeys, who can perform miracles. Miracles as in healing any kinds of physical injuries. Not sickness, mind you."
"Oh. I was gonna ask if she can cure viruses."
"No, sadly. I think it's because viruses are also a living being, and curing them means killing them – at least that's what I think. She heals, not kill." Yumi explained. "People refer her as the Holy Maiden; blessed by their god and such and so on. Which isn't far off since she does have a Sacred Gear; Twilight Healing."
Issei recognized those words. Balthazar said that a few moments ago after the chaos ended. It'd sound great if not for the fact that the first word 'Twilight' had been forever tarnished and associated with a certain horrible vampire series that made him question the mental sanity of all pubescent girls and young adults.
Imagine a glittery vampire who was pasty like the whitest man on earth. Shudder.
"But about some weeks ago, this Holy Maiden was cast out because she healed a devil. You can call it an overreaction from their part, but the church has always been stricter and… funnily enough, less tolerant than most."
Issei pieced the puzzles. "That's sad… but what you're saying this Holy Maiden is…"
"Asia-chan, yes." Completed Yumi, nodding. "I'm the living proof of her identity – well, possible identity. I say Asia-chan has make it clear that she doesn't want to go wherever the fallens take her. However, they are her only options right now. If we do rescue her, Issei-kun, she'll have nowhere else to go."
Having nowhere to go at the age of… what? Sixteen? Fifteen? Surely she couldn't be much older or younger than him. Issei himself would be eighteen next year – he was held back a year at elementary since he fell ill during the finals, but this would be a story for another time. Nonetheless, he doubted he'd survive on his own without his parents, and not to look down on the Holy Maiden, but Asia was a sister who couldn't speak Japanese. He knew his country didn't exactly welcome foreigners with warm hugs, especially for the boomers- older people.
"I'd take her in but I live in a dorm." Yumi added, frowning. "We'll need Senpai's permission first which still won't be easy. She hates to take risk without rewards, which is common for devils. That much I know. But if Asia-chan is the Holy Maiden, and if you can somehow convince her to provide healing for us, the devils, I'm sure Senpai will be more open to offer housing and protection."
"Sounds like a plan. I'll do it!"
Yumi stammered. "…Really? Have you given it a proper thinking? That wasn't even five seconds, Issei-kun."
"Well that's the best plan we got! And I'm shit at making plans, as you can tell."
Yumi giggled. "I like your fervor, but there's also a possibility that she's not the Holy Maiden as well as Senpai's refusal. Are you sure, Issei-kun?"
{Nah, she is.} Balthazar yawned. {Go get her lad.}
"I'll bet on that!" Issei said with an infectious confidence. "Even if she isn't, is it wrong if I want to save her? She's just a girl for Christ's sake-"
A twinge. Yumi held her head. She might had been healed, but her body was quite fatigued from the earlier fights and stress from having a lightspear embedded in her chest. "Ngh- please don't mention anything relating to the bible, thank you."
"R-right… sorry." Issei said sheepishly. "But yeah. She's just a girl. And she's Italian! And I don't think she has enough money to go back there –not that it's possible since it's on lockdown-, and Heaven- sorry- Hell forbid she sells her body just for some money, or someone creepy offered her some money and took advantage of her innocence. I'd bring her to my house, but I don't wanna add more weigh to my parents! I mean, they have to feed a dragon."
"…I… get your point, Issei-kun. Don't worry, I understand." Yumi said with a smile. "It's refreshing to have someone who doesn't value other according to their usefulness. A dehumanizing way to see anyone. It's like seeing them as… things.'
Suddenly Issei recalled Balthazar's words earlier.
"I wish that's not how the world works, for this one and mine, but it is what it is."
'The world isn't fair. It isn't and never will be.' Again, Balthazar's words echoed and resonated like a drop in a lake.
"Anyhow, I'm running late now. I'm going to face Senpai about this. I'll see you tomorrow, Issei-kun! Oh! And once school's over, don't go home yet! Or come back when it's six, okay? See you!"
And Yumi jogged away, as if she didn't have a hole in her chest just moments before. For a while, Issei stood there, reflecting as he gazed upon her swaying buttocks.
He failed once, failed to protect Asia who he now knew deserved much, much better. To know Raynare was planning to use her in a way made him… well, sad. After all, she still was his first love. Unrequited or not. He did try his goddamn hardest that a boy who lacked dating experience who spent the entire previous night surfing the internet for pointers, checking out the 'hip and trendy' places to visit, even sucking out his monthly allowance for porn all to make sure he didn't screw up his first date.
But the world wasn't fair and Issei knew he had to accept it, since he sure as hell wasn't able to change it yet.
Regardless of the fact that he was someone who would worship her body like a devout Catholic to their Holy Mary, Issei knew the words of the wise; a rule of the utmost priority for any outstanding gentleman who wished to not be murdered in their sleep.
Don't stick your dick in crazy.
Issei then slapped both his cheeks lightly twice, determined.
"Right! Let's fuckin' do this!"
Break
Yesterday couldn't come sooner, despite his heart was beating mad from the expectations alone. He felt like he was back to his elementary days when he was about to go on his first field trip, only this time it might end up with some deaths. Hopefully it wouldn't, but Issei knew 'hope' could be pretty dangerous when it turned into 'disappointment'.
Raynare sure did teach him that.
"Rare of you to be mulling." Muttered the Chaos Dragon, Tiamat, resting on his bed that was now hers. At the moment clothed on a blue short-sleeved and white shirt, a distinctive red box on the chest part with the word 'SUGOI DEKAI' imprinted on it, which was quite adequately stretched side to side because her wondrous pairs.
He got it for 200 Yen or slightly less than 2 USD, along with a few other clothing for the dragon.
Covering half her lustrous thighs was a short pants. He got it for 300 Yen.
In total, Issei had spent roughly 4000 Yen which was a good portion of his monthly allowance – which Mama Hyoudou kindly replaced anyway. All in all, Tiamat wasn't exactly a dragon with high maintenance. She even needed only a plate and sometimes had skipped dinner if she didn't feel like eating.
Dragons were surprisingly easy to keep as pet.
{Hey. We ain't a hamster.}
'Sorry.'
Hated at being ignored or unheard, Tiamat said again, this time louder and with a lightly ticked off kind of tone. "Master."
"Hmm- yeah?"
"I said it's rare of you to mull over something." She muttered, laying on her side to glare at him, who was snugged in his laid-out futon. "What troubles you so?"
He looked at her. Her fair skin seemingly glowed despite the lights were off. The lamp outside his blue curtain cast a blue hue on the walls of his darkened room.
"Uhh… Say… Tiamat-san… If you want to rescue someone who's been kidnapped… what would you do?"
Tiamat lowered her thin eyebrows. A stark contrast to her lush lashes. "Kill them, clearly."
Issei huffed. "Right. Figured as much."
"What's wrong with that?" She sniffed, "You bipedal mammals tend to unnecessarily complicate matters instead of simplifying them. What pleasure do you derive from doing so?"
"Uh… I don't derive any pleasure from complicating stuffs. We don't want to complicate things, I think- it's when I try to simplify issues, I just started… well, overthinking. Which actually complicates instead of simplifying."
"Then why should you overthink?"
"B-because I got too much to think."
"Then don't think too much."
Issei sighed a noiseless chuckle. "Well it's not that easy…" He didn't want to be ignorant of others. He didn't want to offend her ways of seeing things either, which was why he kept it to himself.
"Related to morals no doubt."
"Y-yeah."
Tiamat grumbled. "Hmph. You think too much and do too little. It's difficult to comprehend."
His mind wandered off at that. Did that apply to murderers too? Do they simply think less and do a bit much then? He didn't want to be like them. He didn't want to kill or be killed either, nor did he want to humiliate others into complete shame. Issei fully understood this was a violent world, but did he have to submit and be violent as well?
His train of thoughts was derailed as Tiamat had shifted from his/her bed, crawling down to lay beside him, before vaulting over his waist, legs on his sides. He felt her weigh, which was surprisingly light, more like a woman's over a dragon's, but that didn't matter because his eyes immediately took focus on the stretched 'SUGOI DEKAI'.
"Hmm? All those meager exercises seem to have come to fruition to your body. You're far sturdier now than you were before." Tiamat said as she pushed the blanket on top of his belly. His blanket was thin since he liked the cold night, and it wasn't hard for her to feel his muscles. "Mfufu, and in such a short span of time as well… A shame, however, as you hold little knowledge in the art of battle."
Right… He needed to get on track about those things. He wondered what kind of training Balthazar would enslave him at.
"At least your body is honest to your desire." Tiamat smirked, challengingly grinding her groin against his, which forced him to react in honest from the physical incitement. She stopped though, much to his dismay. "I've yet to understand what 'love' is, or why it is necessary to you, because you want my body regardless. So tell me, Master, what is it about 'love' do you regards as high that it should complicate my desire to bear your babies?"
"Errr- uh… w-well don't laugh, but it's because I want to be loved?" Issei trailed a little, calming his junior member down by thinking about some saggy grandma. It was super effective as it was super disturbing.
Tiamat stared into his eyes; hazel browns so unsure even at his own answers. The eyes of a mere boy. "Why?"
"W-well," Issei stammered. He realized he overused 'well' when nervous. "because… I wanna know what it's like… I guess. Tits are awesome and all, but… I-I think 'love' would be multiply the awesome."
This was such an embarrassing conversation that he'd lose face if he was speaking to anyone other than her. She might be shameless, but Tiamat didn't judge him. He was like a walking encyclopedia to her.
"I see." She muttered thoughtfully, before getting off him to lay on his side, and stayed there despite the cramped space of the futon. The coolness of her body quickly embalmed his left side. "How can you tell if someone loves you?"
"I uh… I dunno. That's why I want to know."
"What about your mother?" Tiamat asked, now more curious than ever. "Doesn't she love you?"
"Well yeah!" Issei chuckled nervously. "B-but it's the different kind, see… the one my parents have to me is familial… But her and dad is also familial but more… intimate. I-it's hard to explain."
"And evidently hard to understand." Tiamat puffed. He felt her cold breath brushing his ear, and he shivered from the tingles. "But I see your curiosity; I myself am starting to be curious as well. Indeed, what is love."
Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me-
Issei mentally shook away the song before it got stuck in his head for days. "Uh… do you… do you have anyone you love, Tiamat-san?"
"None that I can think of." The dragon said casually, despite the sadness in that truth. "Dragons are raised to be independent from birth. Created to be just so. We rely on our own strength, never other's. We don't need 'love' to survive, we simply do." Then she chuckled, a smile gracing her pale lips. Reminding him that Tiamat in her human form was positively beautiful. "I do realize, however, as I spent time here in your world and house, surviving isn't the same as living."
"In a way, I am envious of you, Master. Weak as you are, you needn't to be strong. Your parents care for you nonetheless, while mine abandoned me before I could crack open my egg. But it is a different world we live in."
Issei pressed his lips together. Those words seemed to be the recurring theme so far. They kept repeating itself from other people's mouth like some words of wisdom of a children's book.
"Yeah… well… it gets a bit boring after a while since it's like a cycle, almost. Wake up, school, eat, sleep. And when I get older, it's; wake up, work, eat, sleep. Rinse and repeat. Can't say I want that kind of life." Which was why, no matter what, he wanted to give this dangerous world a shot. "It'd be great if I don't have to choose one over another though, the erm… your world or my world. I want both if I could."
"Hmmh. My world's too hectic. I prefer yours."
Easy to say that since she didn't have to work her butt off like his parents. Issei kept it to himself again, though. One part because he was getting sleepy, and the other because she was still a dragon despite her appearances. And that aside, his mother managed to get her to do some basic stuff too, and the dragon herself even wanted to give cooking a try. God forbid she used some kind of a breath attack to char some meat right in front of his mother's eyes.
"Lie beside me, Master." Tiamat nonchalantly said, almost with an ordering tone as she skulked back to his bed. "I hardly think that pathetic bedding is comfortable, and I want to feel your body warmth."
"Yes please, thank you very much." Issei scuffled out his sleeping mat/futon because as if he'd say no to an open and direct invitation like that. It was also his bed to begin with, but he wasn't going to argue with a temperamental dragon anytime soon.
Issei was rendered stiff in more ways than one as Tiamat slinked a slender yet supple thigh between his legs, an arm over his chest while the other one crept under him. He was facing the white lettered 'SUGOI DEKAI' once again, but this time dangerously close that his nose nearly rubbed the letter. He could smell her soap and the fruity smell of her shampoo.
Obviously, Issei did the only sane thing to do, which was to scoot closer and once again mush his face into her soft pair of jugs. The soft fabric partnered with her even softer breasts made a marvelous eye-rest, almost enveloping his whole head. D for Dragon indeed. As well as D for Disturbance to his D.
But alas, perhaps it was due to his mild exhaustion or a stressful evening, because her affably cold embrace and the night's soothing silence drifted him to sleep in a few moments.
A moment of pure tranquility at last. A calm before the imminent storm.
Break
In the morning, Issei had never felt better and refreshed. No sore muscles whatsoever, and although the image of the mangled priest still bothered him, it didn't affect him as much. School went by as usual, if not for the fact that he had to refuse to partake in his small club's weekly activity of peeking the kendo girls' practice , which actually helped him getting better at utilizing stealth in the approach of the sacred peeping hole, as well as getting him out of trouble which was by sacrificing his two friends behind; a noble sacrifice he was willing to make.
But no. It was not meant to be the day where he and his two buddies contemplated the diversity of brassieres, because he had a sister to rescue.
As promised and planned, once the school was over, he waited by the empty school grounds, specifically at the track field to do some running and some imaginary shadowboxing. Balthazar said he should first train his footwork since it was the simplest and easiest to practice when he had no one to practice hitting against. Taking part in a 'Serious Side Hops Repetitions' training regime that completely blew away the dusts and revealing the red dirt beneath it, before continuing to his daily 300 push-ups, which was 100 per set.
He took all of it seriously and it was seriously tiring.
He got better after a fifteen minutes break, and did it all over again.
When the sun was about to set, Yumi took him to see Rias.
Who wasn't exactly the most eager even after hearing their reasons, but not for a reason he thought she'd be upset at.
"No." Rias said with a tone of finality, crossing her arms to accentuate her refusal, her beryl eyes piercing his confidence. "I refuse to allow you crossing into this world, Hyoudou-kun. Isn't yesterday enough to show that you don't belong here?"
Issei refused to back down. "Well, yea, it was scary, but she's still my friend!"
Rias narrowed her eyes. "Forget about her." Her tone was cold, which surprised even her own servants. They all knew about her ongoing betrothal problems, but they didn't think it'd cause her to lose her temper to someone outside their own. "She won't be the last you'll lose once you set a foot-"
"But didn't you say it yesterday yourself, Senpai? Aren't I already in this mess!"
"And it's not too late for you turn back!" Rias shot up from her couch, stomping a foot. She had been waiting for this night to come, barely catching any sleep because of her childish excitement in pulverizing those fallens to lose some stress. Pointless argument was something she could use without. "I admire your noble resolve of wanting to rescue your friend, but you have no idea what and where you're putting yourself into, Hyoudou-kun. I refuse to let anyone under my supervision to position themselves into needless danger."
"B-but I won't be in any danger! I'll hang around the back, I just want to talk to her!"
"None of us can tell what will happen then. What if there are more of them? What if there are more crazed priests wanting to shoot you down? They've mauled humans just because they make contact with us, Hyoudou, what do you think they'll do to you when they see you hanging around us?!"
"Something pretty bad… I guess."
"They'll torture you to death, Hyoudou." Rias stated, bitter and callous. "Worse, they might go after your family. Is that what you want? Putting your family's life into danger? I know you have Tiamat but do you thin she can protect them at all time?"
That was low of her. Even Akeno noticed it. Astonished, even, that Rias would stoop that low all for him. Did she really fall for him?
Nonetheless, her cruel statement immobilized him, until Balthazar backed him up with a much-needed reassurance.
{I forgot to mention this, but anyone that mess around with your family, or plan to, Boss will 'speak' to them directly. You've made up your mind yesterday, boy. Like it or not, this is something you'll come to face eventually.}
With that, Issei refueled his resolution. "That's why I'll get even stronger!"
"It takes more than raw strength to protect those you care."
"Then I'll get smarter!" Issei blazed, "I'll do whatever it takes- just let me help! Sooner or later, I'll be a part of your world too, Senpai. Hell, I probably already am, so why not?"
Rias seethed, gritting her teeth. "Why are you taking this lightly? Do you think this is a game you can simply get in and out by whim? It'll take commitment, Hyoudou! A lifetime commitment! People will die! Those you care can get hurt! Are you fully prepared to bear that weigh on your shoulders?"
"Rias," Akeno finally spoke. Her tone calm instead of full of teases. "why are you so against the idea? He only wants to help, and who can spread the words if they have no life left in them? Dead men tell no tales, no?"
Issei shuddered mildly. Again with the casual mention of murder. These devils were serious business.
Wait… Raynare. What about Raynare? He knew she had sealed her fate once she attacked Rias… but was there nothing he could do still? Did she really have to die as well?
"That's not the point, Akeno." Rias bit, her eyes still on his as she sat down. "Think this again, Hyoudou. You have freedom. You still have the chance to keep that. You have a normal school life, a normal life. You can be whoever you want to be. Do you want to throw your normal life away over one life?"
"Yes." He said resolutely. No more backing down and no more second thoughts. "I want this, Senpai. Please understand."
That caused her to lose it. "Why?! Why do you want to be a part of it so much?! Aren't you grateful for your peace! Peace is hard to come by, Hyoudou. The moment you think you've solved one problem; another takes its place, and then you'll be trapped in this vicious cycle of problems, problems, and more problems. It may even cause a loss of your sanity, because by the Seven Hells, I know I'm losing mine. Barely left with a semblance of it. But that's the price we all have to pay because this is where we live now! Do you understand?"
"You can't kill, and I don't think you have it in you to maim someone. You can't have that kind of soft attitude here. So tell me, Hyoudou Issei, what is it so important to you in my world?!"
"BECAUSE IT'S ALL I GOT!"
His shout tore the air. Everyone tensed. No words were said as seconds passed by.
Issei rarely, almost never, shouted his anger or raised his voice for that matter. But there existed a chasm that even a pervert didn't want to get pushed into. Not twice. He had pushed himself down there, and it was not a nice place. He wasn't going to let anyone else no matter how pretty shove him back inside that bottomless pit called depression.
"Uh. Sorry for yelling." Issei muttered, rubbing his neck. "It's not 'my world' that sucks, it's just me that sucks ass. I mean, let's be real! I want to be free! I want to get loaded, get all the girls and have good goddamn time!
"When I was five, my dream is to be a superhero. At ten, an astronaut. I used to dream big, Senpai. Now I don't know what my fucking dream is other than getting laid or be loved.
"Senpai, you're extremely beautiful and smart. I'm not saying you don't have your own problems, hell, I feel bad for you, Senpai. It's not pity. If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know. If I can help, I want to help.
"But you probably don't need mine because you have powers to do something about it! You have your cool devil duties. You have your territory – this entire city, right? You have responsibilities, important stuffs to attend to. You have awesome otherworldly superpowers. You can change your future and be sexy at the same time.
"Now look at me. No matter what I'll do, I'll just be the same boy who is older and forced to mature. I'm not the kind of dude who can invent shit or- or be successful like being a CEO and have mansions and overpriced cool cars! At most I'll just be an everyday white-collar worker like my dad and live everyday like a cycle. That or become a waiter in a fast food restaurant if I drop out of college, which I probably will because I don't have the slightest idea about what I wanna do. Like hell a harem or even a loving wife, or just a wife. Just getting someone to remotely like someone like me would be a miracle.
"And my parents- holy shit my parents. This'll sound ungrateful, but do you know how pathetic I feel in knowing they're so kind to me even though I'm like this? It's like they've accepted I'll suck just as much in the future. Nothing I do or not do will disappoint them, because they have zero expectations from me. Except for getting them a grandkid. Me! Their only fucking child after two failed pregnancy!
"They don't deserve a dipshit son like me. If I can give my life to my brothers or sisters, I'll do it in a fucking heartbeat. No chance they'll be more of a loser than I am. At least I can win when it comes to losing. They call me the leader of the Perverted Trio and call us all losers, but I know Motohama's aiming for Todai, and Matsuda's already invited to some soccer youth camp. They have something they're good at. What am I good at?
"Every day I wake up feeling like a total sack of shit, but I know I can't just give up, because I'm a fucking human. A normal human, not like that psychopathic exorcists with lightsabers or whatever. Normal humans deal with this kind of bullshit hands we're dealt with, and do what other normal humans do, and survive in this fucking lame ass reality like it or not, and deal with the fact we're just humans. Doesn't stop us from wishing we could be more than humans though! We know we're boring, that's why we make superheroes and movies and books about fictional beings who have way more interesting life than us.
"I'm happy that you think I can be anyone I want to be, but Senpai, with the way things are, I'll just be a nobody. I won't sit on my ass and pissed and moaned, but I know what kind of future I'm gonna have.
"But that was before I have this- this gift." Issei clenched his fists, his knuckles reddening. "Now I know this part of the world exists and I can be a part of it. I WANT to be a part of it. Why? Because I want to change, Senpai. Because I don't want to suck ass. I don't want to be just me. I finally can do something and actually make a difference, big or small. I get to do something other than going in and out of schools, waiting for a new porn game to come out, so I can be sidetracked from my lame future for a bit. I can beat up the baddies and help people. I can be more than just 'Issei Hyoudou, the Pervert who Sorta Lived'.
"I just want to be somebody."
"So yeah, sorry for being so stubborn about this, Rias-senpai, but it's all I got to be more than a nobody and actually feel good about myself. If you're telling me to not help my friend just because I'll get killed, then fine by me. If I have to pick between saving a friend and potentially die, or letting her die while I will surely die on the inside, I think you know my answer, Senpai."
He took a gulp of fresh air to his lungs and brain. He felt guilty for shouting and getting into an outburst, but he'd be lying if he said it didn't make him feel better. For years he had kept his self-resentment bottled up, and finally pouring it out felt unbelievably nice albeit a bit douchey.
"Erm… that's about it, really. Sorry. I didn't mean to shout or curse." When he realized all eyes were on him, Issei quietly sat back down to his seat, getting nervous and embarrassed over the attention he raised to himself.
Anxiously, Issei rubbed the back of his neck. He was about to cry back then during his tirade, but managed to hold back the tears because maybe he didn't want to completely lose control. He was glad that he didn't, but now the balls of his feet wouldn't stop bouncing, and his fingers were tapping his thigh nonstop. He could feel a cold sweat coming. Should he divert the attention to the fine evening sunset outside?
"…I…see…" After a while, Rias muttered, a tone akin to defeat lining her words while the other devils stood on their spot, astounded and dumbfounded. "…I'm sorry."
"I-it's okay, really! I'm sorry for losing it, hahaha- I didn't mean to yell or anything, I just got carried away y'know."
"That's alright, Hyoudou-kun. I deserved it." Rias sighed, speaking apologetically. "I'm sorry I… I projected the life I wanted into you without paying heed to your desires… And to say those words so insensitively… dragging your parents in as well… I'm terribly sorry, Hyoudou-kun."
"H-hey! We all lose it sometimes." Issei said with a sheepish laughter. "I-in fact I just did a minute ago… Kinda embarrassing. Sorry everyone." He motioned towards all devils who were present, giving them his self-dubbed 'Namaste Sorry Hands' followed with a light bow.
They reacted in kind; giggles from the two busty beauties, and a quiet nod from the cutie flattie, who was bound to shatter another plate should another flat joke arise.
Her shoulders loosened as she looked at the boy. Once again, he took her by surprise. Once again, she misjudged him. She might be an Heiress, a Princess of a royal family held in high esteem, but Rias felt smaller than this simple-minded boy, who turned out to be not-so-simple-minded after all.
"…Very well then… we are planning to raid them tonight regardless… I don't want you to come still, but... I see your reasons." Rias sighed, managing a weak, tired smile. Devils didn't need 8 hours of sleep every day to function, but the lack three days of sleep and combined with her ever-growing mountain of stresses had certainly worn her out.
"…But…" another sigh as she stared outside her window. The rising full moon shared the blue and orange sky with the falling sun. "I need to speak with you in private."
They didn't need to hear more than that. Calmly, orderly, the rest of the devils left the room, heading to wherever they went as they left Rias with the boy alone.
"Well. This room is surprisingly bigger than I thought." Issei said as he glanced around. As if he needed any more reason to be any more nervous.
Rias said nothing. She didn't smile or frown.
Girls were mysterious. They had these 'subtle codes' that he thought would require an expert decipherer to decrypt their hidden messages. Be it from physical gestures, slight perk up of the corner of their lips, their eyes, or even the way their hands played with their hair.
Rias wasn't showing any of these signs, but it was clear to him she was in deep distress.
Earlier she looked like she was about to explode from anger, now she looked as though she knew her world was about to collapse, as if she was a completely different girl. Her straight figure slouched. Her shoulders sank low, her eyes fell on her lap, lacking her usual confidence and composure, and she looked like she was about to cry.
And she knew she was about to. Too tired to cry but she knew it was coming.
"…I'm at my wit's end…" She said weakly, truthfully, after hiding it day by days to her own servants. She stared at him with eyes that suddenly screamed her 3 days lack of rest.
If Issei didn't feel bad for yelling, he now felt twice as bad. "…Senpai? Are you alright? You look… beat. Still pretty though."
Rias didn't laugh. She couldn't.
"I hate to say this… especially after all I've said to you… but I do need your help, Issei…"
To be continued
This is it, bois. The event horizon. No turning back now for our glorious MC, and Rias too. Can't wait until I get to reveal Issei is Death's slave.
I apologize to any Prius owners. It's just a joke. Prius is a very safe car. It can't go fast enough to kill a baby.
Yumi might be a girl but doesn't mean she can't be Issei's broette instead of just being another uninspired glorified cock slut written off as 'girlfriend'. Same goes for Tiamat and every potential haremettes. Cuz mmmmmm love me some good wholesome interactions between the grills and Issei. Might even include handholding in the future.
It's gonna be a fuckin harem but I want actual development aight? And who said Issei can only get closer to one girl per chapter? HA. I made him closer to THREE. Beat that.
Yeet.
Stay safe my Italian bros. Be well my UK chavs. And if any, any Slavic slavs, but they'd just beat the virus with some babushka made borscht. Don't panic buy my US dudes, or you'll end up in the news like that selfish prick who hauled all the toilet papers.
Unless you're planning to cause a local deficit and start selling toilet rolls like highly sought drugs. The current state of your neighborhood is terrible, BUT it is also terribly profitable. Making money out of misery while your neighborhood descends into chaos over that precious white stuff. Delicious opportunistic pragmatic capitalism at its best.
If you still hold on dearly to your morality in these distressful times, someone else will take over. Someone asshole-y like me.
Joking aside, keep in mind that most victims are people who are aged 50+. As I'm sure all my readers are all below the age of 9, I'd say you're all pretty safe. Just keep your parents hale and hearty my doods
Cya bois next chap
