The day of the date had arrived. He hadn't slept much since he had been asked out by Yuuma a few days ago. But, it's not like he wasn't used to the lack of honest nocturnal rest. Issei had never once in his life had a very restful nights rest, having had rather deep insomniac problems ever since he had been a young child. His parents had taken him to the best doctors that they could afford to help him, to no significant or long lasting effect. Nothing could stop his nightmares in the slightest, for years he suffered until he made a friend with Irina.

Those had been the best times of his life until Irina's family had to move away, something to do with Irina's dad having to move closer to work. After that, the nightmares resurfaced again, striking with a vengeance that was absolutely abysmal for the lonely Issei. His parents could only watch as he suffered and continued to grow closer to death's doors, until now.

"Would you go out on a date with me, Issei Hyoudou?!"

Yuuma had asked him out on a date before school a few days ago and he had never felt so light on his feet. Issei then tried to ask his only true female friend, Aika Kiryuu, for some dating advice. Aika didn't have any that would help him as she had never been on a proper date before. So that left his parents for dating advice. That day had taken so long to end but it was worth the wait.

Upon getting back home, Issei had immediately told his parents what had happened at school. Gorou Hyoudou had been joyful that his son had gotten a date, despite the odd circumstances of it. Miki Hyoudou had been more cautious but was very optimistic about the whole affair in her own loving way.

"Well," She had said after a few moments, "We will need to give him a plan of what to do on a date."

So, the planning had taken a few days. Issei had never realized the intricacies that went into the regular date, though it seemed that it was a lost art in his generation. Starting with location, Issei had wanted to go all out but that idea had been swiftly but gently shot down by both parents.

"Going all out," His father, Gorou, had told him, "is not what you want to do on the first date. The first date is the time for you and your girl to get to understand one another a bit better in a short time frame. Going all out is more for the wedding, son."

"So what do you suggest I do, dad?" Issei had asked him.

"Easy," Gorou said, "Go and plan something simple that would show your interest but not trying to show off like some ridiculous amazon bird."

Miki had helped him set up his allowance for the date, given what all three collectively agreed on. Then both parents taught him manners, etiquette and proper decorum. Both were quite thorough in their training and also got Issei some good clothing to wear for the date. He tried to look his best, wearing one of his dad's smallest button down shirts.

As he waited, he hoped she wouldn't stand him up like other girls had done in the past.

"Sorry I'm late!" Yuuma said, running up in a rather stunning light purple sundress.

"Y-you're not," Issei said softly, blushing at her beauty.

Holding out his arm, like his dad had practiced with him to do, he waited for her to loop arm in his. She giggled and did so, allowing Issei to lead her onwards. The date took them to a rather expensive diner, one that Issei knew had great shakes and good food. He paid for everything, allowing Yuuma to order first, then got his. He simply wanted to put his all into this date, to show he wasn't just going to be a pervert that was going to end up without a girl like his friends.

Chatting all the while, Issei did his best to push aside the tiredness his body was complaining about. He would not collapse on his date, he would not! He then guided her to the local arcade, paying for all the games they played. He even won her a small stuffed teddy bear, which she hugged to her bosom. As the sun was setting over the hills and buildings around Kuoh, the pair finished the date by walking to the fountain in the local park.

"That was a wonderful date, Issei," Yuuma said, smiling at him, "I did enjoy it."

"I-I did my best, I wanted you to enjoy yourself." Issei's reply came.

Yuuma was silent for a moment before she asked, "Issei, could you do something for me? It's extremely important."

"O-of course," He said, wondering what could be so important that she had to ask him, "what is it?"

Yuuma turned, walking closer to him before leaning forward. Her lips brushed against his ear as she said in a rather cold and sadistic purr of a whisper.

"Could you die for me, Issei Hyoudou?"

That was when Issei felt the light stabbing through his gut, blood splattering across the stones of the park. He stood, as though he couldn't understand what was happening to him. His own vision blurred at the edges as he saw Yuuma's sundress turn into a BDSM style leather outfit as she laughed at his dying form, only to stop with a cruel smirk.

"Stupid, stupid mortal child," Yuuma said, cackling as she looked at the small stuffed bear before causing it to burst into flames, "did you really think I would care about all the effort you put into this shame of a 'date'?"

Issei only staggered, blood oozing into his mouth. He felt it running out of the corner of his mouth as he tried to stay standing. Yuuma only watched him before smugly smirking at him.

"If anything," She said, her voice gaining a false impression of sincerity, before she pulled her spear of light out of his guts, "you can blame God himself for giving you that blessing you'll never ever use."

Issei gasped before coughing, splattering more of his own blood across the stones of the park. But, even after all of that, Issei remained alive and breathing. Yuuma stared at him with shock written across her rather hauntingly beautiful face before she grimaced in annoyance, stomping up to him.

"Stupid humans, don't know when to fucking die!" She snarled before her body went rigid, something reflecting in her violet eyes.

His eyes looked down, noticing his shadow shifting so it faced towards Yuuma (was that even her name?). Out of it came something long and snake-like, covered almost completely in spines, swimming across the ground as its blackness moved up her shadow. Its pincer-like jaws opened before snapping around her head, causing Issei to grow cold. He could feel her struggles within its maw, screaming as the shadow began to swallow her. Its curved teeth sank into her flesh, causing the wounds to appear on her body. Blood spilling out of the holes that appeared on her sinful form.

She was lifted into the air, Issei watching in sheer horror as he felt Yuuma squirm inside whatever was devouring her. It bit into her flesh again, drawing blood from her abdomen as she continued to scream. Bones snapped, flesh teared, and her screams were reduced to moans of pain.

Finally, Yuuma stopped making noise. Her struggling body ceased to move before vanishing into thin air. He could feel something sliding down into his body, gagging at what he had just seen and now felt.

Something inside him twisted and turned, Issei could vaguely feel the pain fading away. Looking down at himself, Issei watched as muscles, sinew, flesh, bone and skin criss-crossed in order to fill the gap left by that spear of light. His eyes remained glued to the sight of his own body rapidly repairing itself of the wound inflicted upon his person with almost alien precision

He watched until the hole was completely repaired, like it never even happened at all. Issei blinked, understanding just out of his reach no matter how much he tried to rationalize the situation. He was clearly high off of something, he must've been! Something in the food maybe? Shaking his head, he rubbed his face while his eyes grew heavy. Maybe he could sleep it off and everything would be fine? Yeah, sleep sounded real good right now.

Issei made his way home almost at a snail's pace, constantly trying to rationalize tonight's events along the way.

By the time Issei got into bed, having completely ignored his parents' concerns and inquiries in favor of resting, he had made up his mind that she had drugged him with something before leaving.

I should really be careful from now on, Issei thought to himself.

As soon as he closed his eyes, the nightmare that had haunted him started again. It started with the screams, the screams of countless beings that were being devoured by a shadowy monster. Issei heard them all, all these beings as they wailed in incomparable anguish while a massive shadow loomed over the glowing forms of the humanoid creatures down below. The shadow snatches up the figures, who only screamed louder.

As he looked into the dimly glowing mass of humanoids, Issei couldn't help but feel his eyes widen as he spotted Yuuma amongst the sea of agony. She could easily be defined, details easily spotted as she tried to escape the masses. She had a pair of wings as her brightly glowing body seemed to dim and flicker. The look of panic and pain on her face as she turned to face him, reaching out for him before she was pulled even deeper into the well of torment.

"HELP US! SAVE US! END THIS TORMENT!" They screamed in and out of sync, causing Issei to cover his ears. He could distinctly feel blood dripping out of them.

"STOP IT!" Issei shouted, bolting straight up in bed, fist flying out as he hit something.

Issei felt his heart pounding, his body covered in sweat as his blankets were wrapped around him like a straight-jacket. The top cover was ripped open as well, meaning that he was probably going to have to get another one later. He looked over and saw that he had destroyed his anime character clock, smashing it into bits in the far wall of his room. He tried to bring his racing heart to a normal pace but it stayed beating violently until he took a shower.

He quickly got dressed, heading to school as he tried to ignore his body telling him to get more sleep. He spotted Aika Kiryuu, the only female pervert in the school, who ran up to him with Murayama and Katase. Aika was a messy haired brunette with square shaped glasses that had the startling ability to measure a guy's manhood with frightening accuracy. She had done it to Issei before sitting in his lap, her eyes having gone wide.

Issei had asked if she was alright, but she only waived off his concerns with a rather noticeable blush.

Katase was the girl whose hair was salmon-pink, one of the famous kendo masters of Kuoh. Friends with Aika through virtue of them wanting to help Issei actually survive his schooling years, Katase had been the more moral backbone of the trio of female friends that Issei had. Though, that didn't stop her from wacking him with her training wooden sword if he started dozing off at the most inappropriate of times.

On her left was Murayama, the other famous kendo master of Kuoh. Murayama was also the softer spoken of the pair, letting her work speak for her. Though Issei was pretty sure his body would have been covered in her style of "workmanship" if it wasn't for his rather dysfunctional sleeping habits.

The three had taken pity on him since he started showing ever growing signs of the dysfunction, all of them assisting him in an attempt to fix his health. Of course, that was nearly a week after the start of Kuoh Academy. Issei had collapsed, his body having given out after following his friends in peeping on the Kendo club. They would have beaten him to black and blue if it wasn't for Katase realizing he wasn't in the best of health and dragged his ass to the nurse's office.

"Issei!" Aika pulled the boy into a side hug as she dragged him to the nurse's office for the umpteenth time, "Come on."

"Aika," He tried, and failed, to pull out of her grip as Murayama and Katase flanked them, "Stop, please."

"No," She said, pushing open the door to the nurse's office before shoving him into the vacant chair, "We can't have you collapse into a coma in the middle of class. Your grades will tank."

"But why help me?" Issei couldn't help but ask. "You know I'm one of them."

Katase nodded, "True, but you're the only one who hasn't really done anything since you look like you're about to topple any second. Several of the kendo members were talking about doing something to lift your spirits, due to you looking so awful."

Issei shook his head at that bit of information before Aika pulled him onto his feet, "Come on, lazy, let's go to the Occult Research Club."

Murayama frowned, "Why there?"

"I don't know, maybe they have some mystic gypsy stuff that can help Issei sleep since conventional medicine doesn't seem to work," Aika said before dragging Issei to where the ORC was located.

Therapy wasn't helping, conventional didn't work, and certain sleeping techniques could only work if Issei stayed in one position the entire time, which was simply impossible given that Issei moved around a lot in his sleep.

The building where the ORC met was formerly the original academy building but was too small for the growing number of students. It hadn't been used in years, though the ORC had refurbished a few of the rooms for personal use, it was said. Aika dragged the dead-on-his-feet Issei up the stairs, stopping before a pair of simple oak doors. The female pervert knocked before entering, pulling Issei inside while being flanked by the kendo masters of Kuoh.

Rias Gremory was having a rather peaceful day alone in the club room while the others were in their respective classes, which she figured would not last given the Fallen Angel presence in her territory. She wanted to consult Sona about what they should do with this development, but apparently she was off with a different matter that needed her attention.

Perhaps Sona had found another to be a member of her peerage? Rias would ask her later.

But right now, she had a more pressing engagement, namely the sudden appearance of four students, three females and one male. After having the three female students barge in with the notorious pervert, Issei Hyoudou, the devil expected a heavy complaint regarding his behavior since Sona wasn't available.

What she got instead was something else entirely.

"Rias," Aika said, pointing to the very pale looking Hyoudou at her side, "We need some help with Issei's nightmares."

Rias sat up from her seat, frowning, "How horrible are we talking here?"

Aika maneuvered Issei onto the couch, where Issei's head lolled to one side while his eyes were half-lidded. The poor boy looked like he was about to keel over at any moment.

Aika continued to speak, "Well, from what I've gathered, Issei's been suffering from these nightmares all his life. It's been a detriment and we're afraid he won't be awake enough to pay attention in class."

Rias only sat up even straighter. While all of Kuoh was joint-ruled by herself and Sona, the people inside her purview were important and valuable. Issei Hyoudou was one of them, so as a co-ruler, it was under her jurisdiction to help in any manner she could. Within reason, of course.

"Could Issei describe the nightmares?" The Gremory Heiress asked, looking at Issei.

Aika shrugged, "I'd think it would be better for him to draw it out.."

Rias nodded before opening a drawer, producing a large pad of paper and some colored pencils. She stood up and walked over to Issei, handing him the items. Issei grabbed them before starting to draw, his hand going over the paper with swift, precise strokes in spite of his apparent insomnia. In fact, it looked as if his arms were possessed.

Soon, a clear image appeared on the page, one that made Rias and the other three students very uncomfortable for some unknown reason, with the feeling being instinctual in Rias' case. Its appearance was horrific, eldritch, and made the heiress in particular feel sick to her stomach. Taking the pad back after Issei had finished, she looked it over before glancing up at the three students.

"I don't have anything on me that could stop these," She said slowly, lifting her hand to stall any outburst, "But I'll see if my family has some remedy for this."

She smiled, noting how Issei's gaze went from her eyes down her sinful form before going back up. As though he had just realized she was a model of a sinful dream, then his eyes turned darker before he got up.

"Thank you for your time," He said curtly, bowing before grabbing Aika and leaving, practically dragging the other girl out, "Lets go, Aika."

"Wah?! Hold on Issei!" Aika squeaked, "I can walk!"

Rias let the quartet leave, frowning as her fingers drifted across the greatly detailed scene on the page once more. Whatever Issei was seeing at night, it wasn't pleasant to behold. Something about it was just alien, almost as if she was staring into another world where pain and torment ruled. A world where this shadow devoured all hope, within it's maw came nothing but darkness. Honestly, it looked like something HP Lovecraft or Stephen King would make in their spare time.

Rias shuddered as she closed the paper pad, realizing that she had been staring way too hard at it for the last fifteen minutes. She had to show this to Sona immediately, then maybe her older brother. If this was what one of her charges was seeing at night and was a consistent, lifelong occurrence, it had to have some significance.

When Sona Sitri returned from her underworld duties, the last thing she was expecting was to see Rias waiting for her in her own office inside the school. The crimson haired heiress looked deep in thought as the light blue glow of the transportation circle faded into nothing, which caused Sona to frown in thought as well. Stepping forward, Sona also spotted the young lady was carrying a large drawing pad under one arm.

"Do you need something, Rias?" Sona asked, bringing her out of her thoughts.

"In fact," The young woman said, nodding for effect, "I do need to discuss something with you. It involves one of the humans in our jurisdiction."

Sona raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything, motioning for Rias to have a seat in one of the two comfortable chairs in the student council room. As they both sat down, Sona couldn't help but continue to glance at the drawing pad that Rias was carrying. Something about it was off, it gave off the sort of wrongness she expected of a tainted magical object. Rias carefully handled the pad before passing it over to Sona, who only raised an eyebrow before taking it out of her friend's hands.

Upon opening it, Sona dropped the pad like it had electrocuted her by some invisible means. It landed open, showing the horrific image that was drawn upon its face. Rias had gotten to her feet at Sona's reaction, looking between her and the pad with concern.

"Rias," Sona said, the words barely above a whisper, "do you know what that is?"

Rias shook her head, "I don't, which is why I came to you for help on this."

Sona looked at Rias, giving her a look that was both piercing and unrelenting in its intensity, "Those are souls, Rias."

Rias went stone still before looking at the image on the floor, "Souls? But how? I thought souls were invisible to the untrained eye, even beings like us can't see them."

Sona shook her head, "Not exactly, Rias. Necromancers and other death dealers can see souls, as they work so closely with death that they can see past the veil that covers the bridge between life and death."

"What does that have to do with his image?"

Sona reluctantly picked up the pad and put it on the small coffee table between the two chairs, pointing at the extremely detailed humanoid figures.

"These are not what normal Necromancers see, Rias," Sona said softly, "They only see a vague shape of the soul, not the full person it once belonged to. This is way too detailed to be even remotely normal in any definition of the word, its alien and horrific."

Rias looked at the image, her face paling at the new information that had been provided. Sona returned her gaze to the image, feeling revulsion run its way through her insides like a wave of sickness. Then Sona tore her gaze from the alien image and forced it to focus on Rias.

"Who drew this image, Rias?" Sona asked softly, her hands gripping the armrests to keep them from shaking.

"Issei Hyoudou drew this," Rias said in a murmur, slowly turning to face Sona with a rather shaken look, "it was Aika's idea to have him draw out what he had been seeing for years. She said he's been having nightmares for all his life, so I can only assume this is what he is seeing."

Sona got up, having to get herself away from the paper as she hissed, "Close that pad, things of that nature should not be seen in the open so casually."

Rias snapped the drawing pad closed, her body slightly shaking before she followed Sona to her desk. Sona pulled out Issei Hyoudou's file, opening it before starting to look through his medical records.

"He's been through therapy, consoling and several medications to help him with his nightmares," Sona summarized the rather packed file, wincing at some of the treatment results showing negatives, "nothing worked for him. How is he not dead yet?"

Rias frowned, "What do you mean by that?"

Sona gave Rias a stern look, "Issei, by all normal accounts, shouldn't even be walking around or even have drawn that accursed image in the first place! His body should be dead, pushing up daisies! Issei Hyoudou shouldn't even be amongst the living due to his lack of being able to sleep, which should have killed him years ago!"

Rias's frown only deepened at this revelation, "But he only looked like he hadn't gotten enough sleep when I saw him a few hours ago."

Sona paused, taking in the information given before saying, "Only like he hadn't had enough sleep?"

Rias only nodded, "Yes, exactly."

Sona closed Issei's medical file as she tried to make sense of what she was hearing, but understanding fled her completely. She couldn't understand how Issei was alive when everything dictated he should be six feet under, nothing actually made sense for this at all. Pulling off her glasses, Sona rubbed her eyes as she felt a wave of exhaustion come over her in a rush.

"Has there been any word on where the Fallen Angels are encamped, Rias?" Sona asked her co-ruler, dropping the Issei topic for now.

Rias nodded, "I've had Koneko and Kiba doing some surveillance around the town, they've noticed a rather large amount of activity around the old church building that overlooks Kuoh. Not much else, however, seems that whoever is in charge has put up devil deterrent wards around the building itself."

"Leading all normal conclusions to the group being a rogue one, one doesn't set up Devil deterrents without having some sort of plan behind it." Sona said before looking out the window, noticing the setting sun as it sinks behind the trees.

Kalawarner grimaced, watching from the open window at the top of the church tower. Raynare hadn't come back from her 'date' with that supposed Sacred Gear user, in fact, nothing of her could be found at all. It was like she disappeared into thin air, nothing left behind to be accounted for. The blue-haired fallen woman shook her head, turning towards the inner staircase before stepping off them. Her wings opened to allow herself to gently float down without actually having to walk.

Upon landing on the ground floor, she walked into the church proper. She spotted exorcists in small groups talking to one another, along with other fallen that had joined them. All of them having gone rogue, though they were quite weak even with the numbers advantage on their side. She moved her way through them, completely avoiding the horrid being that called itself Freed before spotting Dohnaseek.

Walking up to him, she muttered to him, "Raynare is not coming back, the only lead is that boy she went on a 'date' with."

Dohnaseek looked at her from under his fedora, "So, you want me to get some information out of him?"

Kalawarner nodded, "Make it quick then end him. I don't want any witnesses to what we're doing here, given that our quarry hasn't even shown up yet."

Dohnaseek adjusted his hat before nodding, "Consider it done, the boy won't be standing once I'm finished with him."

He unfurled his four raven wings before taking off through a hole in the roof, leaving a few small feathers in his wake.

Issei was enjoying leaving school when Aika followed after him, giving him a goofy grin as she fell into step. The brunette had been a handful all day, making sure Issei stayed awake and was actually learning something. While Issei wished to deny it; Aika, Katase and Murayama had done their best to help him. His grades wouldn't be plummeting into the earth, which he didn't want his parents to start getting on him about. He had enough with his dysfunctional sleeping, horrible nightmares and lack of mental power to stay awake.

"You know, Rias was able to get me a herbal blend that may help you from seeing your nightmares," Aika said, holding up a small paper bag, "though she was going to give it to you but you had already left."

Issei took the offered bag, holding it loosely as he looked at Aika with, what he hoped, was a look of gratefulness. Aika smiled back before tilting her head to the park, putting her hands behind her back like she was some innocent maiden.

"Care for a stroll around the park before heading home? I heard it can help clear your head."

Issei snorted at that, "More likely to give me allergies."

Aika elbowed his arm, "Come on, Issei, you need to clear that head of yours anyway."

Aika then dragged him to the park, much like she did with him earlier that day. Issei didn't stop her, his body refusing to listen to his mental orders to resist. Was he that tired out? He pushed that thought away as he was dragged to one of the paths that the huge park offered for walking. Aika grinned as she let him go and spun around him a few times, looking like a loon.

"Come on," She laughed, "can't tell me you don't enjoy the weather we're having right now?"

Issei smiled as she led him down the path, letting her talk and ramble about this or that. Distracting him from his tired mind and aching body, which helped him forget about his nightmares for now. This continued for several minutes before nearly running into Aika's back, for she had stopped moving and talking.

"What's wrong?" He asked, confusion filling his voice as he looked around.

"She can't hear you nor do anything, boy," A man in a trench coat and fedora said, stepping out of the treeline and into the final lights of the setting sun, "nor will she remember you existing once I'm done here."

Issei felt his blood run cold, his skin turning to ice and his mind seemingly fully waking up. Panic started to set in as he tried to look for a way out as the man casually walked up towards him. Issei stumbled over his own feet, almost falling over but the man grabbed him by his shirt and held a spear that glowed with light to his chin.

"Now," He said in a growl, looking darkly at Issei, "Where is Raynare, kid?"

"W-who?" Issei asked, confused, not even knowing who that person was.

The man tilted his head before muttering, "Guess her magic was strong enough to completely wipe her from your memory, too bad."

Issei fell onto the pavement before screaming as the spear ran him through the chest, center mass. Gagging, coughing, Issei looked at the man as he saw darkness fill his vision.

"Its nothing personal, boy," The man said before four huge raven wings came out of his back, "Its just orders."

Dohnaseek watched as the boy, Issei he heard the girl say earlier, died with his spear of light through his chest. He dispelled the energy, watching the hole in the kid's chest bleed. The boys' eyes glazed over as death took him and Dohnaseek turned to leave, about ready to end the spell he had placed on the area. Something moved behind him, causing him to turn to find whatever was near him.

He spotted nothing but the frozen girl and the cadaver on the ground, which must have been his imagination. The Fallen turned away again, only for his hearing to pick up the sounds of bones grinding against concrete. The only reason he knew that sound was because he had caused that sound to happen ages ago on another mission. He turned and felt his blood run colder then the frozen wastelands of cocytus.

The boy had somehow flipped himself over, dragging himself towards a bench. A trail of blood followed as the sound of bones scraping against concrete was more easily heard. He couldn't make sense of it, he had put a rather powerful light spear through the kids' chest which had disintegrated his lungs and heart instantly. Yet the boy still moved as though he had them, which was utterly unnatural.

Summoning another spear, Dohnaseek took careful aim and hurled it into the kids' back. It hit true and the body stilled, collapsing like a puppet cut from its strings. He got closer to inspect the corpse before jumping as it started moving again, grabbing the bench and pulling itself to its feet.

"What in the hell?!" He swore, watching as the kid grabbed the spear and pulled it through his body, causing another hole to form.

The kid then turned, causing Dohnaseek to nearly step back in shock and horror. Issei's face was pale white, without any blood. He stood awkwardly like he didn't know how to work his own flesh into a proper standing position. Arms hanging at his sides, legs slightly bent to hold his weight. But that wasn't what got Dohnaseek's attention the most, it was the boy's eyes. The kid had brown eyes but now, the right one was completely red. Glowing crimson like freshly spilt blood, it bore into Dohnaseek's mind and soul like he was being viewed by something that wasn't truly of this earthly realm.

The wound in Issei's chest was also repairing itself, the scraping sound was from his ribcage going across the path as it had fully regenerated. Muscles and fibers were also growing back, as Dohnaseek watched as the destroyed organs simply knit themselves back into existence. The wounds which would have instantly killed any normal human were shrugged off by this boy, one that was staring at him with that glowing red eye.

Then Dohnaseek noticed another detail he had missed due to watching the wounds repair themselves. The boy's right arm started to smolder, blustering like his own muscles were burning the skin off. The skin turned black, falling off like ash to reveal the red muscles and tendons underneath. The skin near the kid's elbow rippled before black tentacles slithered out from under the skin, crawling and wrapping themselves in and over the exposed flesh.

Upon covering the arm, the black mass started to steam as large claws grew out of the fingers that looked similar to dragon claws. Then scales grew out of the top of the arm, curling around the arm from the wrist all the way up to where the elbow met the new black skin. The scales then gained a dull golden luster, as two horn-like projections slid out of the back of the scaly armor. Golden scales covered the top of the hand, before what looked like three eyes pushed out of the top, forming a triangle.

Out of the three eyes, only one started to glow a vivid crimson red. The eye was at the top of the triangle, though the shape had the top pointing at the pavement. It rolled around, seemingly taking in everything before it focused its alien gaze on Dohnaseek. Like a predator sizing up its newest prey item.

The arm shook before lifting, energy gathering into the palm of its hand. It was a pale golden color, dim and weak. Flickering like it wasn't really there in the first place, but that wasn't what caught Dohnaseek off guard. The sphere became four smaller balls that rushed him, moving up and down in a wave-like rhythm before all four slammed into his chest. He was sent flying backwards, his chest exploding with pain as he hit the ground and rolled.

He slowly got up, looking at the boy, who's arm had dropped to his side again. Looking down at himself, Dohnaseek nearly gagged. His chest had been blown open, his ribs were blackened as he muscles and skin were shreds. He was also able to see his own lungs and beating heart, as he quickly pulled his ruined trench coat around himself. Without a second thought, Dohnaseek beat a hasty retreat. The Fallen didn't even see Issei collapse back onto the ground as the gauntlet disintegrated, leaving a fully healed arm in its place.

By the time Aika dragged Issei home, she knew he was out cold. Probably one of the only reasons she let Issei stay passed out, he wasn't thrashing or doing anything that would indicate he was being haunted by a nightmare. But upon seeing Miki and Gorou Hyoudou, she knew that she was going to have to come up with some explanation as to why their son was covered in blood and sleeping.

To which she had none, not even after explaining to them what she did know. Mr. Hyoudou did thank her for getting Issei home and paid her back by feeding her some food. Miki's cooking was wonderful as always. After eating and giving her farewells, Aika quickly went to her apartment and called both Katase and Murayama about what had happened.

Back at the abandoned Church, Kalawarner watched as several fallen angels healed Dohnaseek of his rather grievous wounds. The Fallen had slammed into the front doors, nearly dying in several rogue exorcist arms as he was dragged in. Kalawarner grimaced, not even knowing what had done this to him at all. He had passed out upon hitting the doors at full tilts, which didn't help her at all.

She could only hope that they weren't messing with forces beyond their control.

Rias looked at Koneko as she finished her report, feeling rather sick to her stomach. Koneko had just come back with a rather horrific and gruesome report of Issei using his Sacred Gear to cause a Fallen angel to retreat. Except that he had been killed first, he should have been dead. Koneko even said she heard his heart stop as it had disintegrated upon the spear running him through the chest.

"You can go, Koneko," She said to her Rook piece, who nodded and left.

Rias hugged herself before starting to make a plan in her mind, she would have to tell Issei about the Supernatural World. It was unavoidable, he couldn't simply rationalize this one away. Grimacing, Rias stood up and started pacing up and down the ORC. She didn't have any idea on how to properly bring up the topic with the young man until an idea hit her, a small one. She could tell Issei by asking him to meet her, though she would have to do it in person.

Probably with Sona as well, best to have someone of the world Issei was going to be a part of help explain it. She stopped pacing as she frowned, realizing that Sona would be busy with her work for the next few days so she'd have to postpone the introduction for several days. She ran a hand through her hair before shaking her head.

She would talk to Sona about this tomorrow, she was much too tired to think straight after all the revelations she had received.

The next day, Issei woke up after a restful but still haunted sleep. He found himself in his bed once again but his parents told him that he had collapsed and Aika had to drag him home. He promised to thank her profusely for doing such a thing. Upon reaching school, he did just that with Aika, who said that because he was her friend, he didn't need to. The rest of the school day was much easier for Issei to go through but he nearly passed out during the final class of the day, as his body was still trying to repair itself.

So, after a long day at school, Issei was trying to relax in the park, Aika having placed his head in her lap to allow him to rest when he was distracted by a soft noise. Opening his tired eyes, he sat up and saw a young girl in a very outdated nun dress on her knees. Issei got up and helped her to a standing position before smiling at her.

"Are you alright?" He asked, before seeing her confused face.

He then switched languages, his mother had taught him several but the only one that had stuck around the longest was Italian. That had been useful for when they had gone to Italy for a vacation years ago.

"Sorry, do you understand me now?" He asked, to which the girl nodded with a joyous smile.

"Yes, I understand you now," She said, putting her hands together like she was going to pray, "thank you kind sir."

Aika looked at Issei with a raised eyebrow, "You can understand her?"

Issei looked back, "It's Italian, Aika, not Latin."

Aika snorted, "Well, she's pretty cute."

Issei rolled his eyes, "Anyway, I'm Hyoudou Issei, and you are?"

The girl nodded before answering, "I'm Asia Argento and I'm sort of lost, I was trying to find the church in the area but I barely understand what the signs say. My Japanese isn't that good."

Issei nodded before smiling, "Well, I'm sure Aika and I can lead you there."

Asia's eyes seemed to glow with joy, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

She hugged him before he felt his tiredness and exhaustion slip away, as Asia had pulled back and held her hands before him. Her middle fingers had green spheres on top of them, like she was wearing invisible rings. Aika looked him over before gapping in shock.

"She healed you, Issei! You don't look so pale anymore!" She said in a stage whisper, before handing him a personal mirror.

Issei looked at himself in the mirror, eyes widening at his skin. He looked like he hadn't been dysfunctionally sleeping for his entire life, his skin a more natural color. The heavy bags under his eyes were gone and he looked generally healthier.

"H-how?" He asked, looking at Asia in shock.

"You looked like you needed a miracle from the Lord," Asia said, bowing her head as she smiled, "I had to give one that looked so downtrodden and depressed the healing he needed."

The Aika and Issei shared a look before Issei said, "lets get you to the church then, I'm sure others will need your miracles as well."