"The Betrayal of a Lifetime." A DxD Fanfiction
Chapter 19. "Why do you want me?"
Scene (Yasaka Castle)
Standing directly in front of Ophis was now Issei. Kunuo released the infinite dragon god and skipped over toward her mother while responding to Ophis's earlier question inside her own head. "Misunderestood maybe?" Yasaka takes hold of the princess in a tight embrace while attempting to maintain her composure. Looking directly into this very tall and beautiful woman's eyes, Issei maintains a stoic look. "Ophis, I'm sorry for what I said earlier. It's just that you don't have the greatest of track records. Giving assholes like Diadora power? Your power? No offense, lady, but that kinda pissed me off. Somebody died because of that. I had important people that got hurt and…had, important…um…" Issei pauses as his warm eyes begin to look hollow and devoid of life. "Important family? No, serving my master.. But, I was thrown away…."
Issei completely freezes in his location and stops speaking. Yasaka's eyes widened at what she was able to hear, however she was unable to see Issei's dead eyes as his back was turned while facing Ophis. Kuroka regains a serious look and begins to walk closer toward Ophis and Issei. Both Youkai were able to see Ophis's reaction to all of this which made them panic. A pure look of concern, including all of the contortions that coincide with the emotion were now present and accounted for. Ophis looked like a human girl who was watching a family member, suffering in front of her. Ophis then spoke. "You, are, broken." Tilting her head one way, trying to see a spark of life in those eyes, Ophis then tilts her head the other way. "Who, did…did this to you!?" Ophis raised her voice. The emotionless infinite dragon god was now raising her voice and showing anger and concern. Issei remains still and nonresponsive, however a single tear can be seen falling from one of the lifeless brown eyes.
Kunou, (who was hugging her mother), screamed out, "it was Rias Gremory! It was his king! She tried to hurt papa!" Looking toward Kunou, Ophis nods then looks back at Issei. Kunuo now starts to cry as Yasaka pats her daughter's head. Ophis then speaks, as if it were directed toward Yasaka and Kuroka, however she continues to stare into Issei's eyes. "So this is why the Sekiryuutei has been missing. The two of you are trying to protect him from his master? That is strange considering this Issei is no longer a devil, but rather human. I will assume you removed his evil pieces successfully?" Kuroka speaks up. "Yeah, it was a piece of cake." Ophis nods. Changing her focus from Issei's eyes, now toward his arm, Ophis speaks. "D'Draig, I will be entering, prepare yourself." Issei's arm glows as the red dragon speaks. "Wait, what, no, I'm not prepared for something like this! Shouldn't we get to know each other first?" Ophis shakes her head no. Ophis's smile returns as she raises one of her hands. Placing her index finger, (in a pointing gesture), directly on Issei's forehead, the blackhaired woman closes her eyes. The moment this happens, Issei's eyes roll back as his eyelids begin to close.
Scene (Unknown)
In a dark place, only lit by small and random pits of fire, we can see Issei. He is laying next to one of these pits, on the ground and naked. He is in a fetal position and seems to be sobbing while mumbling to himself. We can see the boy gripping his gut with both hands. "It hurts. Why did she have to kill me? What was the point? Even Azazel told me that he never ordered the bitch to do anything, aside from watch me, but no. Something about me must have triggered her to want to do it. Maybe it's the same reason Rias… Yeah, you know, now that I think of it, maybe the problem isn't them, maybe it's me. Yeah, I must be such a fucking slimeball and masocist that I flock to monsters like them. Yeah, I deserve it I guess." Moving his hands toward his heart, Issei begins to bellow.
"It still hurts. It's because she keeps pouring salt into the wound…" Standing next to Issei while looking down at him was no other than the phantom of Raynare. She had a grin as usual as her arms were folded under her chest. Opening her mouth, the grinning angel speaks. "And the best part in all of this? Rias set you up to be killed by me, only to "save" you when she forcefully inserted those evil pieces which indebted your soul to her will. Oh, how she must have bragged and boosted to her peerage and friends, while you, stupid Issei, stumbled around like a fucking idiot, not knowing what happened. Why did she not stay with you after your transition? It's because she enjoyed watching you wriggle around like a worm, for the first time, in the supernatural world. She fucking masterbated to it! Watching you suffer is her bread and butter you know."
Issei looks up at the phantom with an uncontrollable amount of tears ejecting from the poor boy's eyes. Instead of anger, Issei has a look of pleading, as if he is defeated and wants nothing more than to die. Raynare can see this. Her smirk now turns into a strange yet warm smile. "But in the end, my darling, I will claim you, once again." Raynare now kneels next to Issei and looks as though she is about to hold him in an embrace, that is until something happens. Black arms with long hands and fingers now jet from the ground. They seem to sprout under and around Issei in infinite amounts. The fallen angel jumps back while extending her wings. Raynare's warm smile was replaced with a look of worry. The black extensions started to surround Issei's body which ended in a sudden and purple flash. Within a few moments, Raynare was left alone in the dark room.
Scene (Yasaka Castle)
Ophis removes her finger from Issei's forehead. The moment this happens, Issei collapses, only to be caught by the ouroboros dragon. Kunuo screams out, "PAPA!" Ophis holds Issei against her, (and with the height difference), Issei's head is softly laying against the black haired woman's very generous chest. Looking at Kunuo now, Ophis speaks. "Sensei, do not fret. The Sekiryuutei, or as you put it, (your papa), will recover. For I have intervened and will continue to do so as needed." Issei's arm now glows, "against my better judgement, Ophis, thank you for helping my partner. I can feel that he is at peace, for now." Ophis nods. Yasaka and Kuroka both look at each other, then nod. Yasaka is the next to speak. "Ophis Sama." The woman in question looks at the fox queen in her usual stoic manner. "I will allow you to stay here if you wish. You have helped someone who is dear to my daughter and myself. With that, you have a place in my home. Your faction however, that might become a problem."
Ophis nods. "My faction will have nothing to do with Kyoto or the Sekiryuutei. Apparently, it is important for creatures such as you, to receive a guarantee of ones intensions in the form of a "promise". Therefore, I will entertain you in this. Yasaka, Fox Youkai Leader... I Ophis, the Infinite Dragon, hereby swear an unbreakable alliance with those that dwell within this house and territory. This alliance will be sealed, solely with this boy, this human, this same human that I have in my arms... Hyoudou Issei Sekiryuutei san." Ophis's stoic face now sports a warm smile as she looks down at the sleeping human who is nestled in her bosom. Yasaka thinks of Ophis's words. Kuroka thinks about kittens with Issei and blushes. Kunou has stopped crying and is watching the scene play out as she wipes her face with her sleeve.