Getting tackled out of nowhere seems like a regular fixture these days. The assailant is consistent when acting like the linebacker of an American football team, showing up at anything. The number of times it happened during my daily training regimen or in my sleep was utterly ridiculous.
It didn't take a detective or a bunch of meddling kids in a bright blue van to deduce the identity of this person. A year had passed since I met her, and that small encounter had turned into something more. I wanted to groan, wondering how the fuck did a simple handshake became a chronic headache.
"Can you get off of me, Cleria?"
The said girl had the audacity to show a 'silly me' gesture at what I said. Okay, I admit that she does look cute when she poses like that. But that's beside the point! This woman seriously needs to understand not to be so defenseless in front of people. What would happen if it wasn't me?
"It's been over a week since the last time I saw you, and that's how you react to me?"
"How else am I supposed to respond to you straddling me?!" I half-shouted, my face feeling hotter and hotter by the second. Can you blame me? If a stranger walked in on this scene, I am sure that they would've called the cops. A thirteen-year-old girl on top of a five-year-old boy sounded like a recipe for disaster.
She gave me a smug look, telling me that she was pulling my leg. Messing with me has been a hobby of hers since day one.
When I left the party a year ago, I thought I would never see the people there again. Cleria Belial clearly had other ideas, appearing in front of my residence the day after with a basket of cupcakes and a gleeful smile on her face.
At that instance, I knew that Cleria was crazy to a certain extent. I understand that the majority of Devils have some quirk. Two out of the four Satans are sis-cons which says a lot about their society.
Does she have a kink for doing the opposite of what others would do? That must be it cause I have no other explanation ... Or does she get horny off little boys? Oh god, sis-con complexes are one thing, but shotacons are a big no-no for me. I would shit my pants if that were true.
A smack in the head woke me from my delusions.
"Get whatever dumb thought you have out of your mind."
I looked at her, confused for a second, then realizing that she must've found out about what I was thinking.
"What? Can you read my mind now?" Demonic power is quite flexible when it comes to its uses. If Devils could read my mind, I could be in trouble.
"No, your retarded face told me enough. And I'm assuming it's nothing good." She said while cracking her knuckles. A deadly aura surrounded her, and I swear a silhouette of an Oni was standing right behind her. No amount of words could describe how scary she looked.
I unconsciously gulped, afraid of what was coming next. Before I knew it, Cleria had cupped my cheeks with one hand aggressively and pinched hard. "So, want to tell me what you were thinking, Rhys?"
Take deep breaths, Rhys Phenex. You have dealt with a lot in both lives. I know you can do this. I believe that you can get out of this situation if you put your mind to it.
The options are:
Option one: Lie.
Option two: Die.
Fucking hell! What kind of options are these?! I'm going to die either way! Brain, I order you to give me something better ... There was no reply from the most vital organ in my body. And because I hadn't answered her question immediately, Cleria began to squeeze harder.
Ow! Ow! Son of a bitch, my head's going to pop at this rate. I need to think of something.
Option three: Tell the truth.
Oh, come on! That sounds as bad as the other two ...
Screw it; I'll go with option three. Don't females like it when people don't lie to them? But isn't that only in books that I've read? How should I know in the first place? It's not like I'm an expert on the opposite gender. I have only recognized that they're complicated creatures, and if they're angry, armageddon occurs. I'm exaggerating here, but you get the point, I suck with women.
Alright, here goes nothing.
"I was thinking if you were a shotacon." Those words came out more like mumbo-jumbo as my face was currently turning into a pancake. I don't know if she understood it, but knowing her, she definitely did.
It was silent for a moment, and then full-blown giggles filled their air. Cleria's grip on my face loosened, allowing me to get free. I rubbed my face because it bloody hurt.
My sights landed on the girl who was the source of the pain. She was no longer on top of me as she was standing up, laughing while clutching her stomach. Not the reaction that I expected, but at least I was alive.
During this time, I pushed myself off the ground. Wiping the dirt off my clothes, I waited for Cleria to calm down. I don't get what was funny. I was genuinely intrigued. I was sure that what I said was more of an insult. Maybe it's an inside joke, or the girl had a weird sense of humor. Who knows? I'll repeat myself from previously; women are complicated creatures.
"You have a wild imagination, Rhys." She said after she managed to collect herself. "Many people have assumed me to be many things, but a shotacon is a new one."
"What am I, your personal comedian?" I crossed my arms, slightly agitated. She went out of her way to do all of that just to get a chuckle. I am sure now that I will go insane if I stick around with her. Give me some time, and I'll draw up some escape plans.
"You might as well be; I could only get a good laugh with you around."
"Ughhh, you're unbelievable." I replied.
"More like loveable."
I scoffed. "Then go find someone else to bother. I'm pretty sure my older brothers would 'love' to spend some time with you."
Cleria was undoubtedly disgusted by my remark. I knew she despised Riser and Rizel based on our previous conversations. And those two idiots are one of the only ways to get Cleria to shut up. Would you look at that; they actually have some use?
"Ewww. Now my day's ruined." She complained.
"Good, maybe now I can have a peaceful afternoon." I began walking back to the cabin, expecting her to follow. However, she didn't budge, as it seemed like she had something else in her mind.
"Actually." Cleria started, causing me to turn my head over my shoulders. "I came here not to hang out today." The way she was playing with her thumbs wasn't a good sign. It was a bad habit of hers that happens when she's either nervous or stressed.
"Okay, so is that a good thing or bad?" It may seem like I don't enjoy spending time with her, but I care for her a lot. After all, she was the only person I could consider as a friend in my new life.
"I think it's not too terrible." She scratched her cheek before continuing. "My cousin wants to meet you."
I don't think this girl understands what I meant when I said I wanted to keep a low profile. I straight up told her long ago, and here she is dragging me to meet one of the most influential men in the Underworld.
"What did you do this time, Cleria?" I grumbled. Without needing any more context on the situation, my gut told me she was responsible.
"I might've been telling my cousin about you for a while now." She paused, hesitating on what to say next. "And now he wants to meet you."
This girl is going to be the end of me. Why would she go and do that? There are literally thousands of other topics that you can talk about, and yet, the one you go with is me. Diehauser Belial is the champion of the Rating Game, one of the strongest Devils out there, and you tell him that you spend time with the taboo of the Phenex family. Are you kidding me?!
Disbelief is the one emotion found on my face. And the moment our eyes met, Cleria looked away guiltily. Arghhh, someone get me a wall so I can bang my head against it.
There's nothing I can do right now, and the best way to go forward is to deal with the issue at hand. I resigned myself to the upcoming meeting with Diehauser, walking over to her and grabbing her hand.
Surprised at my actions, Cleria seemed confused. She probably thought that I was mad. Not to say that I wasn't, but I'm not going to cry over spilled milk.
"Let's get this over with." I told her, basically telling her that I would meet Diehauser. "You owe me one for this shit, big time."
She looked absolutely ecstatic about my decision. Her wide grin said enough about her emotions. Why does it always seem like she gets what she wants? God damn privileged people, they never experience the struggles of the unfortunate.
"Then let's go right away." Cleria hugged my arm in a non-PG-13 manner. Magic surrounded us, the Belial crest appearing under our feet.
"No wait, at least give me some time to prepare —"
We were gone before I even got the chance to voice out my request. Well, that's what I get for getting pulled into Cleria's pace. The girl tends to do that to you.
"So you're that boy that Cleria talks about all the time." Said an individual looking like the male version of my 'good ole' friend. He didn't seem all that aggressive towards me like the other High-Class Devils. Honestly, I anticipated him to act like a father and warn me to stay away from his cousin. But this is a surprise. Let's add another person to the 'I Don't Hate Rhys Phenex Club.'
My New Years' resolution was to get ten people in that club, and from the looks of it, I'm doing a lot better than I thought.
"Oh shut it, Diehauser. I don't want to hear that from a man who still needs me to wake him up nearly every morning."
"Awww, look at that. You're getting embarrassed." He teased after seeing some pink on her cheeks. What exactly are you telling your family, Cleria? You do know that I'm not a pet that you brag about to other people. "I wished I had my camera. My picture book could use a couple more photos."
I couldn't believe what I was witnessing. Cleria was one thing, but seeing Diehauser like this was quite a surprise. From what I have heard and read about the man, I presumed that he was an earnest/serious/strategic fellow that strived to do what was right. All High School DxD content didn't go in-depth about his character since his character development revolved around uncovering the truth behind his cousin's death.
Let me say that I was completely wrong. Maybe Diehauser acts differently in front of strangers, but hello, I'm a person that you first met like five minutes ago. Shouldn't you be flashing off your power to assert your dominance like other Devils? Shouldn't you be wary of a person like me? All those worries I had early are for naught, and I feel like an idiot now. I should've expected this from Cleria's family.
I sighed as only a person like me would get involved with people like them. But seeing them bicker like this stirred up some weird feelings from within. Despite all the insults, I can see that they deeply love each other as a family. That's something I will never get. It's such a beautiful thing to see. Yet, for me, foreign was the right word to describe it.
A memory of the past surfaced, one from my previous life. It was a conversation with my best friend, and he said, "Forget your family. You deserve better than them trying to make you someone you aren't. Remember that blood doesn't predetermine your family." Pretty wise words for an idiot who would spend 70% of his earnings on Gacha games. However, as a friend, you can never ask for one better than him. He was continually there when I needed it. From when I ran away from home to my brother's death, his support has gotten me through some tough times.
I glanced over at Cleria and Diehauser in their little world. Maybe that's why, despite all my complaints, I enjoy the company of Cleria Belial. She's like him for all of the right reasons. Both have their oddities, but they're 'my people.' The people who I would be willing to do anything to keep safe. Not that I'll ever say something like that to their face cause I'm sure they'll laugh at me.
As my thoughts conclude, the pair still haven't finished wrapping up their little quarrel. I wonder if I sneak out right now, would they even notice? It would be a wise decision, but the fact that Cleria knows where I live is more than enough reason to stay.
I pushed her buttons plenty of times, but never too far. After seeing her beat the crap out of Riser after he tried to cop a feel, I subconsciously try to protect my family jewels around her. She does have a mean roundhouse kick that would threaten the lives of many unborn children. And I do not want to experience it myself.
"I think that's enough for today." I said, interrupting the two from continuing. "Don't make me act like the adult here cause you guys are the ones that dragged me here."
Both Belial members look slightly sheepish, finally realizing that there was one more person with them. Wow, I can't believe that they forgot about me. What am I? Chopped liver?
Diehauser cleared his throat as he focused his attention on me. "Sorry about that. Cleria always has a way to get me off-topic."
"Yeah, tell me about it; she's an expert when it comes to that."
"You too, huh?" He said. "I guess we're brother-in-arms."
"Hello, you know I'm right here." Cleria jumped in, but both of us ignored her as we continued our conversation. Oh, how the tables have turned?
"I wouldn't mind having you as a comrade if we have to deal with something like her."
"I'm glad that we agree. Cleria is quite a handful. To this day, I still don't know how my Aunt handles her?" He declared.
"Hmmm, that sounds like hell. Perhaps I can buy a leash for you guys to help reign her in. I heard it works great on dogs."
BONK! No one else had an opportunity to say anything else. A fist came at lightning speed, driving deep into the top of my head. One phrase came into my mind at the moment, what a violent bitch? So she can dish it out but can't take it. What kind of bullshit logic is that? You can mess with me all the time, and when I do it to you, I get decked.
My hands went straight to the spot she punched, immediately feeling a lump there. At least it wasn't the dick, but still, that hurt like a motherfucker.
"What the hell, Cleria?!" I yelled.
"My dog was getting a little disobedient, and I had to punish it." She responded with a sneer, throwing my previous remark right back at me.
That's it, no more mister nice guy. I'll show her that this dog's bite is worse than its bark. I was ready to charge at her, but Diehauser got in my way and stopped me. He picked me up by my armpits like a toddler. It sucks being tiny.
I would've stopped there. There's no way I would break out of the grips of one of the strongest Devils out there.
However, Cleria being Cleria decided that taunting me was the best thing to do in this situation.
A tongue sticking out of her mouth along with a finger pulling down the lower eyelid of her right eye was all I needed. I saw red and began clawing at her.
"I dare you to come over here, you bitch!"
"Poor little Rhys Phenex, he can't behave, so now he's in a timeout." She said, speaking in a mockingly baby voice.
"You know what? You can go suck —"
"Well, this looks like fun. Can I join?" Another voice cut in while I was speaking.
I glanced over quickly at the person, still irritated by Cleria being a troll.
The individual I saw stunned me. My eyes widen at the sudden appearance of a young girl wearing ... a magical girl outfit. I can feel a headache coming already.
Out of all the people out there, why do I drag in only the nutcases? Serafall Leviathan was certifiably insane. One good way to describe her; Cleria on crack.
Drugs are bad kids, but if Cleria ever got her hands on some, we'll see the second coming of the Satan in front of me.
"Lady Leviathan, it's a pleasure to see you again." Diehauser spoke. Is this why he had been quiet all this time? He must have sensed that she was coming. This bastard, can't he give me at least a heads up when one of the Devil rulers shows up.
"Die-chan and Cleria-chan are both here. Yay! More fun for me." She exclaimed. "I got so bored today. Sirzech-chan was being a meany today and dropped all his paperwork on me. Can you believe it?! I am so angry that I could go to heaven and spank my arch-rival, Gabriel."
For the love of God, don't ever give this person caffeine cause the world will end if that happens.
"Please don't, Levia-tan." Cleria told her, saying the most sensible thing she said all day, seemingly forgetting that we were feuding just seconds ago. "People will get sad if you do so. Don't you remember the most important lesson from the latest episode of Miracle Levia-tan?"
"Magical girls are people's hope in the Universe. Sparkly, sparkly, gon gon gon." The two of them stand side by side, reenacting a stupid transformation sequence that you would see in an anime while blurting out one of the dumbest things I've heard.
A great way to explain it would be to think about Kyou from Clannad doing her magical girl transformation. "Piraruku Piraruku Gyo Gyo Gyo Gyo Gyo. I love fish." Easily one of the funniest things I've watched in Anime, but seeing something similar in real life was a different story.
Since I don't have a mirror, I have no clue how I look. However, I'm positive my eyes are popping out at the absurdity.
This is my life, and I have no words to describe how disappointing it is.
"Lord Belial, can I request you to slap me?" I asked, hoping I was hallucinating.
I turned to glance at the man holding me, and he had an amused smile on his face. "Please, call me Diehauser. But no, I'm not going to slap you, young man. I can say for certain that everything that's happening is real."
"Then what in tarnation am I seeing?"
"Magical girls."
The response was so swift that I let out a deep sigh. I give up; nothing makes sense anymore.
"You people are fucking nuts."
A laugh was all I got from Diehauser as I stared at the two girls talking about a TV show that sounded ludicrous.
To anybody out there that is listening, send help. I need an evac as far away from these people ASAP.
And that wraps up chapter 3. I had a fun time writing this chapter, especially the interactions between the characters. While there's not much progression in the plot here, I wanted to introduce some significant characters later on and showcase the relationship between Cleria and Rhys. In a way, this is a filler chapter that helps you guys get used to our MC and how his psyche works. I promise that the story will progress in the upcoming chapters.
I saw a review regarding the story and some questions on the future of this story.
-When it comes to Fate content, I'm planning to include it within the world of DxD. I'm trying to make it into one single entity.
-And for whether I use the light novel or anime, all I'll say is that the MC is an entity that shouldn't exist in DxD. His appearance will stir up some interesting events. But I'll use elements from both. I'm not trying to spoil too much, so I'll leave at that.
Thank you all for reading. Please review to let me know what you think of the story so far. I look forward to finishing up chapter 4 and releasing it!
