"Will you die for me?"
Huh?
The sheer randomness of that statement left Issei stunned, allowing Yuuma to transform into what he could only guess was some form of cosplay.
Like, damn.
She was dressed in what was essentially a freaking bondage outfit, with black latex covering her privates and knee-high boots and stockings to accentuate her thighs. The whole ensemble left very little to the imagination.
Little Issei was cocked, locked, and ready to rock.
Or he would've been. Except, Issei couldn't shake the feeling of dread and terror that her new presence all but exuded. The ominous black wings fanning out from behind her certainly made her look threatening.
What the hell was going on? Was she some kind of demon?!
"I will admit, it was pretty fun." She smiled coyly. Her hands bloomed with pink light that warped and wrapped in on itself, coalescing into a spear.
"But now YOU DIE!"
Issei's body, gripped with paralysing fear, could only watch in horror as the weapon was driven closer and closer to him. It felt like his life was flashing before his very eyes, and old memories he never remembered sprung to the forefront like an endless slideshow.
Is...this it? Is this all my life is worth?
He closed his eyes and braced for the worst.
It never came.
A loud ringing sound drew his attention, shocking his eyes wide open as he took in the new development.
Black.
Deep, encompassing black that coloured the back of his saviour. He was dressed in what seemed to be a traditional Kosode that went all the way to the floor. Held lowly by his sides were two swords; one short and one long, both reflecting the moonlight like polished mirrors.
And orange hair that Issei would recognise anywhere.
"Kurosaki?!"
His classmate tilted his head slightly in reply, yet not once looked his way. His eyes remained solely trained on the girl in front of him, who was now looking far less confident than before.
"Who the hell do you think you are?!" Her spear shot forth once again, but this time Issei saw Kurosaki's right arm blur into action. The larger sword cleaved right through the spear, the bisected half disintegrating as it hit the ground.
Kurosaki pivoted his left foot, bringing his right one up to deliver a nasty kick into Yuuma that sent her rocketing backwards. She crashed into the fountain behind her, shattering the stone structure and going right through.
Her wings snapped to full length, and with a great flap she went skywards.
"Well now." Kurosaki chanced a look back at Issei.
"Looks like you've been caught in some nasty stuff, Hyoudou."
What the fuck?!
"And as for you." Kurosaki returned his gaze to the girl, before raising the larger blade towards her.
"I'll give you one last chance. Leave and don't come back."
She snarled in response. "Hah?! I have a better idea, and that's you bleeding out like a squealing pig!" She created more of those pink spears from before, flinging them in rapid succession like a woman possessed.
Issei's voice broke. "Kurosaki! We need to get the hell out of here! We're gonna die!"
"Don't worry Hyoudou."
Kurosaki's stance widened, and he raised the shorter blade to the sky. The once stagnant air around him kicked into a breeze, buffeting his robes and ruffling his hair. The edges of the blade glowed into a pale white.
"I've got this."
The glow intensified to a nearly blinding point, and past the black fabric Issei saw Kurosaki's muscles tense like corded steel.
"Getsuga, Tenshou."
The short sword exploded with energy. The bright white crescent shooting forth carved the very air asunder as it completely destroyed the hail of incoming spears. Each construct burst into fiery pink explosions that lit up the night sky, a veritable wall of light that obscured their view.
"Gaagk?!"
The dissipating light show revealed Yuuma, gripping her bloodied right arm and panting laboriously.
"Who...what the hell are you?!" she spat.
This time, Kurosaki's larger sword began to glow.
"Wanna find out, Fallen Angel?"
"Tch! Don't think this is the end!" The fallen angel beat her wings once, twice, then shot off into the dark.
Issei released a breath he wasn't aware he held, then immediately snapped to face his classmate.
"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT DUDE?!"
Kurosaki winced. "Ow. I'm right next to you, Hyoudou."
"I ALMOST DIED!"
"Damn right you did." Kurosaki's signature scowl appeared. "The hell did you even do to get to this point?"
Issei waved his hands frantically. "I don't know! I just had a date with Yuuma-chan and-and then when we came here she just went poof and turned into that!"
Kurosaki folded his arms. "This...Yuuma. She was the girl you were yelling about in school?"
"Yes! She was the one that asked me out! It was so wonderful and awesome!" Issei swooned.
"Right, so she was a honey trap."
"Gugh?!"
"And if that's true, then that means someone's out to kill you. Maybe even an entire organisation."
Issei gripped Kurosaki's robes.
Then he shook.
Hard.
"Wait wait wait! Wait a minute, why the hell would someone want me dead?! What the hell have I done?! Kurosaki what the hell is going on?!"
And then he took a punch to the face.
While Issei nursed his now bruising face Kurosaki sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I don't know, and honestly I don't think we're gonna find out for a while. For now, just go home and sleep it off. We'll talk tomorrow in school."
Issei gulped. "I won't be killed in my sleep right?"
"Do you want me to walk you back?"
"N-no thanks! Sorry Kurosaki, you were really cool today and all, but I don't swing that way!"
"Oi-"
Issei turned on his heel and sped off.
"I know you're there."
Rias Gremory tensed from behind a tree.
"I don't know what the hell you're playing at, but listen closely. Hurt Hyoudou Issei, and I'll come for you."
The presence around him skyrocketed, and she gasped as a seemingly physical weight pushed down on her very soul.
Then it was gone, vanishing like the wind.
Rias stepped out from her spot cautiously, scanning the area timidly.
Kurosaki Ichigo was gone.
Go to Kuoh, he said. It'll be a fresh start, he said. You could do with a normal life for a while, he said.
Ichigo buried his head into his pillow and groaned.
Dad, am I cursed?