Volume 1: Twin Diabolos of Crimson

Life 1: Of Life…

The shrill blare of an alarm cut the silence of the morning apart. No sooner was it set off that a pale hand shot out from under the bed's comforter and slammed the clock into silence.

"Already? I was out way too late," the occupant groaned as he pushed the blanket aside. Golden eyes flashed under messy locks of red and white as he stretched the sleep out and rose from the bed. The teenager yawned as he strode to his door, plucking the school uniform and red hoodie hanging from his closet door off as he stepped into the hallway. Next time I take a job like that I'm charging extra for late-night work. He thought as he ducked into the bathroom, intent to get his morning routine underway.

Once a splash of water made sure he was definitely fully awake, he set the part in his hair by taking some longer strands and taking them into a braid that went back from the point above his left eye, leaving the rest to hang loosely from there. While throwing his uniform on as he left the bathroom, he passed a particularly ornate door in the hallway leading to the living room, taking a second to loudly knock on it as he passed.

"It's mornin' our here old man! I'm starting breakfast in a sec so don't crash in the office again alright? Mom'll be pissed if she found out you fell back into that habit!"

"G-Give me a second, Noé…" A tired reply echoed out from the old wood. "Last night… well, you know what it was like."

"I'm surprised I made it to my room honestly," Noé sighed, flicking his hood out from his blazer's collar. "Just at least get out here and eat breakfast."

"Will do."

Noé rolled his eyes as he turned back down the hall. Though before he could turn into the kitchen, rather loud snoring caught his attention. Ah, right. He thought. I forgot he crashed here last night. Walking up to the back of the couch and leaning over it, the source of that loud rumble calling itself a snore came into view. Another boy about his age, still wearing his own uniform despite his state of sleep, a black beanie pulled over his eyes which blonde hair fanned out from.

"Oi, Tsuno, wake your ass up," Not even bothering with courtesy, Noé elected to wake the guest up by giving him a not so slight smack on the cheek. In the same second as the sharp smack that echoed in the room, Tsuno shot upright with a yell, his beanie somehow not flying off as he sat up. "Couldn't even bother to take your uniform off? Or use a guest room?"

"Ah fuck off, Noé," Tsuno groaned as he lifted the beanie, revealing his sharp blue eyes as he set the cap into place. "Last night's job was exhausting as fuck! Like I could be bothered to go down a hall and up some stairs just to take a room. Nope, the couch is where I stay! Besides your couch is comfortable as hell."

"Well then at least go clean yourself up a bit, sheesh," Noé whacked Tsuno on the head again as he turned. "Since you're already here I'll make extra for you. It's gonna be the usual breakfast today since I got errands to run after school."

"Whatever. Food is food, I'll scarf it down all the same!"

Noé chuckled as he ducked into the kitchen while Tsuno left the living room. If it wasn't for the fact he knew well enough Tsuno had his own place, his friend was there so often he may well have just been another member of the household. It wasn't unusual for Noé to get home from something and find the blonde boy watching TV or playing games well before he'd even shown up. So it was as much a normal part of his morning routine to start prepping breakfast for a surprise third as it was not to as far as he was concerned.

As Noé was busy cooking up some eggs, bacon, and toast, a new yawn drew his eyes from the stove. Dragging himself in was a man just reaching the point his age was starting to show. A face still holding the last bits of his youth, black hair taking on bits of grey, and with a certain bedraggled look to him thanks to the mess of his hair, prominent stubble, and the dark circles marking his bright grey eyes. His father, Van Edelweiss. The man may well have flopped into his chair at the table for what it was worth. He was up late working on more formulas, I bet. Noé shook his head as he started prepping plates.

"Alrighty, I am what one could define as presentable now!" Tsuno came in next, sniffing the air as Noé set the plates onto the table. "And grub smells good! Still using that spice your mom got ya' during one of her trips eh?"

"If it works, it works," Noé stated, tapping his father on the shoulder to rouse the man. "You seem to like it well enough, so I'm gonna use it."

"Ahh, you're such a good kid. Eh Mr. Van?" Tsuno chuckled as he shoved some of the bacon strips into his mouth. Van gave a nod as he let out another groan and tapped his cheeks to try and get the sleep out.

"If it wasn't for Noé I'm sure my mornings wouldn't flow nearly as smooth as they do," Van said, taking a long swig of the coffee Noé had also set out.

"If I wasn't around I'm sure you'd barely leave your office," Noé remarked through a slight mouthful. "But after that mess last night, we should be good on contracts for a while yeah?"

"You still mad we had to take care of some bugs?" Tsuno laughed and ducked as Noé took a swing at him. "Still don't like them eh? C'mon, it was one time that you woke up with one stuck in your ear! And that was years ago," Tsuno went quiet when the butterknife Noé had came right between his eyes next.

"I said we never talk about that again," Noé growled, clicking his tongue when Van snickered.

The chatter died down as the three finished eating and dropped their plates into the sink. As Noé and Tsuno were gathering their school items, Van followed them to the door, then clearing his throat to get the boys' attention. "Noé, hair and eyes."

"Ah, right. I need to place that back on," With a snap of his fingers near his head, his hair faded from it's white and red coloration into a muted shade of black, his eyes following suit into an equally muted brown. "See ya later!"

"Thanks for the stay over as usual!" Tsuno took the lead out as he waved, Noé shaking his head as he followed the other teenager out. Van waved the two boys off as the door shut, then turning and stretching his arms as he made his way back to his office. As he threw the ornate door to it open, a slat on the outside of it flipped open: Open. And no sooner did that slat flip over that the door faded away into the same kind as the rest in the ordinary home.

"Ugh, I hate mornings! The sun's too bright, it makes my skin frickin' crawl, and it only gets worse."

"Oh please it was worse when we were kids. But not like it stops you from complaining every time."

Noé's griping about the morning sun was another thing that could be considered part of his routine. By the teen's own admission, he was a night owl by nature. The type of person's whose overall energy was inversely proportional to the amount of sunlight there was. Tsuno's own statement held truth, and Noé certainly wouldn't decide to just stop complaining even if his gripes were more about a minor annoyance than anything else it could be. And even after the coffee he'd downed with breakfast, there was still something of a tired droop in Noé's eyes as he and Tsuno kept with the milling crowd of other students headed in their direction.

"Ah, look! It's Edelweiss and Daidouji!"

"Two of the third-year boys? They look like models!"

"Hehe, hear that Noé?" Tsuno chuckled, tapping Noé's side with an elbow as the other boy was occupying himself on his phone. "Some of the girls are talkin' about us again!"

"They always do," Noé sighed as his eyes glanced in the direction of the chattering, the girls who'd been talking dashing further ahead of the crowd. Even when I change my looks like this, I can't seem to help but stand out a bit huh? It wasn't like Noé could put any blame on it. His name was quite obviously not Japanese, though he certainly fit the definition of a Hafu in looks. But despite that, he'd lived in Japan and this town, Kuoh Town, for as long as he could remember. And because of his obviously different nature, he tended to stick out even when he didn't want to.

Which was a lot easier to do considering the school he and Tsuno attended. Kuoh Private Academy, a ladder school that had formerly been an all-girls school until some years prior, opening up to co-ed status and expanding as a result. It was scarcely an easy school to get into and oddly prestigious for a town right at the edge of the metropolitan area. And thanks to being so recently opened to co-ed, it was the kind where if one followed the school's gender ratio down by the current crop of students, would go as such: Third years, between girls to boys, 8:2, second years, 7:3, and first years, 6:4.

Hardly close to what one could call nearing even. Pretty much everything within the school remained dominated by the girls and even the staff maintained a mostly female makeup. But, Noé wasn't really one to concern himself much with that, he had other things to keep himself occupied than school gossip and the other boys around him giving into their hormonal frustrations.

"Let's see, if what the guys from Karaba sent me is accurate, then right about now…" Noé turned on his heel as they neared the gates to the school, leaning onto the railing of the small bridge he and Tsuno had been crossing. The beanie-wearing teen gave an amused chuckle as he also turned. Because strolling up from the road was a group of more students clearly not from the same school, their uniforms hardly regulation and their hair all kinds of wild styles.

Gang members, far too obviously.

"Again eh? Didn't you just deal with those idiots Manji idiots?" Tsuno chuckled. The leader of the approaching group shot him a dirty glare as they strolled up. Any other remaining Kuoh students, the girls especially, were quick to clear out and get away from what was obviously about to become a scene. Though some stuck around to watch anyway.

"Think we didn't hear that one eh punk?!" The boy did his best to make his voice sound as gravelly as possible, Tsuno yawning at the attempt to be threatening. "Not here for you anyway! We're here for the Hafu punk we've been hearin' rumors about!"

"Ain't you dorks from the other side of the city?" Noé grumbled. "I mean I know you guys skip school a lot but seriously? You came all the way to Kuoh just to pick a fight with me?"

"Why the hell would we not?!" One of the gang members shouted. "We know all the bullshit rumors comin' outta this district! Shit about some hafu from Kuoh who's been taking down all the other gangs on his own! You don't expect us to believe that crap do ya? So spill it, who you running with eh?"

"Five," Noé snickered as he got confused looks from the gang. "Ah, sorry, just a habit I picked up. This has started happening often enough I just started to count how many times you morons say the same stupid lines when you come to fight me. That's the fifth time I've had someone ask what gang I'm with. The answer by the way is none."

"Bullshit!" The leader strolled up to Noé, trying to ply what height he had over the other teenager. "Like I'm gonna believe some scrawny pretty boy like you can handle guys like Manji and Toma on your own! You're runnin' with someone, no other way."

"Tsuno, mind holding my bag?" Noé handed the bag off, Tsuno taking it and slinging it over his shoulder. As Noé started tying his blazer around his waist, he gave the gang leader a placid look while rolling his hoodie's sleeves up. "So, since I'd rather save time and not be chewed out by the Council President for this stuff again, let's cut right to the chase. Name and gang? It'll make it quicker for when I kick your teeth in."

"I'm the leader of Moebius from the East Ward, Karasuma! If it's a fight you want then-GUAGH!"

Before the gang leader could properly finish, Noé's right fist came ramming right up into his chin, the reverb of the impact audible as he sent the gang sailing back towards his four cronies. The teenager hit the ground like a sack, bouncing once before coming to a stop, letting out a groan as his head lolled to the side.

"Ohhh, one hit KO!" Tsuno whistled as he clapped his hands. "Not wasting time today eh Noé? You usually go for the multi-hits."

"I'm still gassed from last night, so not in the mood," Noé cracked his knuckles as he rolled his neck, giving the other four gang boys a glare as he approached them. "So, the rest of you wanna grab your leader and scram? Or am I gonna have to call an ambulance to cart your asses back to East Ward?"

"One punch?! He seriously knocked Karasuma out in one hit?!"

"Those Senba guys really weren't kidding! If he took the boss out like that…"

"He just got lucky!" One Noé decided was particularly unwise shouted against the ones realizing they'd messed up. "Just cause he knows how to fight don't mean shit!"

"By all means, waste his time when he's already this pissed," Tsuno chuckled. "More fun to watch when you idiots tick him off."

"You're not helping," Noé growled. When the gang member who'd spoken out rushed him, Noé knocked aside his punch with his left arm, slamming his right fist right into the boy's gut with the same force he'd knocked out the leader with. As the boy bent over his fist, Noé tapped him back, spinning around and slamming the already dazed boy away with a kick, sending him flying right on top of the knocked-out leader. "Now are we done here?"

"Let's book it!"

"Take the boss and vice-captain and run!"

"That's a new record," Tsuno laughed as Noé reclaimed his school bag, also taking the chance to wave at the people cheering as the gang members hightailed it. "Usually, they don't run off until you've almost knocked 'em all out!"

"Yeah, well that was probably just the leader and some of his cronies checking rumors," Noé remarked, shaking his right hand. "They'll probably be back in a few days with more of 'em. Same ol' same ol'. I'll call up Mikey and see if he and his boys can't head 'em off for me. Not in the mood for another gang fight right now."

"Think the Prez is gonna chew you out?"

"The bell hasn't even rung, I'm safe as can be."

As they passed through the threshold of the gate, Noé took a moment to stop. Red, that overwhelming red again. As his eyes turned to the source of this "red" that so distracted him A curtain of hair as red as crimson flaring in the wind, skin pale as snow, and eyes blue as the sky. Foreign looks and a body some would kill for, one of the idols of Kuoh Academy, Rias Gremory. In Noé's time at the school, he'd well learned the definition of someone who can be called a head turner. People simply stopped when the girl strolled into view, all so they could take in the sight she presented as she passed them by. Like a noble striding through a sea of commoners.

"Looking again?" Tsuno teased, Noé rolling his eyes. "I mean hey nobody can blame ya'? Gremory's one of the "Great Big Sisters" of Kuoh after all. Beautiful, foreign, yet so well versed in Japanese language and culture she fits right in like she's always lived here. Helps she's got a nice rack and ass to boot."

"Can you ever not point those things out?" Noé droned, Tsuno chuckling. "We're also in the same class as her, I'll remind. Not like we don't see her every day. Granted… it's fair. I'm not so dumb I won't admit she's beautiful… maybe a bit too beautiful though."

If there was one thing Noé took pride in (and there were many things about himself that he did) it was his sharp senses. Rias had, in the time he'd been acquainted with her to whatever degree there was, always given off this aura to him that he should be cautious around her. Something telling him to be wary and not fall for her charm like other people had.

Even when those blue eyes turned and seemingly fell on him, a graceful smile coming to the girls face, that he stayed resolute in that decision. Wariness and caution… I'm treading enough ground around Prez most of the time anyway. It'd be troublesome if those two ever found out… not in the mood to be dragged into their mess, whatever it is.

"Let's just get to class," Noé strode ahead of the crowd as he broke eye contact, Tsuno shrugging and following suit. It wasn't like he could avoid her anyway.

… since within their classroom among the third years, Noé possessed the misfortune of being Rias' desk neighbor. In previous years they hadn't even been in the same class, but this year seemed intent to grace Noé with a divine prank that had earned him the ire of darn near every male in the school (and some of the females) by placing him right next to the school idol herself. Meaning that whenever lessons weren't happening and he had no excuse to ditch the classroom, eyes were almost always on him.

Of course, what never helped matters in this newfound problem of his was his own reputation around the campus. It had mostly been earned no thanks to his rather well-known reputation for taking on and beating any gangs from around the city who had their rather bad habit of continuing to come and pick fights no matter how much he made it clear he wasn't interested. So, on one hand, people thought he was also a delinquent who went around getting into all kinds of trouble outside of school – which in some measures he could say wasn't incorrect but not for the reasons people would have thought.

On the other though, was the fact Noé wasn't what one would call a bad student either. He didn't aim to stick out, much like his dislike for being harassed by delinquents all the time, but to say he wasn't a model student also didn't fit. He got good grades, often showed he was fittingly intelligent, and never personally went out of his way to cause problems for others. All in all, he'd found that people just couldn't figure out what to think of him ever since he'd begun attending Kuoh Academy. And in a way, Noé somewhat preferred it that way.

"Ahhh, I'm so jealous of Edelweiss, getting to sit next to Gremory!"

"Isn't he like, the leader of every gang in town? Or is that just a rumor? I mean he did chase off those guys this morning."

"Really? Cause I heard he's super helpful and is always lending a hand to the teachers and student council."

"But he's like super hard to approach though! Don't get me wrong he's hot but his eyes just feel like they look right through you…"

"Yeah but I mean he's also supposed to be super nice. I was in first year with him and he acted way nicer back then."

"And so the rumors continue to spin, round and round they go," Noé set his head onto his desk as he let out a sigh. Glancing up when he felt eyes on him, he caught Rias's eyes darting back to the front of the class. That time… that time she was definitely looking my way. He thought. I've been careful enough I doubt she's found out… but for all I know she and Prez are plenty aware and just not bringing it up. Then again I don't think it would be surprising if they noticed. Looks like I should try and keep low for a bit…

Of course, it was all the harder for Noé to keep low when, no sooner did classes come to a close, that he found himself getting called to the student council office. In a situation he would remark as being right out of a manga, the Student Council of Kuoh Academy held considerable sway in the goings ons of the school and the general management of students. Meaning if anything untoward, such as say, a student getting into a street fight right outside of the gates, then clearly such a thing would come to their attention in record time for quick address.

Noé for his part was quite used to this routine.

"This is the third time this month, Edelweiss. How many times is this going to happen?"

"Until those morons learn to leave me alone is my guess."

A huff came from the girl seated at the desk in front of Noé. She had a small, slight frame, with short black hair and violet eyes behind rimmed glasses. Despite this small frame, the girl named Sona Shitori gave off an air of authority that well fit her place as the Student Council President. Enough that most anyone but the stupidest sorts would bother not to listen to her when she was getting onto their case. A trait that more than usually kept unruly sorts in line. But there was always exceptions. And Noé was, somewhat, one of them.

"I think the problem would be abated if you didn't seem to like fighting those hooligans whenever they show up," Sona said as she adjusted her glasses, Noé looking to the side. "While I do appreciate you having the sense to keep these… activities away from the school, the mere fact there are rumors of you getting involved with delinquent gangs has been a problem your entire attendance here, Edelweiss."

"Ah c'mon, not all those guys are that bad. The Manji group is chill. And besides, they were a huge help at last year's summer festival, remember?" Noé earned a sigh in reply to his remark. "Look Prez, it ain't like I try to drag those morons to the school. You get into one scrap with people 'cause they decide to be funny and suddenly the entire dang city wants to pick a fight. It isn't my fault they don't know when to quit and leave me the hell alone."

"Hugh… the fact you have a point makes it more frustrating," Sona shook her head. "And since the fight technically wasn't on school property and before classes, it isn't as if I can punish you for it." Tsuno owes me no. Noé stopped himself from smirking as he saw Sona's steeled gaze. "Just be sure if it does happen again, it isn't in sight of any of our students. It would be damaging to the school's reputation if one of our star students turned out to run with gangs."

"Yeah yeah, don't worry about it Prez. Not in the mood for that side of things anyway. So am I free to go?"

"Yes," But as Noé turned, Sona cleared her throat, drawing his eyes as he reached the door. "May I ask, does this… mood of yours today have anything to do with that job you've mentioned?"

"Ahehe, callin' me out, eh?" Noé mused. "Yeah, sorry. It was a rough shift last night, so I wasn't in a good mood this morning. We still good on keeping my little off-time thing on the down low even if its against the rules?"

"As long as it doesn't interfere with your studies," Sona said. "Besides, I have reasons to understand I shouldn't step across that particular line. Enjoy your evening, Edelweiss."

Noé nodded and about bolted from the office. As he made his way down the hall, a rattling sigh passed through him as he got away. "Dammit Prez knows how to put the pressure on when she's mad. She doesn't look it much but you know when that girl is angry with you… definitely tellin' Manji to keep anyone coming for me away from here so she keeps off me about it."

"Heyyy!" And the came Tsuno trotting down the hallway, with the kind of smirk on his face that was telling Noé to expect some kind of trouble. "Finally free from getting your ear pulled huh? Excellent timing my best friend."

"Emphasizing that phrase and saying it in English is a troublesome sign," Noé grumbled as Tsuno threw an arm across his shoulder. There was absolutely no escape now. "What stupid thing am I about to be dragged to this time?"

"Oh just a little something a couple of second years told me about in exchange for some info of my own."

"Goddammit…"

If there was an element to Tsuno as a person that would always bring Noé to question the nature of their friendship, it would be this: The fact Tsuno was perhaps the biggest pervert he knew of. The guy certainly had what could be called limitations on what he did and how he did it, but there were just some things the blonde teenager wouldn't pass up on a chance to get away with. And all purely to say that he'd done it and gotten away with it more than anything else. Not that Tsuno didn't enjoy what he did.

And in today's case, that would be spying on the girl's kendo club through a conveniently found hole in the wall. Tsuno had dragged Noé along for two particular reasons: First was obviously so he could use said hole and take notes for a little black book he carried around. Second was, perhaps almost contrastingly sensible, to fix said hole when he was done. It was utterly ridiculous in the contradictory nature of Tsuno's motivations. And yet Noé felt a bit of an admiration for the honesty behind it. Somewhat, anyway. Not much, but somewhat.

"Tsuno, what are we doing here?" Noé's question was rhetorical in nature, but he knew he'd get an answer anyway.

"Peeping on the kendo club girls, what else does it look like?"

"No no, you are peeping on the kendo girls. I am the sorry schmuck who got dragged along!"

"You're not just a schmuck, you're my look out! I mean not that I'd get caught, I never will, but can't be too careful. Ooooh! Murayama's chest filled out some more, and Katase's legs are as great as ever!" Tsuno was all but drooling as he kept rattling off random tidbits about the various kendo girls. If it were not for the small bucket of mortar and the tool for it by him, Noé would be questioning his friend's integrity.

"Seriously why are we friends?" No'e muttered, Tsuno just snickering as he wiped off his lips. "Really?"

"Because who else is gonna hang around the guy all thedelinquents call Boss, but who also gets off easy whenever the President grills his ears off?" Tsuno remarked, getting a glare in response, "Hey relax relax, I'm just yankin' your chain."

"Also couldn't you just do, I dunno, something else? The internet is a thing!" Noé only got snickering as Tsuno put his eye back to the peep hole in front of him.

"I will not deny that fact, but, there is a merit to voyeurism my friend. Especially when you don't get caught! Besides people used to pay for voyeur shows, all I'm doing is finding another method!"

"The fact that you know that is what unsettles me more."

"A man has his ways. Now!" Tsuno pulled his eye back and clapped his hands together as if he were praying to a shrine. "Though the skeeze in me may hate to do this, the honorable man says it must be done. Goodbye, accidental peep hole, you served your purpose well."

"I'm never sure how to feel about the fact you admit this so readily." Noé hung his head in defeat as Tsuno began filling the hole up, turning his head just to be sure they wouldn't be spotted. But, such would not be the case, and Tsuno's work was done within moments, and the two of them gone before anyone would ever be the wiser until the fix was discovered.

As had been his plan since the morning, once school was done and over with, Noé had taken to some shopping to stock up on foodstuffs and other items he knew he and his father were getting low on since the other day. This was usual for him, since his father worked all day and with his mother out traveling all of the time, it left him to do most of the domestic work around the household when he had free time. It was what he could call a simple life, but one he didn't mind. If maybe only interfered with by the occasional odd hiccup like his regular encounters with gang members.

There's something around tonight… Noé slowed his walk a bit as he scanned around the streets, barely illuminated by the remaining evening light. Not some gang trying to pick a fight, and not one of Dad's little drones… something else that's been eyeing me for a while. Keeping his pace slow but casual, Noé turned his intention from going home to finding a place he could call secluded. The entire way, he felt that sensation of being watched, but despite it, he didn't shift from his calm air.

When he finally reached one of the town's more secluded parks, well and away from the neighborhood at this time of day, was when he finally came to a stop before the fountain centering it. Let's see… tree line makes sure no one happening to pass by will see anything out of the ordinary. And I can't feel anything else… a few presences… four, maybe five? If there's more then they're trying to hide.

"Heh… you know, if you were going to follow me, you could have at least said something."

Noé turned around, the presence behind him letting out a light laugh. The one who greeted him was a teenaged girl with long black hair, dressed in a black coat and skirt, as if only to make her dark eyes melt into the colors around her pale skin. She let out a laugh, like Noé didn't have an idea there was something entirely abnormal about this situation.

"Oh my, am I that obvious?" She said with a cute smile. "I'm sorry then. It's just… see, I've been watching you for a while…"

"Uh huh… you and a few others apparently," Whatever act the girl had been putting on froze as soon as Noé spoke, the boy looking around with his eyes lidded. "So, what's the deal, eh? You wanderers or working with someone? Cause I can sense at least three, maybe four more besides you in this park. You're definitely not with some of the gangs, they're a lot more obvious… meaning you've got something to be…"

Noé was interrupted by a loud keen in the air. The second it sounded, he caught a flash of red in his vision, and his free right hand flew upwards as he caught something. A spear made of burning red light, one that made the skin on his hand tingle like it was trying to burn him through.

"Well now, it looks like you have sharper instincts than we thought," The girl kept a confident look on as she leaned to the side. Noé let out a chuckle of his own, the spear in his hand darkening as it faded away while his hair and eyes faded from their glamour into their natural appearances. "I knew it."

"Knew what? That I'm not human?" Noé grinned as the girl before him sneered. "This night just got a lot more interesting…"

A/N

And now this as well! For those who've seen the new Freelancer, THIS is the other thing I mentioned would be done. For those reading this first, I also kindly ask you read that as well. Why? Shared universe! I have... given myself SO much work to do making things play out this way. Whoo boy. But oh will it be fun.