Chapter 4

Issei took a powerful step forward but when time came for the next one SMACK! The intentionally blinded Issei ran into a mysterious object and the collision knocked him on his ass. "Awwghhh! Damn it!" Issei gritted his teeth. 'Okay, what did I hit.' Issei opened his eyes to find a pair of white panties sticking out directly in front of his face, causing a small stream of blood to flow from his nose.

Issei quickly wiped his nose and shook any indecent thoughts from his head. Issei stood up, dusted himself and put on his mean face. "Didn't anybody ever teach you to watch where you're going? You're lucky you got me on good day today, I'm not the top of guy you wanna bump into!" Issei declared in a threatening tone but when he looked back at the exposed young lady he wasn't met with the reaction he expected. "Huh?"

"AH! I can't see….." She groaned as her long dark robes had been flipped up over her head and she was somehow struggling to stand up.

"Seriously?..." Issei couldn't help but mutter aloud. 'This is no longer sexy, it's just pitiful at this point.' Issei let out a short sigh before moving in to help the blinded girl. "Alright, I'm going to help you. So don't go pressing charges, my lawyer's better than yours." Issei declared as he grabbed the rim of the girls dress from down by her head and pulled it back over her but, freeing a full head of long blonde hair along with a pair of shining aqua green eyes. "You alright." Issei offered the young blonde.

"T-Thank you…." She muttered as she delicately guided back to her feet. "You speak italian?"

"Italian? No I…." Issei took a closer look at the girls face and realized she must be a foreigner. "Yep, totally. I'm fluent…. Hey is this yours." Issei bent down and picked up a white piece of cloth off the ground and held out to the girl. She didn't move to take it as she seemed busy analyzing Issei from head to toe. "Look, I'm trying to be somewhere so could you get done with whatever it is you're doing…"

"Wondeful!" The strange girl smiled as she grabbed hold of Issei's hands. "You must be the answer to my prayers! Oh, God bless you!"

"AHHH!" Issei winced. "Yeah, I'm not too sure of that." Issei pushed the girls arms away, returning the cloth in the process. He also managed to get a look at a necklace the young girl wore, sporting a small silver cross on it. 'That can't be good for me.' Issei took a deep breath before stepping back away from the blonde. "Well glad we got you all situated, I've got places to be…."

"AHH! WAIT!" She called out, getting Issei to VERY reluctantly stop. "Umm…. Well you see… I'm a nun who was only very recently been sent to this town in japan, where I can't speak the language or read any of the signs and I seem to have gotten lost. Do you think you can help me find this town's church?"

"Haaahhhh… Fine…." Issei gave in with a sigh as he pulled out his phone and began typing away. "21st century but nobody has a smartphone for some reason…" He grumbled before handing his phone over. "Here you go I mapped it out for you, I even set the language to italian…"

"Oh… Thank you….. Uh….. Ummm…." As the Nun began swiping and poking at the phone screen and slowly her expression turned more and more worrisome and her movements became more panicky.

"Let me guess…" Issei groaned as he snatched the phone from the girl's hand before she could break it. "You can't read a map in general, can you?"

"N-No….." She replied in an embarrassed manner.

"Haahhhh…. I guess there's no way around it huh?" Issei said with a shrug before turning and walking the opposite direction. "C'mon!" He cried out. "I guess I'll have to take you there myself!"

(Later)

The two teenagers had been walking for sometime before Issei decided it was time to break the silence. "So, you have a name, Blondie?"

"Oh! Yes! My name is Asia Argento but please just call me Asia." She answered loudly, clearly excited that the young man chose to start a conversation. "What about you?"

"You can call me Issei…." He answered quickly as he thought. 'At least for today, I doubt I'll ever see this chick again. I'm pretty sure hanging with a nun can be bad for a Devil's health. Besides, the cutesy type doesn't really do it for me.'

"Ummm… Issei…." The frequently muttering Asia called out to the disgruntled thug. "Thank you for helping me… You really have no idea how happy it makes me that I ran into you today, people aren't usually this nice to me…."

"Is that right?" Issei focused on that last part in particular, shooting back a puzzled look. 'She doesn't look like the type people wouldn't be nice to if anything you'd think there'd be tons of people, guys in particular, lining up to wait on a girl like this hand in foot but unless she's just an incredible liar which seems unlikely, then she's telling the truth which would be odd… But, it's none of my concern.' Issei decided to drop this immediate subject and decided to tackle another one which had also been on his mind. "So, who's bright idea was it to send a nun who can't read or speak japanese here of all places? No offense but I don't imagine the sermons being well received if no one can understand them."

"Yes well, it's not that this place was chosen for me. It's more like I didn't have anywhere else to go." She said, doing her best to keep a smile on her face. "Because of… things I've done in the past, nowhere else would take me and I was sent here…"

"You don't say…" Issei muttered back, slowly growing more and more intrigued by the Nun's odd origin. 'Well doesn't that sound oddly familiar? Is she some kind of reformed thug? That's a look I wouldn't mind seeing….'

The two kept walking and small talking, Issei slowly but surely seeming to open up little by little an Asia just enjoying every moment of company she could. This continued until they came across a group of children, one of whom was holding a soccer ball and they were all gathered around one kid who was sitting in the dirt with a bloody knee.

"WAAAAHHHAAAHHH!" The injured kid, a brown haired boy, roared out at the top of his lungs as tears poured from his eyes. The loud sobbing quickly garnered the attention of the two passing teenagers.

"YOUCH! That's rough looking one, and to rub salt in the wound it happened in front of friends so it's all the more embarrassing. Lemme tell you, those are the worst at that age." Issei spoke out in an unusually empathic moment for the seasoned thug.

Asia did say anything, she simply pushed through the crowd of children and went right for the boys injured knee. "Don't worry, it'll be better real soon." She said as a pair of emerald rings appeared on her fingers, one on each hand, and from them emanated a shimmering green light that cascaded itself over the boy's injury. Soon the wound magicly began closing.

'No way? Is that a sacred gear?...' Issei put together in his head. 'I guess that would explain why she'd been treated poorly in the past. People have never been great when it comes to the way they treat people who are different, especially those who can do things the masses can't and Asia especially. She's too gentle and nice for her own good, she probably comes across as a pretty easy target.' Issei frowned slightly before turning his attention to the boy.

Despite the wound healing the boy continued to cry softly, his face was also red and puffy and something about this particular scenario struck a cord of familiarity in Issei.

(Flashback)

SNIFF! SNIFF! A teary eyed, red faced Issei with a big bloody bruise on his left cheek tried his best to calm himself but for whatever reason he just couldn't stop the tears or the snot from flowing.

"Does it hurt?" A beautiful woman with caramel brown eyes her long brown haired tied back in a ponytail asked in a very stern but still caring voice gently dabbed his cheek with medicine. "Well serves you right Issei! Picking fights? Seriously? Your father and I raised you way better than that."

"It's not my fault mom! They started it!" The young Issei declared stubbornly before crossing his arms. His mom responded by increasing the pressure in which she applied the stinging medicine. "Oww! OWWW!"

"It doesn't matter who started it, you shouldn't be fighting regardless." She scolded back but Issei responded by pouting which made his mother sigh. "Haaah… But if you insist on getting into fights then you need to be tough, that means no more crying, you understand?" Issei wiped his face clean before nodding in agreement. "Now I want you to remember….."

(End of flashback)

Issei walked up to the still teary eyed, injured boy before reciting what his mother had once told him. "Hey kid, chin up. Little bit of advice, Girls Like Tough Guys." Issei put his hand on Asia's shoulder for emphasis, causing the blonde girl to blush from the casual contact. Then, by pointing his eyebrows, Issei signalled the young boy to the presence of a young girl his age amongst the crowd of children.

Upon spotting the girl, the hurt young boy quickly sniffed before wiping his face clean and thanks to Asia's healing he managed to stand back up before quickly running over to rejoin the other kids, leaving Issei and Asia with a quick "Thank you" as he disappeared in the group.

"That was nice of you, healing that kid." Issei gave the still red faced blonde girl props.

"Huh?! WAAAH! Oh that! Y-You see…. That was, uhhh….." The flustered Asia struggled to come up with an excuse but at the same time was unwilling to lie.

"Don't worry about it. I don't need an explanation." Issei said with a friendly wave that managed to disarm Asia. "C'mon, the church is just a few more blocks this way." Issei pointed the way with his head and Asia quickly began to follow him once again.

"Well it's right up there." After a few more minutes of walking the two had finally reached their destination as Issei was able to point out the city church which sat alone atop a hill surrounded by trees.

"Thank you so much for helping me." She said with a bow looking up at the boy with a hopeful smile. "Well…. Issei I was wondering if maybe, you'd be willing to come and see me again sometime? Maybe?..."

Issei, didn't hesitate with his answer. "I wouldn't count on it, see ya." He immediately turned away and began to walk off, leaving the blonde girl stunned behind him. 'Sorry Asia, you seem like a nice girl but I'm willing to bet Nuns shouldn't be hanging around with devils and vise versa. Plus I'm in a hurry, I have to be back at the clubhouse before six so if I wanna hit up the Grocery Store I only have….' Issei pulled out his smartphone and took a quick glance at his smart phone clock and his face quickly turned grim. 'No…. Grocery Store…'

(A few days later, Outside the occult research club)

ZAP! A bolt of lightning came crashing down from above which Issei was forced to block with his boosted gear gauntlet. "Gah!" Issei grunted as the force of the yellow lightning made his feet slide back maybe an inch before a powerful backhand from his gauntlet destroyed the bolt. [BOOST!]

"See, I told you the rook was a bad call." Akeno called out as she descended from above with a smile and her hand sparking with more lightning. "Strength and defense are great but if you're fighting someone who can attack from range it can be difficult to so much as get a hit in. In this situation the Knight or the Bishop or even going all out with the Queen would've been better choices for your promotion."

"Maybe…" [BOOST!] "But the Rook is more fun!" Issei roared back as he ripped a tree out of the ground, roots and all, before throwing it up at Akeno.

"Nice try." ZAP! Akeno called back as she destroyed the tree midair with a bolt of lightning. "But I think you'd be better off learning some real magic as opposed to throwing trees at their opponents."

"And I told you that sounds like a real boring way to fight! What's the point if you're not putting fists to flesh? You ask me, laser blasts and fire balls should be relegated to finishing moves only." Issei replied stubbornly. "Lightning bolts, evil swords, you can leave all that stuff to the other devils."

"Oh Issei, normally I find that naivety of yours utterly adorable but in this case that kind of thinking can be dangerous!" She called out as she let fly a wave of lightning strikes that Issei lept and rolled to avoid. "Do you remember the stray devil Viser?"

"Laser nips? Yeah I remember!" [BOOST!] Issei answered as he punched a falling lightning bolt out of the sky. "What about her."

"Amongst devils she'd be considered relatively weak so what I'm getting at is that we'll likely face stronger opponents in the future and we'll need you to be as strong as possible when that happens and for a piece as versatile as the pawn I think limiting yourself to just one style of fighting may be a detriment." Akeno explained as she continued her bombardment. "Look at these training matches we've been having, we're going on seven days now and you haven't been able to beat me once even though we're both Low Class Devils and you have the benefit of being the legendary Red Dragon Emperor." Akeno put both hands over her head and a massive ball of lightning. "I'm just saying you shouldn't commit yourself to one fighting style, at least not until you're more comfortable as a devil." She said cheerfully as she launched her massive attack.

"Oh shit…." ZAAAPPP! The attack proved too large for Issei to block and in his rook state he was too slow to get out of the way and ended up taking the full force of the attack forcing him to drop to the floor. "Maybe, you're right…." Issei groaned as a plume of smoke billowed out of his mouth.

"You know Issei training is great and all but this is a little…. Intense, especially for newcomers." Akeno said as she floated down next to the small patch of dirt Issei found himself struggling to get back in. "If you'd like we could dial you back to a more reasonable workout plan."

"Huggghhhh!" Issei groaned as he sat up. "Are you kidding? No way would I want to try anything easier."

"Ohoh? Are you saying you… enjoy this kind of punishment?" Akeno's ears perked up as her face turned a little pink.

"I wouldn't fraze it like that." Issei answered as stretched out his back.

"Ohhh…" Akeno responded with a disappointed mutter.

"It's just that everything in my life always seemed to come so easily, like with school and sports I could perform at an exceptional level without ever really trying that hard but that wasn't the case with fighting." Issei explained with an excited expression. "I used to get beat up a lot when I was a kid, every time I picked a fight I'd get my ass kicked. Eventually I made my way to the top of the metaphorical mountain but when I got there everything just got so boring. Now I'm back a the bottom of the latter so I'm more than willing to take a couple beatings early on cause I know it'll help me with the climb back up to the top and that's really what's got me excited."

"Is that so? Well if you feel this strongly then I guess from now on I'll stop holding back…" She answered with another cheerful smile as sparks danced across her hand.

"Holding back?..." Issei muttered back before swallowing hard.

"But I think we're done for the day. Rias wanted to see you this evening and if I keep you any longer then this it'll just make her mad." Akeno stretched a hand out to help Issei to his feet.

"Yeah, we wouldn't want that would we?" Issei responded sarcastically, refusing Akeno's assistance and standing himself up. "Though, I suppose it was about time. I'm sick of handing out flyers but I still don't know why she feels it's necessary for her to tag along on my first job, it's not like I'm a kid or something…"

"Well, Rias has always been a bit overprotective…. But this case is special." Akeno added getting Issei to raise an eyebrow. "I think she's worried about your… personality and how you may react to the clients."

"Really?" Issei smiled at this revelation. "Well I'd say I'm flattered that my reputation precedes me but I don't think Rias has anything to worry about. I can be a professional."

(Later, that night)

"Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME?!" Issei roared at the top of his lungs.

"Ugh…. Couldn't even make it a minute could he?" Rias groaned as she buried her face in her hand. The two devils stood in a small apartment decorated with traditional japanese iconography, items and memorabilia and standing in front of them was a suit of samurai armor with locks of curly blonde hair protruding from the back of the helmet.

"HYAAAHHH! So Kowai!" A high pitched female voice shrieked out from the demon samurai mask. "Stay back or I'll slice you with my katana!" She said as she unsheathed her samurai sword.

"I think I'm done for the day…." Issei threw his hands up in the air and began making his way to the door.

"Wait…." Rias grabbed hold of Issei's shoulder to stop him from leaving. "We can't leave, you need to learn how to properly perform your devil duties and I think starting off small can be good for you."

"Starting off small, pffttt…." Issei rolled his eyes before definitely crossing his arms. "She wants us to go and get her damn notebook she left at school cause she's "too scared" to get it herself!"

"Japan is really really Kowai at night! Who knows what could happen to a beautiful young girl like me." The frightened foreign samurai answered back in her defense.

"SHUT IT!" Issei roared back with, pointing his finger and quickly silencing the blonde samurai. "C'mon, doesn't taking a job like this hurt your pride, even just a little bit."

"True this isn't what I'd call an ideal use of a devil contract but regardless I pride myself on a job well done and I don't see myself above helping others regardless of what form that may take." Rias replied in a lecturing tone that made it difficult for Issei to meet her gaze. "We're already here, can't you just go and get her notebook?"

"Ugh, fuck this… Whatever…" Issei rolled his eyes before heading to the door. "But both of y'all have gotta stay here, I can't see neither of y'all for a minute." Issei threatened before slamming the door behind him.

(Later)

WHAM! Issei swung the door open hard with a kick before throwing the notebook down on the floor. "There I got it, let's go. Huh?" Issei looked over to find Rias and the samurai sitting together at a table deep in conversation as they sipped cups of tea.

"So, I have no idea what to do, I feel like I've tried everything. Well, you know, not everything but anything else would just be too embarrassing. I feel like if things keep progressing this way, he'll never know how I feel about him.." A small pink blush had formed over the samurai's demon mask as she rambled.

"Yeah I can see where that'd be frustrating unfortunately I don't have much experience in this field." Rias replied as a frustrated Issei stomped his way up to and shot the red haired devil an impatient frustrated glare. "Ah! Perfect timing, we'll just get a guy's perspective on the topic."

"Huh? WOAH!" Issei cried out as Rias drug him down by the arm to sit at the table.

"Alright Susan, please inform Issei about your predicament and see if you can get his opinion on it. I promise he won't bite." Rias encouraged the nervous young girl.

"Uh well… If you say so…." The menacing looking samurai nervously pushed her fingers together. "Please, call me Susan-chan…. You see Mr Scary Devil-kun, there's this super cute guy I'm really interested in but I have no idea how I should approach him or how to convey these feelings. Do you have any advice Mr Scary Devil-kun?"

"Seriously? Haaahhhh….." Issei let out a deep sigh as he gave in to the undesirable setting he'd found himself in. "Well, is he seeing somebody?"

"Oh no, I don't think so…"

"Well then that should be pretty simple then, just ask the guy on a date. Don't make it about commitment or being your boyfriend, don't tell him you love him cause that shit push a guy into a corner but if it's just a single date with no string attached well…." Issei shrugged. "As long as he's not into somebody else or just an asshole, he'd most likely say yes." Issei stood up. "Well there you go, let's hit the road."

"Wait!" Susan-chan cried out and grabbed the boy by the wrist, getting Issei to stop annoyed in his tracks. "Just ask him out? How should I go about that? I'd get too nervous trying to do something like that in person."

"Not my problem…." Issei shook his hand free. "Just text the guy or something." Issei stood up once again getting Rias to roll her eyes.

"Maybe you should write a note?" The red haired devil suggested getting Issei to stop in his tracks.

"That's an INCREDIBLE idea…." Issei spun back around hon his foot to acknowledge the idea.

"Really?" Rias raised an eyebrow at just how enthusiastic her pawn was about this idea.

"Hell yeah… It may be a little old fashion but a handwritten letter makes a guy feel special. Contrary to popular belief, for the most case guys do go for the romantic stuff and depending on what you write you may get the guy to fall in love with words on a page." Issei explained with a warm smile and a nod of his head. "If a straight up in person confession is off the table, a love letter may be your best choice."

"Really?" Rias asked with an amused smirk. "So would a love letter be able to melt even the infamous Issei Hyoudou's thuggish heart."

"Of course." Issei shamelessly admitted. "Even if I didn't really like the girl, a hand written love letter from the heart would get at least one date outta me. Gotta admit boss, this is a pretty good idea…"

(Later)

"Bad idea, bad idea, bad idea, bad idea, BAD IDEA!" Issei, Rias and Susan-chan had relocated to a concrete clearing surrounded by trees. The blonde samurai had a longbow drawn back with an arrow strapped with her love letter on the end, pointed up in the air. "What the hell are you thinking?!"

"What? You told me to write a letter! How else am I supposed to get it to him?" Susan-chan argued back as she steadied her bow. "I can't just hand it to him, that's way too embarrassing."

"Well then why not leave it in his locker or mail it to him?" Issei tried to argue back but Susan-chan wouldn't be dissuaded.

"There's no time for that!" She roared back with determination.

"But what if-" Issei wasn't able to finish before the arrow was sent flying beyond the tree line resulting with a DINK upon its landing followed by a loud THUD! "...that happens…."

"Oh no! What do I do?…" Susan-chan began to panic.

"Beats me, but luckily he isn't dead." Issei said as his enhanced devil hearing alerted him to the sound of clanking footsteps. "But unless that arrow gave the guy a lobotomy , he's probably pissed. And he's wearing metal shoes?..." Suddenly a marching suit of medieval knight armor appeared in the clearing, with Susan's arrow sticking out from his head. "Oh, that makes more sense…. But not really…."

"Susan-chan!" The knight cried out as he held tight her letter in his iron gauntlets. "Your note has pierced my heart, like your arrow pierced my helmet. In fact I was so love struck by your words that it literally knocked me off my feet. Susan-chan! I love you, I always have!"

"Oh Horii-kun!" Susan ran for her literal knight in shining armor and the two embraced with a loud metallic CLANG! The newly formed couple was about retreat into the night but not before Susan made her farewell. "Thank you so much Devils!"

Rias smiled gently as she watched the armored couple disappear into the night, a small red blush formed on her face. "Did you see how happy they were together? Wouldn't it be great if we could all find something like what they have?"

"What they have." Issei tried to imagine the beauty of a newly formed relationship between a young man and woman but all he could picture was a samurai walking hand in hand with a knight and it just made him smirk. "Sure, if you say so." Issei put his hands behind his head and began to walk away but he noticed his master remained frozen in place. Issei rolled his eyes before turning back for her.

"Hey Issei…." Rias muttered without looking back at her pawn. "Don't be a jerk and answer this question for me. Do you believe in true love?"

"True love? Bit of an old fashioned concept don't you think and not really one you'd find a devil valuing." Issei said with a smirk prompting an annoyed sigh from Rias before Issei continued. "But you know my Dad, he traded everything, wealth, power, status, security, all so he could marry my Mom. When I look back on my parents I'd like to think my Dad wasn't some sort of moron that gave all that up for no reason so yeah I like to believe there is such a thing as True Love and my parents managed to find it and it was so powerful that it was worth every sacrifice."

"That's pretty deep thinking Issei and kinda romantic. Are you sure you're really a thug?" Rias poked fun at her pawn as she turned to leave.

"Yes I'm sure!" Issei said as he followed after her. "That's why if you ever tell anybody about that or the love letter shit I'll knock your lights out. It won't matter if you are my boss or a girl!" Issei shook his fist at the amused girl.

"Ya know it's gonna be hard to take any of that tough guy talk seriously after tonight." She continued taunting, making Issei's face go red.

"Grrraaaah! I'll show you serious!"

(End)