A/N: This is an entirely original story with a twist. I do not own any rights to Highschool DXD but will use the characters and most of the storyline. It will have a harem but wait and find out who I was inspired by a few stories I came across, so I want to respect the authors of those stories. Enjoy :)
'Thinking'
"Talking"
Inner Voice
(Ddraig)
Chapter 1: Wounded Heart
"Issei…. Who am I to you?" Asked Rias with concern.
"What do you mean? You're president and my Ri…." Issei was saying till he got cut off.
"Baka!" Shouted Rias as she slapped him hard enough to push him away.
Issei put his hand on his cheek in shock then the other members of the ORC started to insult him in the process.
"Issei, you such a fool!" Shouted Akeno snapping at him.
"You're terrible, Issei. How could you," Said Asia joining in?
"Seriously, do we have to spell it out for you? Jeez." Says Kiba while putting his hand on his face.
"You're such and baka Issei. I'm dense, but this takes the cake," said Xenovia chipping in the insult.
"Your the worst," Said Koneko with a disappointed look.
"I can't believe you. How can you be so blind," says Irina while wiggling her finger in a no-no way.
Issei is stunned and just looks at everyone, confused. So far only people that have not belittled him are Ravel, Rossweisse, and Gasper.
"Gasper, do you hate me too?" Asked Issei with a confused face
"Yeah…. Sorry senpai, you have done a horrible thing," Said Gasper but not as harshly as the others.
"...but why?" asked Issei, still confused.
Issei decided to use Pailingual skill in his mind to see if he could understand and hope to clear things up, but all he could hear was hate, and worst was from Rias.
You absolute fool! Akeno's inner voice
You clueless moron! Irina's inner voice
And people said I was dumb? Xenovia's inner voice
What is wrong with you? Asia's inner voice
Pervert bastard! Koneko's inner voice
What just happened? Ravel's inner voice
Let him finish, Rias! Rossweisse's inner voice
You dense selfish bastard! Arghhhh! Ria's inner voice
"Are you serious right now? Damm it, I regret reincarnating you. I should have let Raynare kill you twice, You Pervert! Right now, Riser sounds like a good backup lover! I regret breaking the marriage!" Shouted Rias in anger.
The whole room was silenced, and everyone looked shocked with wide eyes and mouths agape.
Issei looked at Rias with a blank expression. He then shed a tear and figured out what she meant by letting Raynare kill him. Rias saw this and realized what she had just said.
"Oh no… Issei, I'm… Said Rias but got cut off by Issei
"No, no, it's okay, don't apologize…." Issei said as he sighed
"...Issei, I didn't mean it…." Rias says while trying to correct what she said
"No, no, no…you did…you all did…apart from Ravel and Rossweisse," Issei said as he gestured to them.
"... I'm glad you were all honest with me. You let me die, which means you would of let Asia die when you could have saved us. With your power, it would of being so easy…you reincarnated me to teach Riser a lesson, and I did it…now that he's a better person and you're free, what do you need me for? I'm just a pawn, a tool, a slave, after all. You used me cause I have the Boosted Gear… You are a devil…." Issei said as he sighed, and tears came down his face.
Right now, Issei was barely managing to keep his breathing stable. His body felt cold to him, and each word he spoke made his voice tremble. His face expressed every negative emotion meaning hate, disdain, fear, anxiety, etcetera.
"That's not what she…." Akeno tries to say but is cut off by Issei
"I'll….. See you guys at the rating game. I promised Sairorg a good fight. Take care, guys….Master…." Issei says as he starts to walk out of the door.
Rias…you let him die? Rossweisse inner voice
What the…. Ravel's inner voice
As Issei approaches the door, Rias grabs his hand to try to talk to him, but his gauntlet appears.
("Let go, Gremory. You'll only make it worse.") Ddraig said with an angry tone.
"Issei, please listen," Rias said
Issei lets out a powerful aura that symbolizes the rage he's feeling, and he looks at her and the others except for Rossweisse and Ravel with so much hate.
"Let. Me. Go. Gremory!" Roared Issei
Rias let go of him and backed off. He called her by her last name. He had never done that to her before and didn't call her president like he usually does. Issei stopped releasing his blood lust-filled aura. It felt so empty. He slammed it so hard he walked out the door that cracks appeared on it. He carried on walking while dragging his hand on the wall, his legs were shaking, but he forced himself to continue walking. Rias tried to follow him, but Rossweisse stopped her.
"Don't You Dare, Rias!" Rossweisse shouted with such an angry tone.
Rias and everyone froze as Rossweisse had never raised her voice like that before.
"I feel like this is my fault…." Ravel said, looking upset and head down.
"No, Ravel, this is our problem, we can't expect you to do everything, but we appreciate the offer. I'm sorry to ask this, but please go home. For now, I need to go find Issei." Rossweisse says with a sound of worry.
"...very well… I hope Issei is alright." Ravel says with a worried look.
"I doubt it," Rossweisse said with a sad look.
Ravel teleports home through the magic circle, then Rossweisse looks at all of them with pure rage.
"Now. Start Talking!" Rossweisse screamed out.
Everyone in the room was frightened by the sudden change of Rossweisse.
"You guys let Issei die? And would of let Asia die?" Rossweisse said with a scornful look.
"...I..I.." Rias stuttering
"Speak Up!" Rossweisse shouted
"Okay, yes, I let him die. He told us to help save Asia, but we did not fast enough to do it when she was still a human!" Rias shouted with tears going down her face.
"You said that you should have let Raynare kill him twice. Does that mean you knew he was a target? That Asia was a target?!" Rossweisse said as she raised her voice at the end.
"..." Rias was left with her mouth open, with nothing coming out.
"That silence could only mean yes, you knew that the fallen were after then, yet you let them die so you could use them to get out of a marriage that you could have refused without consequence if you simply tried hard enough. That's right, and I did my research." Rosswiesse stated
"..." Rias was left stunned.
Rossweisse looked at everyone else, Asia was crying as she glared at Rias, but some anger was directed towards herself.
"You knew this the whole time, Rias? He risked life and limb for you and us, and this is how we repay him?" Asia said while the tears went down her face.
"Did the rest of you know about her plans as well?" Rossweisse asked now with a questionable look.
Koneko, Kiba, and Akeno looked away in shame and showed their guilt.
"No…I have sealed away." Gasper said while in his box.
"What?Why?" Rossweisse asked with a curious look
"I couldn't control my powers," Gasper said, looking down in shame.
Rossweisse looked at Rias, "so instead of helping him, you sealed him away? Wow, I can't believe you right now." Rossweisse says while disappointed.
"Is it hard for him to say that he loves me?" Rias shouted, trying to change the subject.
"Stop changing the subject! You didn't even let him finish, and I could tell he was about to say that he's in love with you…now I'm wondering why? You can stay here, and I'll go look for him." Rossweisse shouted, then went to a familiar voice out of concern.
With that, Rossweisse leaves the ORC to look for Issei.
"What have we done?" Irina says while trying to hold her tears back.
"I was cruel to him…." Gasper said, now crying in his box.
Rias started to sob uncontrollably. Koneko stopped eating her sweets and had a shadow over her eyes. Kiba's hands were shaking, Akeno sat on the sofa motionlessly, and Xenovia held her head in her hands. Then Asia runs out the door for her to look for him.
"...we messed up…big-time…." Irina says while sniffing.
Outside
Rossweisse was running out of the school's main gate and saw Issei walking in the distance, and she managed to catch up to him within seconds.
"Issei, wait up!" Shouted Rossweisse in desperation
Issei didn't respond and kept walking until Rossweisse grabbed him by his hand, and he stopped, but he never faced her.
"Please….let go ….I need to be alone," said Issei while sniffing and trying to hold in his tears.
"No, issei, we need to talk about it," Rossweisse said, hoping he would come round.
"What's there to talk about?... You heard her….I'm just a pervert that shouldn't be alive." Issei explained while still sniffing, then broke her grip on his hand and carried on walking.
"Issei, please talk to me," Rossweisse pleaded.
"I'm sorry, but I have nothing to say to anyone. I'm going to go. I have a lot to think about, so I'll see you at school tomorrow, sensei". Issei said and was going from view.
Rossweisse just watched him disappear and knew not to pursue any further and thought he needed to heal the right way and not by force. She turned around, headed back to school, and bumped into Asia on the way back.
"Where is he?" Asked Asia with tears coming down her face.
"He needs to be alone. Let's leave him be". Rossweisse said with a worried tone.
"But I need to apologize to him," Asia said and sniffed when she said it.
"I know that, but it won't heal the damage done. Come back to the clubroom. We all need to talk," Rossweisse said now with determination to get to the bottom of this.
Both Rossweisse and Asia made their way back to the ORC while Asia wept the whole time only to find out she was left to die, only to be used, and the only one in the same boat was her savior….and she hurt him. Rossweisse took her inside and left her in the ORC. She then called Azazel but went straight to voicemail. She thought he might be carefree, but he was also a very caring person, especially to his students, and more caring to Issei, being a unique person he is.
"Hey Azazel, it's me…we have a serious situation here….it's Issei. He's…just go see him, your only one who can help him right now," Rossweisse says, leaving the message on his phone.
Issei P.O.V
After leaving Rossweisse and others behind, he got inside his home, dropped his school bag in his room, and changed into his training clothes, a vest, and shorts made from durable material. He went to the underground training field and just started training to vent his frustrations.
"Balance Breaker!, Promotion to rook!" Shouted Issei
("Welsh Dragon Boosted Gear Scale Mail! Welsh Dragonic Rook Solid Impact!") Ddraig responded from his boosted gear.
Many targets appeared, and Issei started to punch them. He'll need strength and power against Sairorg, he kept hitting and boosting, but he felt as if each punch he threw was weaker than the last.
"Come on…. What's wrong with me? Issei asked himself.
("Issei…..You know why…") Ddraig said with a sad tone
"..." Issei just stood there, stumped, knowing why.
("You need to let out your frustrations, partner, you're angry, stop holding it in.") Ddraig said as he was angry with the crimson princess as well.
Suddenly, Issei's balance breaker armor disappeared, and he fell to his knees. He looked at the somewhat broken target dummies and started to cry, trying to hold back the tears.
"Real men don't cry…..don't be a bitch…don't be weak," Issei said, trying to force himself to stop crying.
But it was of no use, and he broke down more and more each time he tried to calm himself. Within mere seconds only his loud cries could be heard. He punched the ground, and each punch created cracks since he was in his Rook promotion still. His knuckles were bloody, mixed with tears flowing from his eyes.
"AFTER EVERYTHING I WENT THROUGH, THE FALLEN, FREED, KOKABIEL, RISER, GIVING UP MY ARM, VALI, DIADORA, LOKI, JUGGERNAUT DRIVE, CAO CAO, CHAOS BRIGADE, EVERYTHING AND FOR WHAT!" Issei screamed at the top of his voice.
("...") as Ddraig was thinking
"...Sniff…. One tiny mistake and suddenly I'm the worst being to exist…." Issei said, still sniffing with tears coming down his face.
("It's not your fault") Ddraig said, trying to calm his partner down.
"Then why does it feel like it is Ddraig? If I weren't such a pervert, things would have been different. Maybe I never would have been killed by that light spear, and maybe I would have awakened you earlier and been strong enough to save Asia, not use the Juggernaut Drive or who knows what else." Issei said, wiping his tears away.
("Issei, it also made you the strongest red dragon emperor") Ddraig said, trying to cheer his partner up.
"AT WHAT COST, DDRAIG? MY PERVERSION DAMAGE YOUR REPUTATION, YOUR PSYCHE, FOR FUCKS SAKE. I MUST TRULY BE THE WORST TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT TO A DRAGON!" Issei shouted in frustration.
("I appreciate your concern, but right now, you need to worry about yourself.") Ddraig said but grateful that his partner was sorry for his actions.
"I'm just so angry. I was being used this whole time and was a puppet….." Issei said with such frustrations
("Issei, I doubt that.") Ddraig said
"How so?" Issei asked with confusion.
("They do love you…") Ddraig said
"Then why did they let me die? If she needed help, she could have just asked me and explained to me, and I would have helped…." Issei said, wishing they asked in another way.
("Knowing your partner, you would off, I believe you would have") Ddraig said, knowing how kind his partner was.
"All this is making me want a drink. Azazel thinks I don't know about his stash of booze in this house," Issei said as he got up and walked to a secret cabinet.
("Issei, please don't. It won't help.") Ddraig said, hoping he would stop.
"Right now, anything might help to numb this pain," Issei said as he opened up the compartment and saw Vodka, Whisky, Scotch, and other alcohol. Lucky his parents aren't home. Just as he was about to pour himself a drink, he was stopped by Azazel.
"Issei, please don't. I can't bare to see you go down that round," Azazel said as he suddenly appeared just in time. He saw Issei as a son but never once imagen him doing something like this. The unstoppable Red Dragon Emperor is now wholly broken….
"...Azazel?" Issei said, shocked at the sudden appearance
"Hey, kiddo," Azazel said before bringing Issei into a hug. Issei then suddenly cried into his shoulder. After some time, Issei stopped crying and sat in the corner of the room with Azazel sitting next to him.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Azazel asked, knowing what caused this to happen.
"...Do you already know what happened?" Issei asked out of curiosity
"I do," Azazel said with a sad look
"I guessing Rossweise told you the story?" Issei asked
"Yeah, she did. She is apprehensive about you," Azazel said with concern
"I see…..I can't believe Ravel saw what had happened." Issei said while looking down at his feet.
"That should be the least of your concern right now, kiddo," Azazel said, trying to help him.
"They let Asia and me die, and I nearly died several times WILLINGLY for them….Azazel….am I such a fool?" Issei asked with such a down-spirited tone.
"Not at all. We were all fooled, we all thought that they were the kind-hearted people we knew, but today, their true colors were shown," Azazel said with abit of anger mixed in
"People? Devils through and through," Issei said
"Not all of them, Rossweisse saw their mistake and also saw that they didn't let you finish your confession. If you did confess then…." Azazel said and just stopped at the end before saying something.
"I would have been in bliss. Despite not completely healing the emotional damage that Raynare caused, I was ready to move on, and I gave my heart, body, and soul to her, everything I did, and she said that she would rather go back to Riser," Issei said nonchalantly.
"Women are trouble, I got caught by their allure, and I fell, but you fell more than I did," Azazel said
"I don't know what to do anymore. I lived and nearly died for the woman I fell in love with; this is my penance. Nearly drinking alcohol and breaking apart at the very thought of her." Issei said with his hair covering his eyes while he looked down at his feet.
"Well least I stopped you. You could have a hell of a hangover the next morning, hahaha," Azazel said, laughing at the end.
"It'll be nothing compared to the light spears or merging a part of the dividing gear, Fenrir puncturing my entire body with his fangs, or the worst I've suffered yet…this heartache," Issei said with a stoic look.
"Well, in only a few months, you went from being a Pervy high school kid to fighting strays, fallen monsters, other sacred gear users, and even Loki, all while becoming the strongest Red Dragon Emperor," Azazel said with pride.
"I only survived Loki because of Ravel giving me a Phoenix tear," Issei said with a slight smirk.
"Yeah, she's a caring girl," Azazel said, appreciating Ravel for what she has done for Issei.
"So fare Ravel, Rossweisse, and you seem to care about me," Issei said while still doubtful.
"So does Asia, Irina, Gasper, and the others," Azazel said, not knowing what others truly felt.
"On the contrary to recent events," Issei said
"It's late, Issei. Get some sleep, hopefully, can sleep it off," Azazel said as he got off the floor to help Issei.
Issei slowly got up and managed to get to an empty bedroom weakly. Once he got on the bed, he passed out in mere seconds. Azazel left a note on the side table for him to see once he woke up.
I hope the sleep will calm you down abit, I'll come to check on you in the morning, and we will think of a way to help you out, maybe a break from the group or something.
Azazel
Once Azazel left the bedroom, he placed a few powerful spells and ruins on the door. Only he and a select few can enter the room, and if any unwanted people try to enter, he'll know when Issei leaves or anything he'll understand. He is pissed that he was hurt this much in mere seconds.
Issei's Mindscape
As soon as Issei collapsed onto the bed, Ddraig brought him into his mindscape to comfort him in what way he could. He flew down and gave him a big hug.
("Issei, you know I am always here for you, unlike my past hosts, you are the only one that treats me as a friend and not a tool") Ddraig said as he carried on hugging him.
"Thanks, Ddraig, you are one of my best friends. I have. Well, if I were a dragon, I would call you my brother," Issei said as he replicated the hug.
("Hehe, now that would be interesting, so have you got a plan on how to beat Sairorg, or have plans changed?") Ddraig asked Issei
"Nope, I still want to beat him as I promised him a good fight, so I was thinking maybe see if Azazel or Sirzechs can find somewhere to train without distractions," Issei said with a little bit of venom at the end.
("That be good, so what you were thinking training in your other gear forms or?") Ddraig asked
"Mmm, no, I will focus on base form, so my balance breaker would be even stronger. Plus, I am done being a pervert as it's been used against me so many times," Issei said with determination.
("...What you done with my Issei he never would give up his pervertedness") Ddraig said while looking shocked.
"Haha, very funny, Ddraig. I am still going to be a pervert that never changes, but I am going to tone it down abit and also control it, so no more Pervert moves from me," Issei said while smiling after giggling abit.
("Wow, this is a change, so if you are going to train on your base form, some of the past users might be able to help you out since you saved them") Ddraig said with pride.
"That be awesome if they can help, but in the meantime, I feel sleepy, so I going to get some sleep, talk to you in the morning Ddraig," Issei said, smiling and then closing his eyes to fall asleep.
("Night partner") Ddraig said as he went to sleep as well
Meanwhile
Rias and the other members of the ORC were looking for Issei and checking each room to find him, and they finally stumbled upon the space that Azazel put a barrier on, and the group felt a blockage that prevented them from going to it.
"Erm, guys, why is there a barrier in this room?" Irina asked while looking puzzled at the others.
"That's one of the many spare bedrooms. Do you think Issei is in there?" Asia asked, hoping he was.
"I'm cutting the door down. Stand back!" Shouted Xenovia
"Xenovia, wait!" Shouted Rossweisse.
Before she could stop, Xenovia had already summoned Durandal and was above her and was ready to cut the barrier along with the door. The instant she swung her blade, a hand grabbed her arms and stopped her mid-swing. Everyone looked towards the figure that stood tall, dark, and pissed off, and it was Azazel.
"Don't you fucking dare! None of you are to go near him, talk to him, or anything!" Shouted Azazel showing he was serious.
"What the hell Azazel? He's my pawn, and I do what I like as his King," Rias said while holding her hips.
"Is that all he is to you? Not the man who risked EVERYTHING to save not just you but everyone else here as well? Do I have to remind you of what every one of you said to him except for Rossweisse, who tried to help him after what you all done" Azazel said, holding his ground?
With that, everyone's face went to the ground in shame except for Rossweisse.
"You didn't even let him finish confessing, and look where your stupidity got him. As of this moment onwards, I'll be looking after his well-being since almost all of you would probably cause him to take his own life next," Azazel said seriously.
"What do you mean next? What did he do in the first place?" Asked Irina, now worried
"He was about to drink alcohol after smashing his hands against all the dummies and the floor and was in such a depressed state, thanks to you all. Some friends you are." Azazel said with a look of disappointment.
"Please….let me see him, let me apologize," Asia asked while holding her hands together.
"Even if I did, there's no point. He completely blacked out after I helped him to his bed. He couldn't even hear you if you screamed at the top of your lungs. It broke my heart seeing him like that….I can't let you see him…It'll hurt you, even more, Asia" Azazel looked down with sadness, then looked at Rias. "Rias…did you say that you regret turning him into a devil and returning to Riser now that he's different?" Azazel asked, hoping she didn't
"I wish I didn't…." Rias said while holding back her tears.
Azazel was stunned. She said that to Issei's face, the man who saved her, again and again, saved them all the others and themselves, gave his arm, used juggernaut drive, light spears, you name it, yet just a few sentences killed him inside.
"I can't ….believe you…." Azazel said as he fell to his knees "...Why? What could have possessed you to be so cruel to the man in love with you?" Azazel asked while holding back his tears in shock.
With that, Rias began to whimper and tried her best not to cry cause of her mistake.
"As if this moment, none of you are to be near or contact or follow him, Rossweisse make sure that they stay away. I have to inform Sirzechs and Grayfia about this," Azazel said while standing back up and looking at Rossweisse.
"NO, PLEASE!" Shouted Rias in fear of what would happen
"SILENCE, YOU DAMNED BRAT!" Cried Azazel with his aura leaking out, showing how angry he was.
"This will impact everything and in one of the worst ways possible for him. You let him get traumatized and killed by the hands of Raynare when you could have helped, then you go and do this. Stay away not just for his sake but for yours because if he snaps again, then he and the rest of you will be dead…..I don't even want him to sense your presence. GOT IT!" Azazel said as he raised his voice at the end.
Everyone nodded out of fear. Then Azazel teleports to the underworld but not before placing an even more powerful barrier on the room.
"Everyone go to your rooms, stay out of Issei's room," Rossweisse said in teacher mode.
"I'm the King. I should be giving the orders around here, Rossweisse," Rias retaliated in anger.
"I take orders from a real King, not the person you are right now," Rossweisse said, holding her ground while in a standoff with Rias.
With that, it shut her up, and they all went to their rooms, but Gasper stayed outside the room.
"You to Gasper," Said Rossweisse in a calm manner
"..." Gasper stood there for a few more seconds, looking at the barrier blocking the entrance, then he went to one of the empty rooms.
Rossweisse touched the barrier and was surprised she could go through it.
"So Azazel allowed me to enter. Good least I can check up on Issei." Rossweisse said in a low voice as like talking to herself.
She went through the door, and inside, she could smell the sweat. She walked over to him and was saddened at sight, his knuckles had dried blood on them, and he was crying even in his sleep. She holds his hands and casts a healing spell to heal his hands.
"If only there were a spell to fix your heart Issei. You were about to confess just as you both wanted….you don't deserve this," Rossweisse said with a sad look.
She then left the room after healing his hands. She then headed to her room and was worried about Issei, realizing just how fragile his heart and mind were. She then managed to fall asleep but would wake up now and then to check on Issei. She would find the others one by one trying to get through the barrier and force them to their rooms.
