Firstly, I want to thank you all for the support we are at 900 follows and I will be extremely overjoyed if we reach 1000. After this, I will be focusing on A Contract with A Succubus and Drunken Marriage Bargain. Besides that, please enjoy this update.
Things better left buried
As Issei was allowed into the house, it was exactly as he remembered. The living room was spacious with a fireplace, several chairs and couches. Next to the living room was a kitchen with a bar and several stools to sit on and next to that was a small dining table big enough for four people. The aesthetic was a rustic and outdoor themed with wooden furniture being emphasised. Then it smelt the same as when he visited when Irina was alive, the gentle smell of lavender which also Irina's favourite flower and smell.
His breath caught in his throat, He was greeted by a person he wished he wouldn't have to see for as long as he lived. Irina's mother, Hikari Shidou she was a spitting image of her daughter, her eyes narrowed before she stood up visibly disgusted and snarled.
"She died because you were too weak to protect her! You promised to protect her and you failed!" Hikari's words echoed in his mind making flinch
"Touji, what is he doing here?" she spoke with venom as she stared daggers at Issei. Mr Shidou gave him an apologetic look before he spoke.
"He came to check on us" Touji lied, he knew that Issei probably needed a place to lay low.
"Well, we are fine! We don't need him here!" Hikari retorted as she pointed accusingly at him
"He will be here for a few hours before leaving." Touji countered as he locked eyes with his wife. She huffed before storming off to her room, not wanting to see him. He then turned to face Issei and had an apologetic look on his face.
"I'm sorry she still…"
"It's fine" Issei replied quickly full well knowing the opinion of Mrs Shidou about him. Mr Shidou looked at him once again. Noticing the boy was shirtless and it wasn't exactly warm outside.
"Would you like a shirt?
"Yes please" Issei spoke quietly
"Take a seat while I grab you one" Issei nodded mutely and took a seat as memories of the moments that changed his life flooded back
It was a beautiful afternoon and Issei Hyoudou was walking home with his childhood friend, Irina Shidou. She was skipping happily ahead of him, her beautiful auburn hair dancing in the wind. Her happiness was infectious and a small smile was etched on his lips. She stopped and turned around his breath hitched in his throat. Her eyes an enticing, warm and innocent violet.
"Ise we are near the playground we use to hang out when were kids let's stop by?" she spontaneously informed him but he liked that about her and she would be completely different without her spontaneity.
"Sure, let's go" he replied and Irina's smile widened as she skipped quickly away and he had to jog slightly to catch up with her.
"Hey wait up Irina!" he called after her
The two quickly arrived at their childhood playground standing side by side a nostalgic smile bloomed on their faces. It had not changed, the monkey bars, see-saw, slides and the best part was the swings.
Irina beat him to the punch and sat down on the swing before swinging her legs a little to allow her to start swinging a little. Issei walked over and sat down struggling a bit to fit on the swing but he managed to do so.
Irina giggled as she watched her childhood friend struggle to fit in the seat due to his bigger frame.
"Hey, I'm big alright!" he complained playfully
"I know, I know…. Hey Ise?" she asked
"Yeah?" he replied turning to face her wondering what she was going to ask
"Do you remember when we use to play here and you thought I was a boy?" she brought up a rather old and extremely embarrassing misunderstanding. Issei couldn't help but blush and sputter.
"I-I do but it was an honest mistake! Y-You were a bit tomboyish back then!"
"Idiot! That may be true but how could you make such a mistake!" Irina retorted blushing
"I was a bit dumb when I was young! I won't make that mistake again I promise!" he replied blushing even harder.
"Because I like you…" he mentally answered as he glanced at the floor
"You better!" Irina pouted cutely
Issei then began realising this was the perfect moment, he could tell her that he loved her. Maybe, she might like him back? But what was the trade-off, risking their friendship? Things could turn into an awkward mess and they could slowly drift apart. Was he willing to risk it all for a chance? A chance that she might reciprocate his feelings? A chance was all he was gambling on, a fifty/fifty chance.
"Ise?" Irina's voice cuts him out of his musing, her voice showed concern.
His head shot up to face Irina and he could see her concern. He bit his lower lip before replying,
"I-I'm fine, just thinking about some things…"
"If something is bothering you Ise, you can talk to me about it ya know?" she reminded him, the two were best friends they shared loads of secrets, consulted each other with problems they faced and comforted each other.
"Dammit…." he mentally growled before he turned to face her their eyes locking and then the words came out.
"I like you, Irina! I have liked you for a while! The way your joyful smile, your beautiful eyes and how you always cheer me up when I'm down! How you were still friends with me even when everyone else saw me as a good for nothing pervert! You mean so much to me and I want you to be my girlfriend!" he practically shouted as his chest heaved with relief at finally shouting those words. His heart began racing and he clenched his fists in nervousness as he observed Irina.
Both of them were blushing heavily, Irina looked shocked and she glanced up at the sky. Issei knew she was thinking, she always glanced up at the sky. She then turned to face him, she began pushing her index fingers together, she was nervous.
"D-Do you really like me Ise?" she asked meekly. Issei's eyes widened slightly as hope bloomed in him was she seeking confirmation.
"I do, I really do!" he nodded earnestly reiterating his feelings. Irina expression merged into joy as she suddenly began crying. Issei stood up and walked over to her in concern,
"Irina…" he spoke her name with concern. She suddenly hugged him and screamed her response.
"I like you to Issei! I have for a while as well!" relief flooded through Issei, she liked him, she liked him back. He managed to hug her back, his arms wrapping around her lower back and holding her close and delicately like she was a precious diamond.
"I wish I knew earlier, so we wouldn't have danced around it for so long" Issei sighed with relief
"I was being pretty obvious about it idiot…," Irina informed him, she hoped that he would notice but she underestimated how dense her childhood friend was. Issei blushed in embarrassment at not picking up her hints.
"I was also scared I didn't want to ruin our friendship…" Issei admitted the reason why he didn't confess earlier.
"We would have still been best friends you know that Ise? It's sooo childish to throw our friendship out the window over rejection." Irina reasoned with him
"Not that I don't want to try being boyfriend, girlfriend. If we like each other there is no reason to not be boyfriend and girlfriend." She quickly added on.
"Alright Irina Shidou will you be my girlfriend?" he asked her much more formally
"Of course Issei!" she answered him as she hugged him tighter. Smiles on their face as their young love bloomed.
"Issei? Issei?" a calm voice shook him out of his reverie as he felt a hand clasp his shoulder.
"Mr Shidou, sorry I was just thinking about something" Issei quickly shook his head as he looked up to the face the man.
"I can tell, you looked completely lost in thought" Touji affirmed before offering Issei a red T-shirt
"Thank you" Issei quickly thanked him as he threw on the shirt, Touji then headed to the kitchen to make some tea.
"So, your back in aren't you?" he spoke addressing the obvious. Issei grimaced before nodding,
"Yeah, I am…."
"How did it happen?' Touji calmly asked his grey eyes locking with his.
"I guess it really started when a magic girl walked into my bar…" Issei contemplated as he leaned back in the chair
"Serafall Leviathan?" Touji calmly asked to which Issei nodded before he laughed
"You didn't know it was Serafall Leviathan till later did you?" to which Issei scratched his neck and sighed
"Yeah, pretty dense of me. I guess I just really wanted to forget everything"
"I even met Sirzechs and Grayifa and I still didn't recognise them… I'm so stupid…" Issei groaned at his blind stupidity
"You just wanted to forget everything, it's understandable such a mistake would occur plus we never told you how they looked just their names." Touji pointed out
"Then I met a girl Raynare she was different… I think she is a fallen angel though… She talked about being in love with a man called Azazel. Gave her advice on it but when her friend mentioned him, I thought it was a coincidence but I can't shake the feeling that she was referring to the Azazel…" Issei thought aloud, Touji just listened quietly
"Then Kokabiel attacked me…" Issei began explaining as Touji listened in calmly waiting for the water to boil
"Well, he attacked Xenovia then me. They sent her on a suicide mission to retrieve the Excalibur's from him…." Issei practically snarled as he continued explaining. Touji frowned at his words, he found it shameful they would send Xenovia to find them.
"His attack allowed Ddraig to break out of his seal and I fought him…." Issei suddenly became mute, Touji saw the young man start crying like a dam had finally broken.
"I killed him… I finally killed me… I avenged her Touji…. He's dead" Issei began muttering his tone more relief than joy, tears staining his cheek. Touji seemed to freeze, the monster who killed his daughter was dead
Touji could fee tears pool in the corners of his eyes before he quickly wiped them away with the sleeve of his clothes. He then walked over to Issei and placed a hand on his shoulder to comfort him, Issei cried harder. The man smiled, he understood how much Irina meant to him and he didn't agree with how his wife treated him. He could understand why she did but it didn't stop her from being any less wrong.
The memories that brought Issei Hyoudou to this point surfaced violently.
Issei scale mail thudded against the metal floor of the church vaults as his deep breathing echoed within his helmet.
"Irina! Xenovia! Irina! Xenovia!" he called out trying to find them. He got closer to the main vault and he could hear faint crying. His heart began freezing with fear as he ran even faster.
He burst into the room calling her name,
"Irin…." The words died in his throat as did his breath at the scene before him
Xenovia was balling in a corner, her hands clutching her head as her whole body shook from the force of her tears.
"It's my fault… It's my fault…." She kept repeating over and over
Irina was laying lifelessly in a pool of her own blood, her exorcist uniform torn as she had several cuts while a gaping wound on her abdomen kept spurting blood. One of her hands clutching her wound while another was clenched into a fist. His balance breaker deactivated as his hand reached out futilely.
"Irina…." He spoke her name softly, disbelief evident as he stepped forward. His legs growing heavier with each step as his heart began speeding up. Ddraig was deathly quiet himself. Issei shook his head and then got a hold of himself, back up was on the way he could save her. He dashed over to her body.
"Irina can you hear me?" he asked her as he knelt beside her ignoring that his knees and lower legs were soaked in her blood. He shook her gently,
"Irina? Irina?" he asked again before putting his hand over her wound as he lay his head on her chest, no heartbeat. He quickly tore off the sleeves of his shirt as he placed it on her wound lifting her hand to then press down on it to keep it in place.
"Xenovia! Xenovia! Get a hold of yourself! We can save her!" Issei called out to Xenovia as he began doing CPR, Xenovia began sobbing harder. He then put his lips to her own, they were cool to the touch but Issei was too caught up in the belief he could save her to notice. Ddraig the heavenly dragon couldn't form words; he couldn't have the heart to tell his partner.
"1,2,3,4…" he kept counting his compressions before placing his mouth to hers. The concept of time faded to Issei as he continued with no intention of stopping.
"Issei…" he heard Gabriel's voice
"Gabriel!" his voice carrying hope but he didn't turn to face her
"Gabriel apply healing magic you can save her!" he quickly told her, Gabriel nervously stepped closer.
"Issei there is nothing I can do…" the words barely coming out of her mouth as she too was on the edge of tears. The sight broke her heart, Issei hands were soaked in blood as he lay knelt in a pool of her own blood. Tear trails stained his cheeks, he had been crying without even realizing.
"No Gabriel we can do something!" Issei retorted still believing he could save her
[Partner…. I am sorry…]Ddraig spoke up finally mustering the courage to speak even then his voice was weak and sad a sharp contrast to the normally vocal and confident dragon.
"No, Ddraig there is always something we can do!" Issei barked back, he then felt Gabriel's hand rest gently on his shoulder. Then it hit him the reality crashed into him like a truck and he began crying once again as his lips quivered and his body shaking with disbelief and grief.
"No, Gabriel please tell me this isn't happening GABRIEL TELL ME THIS ISN'T HAPPENING!" he clutched her robes holding on for dear life as he glanced up to see her face. She glanced away tears pooling in the corner of her eyes, she wished she could tell him it wasn't happening.
"GABRIEL! GABRIEL!" he called her name as she was silent, her lips quivering as she tried to say something but couldn't.
[Issei… I am sorry… this is real… s-she is gone…. I am sorry]Ddraig declared quietly and sombrely. Issei hands felt weak his body, heavy, his vision fading as he glanced at his blood-soaked hands before glancing at her body.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH NO! NO! NO! NO! THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING IRINA PLEASE IRINAAA" He shook her body hoping for something anything but he did it weakly. Whether he wanted to admit it or not really had begun to set in.
"Issei please…" Gabriel's hand gently grabbed his, he didn't fight, instead, he hugged her holding onto Gabriel for dear life. She hugged him back and gently began edging him away from Irina's body, humming gently trying to remain strong for him.
Michael walked past the two but he could still feel Gabriel's glare on his back. He kneeled by Irina's body, the usually gentle arch angel face was stone-faced and ashamed. He reached forward and shut her eyelids.
"Rest in peace Irina Shidou…"
"And I hope you can forgive me…" he begged quietly.
He then glanced at her hand which was clenched tightly into a fist, he gently opened it and revealed a silver locket. He opened it to find a picture of her and Issei smiling joyfully and happily. More guilt and shame mounted on his shoulders before he shut the locket and placed it back in her cold hands before closing it into a fist once again. A tear trailed down the arch-angel's cheek, in her last moments, she was thinking of her loved one, a loved one who could not save her because of his mistake and arrogance.
Quickly wiping away his tear and steeling himself he stood up to see Issei and Xenovia holding onto Gabriel and Griselda respectively. More shame built causing him to steel himself more.
"Take her body gently… and inform Touji Shidou to come see me…" he ordered angels before walking out of the vault, his head tipped down in shame.
It was the day of Irina's funeral, He and Xenvoia attended but both were ashamed and scared to walk up to her coffin. Issei was dressed in black while Xenovia wore her own black dress. Gabriel and Griselda had attended the funeral as moral support while Michael attended as well as atonement so he would remind himself to never ever recklessly cost people their lives.
The funeral was extremely sombre and Irina's coffin was on a platform while surrounded by Lavenders her favourite flower. Many people were shocked at her death, a car accident it was a white lie. Only the archangels, Griselda, Xenovia, Issei and her parents, as well as a handful of angels and exorcists, knew the truth.
Touji Shidou and Hikari Shidou were by her coffin, Hikari sobbing uncontrollably in hysterical disbelief. Touji Shidou was grief-stricken as well but he maintained a strong face for his wife and for himself.
Issei was unable to look at them and neither was Xenovia. Xenvoia hadn't told anyone but it was her fault that Irina died, she was too reckless against Kokabiel and fought aggressively he deflected her strike leaving her open only for Irina to take the blow for her. She had died because of her own hot-headedness and she would live for that shame for the rest of her life.
"I want out Xenovia…" Issei told her quietly, the usual joyfulness gone. She glanced at him from the corner of her eyes, bags were under his eyes and his eyes bloodshot. She was in a similar state.
"I won't stop you Issei… but don't you want to kill that bastard?" She asked
"There is nothing more than I want then to wrap my hands around his throat and slowly choke the life out of him as I watch, Xenovia. But I can't as long as I am a part of this I will always be reminded of my failure every day and I don't want to put any of you at risk. How could I?" he then glanced at his left hand
"What is the point of having this much power if I can't even protect the girl I loved? It hurt's Xenovia so damn much…" he spoke with shame and sadness
"It does hurt and I miss her so much…" Xenovia concurred she was not one for many words.
Meanwhile, Gabriel and Griselda were having a conversation of their own.
"How is he?" Griselda asked
"He is still grieving but he wants to leave the supernatural. It reminds him of her and the power he has he hates it. He finds it pointless because he could not protect her and he blames himself." Gabriel replied, it tore her heart to watch the two grieving so young. She had been nurturing feelings for Issei but always kept feelings in check but now she had a chance it was selfish but she could not stop her mind from wandering to such a possibility.
"Xenovia blames herself as well…" Griselda admitted
"We haven't found anything on Kokabiel or the Excalibur's either." Gabriel sighed in frustration
"Michael may not necessarily allow Issei to leave… He also blames himself but he is also thinking about the faction…" Gabriel added, her brother had been regretting the decision. He was ashamed and wished he never gave the order for Xenovia and Irina to delay Kokabiel to Issei and reinforcements could arrive.
"Michael will put up a fight but his heart won't be in it… He will let Issei go you just have to keep pushing…" Griselda deduced
"I hope so… I really hope so… he deserves peace…" Gabriel hoped
"YOU! How dare you show your face here!" a sharp voice cut through their conversation. Issei and Xenovia flinched at the voice.
Hikari Shidou stormed up to both of them but she was not interested in Xenovia while Touji Shidou followed behind her. She jammed her finger into his chest,
"It's all your fault!" she screamed at him, her eyes mad with fury and despair as tears pooled in them. Issei looked on the verge of cracking just from the first words.
"She died because you were too weak to protect her! You promised to protect her and you failed!" the words stabbed through Issei and everyone watched on with disbelief. Issei body shook and said the only words he could.
"I'm sorry…." A resounding smack echoed through the room as Issei fall back onto his rear his head hung in shame.
"Issei!" Xenovia and Gabriel called out in shock
"Hikari!" Touji shouted in disbelief at what his wife had just done
"You killed my daughter! YOU TOOK HER AWAY FROM ME!" Hikari screamed as Xenovia kneeled by Issei her arms wrapped protectively around him as she stared at Hikari.
"You think he doesn't feel your pain! He loved her! He would swap places with her if he could!" Xenovia retorted back
"He doesn't deserve to be here…" Hikari snarled
"Hikari! Calm down! She wouldn't want this!" Touji retorted
"Our daughter is dead Touji! Dead because of him!" she shouted back at her husband.
"I'm sorry I will leave" Issei suddenly stood up, a red slap print embedded on his face and it stung. He walked away his head hung in shame and Xenovia walked after him concerned for her friend. Gabriel wished to chase after them but she had to discuss Issei wanting to leave with Michael.
Xenovia and Issei walked back to his apartment. The walk was silent and they were only accompanied by the gentle hum of the wind. They finally reached Issei's apartment and he sat on his bed, head still hung in shame and tear trails on his cheeks. Xenovia walked into the kitchen to grab some ice.
"Issei please raise your head…" Xenovia asked gently as she sat next to him, he complied before he flinched at the feeling of cold ice suddenly pushed against his face.
"Xenovia, gently" he reminded her
"Sorry…" she apologized as she began putting the ice gently on his cheek and the reddening began going down.
"Issei, she didn't mean those words…" Xenovia told him
"I know she didn't but it was still the truth. I was too weak to protect her…" Issei admitted, they both sat in silence pain mounting. At that moment the two did something unthinkable, they turned to face each other and both edged closer before their lips touched. It wasn't filled with honesty or love just need and desire to get rid of the pain.
They then wrapped their arms around each other before they mashed their lips together seeking a brief relief from the pain. They soon felt the pleasure and relief of the flesh but it was a temporary reprieve. They would reason it was to stop the pain but both would forever carry the guilt.
Issei's memories were suddenly cut off as he stood up, feeling a powerful being nearby.
[Issei it's a goddess!] Ddraig warned
"Issei is that?" Touji asked
"Yes, it's a supernatural being, a goddess probably. Sorry for imposing on you but I gotta go" Issei thanked him quickly as he headed for the exit not wanting to put Touji at risk. Touji stood up to go after him.
"Let me help you," Touji said as he went to get his exorcist sword.
"No, they only want me and I already cost you, Irina. I'll be damned if you die for my mistake." Issei growled
"You fool this is my decision and I will help you" Touji declared as he turned around to get his exorcist sword, he didn't make it far as he fell to the floor with a resounding thud.
"I am sorry I can't let you…" Issei declared having manifested the boosted gear
He then dashed out of the house and into woods drawing them away from the Shidou's house. He then reached a massive clearing before an arrow stopped him in his tracks. He turned around to face the goddess of the hunt with her bow drawn along with several wolves and huntresses. She eyed the boosted gear on his left hand.
[Artemis...]Ddraig warned
"Red Dragon Emperor, I am Artemis Goddess of the Hunt. Zeus King of the Gods wishes to meet you." Artemis got straight to the point
"And if I refuse?' Issei retorted already knowing she would not take no
"Zeus will not accept refusal. I would prefer if you came willingly." The goddess admitted, she really did not think it was a good idea to force people into things. But she could not disobey her father.
"The supernatural doesn't take no for an answer does it?" Issei sighed
"I politely refuse and insist you go to hell" Issei growled as he bowed slightly
"Impudent male you dare insult the goddess of the hunt!" One of the huntresses growled out as she launched an arrow, he reflexively raised his hand and blocked the arrow.
"Impudent? Says the hypocrites, you come to me assuming I would want to be involved with you and if not you would force me in it anyway. The supernatural spent too long getting whatever they wanted… If you want to recruit me Artemis you will have to do it over my lifeless body…" Issei retorted, Artemis found her patience wearing thin she would not be belittled by a man.
"You are a human and just recently unlocked your secret gear. You cannot think to fight me and win. Think rationally, I do not wish to hurt you." Artemis reasoned
"Ddraig?" Issei called his partner as a grin formed on his face
[With pleasure] the dragon growled
[WELSH DRAGON BALANCE BREAKER!]
Greenlight exploded through the clearing while Artemis merely raised her hand, some of her huntresses stumbled back from the force and power.
"Balance breaker..." Artemis spoke with surprise as her eyes narrowed before she quickly ordered her huntress
"Spread out! And support me! I will handle him! We have underestimated him!" while drawing her bow and notching an arrow
"Ddraig let's do this!" Issei roared as he threw his fist up and the familiar word [BOOST!] began echoing through the forest. Artemis grit her teeth in anger, she had severely underestimated him.
[TREMBLE BEFORE THE POWER OF THE RED DRAGON EMPEROR BEFORE I DROWN YOU IN THE DEPTHS OF CRIMSON PURGATORY!]Ddraig called out his own battle cry
Artemis's huntress notched their bows and her wolves howled. Issei Hyoudou steeled himself for battle and would not kneel to the supernatural so easily.
I hope you enjoyed that much-needed chapter in the sense that I need to update more but also to clarify Issei's past etc.
Now I have a bit of a rant, the latest season of Highschool DXD, Hero has tilted me. I don't like the animation style I can understand why some people like it as its more in line with the artwork of the light novel fair enough but I don't like it. Secondly, Issei perverseness has reached beyond god awful stupidity a boob song Jesus enough said about that. It's more than I have come to the realisation of why I make Issei OOC It's just not fun to write a character in which I will have to write boobs practically every line or how I should sacrifice my very existence for two blobs of fat.
There are some good points Admittedly the Illegal Triana is so badass and I love it. Also Sairaorg holy crap that guy is badass and I do enjoy his backstory, not inheriting his family's magical power but instead trains his body to the max. He is an inherently flawed character in that he always has something to prove and that makes him more relatable and what he wants to achieve more worthy then Issei's goal of a harem, however, Issei goal of protecting his friends is an admirable one and I respect that. Now, Wukong how can you hate monkey king? Also Cao Cao I know he is a villain he may be cocky and a bit of a dick but I can sympathize with him, one as you cannot really blame him for standing up humans and seeing supernatural as a threat to humans. After all the supernatural rely on humans but disdain for humans is evident considering Rias is a nice master by supernatural standards, she treats her reincarnated devils like friends/family so I assume other devils would treat humans who are reincarnated as devils as crap.
It does once again hint at the darker region of DXD that is glossed over, the supernatural are manipulative and will abuse humans to their advantage even Cao Cao himself has done this. That's why stray devils exist etc. Yes, one can make the argument that devils revived you etc. and you should be loyal to them but can you really blame someone for backing out of something after the reality is different to their expectations? Issei is a good example of this you cannot say the way he died was not manipulative and reality was in line with his expectations so he stayed however if the supernatural did not allow harems well let's say Issei might be less inclined to stay.
I do still love DXD and am not going to stop writing, I love Ddraig and Albion their powers and the supernatural etc. Dragons are really cool and the heroines are good and can be expanded on (admittedly I don't like Asia but can't have everything.) I do like Vali as well and I will probably start learning to more stories focusing on Vali and Sairaorg because they are interesting characters but also as authors we should not be bound to always have Issei as the protagonist. Besides that, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I apologize for my rant until next time!