Standing In The Sun

Xenovia Quarta was feeling depressed. Of all the girls Issei had spent his time with and proposed to, he had yet to be with her. That all changed on Valentine's day.

It was a normal day at school. Asia and Irina were both talking about their futures with Issei. Issei himself was out at the clubhouse as he had some paperwork to do at that time. Xenovia sat in her seat, unusually quiet.

"Hey Xenovia. What's wrong?" Asia asked innocently.

"I'm okay Asia, just tired." Asia seemed to buy it, but Irina didn't.

"Asia, do you mind letting me talk to her alone?" Irina sat next to Xenovia.

"Sure. See you guys later." Asia left to go find Issei.

Irina looked over to her friend with worried eyes. "Okay, spill it."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Xenovia turned her gaze to her phone as she looked through pictures of her and Issei.

"Oh! I know. You want to spend time with Issei!" Irina jumped up.

"Yes. But I don't know how. I'm not exactly versed in teenage normalcy."

"Ask him to take you out on a date. The only thing he can say is yes." Irina's purple eyes gleamed in the sun in contrast to her orange hair. The white and red ring on her finger did the same. She caught Xenovia staring at it. "I'm sure he's just trying to find the right way to ask you."

The blue-haired swordsman peered out the window to see Issei and Asia talking outside. She sighed and stood. "Maybe he just doesn't love me the way he loves you and Asia." Xenovia started the long trek home alone.

Irina decided she needed to help and went find Issei. She found him still speaking with Asia. "Hey Issei." She walked up and kissed him.

"Hello Irina. How was your day?" Issei asked.

"It was good. I'm worried about Xenovia. She seems to think you don't love her."

"That's ridiculous. Where is she anyway?"

"She's walking home."

Issei immediately kissed his two fiancés goodbye and ran to his car. The Aston's V-12 rumbled as he took off down the road to find the knight. It didn't take long.

Xenovia hadn't gotten but about a mile before the dark green sports car pulled up beside her.

"Hey Xenovia, hop in." He opened the door and smiled at her.

"Are you sure?"

"Sure I am. It's your birthday after all, so I figured we could go out and celebrate."

Xenovia's face lit up and she quickly jumped in. The ride was smooth as the car's engine hummed it's tune. She rolled down her window and let the air blow through her short hair.

"So Xenovia, where do you wanna go today?" Issei asked as he drove. He had an idea in mind, but it was a long shot.

"I don't know. I never really thought you would take me out anywhere."

"And why is that?"

"Because you seem to pay more attention to the other girls." Her face fell to a frown.

"I'm so sorry Xenovia. If I had known you were feeling neglected, I would have done this sooner." Issei put his eyes back to the road. He had overheard a conversation that Xenovia had with Rias a while back about her getting a motorcycle license. Apparently, the knight had already acquired one, but never had a bike. "I got an idea. How about a nice present to make up for it?"

"What kinda present?"

"You'll see." Issei drove for a while and the radio played. Both teens sang happily until Issei pulled into the parking lot of the dealership that Sirzechs had promised him after he graduated.

"You're buying me a car?"

"Not really." The two exited the car and walked inside to find a salesman that Issei knew. "Yo, Mr. Hanzo. How's business?"

"It will be much better when you step in Mr. Hyoudou." Both men shook hands. "So, what can I do for you today?"

"I'm here to pick up the present for my friend here." Issei threw his arm over Xenovia's shoulder.

"Ah, yes. We were just having it washed and prepped. Lady Rias mentioned you might be coming to pick it up." Mr. Hanzo led the two to the garage where, parked in the middle, was an Aprilla Tuono sports bike. "Here she is."

"Wow." Xenovia waited for permission from Issei to inspect it.

"This is an Aprilla Tuono. I had the guys custom paint it just for you. The body is blue, and the trim line is green. The rim barrels are also green. Kinda makes it obvious who owns it." He snuck up behind her and kissed her cheek. "She's all yours Xenovia. Happy Birthday."

Before her mind could process everything, she turned and kissed him. "Thank you Issei." She held onto him for a little while, savoring the moment. "Can I drive it?"

"It would be a shame if you didn't." Issei laughed as he pulled out a helmet from a nearby locker. The helmet was the same shade as the bike and Xenovia's hair. It also had a green stripe in the same spot as her dyed hair. "Lead the way, fearless knight."

Xenovia hopped on her new bike and took off out of the dealer's lot. Issei was hot on her tail in the Aston. The two devils raced through the streets until Xenovia led him out to the coast. They raced along the coastal roads until she found her turn off. Issei followed and found her parked near the entrance to the beach. Since it was February, nobody was out there.

"So, how was it?"

"It was amazing. The speed, the wind, the freedom." Her deep yellow eyes sparkled in the sun's setting light.

"I'm glad your happy with it." He leaned on the railing next to her. It wasn't long before she rested her head on his shoulders. They stayed there till the sun got really low.

Suddenly, Issei removed himself from her hold. "Xenovia. There is a reason that I haven't taken you out sooner. It's because it wasn't ready."

"You mean the bike?"

"Nope." He got down on his knee and brought out a box. "Xenovia Quarta. When we first me, I admit that I was not a fan of you. Over time, you grew. Not only in body, but in mind. You learned how to be a normal girl instead of a pawn of the church. You stand in front of me today as a brave young woman who never hesitates to help her friends. You stand before me as someone that I've come to love." He opened the little box and a brilliant ring shown in the sunset light. A band made of gold and the jewel was sapphire with a red shard of armor on the inside. "Will you marry me?"

"Yes." Xenovia fell into his arms and kissed him. "I've been waiting patiently for so long. I was starting to think it would never happen." She cried onto his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry I made you wait. The ring was harder to make than I anticipated. I couldn't find the pure sapphire that would work with the piece of my armor."

"Can I ask you something?" Xenovia asked her new fiancé. "Why did you pick a bike? Not that I'm not appreciative of it, it's just odd."

"Simple. Rias told me that, like Asia, you're from Italy. I also heard you and Rias talking a while back about you getting a motorcycle license. So, I figured and Italian sports bike would be a great present to you." He held her and stroked her back.

Another thought popped into her head as she cried tears of joy. "How can you love me after I almost got you killed?"

"Irina told me of how you stayed by my side day and night. She said you barely slept incase I woke up and needed something. The real question is, how could I not love you?" He pulled her in for another kiss and the two stayed there until the sun was good and gone.