Genre: Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Adventure, Romance, Tragedy, Angst, AU
Important note before reading the chapter: Hyoudou Issei does NOT have the same background as Emiya Shirou. Similar language use, but different. There is no Holy Grail within this world. There is no "Heaven's Feel" ritual.
Midnight Sun
Chapter 6
Arc 1: Forsaken Utopia
Raynare
"Oh? It's you."
The pale Fallen Angel opened one of his red eyes.
"Hello...Brother."
[Star of God] Kokabiel looked at [Angel of Love] Gabriel.
"What brings you here? Surely you know of my theft of the Excalibur Fragments, do you not?"
The beautiful Seraph nodded. "Of course. Who hasn't by now? I'm surprised if even the Devils do not know of your dishonorable methods."
The Fallen shrugged his shoulders. "What can I say? All that matters is that I obtained what I needed without many casualties. You should be glad that I took your feelings into consideration. I know how much you hate to see death."
The Seraph let out a feminine snort. "Please. I will not be swayed by your words. You did it simply to stir more fear within the supernatural, being able to not only sneak into the Vatican, but also steal the heavily guarded swords. You hold no consideration for my feelings."
Kokabiel chuckled. "You wound me Sister. You make it sound as if I were heartless."
"Judging by what you allowed your priest to do, I assumed so."
Kokabiel sighed at her words. "It is true that I let that thing loose onto that female exorcist. I suppose I do need to apologize for that. I simply needed someone to wield the Excalibur Fragments until the true wielder comes forth. Even I do not believe I am worthy of such a blade. But the crazed priest believes that he is worthy. He wishes to use it to cut down more Devils, and to continue on with his perverse ways."
Gabriel shook her head in disappointment. "I expected a better reason from you. Did you not use to smite the perverse, and guard the believers? I still remember the time where you had wings of the purest white, so similar to the rest of your siblings."
The Angel of the Stars closed his eyes. A bitter sound escaped his lips, which Gabriel managed to catch. "It is true...I remember fighting alongside the rest of you...The many of us Seraphim, defending humanity against the Devils. What a sad tale, becoming something to oppose what I once was."
"She is precious to him you know?"
"Who?"
Gabriel's green eyes shifted. It couldn't be explained. Her eyes full of love and grace shifted into predatory. Her emerald green eyes stared within his mind.
"You know who I am talking about. Do not try to act innocent Brother." She hissed the words out, so different from her previous grace.
"Oh...her. And precious to..." His eyes widened. There were only few that Gabriel cared so much about. Despite being called the [Angel of Love], very rarely did she love so dearly. "Sister...is he really here?"
Gabriel nodded. "He is severely weakened, a shell of his former self. But as time passes, the power that was slowly recovering will emerge. His memories will come back, and he will once again bathe in my love."
Kokabiel gave a low chuckle. "Who knew that he would take a liking to an exorcist. How do you feel about this?"
"All is fine as long as he gives me his love." Her green eyes continued to glare at him.
"Though Gabriel...why did you come here if you weren't going to stop me?" Kokabiel cocked his head to the side. "Is there a reason for this?"
She giggled. "Why stop you when it isn't going to threaten the world? Alaya did not warn me of the consequences. If he had, I would have attempted to stop you. Since he did not, I assume nothing drastic will happen in the future. Usually that means you will be stopped."
Kokabiel laughed. "To think you'll be so simple. You do know that Alaya has been weakened, no?"
"Alaya's weakening doesn't mean that he'll stop telling us to stop calamities around the realm." Gabriel grabbed his hands, and kissed Kokabiel's forehead lovingly. "I must say I will wish you luck in your endeavors Kokabiel. I hope we meet again."
"Again? What makes you think you'll leave this place alive?" Kokabiel gave her a lazy smile. Their faces were close together, so close they could have been mistaken as lovers. After all, Gabriel was still holding onto his hands, and her lips so close to his nose.
Exorcists began to pour into the room. They raised their swords, and cried out.
"It's Gabriel!"
"So that's the beauty of a Seraph..."
"Whoever defeats her gets to bed her!"
These cries energized them. A group of merely thirty exorcists against herself, a twelve-winged Seraph.
She leaned forward, and whispered into his ear. "Do you really think that these things will be able to stop me from leaving?"
Kokabiel gave another chuckle. He grabbed into her shoulders and pushed her away gently. He grabbed her hand, and kissed the back of the hand formally. "Of course not my lady. I fully intend on letting you leave unharmed."
He turned his attention down to the exorcists, many pulling out their guns, aiming at Gabriel, hoping to take her down for a chance to bed her.
Foolish.
A single finger rose, and tapped the armrest of his throne.
Screams of pain filled the area, as in a single instant, thirty light spears appeared in the air below Kokabiel, and descended onto the exorcists. One light spear for each one, stabbing through vital organs. If they did not die immediately, they would surely die of blood-loss.
"I'm surprised you did this. I expected you to fight myself."
The Fallen shook his head. "No. I know how much you despise fighting. I wish to keep you from something you hate."
"That is appreciated, Brother." She smiled gently at him.
He waved his hand. "Go Sister. The next time we meet, we will not be Brother and Sister. We will be Angel and Fallen Angel, two opposing forces."
She nodded. And so, [Angel of Love] Gabriel bid her farewells to one of her loving brothers. "Goodbye Brother. May the void welcome you."
[Star of God] Kokabiel replied in kind. "Goodbye loving Sister. May the depths of purgatory welcome you."
Their farewells were different, for they knew where they would go after death. Kokabiel, as a Fallen, would go to the void, the [Abyss] itself as a consequence of falling from God's graces. Gabriel, as an Angel, would go to purgatory, as once she has died, she cannot reach Heaven for she has already reached it. She will instead go into the everlasting dream of Purgatory.
But both of them wished such was the case, for as Counter-Guardians of Alaya, they knew of their fate once they met death.
"How are you feeling?"
Issei froze at the sound of her voice. He hadn't seen her in a week, and he wouldn't be able to explain his actions.
"No need to fear. I understand what you wished to accomplish. Griselda told me of your situation."
They were currently atop the roof top of the church, looking at the night sky. It has been two days since the exorcists disappeared. Issei was sure they did not run, for most of their belongings were still at the church.
"Aren't you mad?"
She shook her head, her beautiful silver hair moving with her motions.
"I already told you. I understand. Back to you. How are you feeling? Your childhood love is missing, is she not?"
"Yeah." Issei sighed, and looked at the stars. "I'm worried for her."
She giggled. "You used to always deny it back then. When I used to make fun of your crush on Irina, even though you thought she was a boy."
His brown eyes narrowed at her.
She waved her hand. "Geez Issei...when did you turn so depressing and serious. When was the last time you laughed?"
"...Long ago."
She sighed, and closed her silver eyes softly. "You really do sound...emo? I think that's the word people use to describe depressing people. I thought that we managed to break you out of it."
"It came back recently. It has nothing to do with you or Sirzechs."
Grayfia cocked her head. "Sirzechs knows about you."
"Sirzechs? Wait, how does Sirzechs know? Is he like you?"
The silver-haired maid blinked in confusion. "Wait, you don't know who Sirzechs is?"
"Sirzechs...the only Sirzechs I know is the one I've lived with for three years. The only other Sirzechs I've heard of was..." The brown-haired male sighed as he palmed his face. "I'm fucking retarded. The Sirzechs I've lived with for the past three years in the [Wielder of Abyssal Works] Sirzechs Lucifer?"
The name that Issei had recited rippled space, as the name he had spoken contained power.
Power that didn't belong in this world.
"Yes...that Sirzechs and the Sirzechs you know are the same being. Honestly! I expected you to realize this much earlier, when Vali or Sona first told you about the History of the World."
"I just didn't make the connection." Issei showed parts of his old self coming back at this revelation, scratching his cheek.
"Of course you didn't." Grayfia sighed, exasperated.
"Hey Grayfia? Why did you and Sirzechs pick me up? You two are extremely powerful and influential members of the Devils, right? So why did you two decide to pick up a human?"
Grayfia knew that eventually, Issei would ask this question to either her or Sirzechs.
The truth was, they too had sensed the power inside of him. They knew exactly who he is and was. But, she couldn't tell Issei on who he was. It would cause chaos as the shell he had made would be broken once more.
She knew that Gabriel had came down from the Heavens simply to meet him once more. Knowing the Seraph, she would attempt to talk to Issei, and attempt to draw out his true self that was forgotten. She had perhaps told Kokabiel about Issei already, as she still loved Kokabiel. Despite the race difference, they were the only Angel and Fallen Angel to love each other.
Despite how much Kokabiel wanted to fight in a war, he still made sure to not affect Gabriel. She was the only Angel to look after him, so he decided to look after her in return. Such was one of the few ways he can repay her for saving him during the Great War when he was ambushed by Ajuka.
That meant that Kokabiel will not kill Issei. Kokabiel knew how precious both him and the false human were to Gabriel, so he would not make Gabriel choose between either of them. He would perhaps test Issei, attempt to draw out the locked memories inside of him, and then retreat, leaving behind the Excalibur Fragments.
Or perhaps, he would kill Issei due to how much of a threat he'll present to the supernatural world in general, disregarding what Gabriel thought. Such was the reason why he had to have Issei killed those three years ago. Issei had survived, and Grayfia suspected it was because his sleeping power awakened from their slumber for a split moment. After all, his parents, ordinary humans, had died instantly. Had Issei remained as a normal human, he would have died in either the impact, or the fire.
Grayfia sighed, as she finally gave Issei her answer. "We picked you up because you looked as if you had lost hope. You were similar to me and Sirzechs, when we lost ourselves within the Devil Civil War, when we were forced to kill our own comrades. As you know, Sirzechs had sacrificed something dear to him to attain the power he has now. Even I do not know what he sacrificed, and I have remained with him for the two hundred years since he attained his powers."
Issei nodded. Sirzechs had always seemed distant when he was with Issei and Grayfia, almost as if he were missing something. If even Grayfia didn't know, the woman he loved for two hundred years, then it would remain a mystery until he told someone himself.
Grayfia continued. "We hoped to give you something to appreciate, to break you out of the lost state you were in. So you can finally regain the humanity you had lost within that fire. We haven't been successful, you only managed to create a facade that could fool anyone."
It was not a lie, but it was also not the truth. They did intend on helping him regain his sanity and his desire to live, but they also had their own motives. Such was their nature as Devils.
Issei gave a sad laugh. "Yeah. I still haven't recovered. I intend to find out the person who did it. They labeled it as a freak accident, but there is no way it could have been an accident. The driver for the truck was never found."
She nodded at his words. "Yes. I have reasons to suspect exactly who did it."
His brown eyes narrowed. His mind had switched once again. It was something that had always bugged Grayfia. Despite him being Issei, he would switch between Hyoudou Issei and the demon he was.
She was alive during the time of his rule. Despite her young appearance, she was thousands of years old. Sirzechs was but a baby compared to her, only being around two hundred and thirty years old.
Issei did not scare her. But he did.
"Who was it?"
She felt his dark aura slowly start to ooze out with his own knowledge. It was little, but it was potent. It contained presence. It demanded her to obey him just like she did thousands of years ago.
"I believe that it was Kokabiel, the same one who stole the Excalibur Fragments."
His dark aura slowly receded as he broke his gaze from her. He put his hand to his chin as he thought. "What...? Why would Kokabiel do that? Why would he target me of all people? Is it because of this power that everyone keeps on talking about? I overheard Griselda say to Xenovia about how I was dangerous. She never answered Xenovia question on why. Luna and Vali both took an interest in me, and Vali always talks about my charade, and how he'll play along with me."
Grayfia rose an eyebrow in surprise on how he knew a bit on himself. She believed that he would keep on thinking that he was ordinary. It was to be expected, for he was targeted by Shalba on the first day the Dragon Knight, as she called herself, arrived within this world. She didn't know why she specifically called herself a "Dragon Knight". Alaya did not recognize her, much like how despite being called the Ice Queen by her fellow Devils, she was not recognized by the forces of Earth and Mankind, hence why she did not take pride in such a title.
She had none due to not being worthy.
"I believe so." She feigned ignorance. "I do not know what exactly you possess, but I can sense that it is powerful."
It was also not a lie, but not a truth. She truthfully did not know how much power he had lost since his disappearance, but she also knew generally what it was.
"Do you know where the exorcists are?"
He rose, but did not look at her. It was so similar to those years ago, when he would give her orders. The exact same tone, exact same voice, and exact same body posture.
It solidified his return.
It was soon. She knew it was soon by how similar the two of them were now.
"I can feel Griselda's Fragment. She is currently in the forest. I do not know where the other two exorcists are."
"Lead me to her." His voice was full of command, causing Grayfia to shiver from the familiarity of his words.
It was the same thing he said to her when they found out her sister had betrayed them.
"He will awaken soon according to Grayfia."
"What makes her say that?"
"He has his old habits. I believe we should believe her."
"Ah yes, she was under his direct command those years ago. Despite her youthful appearance, she is one of the oldest among us. She, and Zekram Bael are perhaps the oldest to ever live."
"I believe that in this fight against Kokabiel, he will regain his powers. His memories, maybe. But his powers for sure should be able to."
"Yes. Only problem is if Rias and Sona will be able to cooperate with the exorcists. The church and the Devils never see eye to eye anyway. If not, then I believe Vali and the Outsider would step in and defeat Kokabiel themselves."
"He is a twelve-winged Cadre."
"He is? He hasn't revealed it yet. He was always known to be one of the few ten-winged that can reveal the twelve-winged Fallen and Seraph. I'm surprised you know."
"There are a lot of spies, even within Kokabiel's army. Many of them are tired of constantly fighting."
"I see. What is his plan with the Excaliburs?"
"The Fragments you mean? Nobody knows. He knows he isn't worthy. He respects the legend of King Arthur, and refuses to use the Fragments. So nobody knows his intention or purpose for stealing them."
"...Will we come in?"
"If Vali and Luna are unable to do anything."
"I must prepare before we set off. I'll see you later, your Majesty."
"Of course."
They stood at the edge of the forest.
It was daunting, this late at night. But two nights have passed since the exorcists had left.
Such a humane emotion, fear was. Yet, it filled his body as he was not able to look through a few feet in front of him. According to Grayfia, she would not be able to cast any fire for light, as she was only able to summon ice.
They would have to look through the dark. Despite Grayfia saying Devils were able to see at night, she was unable to see through the forest. It may have been due to the fog that covered the entire forest that was only a few feet behind them.
The wielder of the Longinus, Dimension Lost had let them in.
"Issei, are you okay?"
Something switched within him. His form froze for a split second. No longer than half of the time it took for one to blink, yet Grayfia noticed when he turned still. It was not hesitation, it was almost as if he had to change.
"Yeah. I'm fine. Just a bit...anxious."
He was back. He didn't know what had overtaken his mind. He was conscious, yet at the same time he wasn't. He had allowed something to take over his mind.
"I see. If we are forced to battle, do not hesitate to run. You are unable to fight the likes of Kokabiel. You know he was chosen by Alaya. You will not be able to face him."
Issei forced himself to nod. Despite the large power gap between the two, he still wished to fight Kokabiel. He wanted to know what had come of his friend. He didn't want to lose someone so precious to him.
He didn't want to lose someone he only barely started to love again.
"Follow me closely Issei. I must take the forward in case I must cast a barrier."
They walked for minutes, with each growing minute of silence causing the anxiety to eat his stomach.
"They're here." Grayfia muttered.
"If it isn't the 'Ice Queen of the Underworld.'"
The forest became illuminated, as many light spears formed in the air, hovering at least a hundred meters above them. Despite how high it was in the air, it had no trouble bathing the dark forest in light.
There, standing opposing Grayfia and Issei, was the red-eyed Fallen Angel, with ten-wings spread out behind him, floating in the air with expert use of his wings. Two other people were with him, one of them flying in the air beside him, with only two pairs of wings, and the other on the ground, wielding a sword made of perhaps the most potent holy-light.
Issei recognized the four-winged Fallen. "Yuuma?"
"Issei?" Her violet eyes widened in shock.
Yuuma Amano was older than before. They haven't seen each other since the day Luna had fallen from the Crack in the World. Now that Issei thought about it, he never saw her around at all, not even at the bridge they met each other at.
He hadn't thought about her ever since Luna had arrived in the world.
Guilt formed in his heart, but he pushed it aside. Yuuma was safe, and judging by what he saw currently, she was assisting the Fallen named Kokabiel in his dangerous game.
"So you two know each other?" [Star of God] Kokabiel asked.
"Indeed. I met him while I was using my human persona to make sure he did not wield a Sacred Gear."
Kokabiel sighed. "He is not a Son of Adam. It is impossible for him to wield a Sacred Gear. I am not ashamed to admit that I have barely found out just a few hours ago."
"W-what?" Raynare looked at him in shock. "But, everything I discovered from him pointed at being an ordinary human?"
"So I thought as well. Such was the trickery of one that used plots and ploys since he was created." Kokabiel's red eyes stared into Issei's own brown. "Tell me, my Brother, what do you remember?"
Shock rippled through everyone, including Grayfia.
"Brother?" Issei growled in anger. "A brother of mine does not kill the parents of a fourteen-year old still in junior high."
"Interesting. You don't remember a thing of your past. It matters not, for I am not your brother, just as you are not mine. It is only through name, for you had wed my sister, that I became your brother. Such is the customs of humans, and Devils, is it not?"
"Your sister?"
"Yes, my sister. You don't even remember her? How...disheartening it would be to tell her. Surely you recognize her name at least? Her name is Gabriel, one of the Seraphim."
Something fractured in his head. He felt something break within him, as he saw a seal filled with so many symbols and foreign shapes crack into two pieces in his mind. He saw it crack, replacing his vision of Kokabiel. The instant the seal was damaged, he felt a flood of memories, so much like all the other times.
Except this time, he knew with certainty, it was him. It was his own memories he was seeing, unlike his questioning of the previous.
It was a blur. It was too fast for him to see, colors of the Gap Between Worlds taking over his perception.
He was able to only make out a single image within his own experiences.
It was in a garden, a paradise crafted for the humans. It was where he, and Gabriel had met, within the paradise for humans called the Garden of Eden. The origin of Mankind, where Adam and Eve lived before their exile.
In a single instant, he was brought back to reality. He clutched his head in pain, as he went onto a knee.
"You remember a small part." The Cadre remarked. "Judging by the look of longing and pain on your face, I assume it was related to your wife, my sister."
"Who...am I?" Issei croaked out through the pain. It wasn't just his head now. It was his entire body, spasming from the immense pain. "How do you know me?"
"I've known you for a long time. But I cannot tell you who you are. You must find that out on your own efforts. However, it should be fairly obvious if you look at the tales of forbidden love the supernatural oh so loves to speak about." He turned his gaze away from Issei, and looked at Grayfia. "And you Maid of Gremory. Why are you here? I can understand the boy, but why are you here?"
"He asked me to lead him here, to where Griselda and the exorcists were since he couldn't sense them despite his ability to detect magic."
"I see...well we are done here. Freed, come. We are leaving now. I have obtained what I wanted. I will see you two on the battlefield, Maid of Gremory, Brother." Despite Kokabiel saying that he was not Issei's brother-in-law, he still addressed Issei as such.
The exorcist shook his head in annoyance. He muttered curses as he was unable to kill anything. His red eyes locked onto Issei's, and he gave a sinister smirk.
He said a statement that caused Issei's body to tense up in fury.
"Wait!" He called out to them. His voice carried power, it demanded to be heard and obeyed. He was sure they heard it.
And yet, Freed and Kokabiel did not even seem to acknowledge it. Just as quick as they appeared, they left through the shadows cast by the trees.
He pushed aside the rage inside of him, and focused on the Fallen Angel that remained, who he was once friends with for a brief couple of weeks on the very bridge he stood on to save Luna.
"Leave us. I wish to speak alone with her." Issei said to Grayfia.
"As you command, your Maj-" She stopped her firm answer, and her eyes glinted with an unknown emotion. She changed her voice to be more gentle and soft. "Of course, Issei. I will be waiting from where we entered."
They waited for Grayfia's footsteps to fade away, before talking.
"How have you been Yuuma?"
"Call me Raynare." Her violet eyes shined as she smiled weakly. "I've been just fine. More importantly, how have you been?"
Issei shrugged. "I could've been better. My friends, Luna and Vali are currently away to find a way to let Luna return back to her room. I have also temporarily partnered with the exorcist group in order to advance with both of our agendas. However, my childhood friend, who is in the exorcist group, has been missing for two nights already. I'm worried for her."
"The [Dragon of Entropy]? How did you manage to sway him to your side?"
"I didn't. He is merely working with us for his own interest. He wishes to fight Luna eventually, but he cannot do it when he has such an advantage over her."
"Advantage?"
Issei had a mental debate on what whether he should tell Raynare about Alaya, and settled on a solid, "No." He didn't know how much she knew, and for all he knew, she only called Vali by his title due to how often it was thrown around when he was talked about.
He did wonder why Vali was specifically called the Dragon that resided within his Sacred Gear, and not the White Dragon Emperor, or the Vanishing Dragon like what the old records said, and what Griselda said the old wielders of the Divine Dividing used to be called.
It may have been due to the what Vali had said about his version of the Divine Dividing, on how it was a subspecies.
"It matters not. All that matters is that Vali cannot fight Luna as she is now, he would win for sure. What happened with you since we separated those weeks ago?"
Raynare sighed. "I was called back to assist Kokabiel with his deeds dubbed as the Excalibur Fragments theft. I know not of what Azazel had request to me but to assist Kokabiel. These past few weeks, I doubt either of us thought of each other until a few minutes ago."
Issei nodded at her words. "Indeed. Do not take offense, but I did not think of you at all."
"Neither did I. We both had such perilous tasks to accomplish, it is only natural we don't remember trivial matters such as each other."
They were silent for a few more moments. "I must go." Issei bowed curtly to her.
"Wait."
Issei straightened as he looked at her, waiting for her question.
"What happened to you?"
Her question was vague. He could've given any answer, and it would have answered her question. However, Issei knew that she was asking a personal question, one that delved deeper than their friendship would allow her to ask.
She was asking him for his change in personality, so different from when they first started talking.
The truth was, he himself didn't know the answer. His change was swift. He himself couldn't believe how fast he changed from a normal high-school boy, into one who had to fight against the supernatural.
It could also be related to his past that Kokabiel was apart of. He still didn't know exactly, but he knew that he was married to the [Angel of Love] Gabriel. All of the visions and memories he had seen over the past month have all been of his.
He was the Devil who fell in love with the Angel.
"Too much." He answered simply. A two-word reply that answered her question, but also sent off a message that he would not be sharing.
Her violet eyes shined as she recognized what he meant. "I see...I guess this will be the last time we see each other without being enemies." Her eyes watered, and she quickly wiped them. "To think that we will finally reunite after so much time, only to be split apart. This world is cruel."
"I wish to change this world." She declared. "That is what I dream of."
"I wish to create a world of peace...a utopia."
"You certainly are foolish."
"So are you, for you wish for the same. I guess, we'll just be fools together."
He held back a grimace.
He didn't reply to her declaration of her dream, only turning to walk away.
"Wait...Issei."
He stopped once again, before turning.
The moment he turned, he felt her collide with his chest. Her arms embraced him, as she cried.
Issei did not offer any words of comfort, only wrapping his arms around her in comfort.
Neither of them said anything she continued to sob in his arms.
He couldn't help but remember what Freed had said to him. It was purposely directed at him, meant to raise his ire. What he said made him fearful, but also full of anger. He shouldn't have known of their relation, but he did.
"I have your exorcist."
End Chapter
Looking back, I'm actually having a hard time with character development and pacing. I'm trying hard not to rush into the chapters I really want to write, which is starting from A Hero's Regret Arc.
I can't help it. This Kokabiel Arc, and the next two are supposed to be my ways of doing character development before taking a huge nose dive into what makes this story a Dark Fantasy/Adventure genre.
I'll be trying to hold back my impatience, and attempt to do a much better job for the rest of the arc. As you can possibly tell, its starting to become rushed, from Raynare, to Issei's personality transformation, and even to Issei unlocking his powers. Luna and Vali still have to be addressed, and another character I plan on introducing soon.
Until then, I hope you can deal with my slightly under-par character development. It's really bugging me, but I don't really see a way I can really change the chapters to slow it down.
Maybe I can just cut down on the Arcs, and change it a bit.
See you next time, hope you all enjoyed.
Hint Hint: Next arc is Loki
-Houvdon
Arc 1:Forsaken Utopia
Arc 2: Godslayer
Arc 3: A Hero's Regret
Arc 4:End of the Dream
Arc 5: Second and Last Sun
Arc 6:The Delusional Guardians
Arc 7:To the Abyssal Dawn
Epilogue:To the Tomorrow We Walk