Issei's Incinerate Anthem (A DXD Fanfiction)
Chapter 7 (Lucky)
Scene (Issei's Dining Room)
We see our main protagonist, holding onto Koneko as she is sitting on his lap. Both have their attention on Rias, who is now sitting at the table, along with her queen and knight. Wearing some reading glasses, we see Rias holding the earlier mentioned piece of paper. Nodding and mumbling to herself as she reads, she occasionally breaks eye contact with the paper and glances at Issei every so often. Kiba is studying the boy, only breaking eye contact when he notices Issei looking back at him.
Akeno, on the other hand, seems to be gazing dreamily at Issei, not having any shame when he looks back at her, still maintaining her stare. Koneko seems to be softly caressing Issei's hands as they are still forced around her. Doing everything he can to not let all of these multiple instances of embarrassment get to him, Issei takes a deep breath. This also seems to signal the end of Rias's examination of the paperwork that was in her hands.
Placing the paper back down on the table, Rias removes her glasses, taking a deep breath for herself. Looking back up toward Issei, Rias speaks, "Issei. Before I offer introductions, allow me to offer you my sincere condolences. As unspeakable as these events have played out, I am glad to see that you are alive." Rias then stands and courteously bows. "I am Rias Gremory of the House of Gremory. I am a high class devil, sister to the great Mao Sirzechs Lucifer. It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Issei Hyoudou." Issei decides that standing might not be possible, so instead, he simply nods.
He then looks directly at Koneko, tilting his head and doing something that the entire room has yet to see. A very faint smile can now be seen. This makes Koneko blush, as well as Akeno. Rias is at a loss for words. Kiba finds the smile contagious and returns it with one of his own. Issei then tilts his head the other way, shrugging his shoulders. Koneko takes a moment, but then realizes he needs his arms. Thinking for a moment, then acting, the little devil girl whispers in Issei's ear. Issei looks as though he is listening intently. After Koneko backs away, she then waits for a response, as she is blushing even more than she was earlier. Issei thinks about what she asked, then makes up his mind.
Looking back at the little devil, Issei nods. Koneko immediately releases his hands, allowing Issei to reach for his notepad once again. Holding his notepad with one arm and his pen in the other, Issei thought about how he is going to write while having little Koneko on his lap, then it came to him. Using his arms to softly adjust the little devil, so that her back was available as a resting place to write, Issei then begins to write. At first, Koneko assumed that Issei was trying to get her off of him, however, to her delight, he wasn't.
Feeling the scribbling from the notepad that was moving along her back, Koneko thought that this was very cute, almost like something from one of her slice of life manga's. The room goes silent as Issei continues to write. Then he pulls off the sheet of paper that he was writing on, handing it to Koneko as she readjusted herself to how she was before. Looking at the paper, she smiles, "I am sorry if I jumped to conclusions, however you must understand. In the human world, it is odd for anyone to randomly show up in someone else's home, especially late at night. So, for now, I will call this strange interaction, a misunderstanding of cultural norms. But if you guys are here to help me, I would be willing to overlook this whole invasion of my home and I will even overlook the fact that you are attempting to eat me out of house and home." The entire room breaks down in laughter. Issei grows a tick mark.
Gaining control of herself, Koneko continues, "I have only one question for you. Do you know where I can find that ten-winged-fuck of an angel?" The laughter stops abruptly. Akeno and Rias both widen their eyes in horror. Koneko looks back at Issei, feeling his rage, she then grabs both of his hands and forces them back around her. Issei is taken back, however, he seems to calm down. Koneko then looks at her king, then her queen, then back toward Issei, "did, erm, did he have black colored wings?" Issei slowly turns his head, meeting the gaze of Koneko. Attempting not to allow himself to break down around these devils again, he closes his eyes and nods, however, a tear escapes one of his ducts, falling to his cheek. To his surprise, Koneko immediately licks the tear from his face.
Issei is beet red as he has completely forgotten, (momentarily), why he was sad in the first place, but that didn't last for long as Rias mentioned a name. "Kokabiel, did you ever hear any of them mention the name Kokabiel?" Issei looks back at Rias, his eyes wide once again. He then looks as though he is trying to remember. Shaking his head, Issei now has a defeated look plastered to his face. Akeno's attitude seemed to change the moment it was confirmed that it wasn't just any angel that killed Issei's family, no, it was a fallen one. Akeno starts to have racing thoughts, "what will he think of me when he finds out? I can't stand to think he would end up hating me, wanting nothing to do with me. Why the hell did it have to be fallen angels, anything would've been a better choice at this point."
Rias then nods randomly, "Alright then, Issei!" Issei startles however, composing himself, he looks at Rias while still being sat on by the neko girl. "This is more than enough information for me to make a decision right this very instant!" Issei tilts his head. Noticing that this was Issei's way of questioning, Rias smiles, "What I mean, Issei, is that you are a marked target. You said it yourself, the asshole made you watch. The question is why? With that, I cannot allow someone as vulnerable as yourself to be alone in all of this. Do you understand, Issei? You don't need to be alone anymore, you can have a family again." Hearing those words, they are so kind, even her voice is so calming, Issei is unable to sense anything deceptive in what she says.
Doing everything he can to not cry right now, Issei nods slowly, attempting to keep a straight and stoic face. "Issei, join my cute peerage, become a powerful devil and live for me! Do this and in return, I promise you a family, I promise you love, I promise you happiness!" Issei is completely taken back. She was only adding to the pleasure that was her words, however, there was one thing he needed to ask before making any decision. Issei then tilts his head. Noticing this, Rias points at Issei's notepad, queuing Koneko to temporarily release him. Koneko complies, allowing Issei to start writing, which only takes him ten seconds to finish. He then shows what he wrote in giant letters. "REVENGE?" Rias takes a moment, then slowly nods while smiling.