Surprising no one, it was a normal, plain, absolutely boring day. The air was the perfect temperature, The wind calm. The sun was perfectly placed behind a thin sheet of clouds that stopped its heat rays from being unbearable and a nice layer of silence echoed over the small town that housed plain, everyday people. Well, almost.

Sitting on a sturdy branch of a strong oak tree was a boy. His eyes a warm Hazel and his hair, although wild, rested on his head perfectly. He leaned on the trunk of the tree, feeling the wind blow around him, finding comfort in the sensation that gravity had on his dangling legs. In his mind, this normal, plain day was the perfect atmosphere for a nice long nap, however the world, true to its nature, was unkind in that regard. Echoing in the wind, he could the screaming of a distressed duo of boys, running from an angry mob of women.

The boy peeked open his eyes, and saw the scene unfold before him. The duo had fallen before an encircling of angry women, each holding various objects that looked like they would really hurt if swung. The girls acted like hungry predators, circling around the duo waiting from the perfect moment to pounce on their, now thoroughly terrified, prey. The boy that sat upon the tree, almost closed his eyes once again, but two girls from the crowd peeled off and angrily stomped over to his cozy hideaway.

On their approach, he could feel the killing intent. Both were dressed in kendo uniforms and wielded Shinai. "Issei! Get down here, immediately!" One yelled, with a controlled, yet angry tone. She was the taller of the two, and her appearance could cause anyone to mistake Issei and her as siblings as she had his brown hair and eyes.

"Come down for a beating you mean," Issei spoke with a calm, warm tone, "I didn't do anything this time, Murayama-San." Issei didn't once look down on the two. Instead, he kept looking out into the sky hoping that this would blow over eventually. However, he did glance towards the mob and boy, were the duo getting beat, causing him to wince at the sight. Once done with the glance, he returned to his thoughtful expression and stared out into the blue sky overhead.

The actions of Issei caught Murayama off guard. She was used to his more lecherous stares and behavior, but now he was acting like a carefree scholar and in truth caused her some concern for the boy. The last time she saw him like that was not very pleasant for anyone involved.

Flashback

Issei sat alone on a hill overlooking the river that cut through the town. The skin around his eyes were a puffy red, evidence of recent crying. However, the eyes themselves looked out into the sunset sky thoughtfully, much like a scholar or a philosopher on the verge of their next breakthrough. He was so lost in thought, however, that his senses failed to hear the approaching group of young middle schoolers, among them a younger Murayama.

She followed behind the group, wondering to herself on why she was even here. The group was dead set on approaching the boy she knew as Issei Hyoudou. Who had been in her class for as long as she could remember, however never really spoke much to the boy. She had always thought of him as a shy kid, and not much of a conversationalist. Nevertheless, she was there. Listening to small, shushed giggles of her peers which to her, felt as if they had some malicious intent behind them. "Oh, Issei-Kun!" yelled one of the other girls, however, the boy didn't move nor make a sound. Too lost in thought to really care. Several more attempts were made by the other girls to get his attention, but non reached him.

"Is he really ignoring us?" one spoke, with a smirking pout. The girl's eyes, locked with a boy in the group and he nodded at the intended message behind the comment.

"YO! Hyoudou, we're talking to you!" said the boy, anger dwelling up making his face red. He charged over to Issei and grabbed his shoulder. However, he didn't turn and made no attempt at conversation. He did, however, rise from his hunched over sitting position. The dead look of his eyes creeped out Murayama as he turned to the face the small crowd. Issei began to walk away. As he did so Murayama could see a small twitch of annoyance from him.

Seeing him begin to walk away, the boy stomped over and pulled at his shoulder, "Oh come on Issei, we're just trying to have fun." His tone carried more anger and frustration than sincerity. When he pulled over his shoulder, Murayama could see his expression snap from a calm thoughtful expression to that of frustration and anger.

Issei sent a heavy right hook at the boy, his fist slamming into his nose with a very audible crunch. Small streams of blood flowed from the boy's nose as he was sent falling to the ground. However, Issei wasn't done. As the boy reached the ground, Issei slammed his foot into his chest causing another crunching sound to echo in the small breeze, causing both disgust and terror to fill the group of middle schoolers. Many ran from the scene, hoping to flee from the wrath of the normally quiet, sky kid. Murayama, however, fell back onto her butt and watched as the boy walked in her direction. She feared the same fate as the only boy of the small group. She closed her eyes in anticipation.

However, nothing happened. She opened her eyes to see Issei walking away, not even giving a glance back at the scene he left behind. The boy was completely unconscious with two girls sobbing next to him.

Flashback end

The memory sent a small chill down Murayama's spine. However, her thoughts were broken by the more childish reaction from her friend, Katase. Her pink hair flowing wildly from her battle stance. "Come down here, Hyoudou! Or I'll come up there and…" her yelling was interrupted by Murayama, whose hand was place in from her face. The reaction surprised Katase, as she looked over at her friend and fellow Kendo member. "Mura..." her voice croaked when she saw the expression her friend had plastered on her face. It wasn't anger or concern, but rather fear.

"Let's just go, not worth it." Murayama spoke softly, almost to a whisper. Katase was thoroughly freaked out by the display. Before she could even argue, however, Murayama was already dragging her away. She flailed for a while before giving up, however got one good hit one of the bloodied duo as she was dragged away.

Issei, however continued to stare out into the sky as it slowly turned from a wonderful blue to a reddish orange color. he lifted his left sleeve, revealing a simple yet elegant watch, I suppose it's time to go. Issei thought. Sighing, he leaped down from the branch onto the grassy hilltop that the tree stood upon, his very loose fitting close flowed like a cape as he did so.

He casually walked over to the beaten and disheartened duo, however halfway he felt an inquisitive aura on him. Looking around he found the source, a beauty of a woman, with long flowing, crimson hair and baby, blue eyes. He examined everything about the woman. Her eyes carried a sad tone to them that honestly reminded him of himself. Her body was tense, apprehensive. As if she was nervous about something, and finally he noticed her aura. To everyone else, no one could see the energy rolling off her, however his eyes allowed him to see such a wonderous sight. It was a chaotic aura that seemed unstable yet contained. As if it was naturally destructive. Its crimson coloring matched the girl's hair, however had a black tinge to it. She stood near a window of the old school building, however quickly left after seeing that he had noticed her.

Sighing that he couldn't behold the girl's aura any longer, he continued to his fellow classmates and peers. "Damnit, they are actually going to kill us one day…" pouted one, that had rough black hair and glasses that seem to be fogged no matter what he did, hiding his eyes. He brushed his hair aside and held his hand on top of a large bruise on his forehead.

"Damn straight! I swear they broke something." Said the other, who was nearly bald and had an athletic build. They complained more and more, easing into a soft disgruntled mumble, when Issei finally reached them. They looked at him suspiciously, seeing that he had no injures on himself. However, they didn't say a word about it when they saw his eyes. They knew the look that he had and knew not to press him on any issue…period.

"They really know where to hurt you guys…I swear do my self-defense lessons go to waste?" Issei asked mostly to himself, however the one with glasses overheard,

"You think we can take on that many!" He cried; however, it fell upon deaf ears.

"You could at least try…" Issei spoke sighing. With that, Issei began walking away hoping to get home before dark.

"Hey, Issei!" The bald one called out, getting a side glace from him, "I just got a fresh piece, you in?" he asked with a hopeful tune.

"Not tonight, I have something I have to do." Issei responded, his tone laced with a thick sadness.

"I hope he's alright." Mumbled the glassed one.

"Me too man. Me too."

Once away from the school, the day seemed to get even more calm for Issei. Students and adults alike moved along with their business just like any other day, and Issei easily blended into the crowds as he edged his way towards his objective. The park.

He walked through the city center as he felt that same damned presence. It was the same one that followed him every single day for the last week. Do they ever quit? Issei thought to himself, not expecting the reply that followed.

If there is anything I have learned about their kind, is that they never stop once they want something. The voice was spoke with wisdom and hummed harmonically in Issei's metaphorical ear. He chuckled to himself as he continued his walk. However, as he neared the park, he continued to feel its presence.

This is going to be a problem. How should I get rid of her, Ymey? Issei asked for guidance to his soul resident.

If you confront her, they'll definitely know somethings up with you. Ymey stopped to think for a moment, just play it by ear, I'm sure he'll know what to do.

I suppose. Issei responded as he walked his way up the hill towards the park with some mounting nervousness.

All things considered; the park was as calm as he hoped. There were some people, mostly kids as they rampaged through it all, ducking between trees playing some game that they could come up with. Parent silently watched them, trying their best to relax after a tough day of dealing with those little monsters. Issei found some amusement in it all. The thought of children never really crossed his mind when he ever found himself thinking about the future. These days all he thought of was death. His upcoming or someone else's. creating life, however, was something he believed was out of his reach for a variety of reasons.

He walked over and sat down at a random park bench, a good distance from any other living being. It overlooked the city as the sun set in the distance. It was a great view, leaving a warm smile on his face. He felt the presence of the being that had followed him. Roughly twenty meters away, hiding in a bush like a common thief. The thought was an amusing thought, imagining the girl as a poor thief, but he cut the thought out of his mind as someone sat next to him. A tall cleanshaven man, with golden blonde hair and eyes of sapphire. He dressed casually and for a while the two didn't speak a word, till Issei broke the contactless interaction with a gesture of sign language, kept hidden from the girl behind him.

Bat. Followed. Were the words that he managed out of his rather poor sign language, but luckily the man understood and with a snap of his fingers, Issei could feel a powerful illusion be created over them. "She could only see us how we were before."

"Thank you, Lord Hermes." Issei spoke formally, slightly bowing.

"Oh, come now, there is no need to be so formal with me, Ise." The mention of his pet nickname infuriated the now scowling teen. "Any who…you should know that it's getting pretty damn hard to get you these messages. The Gremory and Sitri brats having improved their surveillance efforts."

"I don't understand why Zeus is being so protective lately. It was frustrating when he forbids me from going on any hunts and now, I have to constantly report every week."

"He's just worried that's all. You know he's the type, especially after Hercules went missing." A sad tone began to envelope the messenger god's tone.

"I can take care of myself, besides I'm not Hercules. He has no right to be so damn protective of me." Issei scoffed out as he looked out into the sunset, not noticing the small grin on the god's face.

"Just man up and deal with it, after all, Zeus has yet to ban Arty's recent excursions to your home." The god said with a sly smile, making the young boy blush a very slight pink.

"Not like he can stop her anyway. She has a teleport line directly into my place." The god's eyes widened by the new bit of info.

"Why the hell am I meeting you here then, just give me access to the line."

"Artemis is the one with the key. I did offer that suggestion to her a few months ago, but she refused claiming "That you don't know how to keep your mouth shut."" Issei said, causing a twitch in Hermes's eye, much to the boy's amusement. "She doesn't want Aphrodite or Demeter anywhere near me."

"I never would have taken her for the jealous type." Hermes sighed, "I better get going, and Issei…?"

"What?" the boy deadpanned.

"You really should stop wearing such loose clothes. Aren't you proud of your muscles?" He said causing a twitch on Issei's eye.

"I like to wear my armor underneath everything, it makes me feel better." Hearing that the god sighed as he snapped his fingers, causing the Illusion to disappear. Issei looked out at the sunset, using his senses to read the girl behind him. She was still in the same spot and hadn't seen anything.

The god left, leaving Issei to ponder, maybe he's right about my clothes. Issei thought as he rubbed his stomach feeling the abs underneath.

For someone as strong as you, you really have no confidence. Ymey put his two cents up. Issei rolled his eyes and waited for a while before standing up. He got one good look at the sunset as it nearly disappeared into the mountains, before starting his trek back home.

A red headed beauty sat behind an ornate desk, rubbing her nose bridge while hearing the report that her kouhai had. The white haired, petite girl was completely monotone as the final words left her lips, completing the report. The girl walked away, sitting down on a nearby couch and began to nibble on some candy. "Rias are you sure he has one?" asked a dark-haired girl that entered the room with a tray filled with cups of tea.

"He has to have to have one. You felt that energy, didn't you?" asked Rias remembering the feeling of Issei's energy that she felt when he first arrived at Kuoh academy.

Flashback

The day was a complete waste of time for Rias. The entrance ceremony was the perfect for scouting the new students, as Rias could easily scan for Sacred gears from her perch over the entire gymnasium. She felt some weak signatures from some of the new freshman as they filed into the room, however those were already scouted by her close friend Sona so she would have to search further.

More students filed in, adding more disappointment into Rias eyes, which was noticed by her friend Akeno Himejima. "Nothing piquing your interest?" she said in a joking tone, almost making her signature ara ara sounds.

"Nothing." Rias said completely devastated. She needed stronger members from her group and soon. She leaned over the railing, completely defeated as the ceremony was about to begin. The last vestiges of the student body slowly filling any remaining seats. That's when she felt something, something powerful.

A boy walked into the room; his eyes tired with black bags underneath. His aura was a golden light, mixed with shades of silver and grey steel. The longer she stared at him, the more it seemed to twist and turn, and every so often she felt something even more power leak out. Faint compared to the rest of the energy, however it seemed to pop into existence then immediately die, like it was chained and begging to be set free only to be shot down again. She stared, finally excitement layered into her pupils. She saw his labored stride, his loose uniform that seemed way to big for him, his warm brown hair wildly flowing in the wind that pushed against as he walked. He was like the perfect book, a mystery to its finer contents yet entrancing to keep looking into it. Her excitement only enhanced when she heard the white-haired girl behind her speak. "He smells like steel."

"What do you mean, Koneko?" Akeno asked for Rias. She too was staring with intrigue.

"His energy, it reeks of battle and," she said as she took another inhale of his energy, "death." She said those words to make her King, Rias take more caution, however it seemed to do the opposite; Making her want him more. She was entranced, however she found herself locking eyes with the boy. Although the distance from her perch and him were great, she could see his eyes. A warm hazel, with golden rims, however she felt something far more than that. A sadness and an everlasting hatred.

She knew he saw her staring, but she just couldn't stop wondering who he was, entranced by the power that he had. Then, it disappeared. Completely gone without a trace, with the only thing she could feel was a slight magic pull and a wave of nausea. "Rias are you okay?" asked a worried Akeno.

"I want him." Akeno and Koneko looked at each other with confusion then turned to face their delirious king. In unison they said,

"Who?" leaving behind a shocked Rias in the process.

Flashback end

Then again, their memories were damaged that day. Wait! Maybe that was his sacred gear. I remember reading up on some that could do something like that, but which one… Rias began to go down a rabbit hole of questioning inside her mind. A year had passed since that day, but she would never forget it. However, making a move on him had been difficult. He aligned himself with the pervert "Faction" of Kuoh Academy, which made himself number 1 enemy to all girls on campus. However, she knew that something was different with him since he hardly peeped. Only doing so to keep him reputation in tatters. Who the hell are you?

"Um, Rias?" asked a masculine voice that stood in the corner of the room. He had golden blonde hair and leaked a knightly vibe which made all the girls call him the Prince of Kuoh and the guys resigned him to never say his name, only 'Pretty-boy.' The boy noticed his king acting strange again. She always did that when she thought about Issei Hyoudou, her eyes would become dilated, and she would act like she just had a strenuous exercise. Although Akeno had another word for it…Horny.

The question immediately broke the poor girl out of her stupor. She realigned herself, completely ignoring the dampness between her legs, thank hell that I'm sitting down right now. She thought as she turned her head towards her knight. "Yes, Kiba?" Rias asked with a half grin filled with nervousness.

"The contract blinker is going off." Kiba said pointing towards a strange device that was on her desk. It blinked a similar color to that of Rias hair and had several magic circles on it.

"Oh," Rias muttered as she placed her hand over it, immediately getting sent the details of the contract. "Looks like it for you Kiba."

"Ok." he said as he skipped over to a magic circle that was etched into the floor in the center of the room, disappeared in a crimson light as he placed his feet inside. Another blink came from the device, and once again Rias moved her hand over it.

"And this one is for Koneko." Rias said with a smile.

"Fine," was all Koneko said in her monotone voice. "Rias?" she asked stopping just before the circle.

"Yes Koneko?" She asked tilting her head.

"Gross." Koneko deadpanned as she pinched her nose, disappearing as she exited into the circle. Leaving behind a thoroughly blushing and embarrassed Rias, and a giggling Akeno.

Issei sighed in relieve when he got home. His stalker was long gone by this point; however, he didn't let up his guard, he never knew if there was another watching him. Which there was, there always was. He knew the aura well enough, but it was restrained. Two options presented to Issei. One that this person was so weak that even a low-class devil like before could dwarf it in power, two it was holding back and Issei couldn't pick it up due to his proximity to the other one. Two, most definitely two, Issei thought as he felt it's energy.

He knew it to be a fallen, due to its light and dark mixture. Issei chewed on several Ideas on how to deal with this new problem. If he were to confront them, then he could encounter the Grigori and that was the last thing he wanted, if he let them be then they would just annoy the fuck out of him. Decisions, Decisions, thought Issei as he opened the door to his home. He put one foot through as another Idea popped into his head. Which caused him to smirk. He entered the home, basking in its normalcy and closed the door. As he heard the click of its closing, he pushed out his energy mixing it with the energy of the fallen that observed so close by. He poured his killing intent into the fallen's aura till he felt almost burst. With a sadistic smirk, he walked further into his home.

The home was decorated nicely with his memorabilia of his hunts. Animal skins of various mythological creatures were strewn along the floor as rugs. Issei could feel the energy they still carried as he walked barefoot along them. The walls had heads and various armaments. Bows and large blades were locked in place over the fireplace that Issei had custom built into the home. While great for keeping the house warm, they also had a great use for his familiar since it allowed for easy access outside as she hated being summoned the normal way and preferred to fly and stretch out her wings. Said familiar was perched on her bed that was installed next to the fireplace.

While using magic to keep her normal size down to its more normal counterpart. The eagle was still twice as large than a regular one. Its feathers were black and held a hazy smoke that rolled off them. It's eyeing a deep violet. She looked at her master with a passing indifference as she laid half asleep on her perch.

Issei walked over to her, lightly scratching the back of her head, "So vane, you arrived home safely." He whispered as Vane shook itself, clearly enjoying the attention. She hawked at him as Issei began to walk away towards his couch, clearly upset by the action.

Issei placed the message recorder that was in his pocket on the coffee table in front of him. The color of the box usually determined who sent it and with it being a deep purple with golden accents, he knew that it was Hades who sent the message. Something important must be going down, If he was the one to contact me, Issei thought referencing the more secluded Lord of the undead. Taking a deep breath, Issei opened the message by pressing a small button on the top.

The box came to life, sputtering forth an image of Hades dressed in his formal attire. It was like watching an undead play archbishop, which out of all the priests that Issei knew, all of them would curse the undead lord for such a blasphemous attire.

"Issei Hyoudou," It spoke in the grim voice of Hades. "Hero of Zeus, Hunter of Artemis,"

Of course, he must do all this formal shit, Issei thought as he listened on.

"Help me in my time of need, A Cerberus pup of the black hellfire has been stolen from my kennel. He poses a great threat to you as his trail leads me to believe that he will be in Kuoh by the time you receive this message. Slay it and all those who are involved. This is my formal request." The message cut off, leaving Issei in deep thought.

"Well, looks like I'm getting no sleep tonight." Issei said to himself, steeling his will for a rather shity day at school tomorrow. However, a slim feel of excitement began to heat Issei's heart. May the moon guide my hunt.