Issei's Christmas Miracle (A DXD Fanfiction)
Chapter 4 (The Shoulder of Ice)
Scene (Front Gates of Kuoh Academy)
Early in the morning, still 45 minutes before classes even begin, was the entire peerage of Rias Gremory, loitering against the main fence that surrounded the school. Everyone had looks of nervousness as well as sleeplessness. Dark circles were under the eyes of each member as they each leaned exhaustively against the front gate. "So, what are we supposed to say, boss?" Koneko spoke in a very quiet and sleepy voice. Responding, Akeno also nodded. "I think we should start off with how sorry we are, followed up by our actual feelings. As Sirzechs pointed out, we need to grow up." Rias and the rest of the peerage stood up straight and took deep breaths, knowing that this confrontation was not going to be easy. To make matters even more distressing, Rias was now forbidden from issuing orders to Issei, for any reason. This was what her older brother meant by, "grounded". Inside of the ruin-princess's head, thoughts of guilt plagued her mind. "You were there, every step of the way. You not only worried about me, but everyone else as well. I admit, it made me very jealous. Hindsight, I should've just told you how I felt, how I feel. But I was arrogant and spoiled in my actions. Issei…"
Looking at her ring, (which was placed on her ring finger), Rias began to frown, remembering the inscription on the innerband. "Rias Gremory, you are my life." Everyone was drawn out of their thoughts when they heard some movement from behind the closed gate. Turning around, Rias and her gang were looking at none other than Sona Sitri and Tsubaki Shinra. The two girls who were in charge of the Student Council stood in place, both with looks of perplexion at the scene that lay in front of the school. "Gremory, what are you and your peerage doing, in front of this school, at this early hour?" Sona then looked at Tsubaki after speaking. The taller woman looked at her wrist watch and nodded. "Forty-Three minutes before the bell, very odd, suspicious even…" Sona agreed as she returned the nod. Looking back at the group while opening the gate, Sona seemed to be searching for two other people that were usually associated with the Gremory Peerage. Add that specific oddity along with the fact that each member, (including Rias), looked very depressed, anxious and sleep deprived. "Rias, where is the nun and the pervert?" Xenovia seemed to change her attitude to that of an angry knight, one who just overheard another, talking badly about a close comrade. "Issei Hyoudou, Student Council President. His name is not pervert, Do you understand?"
Sona and Tsubaki both widened there eyes at this statement. Rias then jumped in. "Sona, you and are are best friends, however, Xenovia is right. Don't ever call Issei that name again. Please." Sona then looked at Tsubaki, then both girls bowed. "I apologize, in the name of the great Sitri house. For that type of behavior is unacceptable and I would please request that you forget the entirety of this disrespect as it will not happen again." Rising from her bow, Sona notices that everyone still looked very depressed about something. Considering the outburst, it must have something to do with the pawn of the peerage. Thinking about it, Sona then speaks up. "So, something happened, didn't it? Between you and the Sekiryuutei?" Rias turned her head with a sad gaze. "I, I don't, I can't, oh Sona.." Rias then ran over toward the little Sitri devil with the bob-cut and glasses. Grabbing her best friend's hands and holding them in her own, Rias softly shook her head from side to side as her stare maintained direct eye contact with Sona's. "We'll talk later." Seeing the desperate look in her best friend's eyes, Sona simply nodded while releasing Rias's hands and walked back toward the school with Tsubaki. Whispering to her queen as to not alert anyone else within earshot, Sona uttered the following. "Tsubaki, prepare the peerage for some recon later this evening. Our focus will be infiltration methods and information extraction. We will find out what's going on with Hyoudou. I didn't like the look of Rias just now. Something happened. We will find out." Tsubaki simply nodded as the two disappeared into the school hallways.
Scene (Underworld, Gremory Estate)
In a large room, (brick in design), we see a large bed. Only two inhabitants were seen. The smaller of the two people, looked to be sitting at the end of said bed, meanwhile, a taller person, (in a maids outfit), stands in front of the sitting girl. "There, there, Asia, it's going to be alright. Now, how about you take a deep breath and relax now. You aren't going to class along with the others today. Instead, you will be staying with me. Then, this evening, you will be pleasantly surprised." Asia, (who is sitting on a large and canopied bed), looked up at the standing Grayfia and attempted a smile. The maid looked down at the little blond and wiped away her tears with her maid's apron. "All will be well and fine, don't you worry, little one." Asia cheered up a bit as Grayfia pointed at the breakfast tray that was next to her bed. As Asia began to dig in, Grayfia sat down beside the blond and started to brush her long and bed-tangled hair. The scene pans out with two happy devils, enjoying what they were individually doing as both girls sported blushes and crescent shaped smiles.
Scene (Kuoh Academy Front Gate)
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Issei was about a block from the school itself. In the distance, (even without superior devil vision), the boy could see the entire peerage, all standing against the fence. Seeing Gasper pointing at him created a tingling sensation in his back, something akin to that of an adrenaline spike of sorts. All of the sudden, Issei felt his right hand feel pressure and increased warmth. Looking down and toward his right, none other than Ravel Phenex, (wearing the matching Kuoh Uniform as the rest of the girls, (and Gasper)). Smiling warmly and proudly, Ravel's twin drills dragged behind her like two foxtails in the wind. She almost looked to be marching, as her free arm made exaggerated jogging-motions. Looking back at Issei, Ravel smirked a bit while she spoke. "Don't you worry, senpai, no matter what, I am right here." The little phenex devil tightened her grip a bit. This encouraged Issei as he could see Rias and the rest of the peerage, move from their leaning positions and begin to advance toward him and Ravel. Only feet away from an approaching Rias, Issei tried with all of his might to simply look forward and completely ignore the redhead. He refused to give anyone else eye contact either as Ravel kept quiet as well.
She simply continued to randomly squeeze Issei's hand. Internally, Issei was feeling incredibly stressed as nobody was speaking, rather they were all just staring in silence. Most of these negative feelings subsided, each and every time the Phoenix devil lightly squeezed. "Ravel, thank you so much. I wish I could've met you from the very beginning." Rias looked puzzled as Issei continued to walk forward. Seeing Issei looking directly into her eyes, something was missing and it hurt, it hurt a lot. Rias knew Issei was going to be angry, but she didn't know that the usual sparkle of admiration, (something she was so used to seeing in the teens warm and brown eyes.), was no longer there. Looking back and forth from her concerned peerage members and then back onto an indifferent Issei, Rias didn't know what to do. So she just spoke her mind. "Issei!" Ravel and Issei stop walking, (as their backs are already to the peerage). Issei all but turned his head to the side, leaving one trained eye on the sobbing redhead. "What do you want, Rias?" Hearing her name spoken, in such an uncaring and cold manner, this was not what the Switch Princess wanted. Attempting not to break down at that very moment, Rias attempted to put on her usual smile.
"Do you think, maybe we could talk?" Turning his head forward and no longer looking at Rias, Issei simply nods. "You are the president, you don't have to ask me anything, just give me an order. If you want to talk, then order me to talk. So, what can your pawn do for you, master?" Silence. Not turning around to see their reactions, the teen looked down and toward his right, meeting the blue eyes of Ravel. She had a frown on her face but a worried one. "Issei, let's go now, before a scene breaks out." From Rias and the rest of the Peerage's point of view, Issei and Ravel began to walk into the school. As soon as the doors shut, Rias broke down in tears while falling to her knees. Akeno fell down on her own and hugged her king. Kiba and Xenovia looked at each other and shook their heads. Koneko had her jaw agape. Gasper was simply frozen in shock. Meanwhile, looking out of a window from the third floor of the school were Sona and Tsubaki. Sona had her eyes widened as Tsubaki managed to close her own mouth using her index finger. "President, your suspicions are correct. Something indeed has happened with Rias and the Sekiryuutei." Sona simply nodded as she began to clean her glasses. "Tonight, we will investigate."
Scene (Familiar Forest)
In a snowy field, we see Azazel of all people. He is wearing a neon green ski jacket along with a large backpack and an ax attached to his hip. Another man was with Azazel. He looks familiar, (no pun intended). Wearing what looked to be a pokemon Ash Catchum outfit, this man was decades older than the protagonist of the pocket monster show. He also looked rather unhealthy, perhaps he is addicted to several substances? The two men were following some kind of trail. At the end of the trail, "Ash Catchum on Drugs", spoke up. "Aha! You see, that is, the tree! The tree of glee! Yippie, yippie! Douglas Mane! Only the greatest Yule Tree to ever exist!" Looking at where the crazy guy was pointing, Azazel began to smirk and nod. "Yup, that's the one! The things I do… I swear, those brats better appreciate the trouble I am going through!" Pulling out his ax, Azazel marvels at this glorious pine tree. Like any other pine tree, this tree had needles, however they were bright purple, rather than evergreen. The bark of the tree was also vivid, as the color was completely black. The odor was also unique as one couldn't make up their mind, "was the smell peppermint or was it cinnamon?" Nodding to himself, Azazel lined up his cut and began to work. "Yup, ain't nobody cooler than this sensei!"
