WARNING: The following story may be an emotional roller coaster starting from this chapter.

I changed my mind.

There will be 3 endings to this story. I will write all three of them, because each ending will only be 1-2 chapters long. It's only a matter of how long it'll take to reach the ending and the pacing of each chapter.

I haven't forgotten about Raynare/Yuuma Amano yet. She's not a main character, but she'll be back soon.

This chapter basically wrote itself, hence why it was released so fast.

Chapter 4

Midnight Sun

Longing

Issei shoved another bite of chicken curry into his mouth. He marveled at the taste, before quickly swallowing and putting another bite into his mouth.

Luna sighed at his antics. "Issei, please. Eat a bit more politely."

"Personally, I think its polite if I eat this messy. It means I enjoy the food so much that I would forgo all table manners to eat it quickly!" Issei exclaimed, clicking his chopsticks dramatically.

"Someone can also interpret it as trying to eat as little as possible by making a mess of it, and eating faster to get rid of their suffering." Luna rebutted.

Issei froze. "G-grayfia, I-I really like your cooking. Honest!"

The silver-haired maid sighed as she pressed two fingers against her temple. "Luna, please do not attempt to tease him like that."

"I am not teasing. I am merely attempting to enjoy my food quietly, and he isn't allowing me to do that."

Within the humane house, there were four people. The first was the brown-haired Hyoudou Issei, who was renowned alongside Matsuda and Motohama as the Perverted Trio, but he had recently been taming his perverse nature with the help of Luna and a second person. Luna was a white-haired female that looked like she was in her twenties. She had two dark horns atop her head, and a blue diamond on her forehead. She currently wore one of Issei's hoodies, and a pair of short running shorts. It was her own shorts, not one of Issei's, which revealed her long never-ending legs.

The third was the care-taker, Grayfia. She possessed silver-hair with silver-eyes that were seemingly pure steel.

And the last one, was the latest addition to their house.

As of two weeks ago, the silver-haired teenager began to show up uninvited. It was a surprise to Grayfia, but after a few minutes of private conversation with the [Dragon of Entropy] Vali, Grayfia allowed him to stay. She had the guest room always ready for whenever he would show up, which was every other day.

It was only natural, for he needed to check up on them. He was the strongest one in their trio, which Issei proudly dubbed as, "Alaya Search Squad", which he shortened to A.S.S, which caused Vali to almost activate his Divine Dividing against him.

It was something he wouldn't ever try to repeat.

Grayfia collected the dishes after the relatively silent dinner besides Luna and Issei's single exchange, and Vali announced. "Issei, let's go to your room. We need to discuss something."

The Alaya Search Squad quickly filed into Issei's room. Vali held his hand over the knob, and Issei marveled at the beautiful magic seal that Vali had. Vali didn't need to explain what he did, as this was a regular thing. The magic seal was meant to only prevent anyone from listening in or entering.

"I went out again. But there was nothing interesting." Vali finished his report in two sentences.

Issei nodded in agreement. "Same here. I didn't find anything."

Luna shook her head as well. "I also couldn't find anything. There is nothing suspicious in the entire Kuoh city."

Vali sighed. "We've had nothing for the past two weeks. I've flown across all of Japan's islands. I think we may need to start searching across different lands besides Japan."

Issei shook his head at the thought. "I wouldn't be able to. Grayfia doesn't know of my searches, and the moment I stop attending my classes, she'll be asking of where I've been."

"Did you forget that I can teleport?" The silver Dragon cocked his head to the side.

Issei blinked, before palming his face. "Yeah, I forgot. We'll only be able to do this on the weekends. I have homework on the weekdays, and I won't be bringing it with me to wherever we search."

Vali nodded. "Then Luna and I will search during the weekdays. You just try to find out if anything is off in Kuoh. You have to search all the way to the outskirts yourself, otherwise it won't work. We can't leave a single inch of our territory unsearched daily. Who knows if we could have missed Alaya by mere minutes. I have already set up a barrier over Kuoh, it'll alert me of every single spike of magical energy within the barrier. However, you are much better than me at sensing magic, Issei. I'll be depending on you."

Issei nodded. Despite not having any magical power and being a normal human, Issei was still able to sense interruptions to the ordinary world, in other words, any kind of magic or magecraft.

It was strange. He shouldn't be able to, but he still was.

"Then it's settled. Remember, if something comes up, you will call me." Vali stood up. "Hopefully in two days, we won't have these single statement reports, and actually have something to say."

They all nodded. "We leave before dawn breaks Luna. Be ready."

The white-haired Dragon nodded.

Vali exited the room without uttering a goodbye and Luna shook her head. "That boy, doesn't even leave a farewell to you, who is currently his host with Grayfia."

Issei waved his hand. "Just ignore it Luna. He can do what he wants. I don't have his respect simply because I'm a human, and I understand that. He wants to work with someone with power, not someone who can only sense power. I say despite this, us three make a pretty great team. Vali is able to defeat anything with his overwhelming power, you can defeat anything with your overall combat prowess, and I'm able to sense anything with power."

Luna nodded in agreement. "It is late, I will sleep now for we must depart early in the morning."

"Goodnight Luna."

"Goodnight Issei."

She fell asleep quickly facing him. Issei thought it was quick, but she insisted on sleeping on the same bed. The problem was that Issei's bed was not very large, which meant that they would be close together. Sometimes Issei would wake up in the middle of the night with their limbs tangled together. He would always separate himself from her before she woke up in the morning.

He didn't know both him and her were the type to spoon.

It was a good thing he found out before she awakened.

He didn't want to find out her reaction if she ever saw how close he was to her in bed. He doubted she would have cared, but he was trying to have her behave like a normal woman, and not as this weapon she so proudly remarked herself as.

He didn't care if she was a Dragon Knight, she was still a beautiful woman who should be aware of her beauty.

He admired her beautiful peaceful face that she rarely showed anyone. It was only visible whilst she wasn't conscious, for she disliked showing any kind of vulnerability.

Issei reached out with his arm, and gently moved some stray hair to behind her air. He tucked it, and lost his breath once again. She was breathtakingly beautiful, and yet Issei did not attempt to take advantage.

As her savior, he was the one she would always try to make sure was safe. He could've used her naivety to his advantage, and have her do perverse stuff with him as a repayment for him saving her life those weeks ago, when she arrived out of the Crack of the World.

But he didn't. He stayed as a true gentleman and taunt her the basics of his world. He didn't know why, but he wished to continue to have her learn.

He sighed. If only he had a mother to give him advice.

Just for today, he would indulge himself in his desires. He moved closer to Luna on the bed, and wrapped his arms around her. She let out a quiet moan, and despite it not being erotic, Issei still felt as if it were one of the most sensual sounds he had ever heard. Luna shifted in his arms, one of her arms grasping his upper arm, the other resting against his rather unmuscular chest. Their legs tangled quickly as she shifted closer to him, her breasts pressing against his body.

He almost got excited. He was certain if he had, she would've awoken and it would've gotten awkward for both of them.

Issei put his chin atop of her white-hair, and breathed in her scent. A few moments after he lay still, he drifted to sleep.

He awoke alone in bed, feeling cold and alone.

He felt nothing in his arms, meaning that Luna had gone with Vali already.

He groggily opened his eyes, and blinked when he saw a white-haired woman looked at him from his desk.

"Luna? Why are you still here?"

She was quiet, before saying, "It is not yet dawn. I merely woke up early within your hold."

Issei blinked, before a blush formed on his face when his sleepy mind comprehended what she had said. She had known that he was embracing her while they both slept.

And by the way she sounded, she didn't seem to mind.

"Will you be okay Issei? Vali and I will not be able to defend you." Luna tilted her head in concern at Issei. "Even if you call on Vali or me, we might be unable to reach you due to potentially fighting enemies on our side. We may also not be able to teleport into the barrier you are in straight away, and may be forced to break through the barrier, which may take minutes depending on your opponent. I suspect that the ones that seek you will be the same ones that seek me."

Issei frowned at her words. He would not be able to last more than a few seconds against someone like Shalba, who Vali easily defeated.

If it really did take a few minutes for Vali and Luna to return and defend him, he will most likely be dead.

"Luna..." He started.

Her amber eyes gazed into his own brown.

"When you return, will you train me?"

Her eyebrow rose. "Train? Why would you want such a thing? You already have a Counter-Guardian with you, as well as a Dragon Knight. We will be able to defend you so long as you are with us."

Issei agreed with her words. "Yes, I'll be safe as long as you two are with me, but soon, you two will not be. I'll need to defend myself, and I have no experience in any kind of weapon or magic. I presume I'll be able to learn basic magic like those magicians Vali talked about."

She nodded. "I supposed Vali will teach you how to use magic, while I'll teach you physical combat. After all, I do not know any kind of magic of this world."

"What time is it?" Issei asked. He knew that part of their conversation was gone, so he switched the topic.

"It's currently...4:03?" There was uncertainty in her voice, as she had never seen a clock before two weeks ago. She still had difficulty reading it, but the brown haired male trusted that she had said the correct time. It did sound right, as the sun had not yet risen, otherwise she would have left already.

"Thank you." He said softly. He sat up.

Luna walked to the bed, and sat down at his side. Her hands were close to his, but Issei did not hold her hand. Neither of them had strong feelings for the other. Issei merely liked her, but not the point where he would attempt to court her.

She was going to return to her world after all.

It didn't matter how long later it will be, she will return to her world. And there was nothing Issei can do to keep her here. He didn't wish to gain someone he loved, only to lose her within a short time.

He didn't want to repeat the events of five years ago, where he lost both of his loved ones. It may have been the cause of how distorted he was now. No longer the person he once was.

He used to be a proud member of the Perverted Trio. Now, it was nothing but a hopeless memory he wished to cling onto, to remind himself that he was once a normal person. Despite his effort, he knew he couldn't keep on trying to hide it. He ceased being normal the day it happened.

A normal person was supposed to grow up with their parents, living happily with their loved ones. He didn't have that luxury. It was a miracle he wasn't living in an orphanage.

Sirzechs and Grayfia were kind enough to pick him up days after the incident.

Issei blinked. He realized he hadn't seen Sirzechs in a while. Grayfia had told him that the red-head was away for a new project overseas in the States. It's been two weeks, and he hasn't come back yet. He hasn't even called Issei in the two weeks, despite him constantly calling Issei while he was living under the same roof as him.

It was strange.

"Neh Issei?" Luna nudged him, breaking him out of his thoughts.

"Yeah?"

She paused in the middle of her thoughts, before shaking her head. "No, it is nothing." She shifted back from the teenage girl she was never able to be, back into the hardened warrior she has lived her life as.

"Luna...I know its been a short time we've known each other, but you can tell me anything." Issei reluctantly touched her shoulder, letting him know he was there. It was almost as if he were channeling his feelings to her.

Immediately, she began to relax.

She sighed. "I'm not comfortable leaving you behind. These Devils can attack you at any time."

"But I can't let Grayfia get dragged into this. If I disappear from school or home for even a single day, she'll attempt to find out what is going on."

She shook her head. "I know that well. That's why you can't go with us. You are a valuable person within our search due to your ability to sense magical power. Losing you will hurt our search."

They grew quiet again, as they drifted back to a topic they had already covered the previous day.

Her amber eyes looked into his brown ones. Issei felt himself fall deeper for her, the amber eyes having both qualities of her personalities. However, the two didn't conflict with each other. Within the amber, he was able to see both the warrior and the girl.

He looked away first.

He didn't want to feel this way for someone he barely met.

He reminded himself constantly. It was only two weeks ago. And she would be going home at any time.

He didn't want to lose someone else again.

His head burned, as he pressed his palm against his temple. He almost screamed in pain as flashes went through his head. His mind cracked, as the room around him shattered. Space itself was distorted, and everything was a swirl of colors.

He was only able to make out the image of a beautiful man with long black hair and a commoner's black cloak sitting on a stone table across from a beautiful woman with long curly blonde hair wearing a white commoner's cloak. Both of them wore it to hide their high positions.

In the split second Issei saw it, it was gone, and reality pieced itself together. It instantly repaired his fragmented mind, and he was back on his bed, facing Luna.

He was instantly drenched in sweat in the split second he saw it. He breathed hard, as his heart beat.

What were these images he was suddenly seeing?

The first time it happened was two weeks ago, when he saw the twin dragons [Dragon of Entropy] Albion and [Dragon of Potential] Ddraig as well as the true form of the Divine Dividing: White Dragon Emperor's Mystic Wings.

This was the second time. This time, he saw a precious moment between two lovers. He only saw it briefly, but he was able to deduce the fact that the two loved each other despite their differences.

"Issei what's wrong?" Luna broke the silence that he knew the room was in for the past seconds. "You...look pale."

He touched his face gingerly, as if it were not his.

"Issei?"

The brown haired male didn't answer.

She touched his hands, and he looked at her surprised. Confusion washed over his eyes.

"L-Luna?" He asked weakly.

She tilted her head, but didn't reply in words.

"It's nothing. I just...remembered something." His voice shook.

Luna knew there was something wrong, but she didn't push farther. She didn't know how to approach it. She was never taught how to access emotions. She only knew how to fight.

It had never bothered her before, but now, when talking to such a young male, it was irritating her more than before. The lack of empathy that is.

She then did something that surprised both of them.

She lowered his head to her bosom. She stroked his hair, putting as much emotion as she can into the gesture. It had worked for Yufine whenever her sister was sad.

Luna felt Issei's breathing steady. She lowered him back to the bed.

When she fixed his blanket and the bed, she walked to his balcony. Doing the gesture she had done for her sister had brought up memories she wished to suppress and forget.

She would never forget the look on Yufine's face as she fell off the same cliff that she herself had pushed off Queen Cecilia, Rose, and Nemunas off for her revenge against the sins that Queen Francesca had committed.

Issei awoke again right before his alarm rang.

He looked toward his desk, and Luna wasn't there. She wasn't in bed or on his balcony either.

She truly left with Vali. He had a hope that she would stay and have Vali go on his own. It was a selfish wish that he held. However, she had a duty, and her mindset as a Knight would cause her to always follow her duty.

He turned off his alarm, and quickly brushed his teeth.

He opened his closet, and was about to reach for his uniform, before hesitating. He frowned, and instead, reached for the other side of his closet. He pulled out a loose sleeveless white Nike hoodie, and slipped it on over a sleeveless black shirt. He knew the colors contrasted, but he felt as if he needed to wear white this specific day.

He slipped on a pair of dark grey sweatpants, and put on his black tennis shoes.

He left the house, not intending to attend school.

He knew that Grayfia would know he was ditching school, but she would only find out later on in the day, after it had already happened. Since she went to school early as a teacher, as well as preventing anyone from finding out the two lived together, Issei would always walk alone.

He headed for the local park instead.

He sat down on an unoccupied bench, noticing the stares at him. He didn't mind it, knowing that they had a reason. He was a teenager, and it was currently school time.

Also, they knew who he was. Hyoudou Issei, one of the members of the Perverted Trio. They recognized him as the pervert, but along with the perverted stories, there were also stories of his helpful nature and a good heart, as well as his depressing presence and broken heart.

They knew about his parents. It was one of the few horrors the city had to speak of. No one dared to speak it to him, but he knew they all knew.

He was broken out of his thoughts as he felt a presence right in front of him.

He immediately snapped to attention, his arm about to block the attack that was coming at him. He blinked, and his arm froze halfway in its swing. There was no attack coming at him.

He was instead, welcomed to a face full of a round butt.

His face lit up in red as he turned away as soon as possible.

"Anoo...it hurts." He heard her delicate voice, and he turned back. He made sure to avoid looking at her bottom that was currently sticking up in the air, swaying as she seemingly clutched her face.

It seemed as if she had tripped, judging by how her suitcase was opened and all of her clothes were scattered around her.

He immediately stood and knelt down. "Here, let me he-" He reached for a single article of clothing, and out of all of her clothes, he had to have picked up one of her undergarments.

"G-Gomen Mister!"

In a split second, faster than he can perceive, all of her clothes were back into her suitcase, and she had a blush on her face.

Issei took this time to take in her appearance. She had on a veil over her blonde hair, and beautiful green eyes. She had a fairly small build, only standing at 157 centimeters. She wore a typical nun's outfit that he had seen in the movies, with a silver cross around her neck.

"W-what's your name Mister?" She said in broken Japanese. She was still flustered from earlier.

"Issei. Hyoudou Issei."

"My name is Asia Argento. Oh sorry, in your language it's Argento Asia."

"Are you lost?"

"Y-yes. I was wandering around after my friends and I arrived here, but I don't know my way to where we are supposed to be. Do you happen to know where the church is?"

"Church?" He hadn't heard of it in a long time. The last time he had heard someone talk about it was from his childhood friend. But he had not seen him for at least ten years now.

He wondered how he was doing.

He shook his head free of the memories, and said, "I can lead you to the church. Just follow me." There was only one church in Kuoh, and it was on the outskirts of Kuoh. Now that he thought about it, it was outside of the Devil's influence, marking it as the Angel's territory.

Her eyes widened, but she nodded. "Thank you He-yo-do."

"Just call me Issei."

She nodded, and she tested it on her tongue.

She gathered her suitcase, and attempted to lift it, before stumbling.

Issei caught her suitcase with one hand, and held her shoulder with the other, making her stop mid fall. "T-thank you!" She thanked him once again. She attempted to reach for her luggage, but Issei shook his head. "You were struggling with it, I'll carry it to make it easier for both of us."

She thanked him a third time.

They walked quickly, before they heard a boy cry out.

They turned to the noise, and saw a boy holding onto a scrape on his knee. His mother knelt next to him, scolding him for his foolishness.

An empty feeling was in his stomach, as he wished that was what he could've had for the past three years. He quickly pushed it away, and he noticed Asia missing. he looked back up at the boy, and saw Asia kneeling down.

She coaxed him in English, which Issei presumed to be her main language. He was only able to recognize the word, "help."

The mother looked at her strangely and was about to pull her child away, before looking at Issei. Her eyes changed as she recognized the boy in front of her. She let Asia touch her son's knee. The nun closed her eyes, and a green glow appeared in her hands.

Mere seconds after she placed her hands on his knee, she removed it. The glow disappeared, and the scrape was no longer there, almost as if it was never there.

The mother and son looked at her in shock.

"T-thank you Onee-chan!" The boy thanked.

"Come along." She pulled him up, and quickly departed.

The odd pair watched them leave.

Asia had a small smile on her face as she watched the two.

"What was that?"

Her smile changed. "A Gift from God."

They continued their walk to the church, and a few silent moments passed before Issei attempted a conversation. "Are you a nun?"

He looked back, and she nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! I was raised by the church since I was young."

"Do you believe in God Mister Issei?"

He almost froze mid step. At her words, memories flew through his head. The fire. The crumbled and bent metal. The sirens. The flashing lights, and the blood.

"I used to." He broke out of his thoughts. "I don't know if I want to follow He again."

Asia gave a sad smile at him. "I understand. Do not worry about it. I'm sure He will watch over you, and help you make the right decision."

Issei pursed his lips, and continued walking in the direction of the church. Asia followed him with a pair of sad eyes, wondering what had happened to the brown-haired boy for him to no longer believe in the God she did.

God was kind. God was forgiving. God was loving.

What was there to not love about God?

"We are here." Issei spoke the first words since he had told the nun he no longer believed in God.

They stood in front of a large pair of double doors. The church was a little run-down, but was still functional for its intents.

"Thank you." Asia bowed to him, as was customary of Japanese tradition. In a single second, she prayed for God to watch over the poor boy, and to guide him in his times of need.

But God does not guide darkness.

She widened her eyes as a single message appeared in her head.

It was spoken with power, authority, and it caused her to almost retch. Her mind can barely bare to comprehend the words of power that were spoken to her as she prayed. Images of blood and fire invaded her mind, as screams only she can hear, and terror only she can witness invaded her consciousness.

She froze mid-bow.

"Asia?"

She panicked, she gasped.

Fear overcame her as Issei took a single step forward.

She stumbled, as she fell onto her bottom.

Issei stood over her, the sun high in the air, causing him to look like a shadow with the sun in her eyes. His brown-eyes looked at her in concern. "What's wrong."

She wanted to cower, the aftermath of the message that was fresh in her mind. She wanted to run, she wanted to hide.

But she couldn't even will herself to move despite wanting to survive.

"Asia?"

This was a different voice, and one that came from within the church.

Strength went back into her legs, and sense went back into her mind. She recognized that she was on the ground, and the boy she had met less than an hour ago was looking at her in concern, as she had suddenly seemed fearful of something, and attempted to run.

"I-irina?" She asked in a hoarse voice.

"Who are you?!"

Issei jumped back, as a young woman jumped in front of Asia. She was a beautiful young woman with chestnut hair and violet eyes. Her hair was tied into twintails, each held with a blue scrunchy. She wore a plain white robe with a hood and gold and blue assets. In the brief moment that she held her arm out of the robe, Issei was able to see that she was wearing some sort of outfit consisting of a black, skin-tight, short sleeve leotard.

"Irina! Stop!" Asia was finally able to think rationally. "Issei led me here!"

She stopped with her arm gripping something invisible.

"Issei?" Her violet eyes practically bore a hole into Issei's own eyes.

He didn't respond, but watched her form, waiting for any other move that the chestnut woman would do.

"Is that really you?" She stepped closer, and Issei was able to sense the magical power held within her right hand disappear.

"Who are you?" He asked in return.

"Ise, how do you not remember me? I'm Irina Shidou! I played with you when we were young!"

He blanked. He only remembered a childhood boy with the exact shade of brown. A boy. The one in front of him was a beautiful young woman. "But...you aren't a boy?"

She puffed and crossed her arms. "I...may have been a bit of a tomboy back then." She fidgeted and played with her fingers, a red hue on her face. "But that's not important! Thank you for bringing Asia here. Would you like to come in for tea?"

Asia nodded. "Please come in. It's the least I can do to thank you."

Issei frowned, but nodded. "If you say so."

He followed the nun and his childhood friend into the church, and shivered at the cold temperature. Alters were covered in moss, pews were broken. Some glass was shattered and there were holes in the ceiling.

"Who is this boy?"

An woman that looked to be in her 20's stepped out of the shadows and into the light. She had her hood on, only allowing Issei to see her blue eyes.

"Griselda-sama, this is my friend, Issei!"

"Oh? So this is the person you always ramble about seeing again." She looked at him up and down. "Not bad."

Irina grabbed onto his arm possessively. "He's mine!"

Griselda let out a feminine giggle. "No worries about it Irina. I don't intend to steal the man you lo-"

"Stop right there!" Irina panicked, and she turned red. Her violet eyes peered at Issei's face, who was impassive. He had no reaction to her pressing her breasts into his arm.

Concern filled her. This wasn't the same Issei she once knew. The Issei she knew would crack a joke, show some kind of emotion.

Not stand there as if he were someone full of emptiness.

She released her grip on his arms, and Issei looked down, finally noticing that she had held his arm to her chest.

It wasn't that Issei didn't like it, it was that the timing of it. He was still remembering the horror of that day three years ago. He was still grieving. Until he was done grieving, he would not be allowed to love himself or others.

"I apologize for having you stand so long. Please have a seat." She gestured at the pews. "I will prepare some of the tea we have recently bought."

Issei nodded and followed the elder woman's instructions. Irina sat down next to him, close.

Griselda disappeared into the back, and then Asia spoke up. "U-um, I'll leave you two alone so you two can catch up."

Asia disappeared after Griselda, leaving the two old friends together.

"How have you been, Ise?"

Issei knew what she wanted. It was what she did back when they were young. For some reason, Issei somehow never realized that she was a girl despite acting like one. He turned, so their legs were atop of the wooden pew. Issei leaned back, his head just underneath her chin. The back of his head was between her breasts, and she stroked his cheek gently.

He can feel the tenderness within her touch. The love within each movement.

But he could not give her the same love she gave him.

"I've been better." His voice was quiet, scared even.

"What happened?"

He almost choked as he tried to reply. Even now, their deaths were still affecting him. Even after Grayfia's love, and Sirzech's comfort, the death of his true parents was still a deep wound within his heart.

It had turned into A Heart of Glass.

"They died."

In the two words, it conveyed an entire message to Irina. Despite so many years apart, they were almost able to communicate as if they were twins, with seemingly-telepathic powers or some sort.

The chestnut-haired girl felt the tear that hit her finger tip. Irina had to hold back her own tears, for Issei's parents were a second parent to her.

"I abandoned God. I stopped believing in Him ever since they died." Issei continued. "I threw away everything you told me about God, because I wondered why he couldn't save them."

Irina hushed him, kissing the top of his head.

"Don't worry. I'll take your pain away." She kissed his cheek this time. Issei tilted his head upwards, their gaze meeting. She moved closer, and Issei made no attempt to move from her. Their lips were a mere inch apart. "But I'll only take it when you allow me to."

They stayed there for a few seconds, looking at each other. Irina with love, and Issei with sorrow.

Their lips did not meet. She pulled away, and Issei closed his eyes, relaxing once again.

They were different from before. They were no longer the carefree children they once were. Irina had tried to be when they finally laid eyes on each other once again after such time apart, but she had known that Issei was different from before in a single glance.

So she broke the facade that she had made, and she too, used her true personality. She didn't want to use her older self, much like how Issei had thrown his former self away.

The Issei she used to know would listen to her talk about God, pray with her, and read the Bible with her.

But the Issei before her no longer believed in God, no longer prayed, and no longer read.

She knew that Griselda had already finished the tea, but did not wish to intrude on the two of them. She silently thanked her trainer for that, as she wished to have this private moment between her and him.

"It haunts me." He spoke so quietly, she almost didn't hear it. She replayed his words in her mind multiple times, before realizing what he said.

"Were you there?"

"Yeah. I was the only survivor out of many." He swallowed, but his throat was dry.

Irina pursed her lips as she wondered how she can comfort him. She didn't know how.

"Why have you come back Irina?" Issei spoke again after a few moments of silence. He knew that she didn't know what to say after he spoke, so he changed the topic for both of their sakes. He no longer wished to dwell on the memories.

"The Excaliburs were stolen by [Star of God] Kokabiel. He has six of the seven Fragments of Excalibur, and he plans to reforge them into a single sword, and wage war by killing Rias Gremory and Sona Sitri."

He blinked once, then twice.

"Excalibur, as in the Sword of Promised Victory that was once wielded by King Arthur Pendragon of Camelot?"

She nodded.

"And [Star of God] Kokabiel, as in the one that fell from Heaven alongside [Watcher of God's Children] Azazel, [Oracle of Calamity] Shemhazai, and [Lightning of God] Baraqiel?"

She nodded again.

"How the hell did you even know that I was apart of the supernatural now?" He sighed.

She giggled. "I don't. I just told you because I trusted you, even if you were a human."

He sighed. "I should've expected that from you. Even all these years, you haven't changed a bit."

He gave her a smile, which completely took her breath away. It was genuine, a smile she could recognize from anywhere, as it was the same as it was when they first met all those years ago.

She blushed heavily, as she looked away. She muttered under her breath. "Y-you dummy. D-don't make me fall for you even more."

"What was that?"

If it was possible, Irina's blush got even darker. "F-forget it!"

He didn't. He heard what Irina said.

He admitted. Even through the walls he built around his heart to prevent the same loss he experienced that day, he found her cute.

He knew her inside out, just like how she knew him. They knew each other like the back of their hands.

Maybe...just maybe, he may bring himself to love her a second time.

Chapter End

Begin Arc 1: Forsaken Utopia

And done with this chapter.

Yes, Issei is so different in this story. He is so much more depressed, sad, etc. But what can you say about a boy that's grieving for his parents' death that he saw right in front of him.

To clarify, Issei was canon Issei up until three years ago. Ever since that day, he became the person he is now. The buried sadness and guilt is finally showing itself after a mere four chapters!

Anyway, Issei's harem is most likely only going to consist of 3 characters. You probably already guessed at least one or two of em. The last one may be a bit of a surprise. Also, as I warned at the top, this story will turn into an emotional roller coaster as it draws you into the characters, and makes you feel as if you are with them.

At least, I hope.

Anyway, that's enough from me. Enjoy the arc. More backstory to be revealed eventually for both Luna and Issei.

-Houvdon

P.S. My favorite part of this chapter was Issei and Irina's interaction on the pew. I hope you guys liked it too.

Chapter Word Count: 6.5k words

Opening: EGOIST - Eiyu Unmei No Uta
(Fate/Apocrypha)

[Sore wa oroka naru na daga toki wa motomu] The camera pans to the right over destroyed statues of Issei, Luna, Vali, Gabriel, and Irina, each one holding their most notable weapons.

[Fukutsu no eiyuu] The destroyed statues were restored to pristine condition in a single flicker of the screen.

[Sono monogatari wo] The camera quickly moves back to the left, showing the silhouettes of five opposing figures, each with a bleeding Star of David.

[Lead us Lord of Light] The screen changes to Issei and Raynare staring at the sky, as the clouds quickly gathered in a single area. Lightning flashes once, then a second time, but when the screen flashes a third time, "Midnight Sun" appears in the screen.

["Warera wo michibiki terase"] The screen is split in half diagonally, one half being white and the other black, with the Issei's face flickering in the white half. Issei's face was colored a dark purple, before the screen shifted to Vali's face, colored a light yellow, before shifting to Luna's, colored a light blue. The fourth was a mixture of purple and pink with Gabriel's face, before Irina's face appearing in a light orange. The screen flickers with red, before shifting to a man with black eyes, whose portrait was a green color, before changing into a woman with dark blue eyes, whose face was colored with light green. It changes to a man with blue-grey eyes who was red-colored, before lastly changing into a man with dark grey eyes. Every time the screen shifted between the characters, the white and black side would alternate

[Chiisaku kanadeta] The screen shifts when the butt of a golden unknown spear hits the bloodstained ground, showing Luna underneath a bridge, a heavy fog behind her, almost completely hiding the city behind her.

[Ai wa hazama wo samayou] The screen zooms in on her exhausted face, and when she blinks, the screen shifts to a dimly lit room with Gabriel tying the knot on the sash that held together her commoner's robes in the middle on a bed.

[Todokanai] She lifts her sleeves, before nodding in approval.

[Unmei ga azawarau] She brings her sleeves down, supporting herself as she leaned back against the bed. She gazes into the mirror, which is empty, but a split second after the screen settles on the mirror, she turns blurry and focuses on the mirror image of her with violet eyes and twelve black wings.

[Hedateru sekai wo] The screen changes to a dark night with a man with unkempt white hair that was almost transparent wearing golden armor. He walks forward, and as a street light passes by the screen, covering it, it reveals Vali.

[Umete anata ni aitai] Vali stands up to greet him, and just before their hands touch in a handshake, the screen changes once again.

[Mi wo kogasu sono ai ga] It now shows a blue-colored church at night-time that only contained Issei and Irina, with Issei lying on her lap. As the screen slowly goes down, it finally pauses on the two.

[Wakatsu made] The screen flashes twice, the room turning red with blood, with four dark silhouettes standing around the two, with Issei now on his knees holding onto Irina.

[Pre-Chorus]
[Hito wa sakenda seigi wo] Issei and Luna walk together through a castle's hallway, their sword and spear forming in their hands as they walked.

[Sono hata wo takaku kakage] It now showed an empty room, and as lightning flashes, the screen briefly shows a dark shadow of a figure with white angel wings.

[Kako no ue ni ni tate] The screen shifts to a dark field, where Vali descended onto the mortal plane, his celestial armor illuminating the area around him.

[Chorus]
[Yami wo harai susume] Blood flew across the screen, over a blood-red moon before the screen changes. Issei watches as Irina and Kokabiel clash blades, their two weapons causing massive shock waves across the battlefield.

[Kono mi ushinau tomo] Luna and Shalba battle, as Luna deflects all of Shalba's magic within three swings.

[Osore yo hirefuse] Issei is shown hiding behind a rock, as Luna dashes towards Shalba in the background.

[Watashi ga hasha to naru] Vali transforms into his Balance Breaker, before throwing out his hand, magic bullets firing out of his magic seal, piercing through the God Slaying Wolf Fenrir. When Fenrir's face passes the screen, it shows the same man with golden armor with his spear held out.

[Sei araba susume] Fire gathers at the end of his spear, before he falls out of the screen with Irina shown in the air, her sword splitting into many different golden flowers each smaller than a fingernail.

[Ganzen no shouri wo] The screen shifts to Luna deflecting blasts of Dragonic power, before Gabriel dashes out from her, throwing her arm out, sending spears of light into the enemies' direction.

[Akatsuki tabidate] Issei and Gabriel walk down a bloodstained hill slowly side by side.

[Yowake wa mou sugu] The sun slowly rises as the camera zooms in onto two, showing their tears of blood.

[This is our-] The screen shows flashes of a pair of wings that no longer showed the never-ending colors, then a pair of black Fallen Angel wings, then a destroyed red gauntlet with a green orb, and lastly the image of a broken sword crossed with a broken spear.

[-fate] The opening ends with a still image of Luna stepping through a Crack in the World, the sun setting behind the Gate, illuminating the hill.