Chapter 5: Black Feathers
Awaking bright and early the next morning, Issei felt refreshed and relaxed for the first time in a long time. With the fact that Akeno was alive and well, Issei could barely contain his excitement. However, a new thought crossed his mind. Baraqiel had to know.
Unfortunately, Issei recalled his conversation with Akeno the previous night. She didn't want to meet him or face him, not yet, at least. She couldn't sum up her courage to speak to him after the last time they met.
He had decided that he would respect her wishes. He didn't know what their exchange was like before they went their separate ways.
Looking at his clock, Issei decided that he'd get ready for school. He still had to play catchup with human life.
After preparing his lunch and leaving his house, Issei was met by Akeno, who had apparently come to pick him up.
"Good morning, Akeno." Issei beamed at her brightly, making the young lady blush.
"Good morning, Issei." Akeno returned the smile.
"How'd you know I was back in my old house?"
"I figured you still had an attachment to it." Akeno replied as they walked to school.
"True. I can be a bit sentimental."
"Issei, you're a third year right?" Akeno looked at him with a hopeful expression.
"No, I'm not. I'm actually a second year" Issei responded.
Akeno looked saddened when he told the truth.
"Oh." She looked disappointed.
Issei instantly felt bad for telling her that.
'She must have been hoping that I'd be in the same year as her so we could spend more time together.' Issei exhaled, lost on what to do.
"Well, for what it's worth, at least we found each other and now we can spend time together again, like the old days. Kuoh does have four years of school like in the US, after all." Issei softly comforted her.
Akeno's expression lightened a little.
"True. At least we know where the other is now." Akeno found solace in that thought.
The two continued walking to school happily until they encountered other students. Several other men were glaring at Issei as they had noticed that he was walking so closely to one the greatest beauties of the school.
Akeno noticed the many stink-eyes that Issei was getting and merely chuckled.
After entering the school, the two had to part ways.
"I'll come get you after school's over so we can go to the Club." Akeno twirled around as she looked at him with puppy dog eyes.
'Why does she do that to me whenever she makes a request?! She knows I can't say no!' Issei complained.
'Why don't you just oblige her, Partner? It's a good way to make up for lost time. Who knows? She might even have something naughty in mind.' Ddraig made his input.
'Of course, I'll oblige her. Also, since when did you have those kinds of perverted thoughts? Isn't that my department, according to you?' Issei was a bit bothered by Ddraig's sudden suggestion.
Ddraig remained silent as he realized what he had let slip. He didn't mention to Issei before that he once had multiple dragon mates, and he would prefer to keep things that way.
'Hypocrite.' Issei taunted with a smug grin, causing a vein to pop on Ddraig's forehead.
Issei made his way to his classroom and was swarmed by questions.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"
"ARE YOU DATING HIMEJIMA?!"
"WHAT A SHAME!"
"DIE, YOU!"
What irritated Issei the most was the fact that the Perverted Duo, Motohama and Matsuda, were in his face, spouting curses and insults.
"Could the both of you get out of my way please?" Issei politely spoke to them, though that infuriated them more.
"No way! Answer us! How did you seduce and ensnare one of the Four Great Ladies!" Matsuda spat.
'These two…I really wanna kick their asses. Not only are they peeping toms, they're harassers.' Issei felt multiple veins popping on his forehead.
"Hey, you two! Quit bothering the transfer student!" The brunette, twin-tailed girl, Murayama, interjected.
"That's right!" Several others in the class, including the guys and girls, spoke at the same time. The entire morning, since the duo saw Issei with Akeno, they had been making loud racket out of perverted envy.
Silenced by the majority, Issei looked at the class with a look of gratitude and sat himself down at his seat. Clearly, they were more fed up with the perverted duo than he was.
Kiba nodded at him, to which Issei returned the greeting.
As lessons began, Issei wondered whether or not he should contact Vali. It had been years since they had talked, seeing as how she had left for traveling the world to train.
Having left the North, Issei had a much harder time talking to her, given how he didn't want to bother her. Still, Azazel told him that Vali was returning soon, within a two or three months, actually.
When Issei found out that very morning, he could barely contain his excitement.
Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked around and found Akeno looking him in the eyes.
"Huh? Akeno?! How come you're here?" Issei was alarmed by her sudden appearance but then looked at the clock.
It was lunchtime!
"Oh crap." Issei had been so busy in his thoughts that time had passed almost within the blink of an eye.
"Were you too busy daydreaming to remember that lunch just started?" Akeno made a mock-scolding look.
"Sorry, Senpai." Issei went along with her but that made her genuinely upset.
"It's A-KE-NO." The girl said as she bent over, giving Issei a good look at her gifted bosom as they bounced.
'Oh goodness, they bounce!' Issei noted in his mind but his face remained composed.
Once more, he mentally slapped himself for being a perv.
"O-Okay, Akeno." Issei backed away as she got closer to him.
Hearing him call her by her first name without honorifics always made her happy. It made sense, seeing as how it showed how close they were.
"Come on. Let's go have lunch!" Akeno grabbed Issei's wrist as she led him up to the school roof.
When several people saw her behaving this way, they questioned the change in her characteristics. Normally, Akeno was graceful and calm but ever since the day started, she was more energetic, beaming happy radiance so brightly that it could've blinded the unshielded eye.
After sitting down on a bench, the two began to converse as they ate.
"Uncle Azazel told me this morning that Vali's coming back from her training in a 2 or 3 months. He said that she's moving here to Kuoh to study like a normal girl. Apparently she told him that she wanted to experience human life. I don't know where she's going to stay though." Issei informed Akeno, who's expression had gained reasonable cheer.
After Issei explained that Vali had gone on to travel the world, Akeno gained a bit more understanding as to why Vali hadn't found her either.
"By the way, Akeno. Where are you living now? Is Rias giving you a place to stay?"
"Yes. She's given me an apartment. It's rather comfortable. Perhaps you should come to visit sometime." Akeno offered in a friendly fashion.
"Also, Issei, do you mind if I come over some time?" Akeno couldn't resist asking.
This instantly caught Issei's attention.
"Of course! Feel free to drop by whenever you want!" He said warmly.
He started fishing into his pocket, taking out a key. Akeno gasped to herself. They were moving so quickly.
"Here's a spare key to my house. If there's anything you need or just want to talk, then let yourself in." Issei grinned.
He swore that no matter what, this time he'd keep his promise to Akeno.
Akeno wanted to jump for joy but poised herself. Since when was she one to get excited about such a thing?
"Thank you, Issei. I'll see you afterschool at the Clubroom." Akeno then got up and left as the end bell for lunch came.
Eventually, the time came and Issei found himself outside of the ORC clubroom again.
Knocking on the door, he heard the voice of the Crimson-Haired Princess.
"Come in."
Opening the door, Issei saw the entire ORC waiting for him. He saw Rias, Kiba, and Koneko sitting.
"Welcome, Issei." Akeno delightfully smiled as she led him inside.
Everyone in the room looked at them in surprise when they saw the Queen of the Gremory Peerage become bubbly.
"Please have a seat. I'll be right back." Akeno smiled at him sweetly as she entered another room to prepare tea and snacks.
Rias smiled in relief when she noticed Akeno's happy mood. Rias feared that something bad was going to happen when she told Akeno of Issei's desire to meet her. When she saw her Queen again, she was acting as very differently.
'Whoever this guy is…it seems like he's not a bad guy, if Akeno is so happy around him.' Rias looked at Issei as he sat quietly.
She'd ruled out foul play since she'd kept an eye on Issei whenever he was on campus.
After Akeno brought out beverages and snacks, she immediately sat next to her childhood friend, surprising everyone else again.
"Now then, let's get to business. Issei, would you like to join the Occult Research Club?" Rias didn't show it, but she considered him as a peerage candidate. Dragons were strong and were largely resistant to many forms of magic, something that she would need in the near future.
Issei was taken aback by her offer. He had never expected her to offer him a place in her circle so easily so soon. Then again, he knew of the Devil's Peerage system, so he suspected that she wanted him to be in her peerage. Thankfully, he hadn't revealed his identity as the Red Dragon Emperor, though he hoped that Akeno hadn't said anything about it either. There was also the fact that Akeno must have wanted him to be in there.
To be honest, he wanted to join too, so that he could spend more time with her. He had missed her terribly ever since he thought that she died, so this was a chance that he couldn't pass up. However, he had to make one thing clear.
"I must make one condition clear before we continue first, Ms. Rias." Issei looked at her seriously with piercing eyes.
Rias looked at him and waited for his words.
"I know of the Devil's reincarnation system, aka the Peerage System. I must make it clear now that I cannot join your peerage. I swore an oath and I must keep it." Issei looked at her apologetically, though she relented and nodded at him.
"Very well. Still, you are free to join the Club if you want. No strings attached to you. I can tell you that the benefits are using club activities as excuses to do what you need to. You'll also be excused automatically for whatever reason. On the other side, if you do something that reflects badly on the club, you'll have to face consequences. Deal?" Rias made a bitter smile but she respected his wishes.
Issei knew that he would get strung along if Rias had him in her Peerage. He didn't want to be tied to a faction for life in such a way. Issei had also stopped being an agent of Grigori as a precaution. Azazel understood and wholeheartedly supported him. He was still his legal guardian so there wasn't much change in their connection.
This meant that he was a freelancer, if he were to be described.
"Okay. I'll join but um, what does the club do, exactly?" Issei decided that if there was going to be a cover, then he'd need substance to sustain it.
"We mostly use real ghosts and monsters to create reports and articles that would be plausible to humans. It's not really much. Us Devils use our work to provide backstory to our activities. Around once every few weeks or a month, you have to submit a report on the supernatural. Other than that, there's nothing much to do." Rias spoke before sipping some tea.
Issei felt a bit surprised by how lax the Club was but since it was a front to hide the fact that the Club was full of Devils, it was reasonable.
"So I take it that everyone here is a Devil?" Issei looked around and was met with nods.
"Yes. Everyone here is a part of my peerage." Rias admitted calmly.
"I see." Issei guessed that Rias was still scouting for potential peerage members.
"May I ask who is what piece?" Issei questioned again.
"I am the King, Akeno is the Queen, Kiba is a knight, and Koneko is a rook." Rias spoke with a bit of dissatisfaction. She felt that her peerage was strong but lacked manpower.
"Nonetheless, I am very proud of my peerage. They are all people that I trust with my life." Rias noticed the quizzical look on Issei's face and moved to interject her opinion.
Issei shook his head in response.
"I'm not looking down on your peerage, Ms. Rias. I'm only wondering if there are other peerage members.
"No, there isn't." Rias lied. She had a bishop but that wasn't something she would tell a stranger.
With this, silence filled the room. Issei didn't exactly have much to talk with anyone, besides Akeno so he decided that it was time to go home. He wasn't very fond of staying afterschool long anyways.
"Well, I should get going then. I have matters to attend to, so I will trouble you all no more." Issei stood up, bowed, and left.
As he closed the door, Rias turned to Akeno.
"So, is everything alright?"
"Yeah, better than ever." Akeno nodded.
"Is he that childhood friend you told us about?" Koneko asked.
"Yeah, he's the boy I had an intense crush on as a kid. I just didn't show it." Akeno chuckled lightly at the fond memories.
"I thought you'd still be distant with him." Rias was taken aback by how quickly Akeno's perspective had shifted.
"Normally, that'd be the case, but he's also suffered loss. Besides, I've managed to come to terms with my problems."
Rias smiled to herself. Despite all her attempts to help Akeno, this had been one issue she knew that only she could resolve.
"Well, we do have orders to eliminate the Stray Devil, Vizor, tonight but I think that it would be prudent to keep an eye on Issei for a little while. Think you can do that, Akeno?" Rias wanted to push her along and so, she gave her this chance, winking.
Akeno looked at her graciously.
"Of course, Rias."
"Then I think you should stick with him for a little while. We'll take care of Vizor. It shouldn't be too hard." Rias dismissed her queen, who smiled gratefully at her.
When Akeno left, Kiba and Koneko looked at Rias curiously.
"Is it okay to let her run off by herself with him?" Kiba worried for the safety of the vice-president, who was like an older sister to him.
"It's fine. If Akeno trusts him so wholeheartedly, that's good enough for me. She's been through a lot so I want to help her experience some more bright aspects of life, even if only a little. Besides, I had Sona take a look into his background." Rias looked at her cup of tea.
Outside, Issei was making his way home until he saw someone standing in his path.
It was a young, teenage woman. She had long, free, raven-black hair, violet eyes, and a gifted bust, though they weren't as large as Akeno's.
'She's a Fallen Angel. I can sense her species aura. I wonder if she's stationed around here. Normally, Azazel would've let me know if he had posted anyone here, though. Maybe she's a rogue?' Issei made sure to avoid looking at her directly. Only taking discreet glances, did he notice that she was staring at him, albeit with a mesmerized expression. He also noticed the faint blush on her face, making him uncomfortable.
He tried to act normal but he failed to ignore her as she called out to him.
"U-Um…you're Issei Hyoudou, right?" She turned to him with a nervous expression.
Issei turned to her and sized her up, trying to determine if she was an enemy.
'Whooaaa. She's got a really attractive figure. Hubba hubba…No! Stay! Bad Issei! Don't think pervy thoughts about strangers, you sicko!' Issei scolded himself as he returned his attention to the girl in front of him.
If his mother were still alive, she'd have been so disappointed in him.
"M-My name's Yuuma Amano. I go to a different school in Kuoh and I've seen you pass by here a couple of times, so I've been wondering…do you have a girlfriend?" She asked him with hopeful eyes, catching Issei by surprise.
'Okay she's definitely not affiliated with Azazel or maybe even Grigori. I would've known her if she was. She must be up to something to ask me out at first meetings. I should investigate. Ah, crap! I can't! I have Akeno to think about and there's Vali too! What am I supposed to do?!' Issei had thrown himself into a dilemma due to his own morals. Now, it fell upon Ddraig's shoulders to advise him like a good partner would.
'For now, how about you try to establish some meeting grounds. Don't do the date act. Just try to get to know her first and pry for information in a subtle way. Chances are, she knows who you are so play it off as if you don't suspect her and don't get too defensive about your identity. Only give small drops of details or even lie.' The Red Dragon said.
'Okay. Whatever you say, Ddraig.' Issei swallowed his morals and pride and spoke.
"No, I don't. Can I ask why you're interested?" Issei looked at her coyly.
At that instant, Yuuma's face lit up.
"Thank goodness. I was hoping that you didn't! Well, you see…I wanted to know I you wanted to g-…go out on a date this weekend?" Yuuma's face seemed happy.
"Um…I'm sorry but I think going on a date with someone that I just met is a bad idea. You don't know who I am and vice versa. How about we just hang out as friends first, instead of going on a date?" Issei offered.
Yuuma seemed quite saddened but then her expression changed to a happier one when she looked at his warm brown eyes.
"Okay. How about we meet up at the train station at 1:00 on Saturday?" She smiled brightly.
While Issei knew that what they were doing was a date, he didn't want to give her a false indication of their relationship in case she was serious.
Far away, Akeno watched with an upset glare. She was about to call out to Issei with a cheerful smile until she saw him talking with Yuuma. At first, she'd assumed that they were merely being friendly with each other until she heard the contents of what they were talking about.
Having only heard about their activities and appointment time, she had assumed that the pair was organizing a date.
At that instant, Akeno felt an ugly feeling in her chest. She felt powerful jealousy, though she didn't fully register it. Akeno glared in Issei's direction, small crackles of electricity popped around her.
'I know that we haven't seen each other in a long time and we may not be the same as when we were kids. Still, does he agree to anything a pretty face says to him?'
Leering at the two from a hidden location, she watched as Yuuma left, leaving a smiling Issei. Akeno took a deep breath to calm down. What he did in his own time was his business. Still, she was disliking the idea of Issei being with some stranger.
When he turned around, he was met with the glare of his beloved childhood friend.
"Akeno?! When'd you get here?"
"I've been here for five minutes, already." Akeno was calm, but Issei knew something was off.
Worst of all, he didn't want to create any misunderstandings.
"It looks like she's a Fallen Angel, though she doesn't know that I've discovered her secret. As you already know, I lived with Uncle Azazel since my parents died and not once, have I ever seen her before. I know everybody at Grigori and she's never appeared on any files and it's just too strange for some random person to walk up to me and confess. That's why, I'm going to find out her motives." Issei sincerely declared to her.
Akeno looked at him but soon enough, her expression softened and her annoyance disappeared completely.
"Make sure you be careful. Should I tag along?" She offered.
If her friend was in trouble, she wanted to be there to help.
"I should be okay. I may not look like it, but I've had my fair share of fights. Besides, I don't want to cause any problems with Rias if I'm hogging you all the time."
It then dawned on Akeno that that thin line of protocols and alignment was hampering them.
"I see, then. Good luck, tomorrow. If you think something's wrong, then don't wait to tell me." Akeno gently patted his shoulder before leaving.
The rest of the school week, things were the same as usual. Akeno was being bright and cheerful around Issei. That only spawned more rumors, something neither could confirm nor deny. Issei still had no idea how Akeno felt, nor did he know that she had overheard him on the rooftop with Ddraig.
Finally, the day that Issei would receive answers, had come.
Dressing himself in a red shirt and black jacket with white pants and black shoes, Issei waited for Yuuma at the train station.
At exactly 1:00, the stunning beauty arrived.
When Issei laid eyes upon her, he was astounded by her.
She was wearing a lilac button-up shirt with a black miniskirt and black shoes, with a purple bag in her hands.
"I hope you didn't have to wait long!" She looked at Issei with nervous eyes.
Shaking himself out of his stupor, he shook his head.
"No, I didn't." Issei replied.
"So where did you want to go?" The raven-haired girl asked enthusiastically.
"Anywhere you want. If you're not sure, I have a few suggestions."
The two then proceeded to go to the Shopping District to look at the different stores.
At a particular clothing store, Issei had noted that three presences were following him.
Not wanting to set anyone off, he played oblivious.
Suddenly, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around and found Yuuma in a black one-piece dress that reached her knees. There were also frilly silver decorations lining the attire.
"How do I look?" She looked at him with a hopeful look.
"Beautiful." Issei sincerely admitted, making Yuuma blush in excitement.
After trying on several more outfits, Yuuma was ready to pay.
When Issei and her stood at the register, Issei dropped a coin.
"Yuuma, you dropped a coin." Issei pointed at it, causing the young lady to look away as the young lad pulled out his debit card.
"Oops. Thanks for spotting that, Issei." She responded as she bent on her knees to et it.
At that instant, Issei swiped his debit card and completed the payment.
"Thank you for shopping with us!" The cashier bowed as Raynare shot around in surprise.
"Issei?! Y-You didn't have to do that!" She sputtered.
"It's fine. Come on, let's go to another place." Issei said as he took her bags and walked out with her.
Subconsciously, Ddraig laughed at his partner.
'You said not to treat this like a date but you're acting like a boyfriend. Idiot.' Ddraig then laughed, though he said all of this without Issei hearing him.
In the past, several fallen angels at Grigori had raised Issei to be a gentleman with generosity and now, Issei did these things subconsciously, much to his own surprise. Of course, it was kinda the only option. The men at Grigori, except for Baraqiel and Shemhazai, weren't exactly right in the head. That left the ladies to teach him etiquette.
'I'm going to become poor at this rate if I don't keep myself in check.' Issei paled.
'That's why you don't pay for every single little thing, dumbass. Sure, pay for your meals, but don't buy all the things someone else picks out just because you want to be a gentleman. Acting rich is a good way to become poor.'
Dropping by an accessory shop, Yuuma had taken a particular interest in a pink bracelet with some red decorative lines on it.
However, Yuuma stopped looking at it and then went around the shop to look at other things. Little did Issei know, she had purchased a gift for him as thanks.
Seeing that she was eyeing the bracelet from before, Issei went to the storekeeper.
"Excuse me, I'd like to purchase this, please." Issei pointed at the bracelet that Yuuma had been looking at and had it boxed and wrapped after paying 10,000 yen.
When the two met up, they were both surprised at the bags in each other's hands but laughed it off as both of them buying something for themselves.
"I can't believe we had the same idea." Yuuma chuckled.
"I guess I'm not as sneaky as I thought." Issei sheepishly scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. He really had never dated before, so he was out of his depth.
During their time together, Issei couldn't pick up any killing intent from her, not even a small bit of dark emotion was trailing from her. The same could be said about the three other presences that were tailing the two. Instead of dark malice, he felt almost mechanical coldness coming from the other three auras.
After grabbing a bite to eat, Issei deduced that Yuuma was either seriously crushing on him or she was a really good actress.
It was now time to start asking questions.
"Say, Yuuma?" Issei called out to her.
She looked up at him after taking a bite of her parfait, a look of questioning on her face.
"Did you invite anyone else to come along today?" Issei asked her passively.
Yuuma was about to drop her spoon but caught herself. Her façade would've broken if she had forgotten about what was at stake.
"Nope. I asked some of my other friends and they told me that they couldn't." Yuuma blushed.
'Partner, I think that you should start digging a bit deeper. Let's see how she reacts.' Ddraig advised.
"I see. So, Yuuma, do you believe in the supernatural?" Issei asked her, once again making her edgy.
'It looks like he caught on to my identity.' Yuuma thought sadly.
"I do." The young lady decided that she'd go along with his act.
"Really? I do too. I believe in all kinds of supernatural like mythology from different religions and folklore." Issei elaborated.
"I've never actually seen the supernatural but I believe in them." Yuuma said with a slightly defeated tone.
She didn't sound very happy when she spoke. Issei's eyebrows raised up as he looked at the girl in front of him.
'I don't know if it's me, Ddraig, but I think there's more to this than meets the eye. I don't know if she's doing this of her own choice anymore. Given that we sensed three other presences, she might have been coerced into this date thing. Call me crazy, but my gut says something's up.' Issei could still feel the three auras near them, so he wasn't going to expose Yuuma yet.
'As far as I can tell, it's likely that she has indeed caught on to our suspicions. I think it's time this charade ended.' Ddraig replied.
When Issei and Yuuma left the diner they were at, they walked to a city square, where Yuuma had paused.
Standing in front of Issei, she had her back to him while speaking to him.
"Issei…today was really fun. You showed me a great time and I learned a lot about you. To be honest, I feel sad that this is the last time we'll meet." Yuuma said as tears started to form in her eyes, hopefully Issei didn't see them.
"Yuuma? What's wrong?" Issei played oblivious but he was certain that she was going to make her move.
Black feathery wings came from Yuuma's back, which didn't catch Issei by surprise. Drying her tears secretly, she turned around with a steely cold look.
"I already know that you found out what I was, Issei. As you can tell, I'm a fallen angel. My real name is Raynare and I've been sent to assassinate you, Hyoudou Issei, the Red Dragon Emperor." Yuuma, who was now Raynare, created a pinkish-red spear of light in her hand.
Raynare didn't understand what was happening until Issei started walking towards her. He wasn't moving aggressively, maintaining a calm demeanor.
"Yuuma, tell me why you're doing this." He asked with a still gentle tone.
Raynare didn't want to answer but she felt compelled to by her conscience. She'd been bottling up all her fear and anxiety, which was finally about to spill out. She also feared she'd be killed by Issei if she didn't answer.
"I-It's because I was ordered to do this." Raynare replied, with a hesitant pause.
"Tell me, who's forcing you to do this? Let me help you." Issei gave the woman in front of him a smile as he pleaded for her answer.
He had seen the same eyes that she had, so many times during his missions for Grigori. He had undertaken tasks that had him deal with people who were being forced and coerced into doing things they didn't want to.
Raynare's eyes widened in surprise when he deduced her problem.
"Nobody is forcing me to do anything! I merely undertook this contract to kill you! Nothing more, nothing less!" Raynare shouted.
"Then you're telling me that you're willingly going to kill me as part of your contract?" Issei crossed his arms.
His words hit her like a truck. Her conscience had been screaming for her to not go through with this. She didn't want to kill any innocents, let alone total strangers. The whole time she was with him, he was nothing but sweet and caring. A treatment that she only received from three other people.
"Yes, I am!" Raynare stepped back.
She could feel her hand shaking, frosty shivers running down her back. She tried to fool him, but most important of all, was that she was trying to trick herself. Issei looked at her with a pervasive expression and spoke one sentence that destroyed her composure.
"Then why are you crying?" He said, having noticed the tears stream down her eyes.
Raynare's was flabbergasted by his realization as she touched her own cheek and found a sad liquid from her eyes.
'I don't want to do this. I don't want to kill him. I don't like hurting innocents. I'm so sorry, you three, but I've failed you.' Raynare started to sob on the ground as she covered her face.
Issei walked over to her and gently gripped both of her shoulders.
"Raynare, tell me what's wrong. Tell me what's happening so that I can help you."
She looked up at him with her tear-stained eyes.
"Issei…please help!" She heaved with a pleading look.
It was insanity to ask a stranger for help, but at this point, there was literally no one else.
"Who's forcing you to do this?"
After a few seconds, Raynare managed to calm herself before speaking.
"My surrogate family: Kalawarner, Mittelt, and Dohnaseek, they're being held hostage. The abandoned church in this town; a large group of Stray Exorcists are based there. They took my friends hostage and threatened to butcher them if I didn't kill you. They said that you were a dangerous obstacle and that you had to be eliminated."
Raynare looked at Issei with an apologetic look of guilt and regret.
"It's just not right! Even if I was born a fallen angel, it doesn't mean I want kill anybody!" Raynare cried out.
Having heard enough, Issei knew what he had to do. He had to deal with the exorcists before they could harm Raynare's friends. He had to act fast.
Recalling his mother's words, he had to show mercy and a helping hand to those that needed it. This was now that time.
"I understand, Raynare. I'll take care of the problem. In the meantime, take this." Issei handed her a piece of paper with the Grigori seal on it.
"What's this?"
"That is a seal that'll transport you to Grigori Headquarters, the HQ of the Fallen Angels and the Governor General Azazel. He can help you out. Just tell him everything you told me. Meanwhile, I have to pay a visit to the Church in this town." Issei stood up and looked at said location.
Raynare looked alarmed at grabbed his hand.
"Wait! Issei! You can't! There's too many of them!"
That wasn't a problem for Issei at all. At this point a few dozen Stray Exorcists were no problem.
"There's a Stray Exorcist there. His name's Freed Sellzen. He's a psychotic lunatic who likes killing people and assaulting women. That guy…there's something off about him. He's too strong to be a human. From what I've seen, he can fight Devils and Fallen Angels without a problem. Issei, you can't do this!" Raynare tried to reason with him but Issei was too stubborn to let things slide.
"I'm sorry, Raynare, but I have to do this. I can't just sit here while someone tries to kill me and forces an innocent bystander to do it. I'll save your friends and meet up with you at Grigori Headquarters. I promise on my honor and life." Issei put a reassuring hand on her shoulder as she disappeared in a magic circle that took her to Azazel.
Dissipating the barrier around him, Issei noticed that the three auras that were tailing them the whole day were still present.
"You can come out now! Your friend's been dealt with!" Issei called out.
In response, three individuals shot into the sky.
He looked at the three figures and couldn't help but frown at the cruelty of the enemy's methods.
"I see that you three must be the Fallen Angels that Raynare mentioned to me." Issei sized up each of them but he knew that there was still work to be done.
The three were all Fallen Angels.
The first was tall and wore a trench coat and a fedora. He looked to be in his late 20s and he had two wings.
The second was a tall, beautiful, buxom woman with blue, almost teal, hair and had yellow eyes. She wore a red suit that exposed much of her cleavage, something that worried Issei.
The last was a young girl. She was quite short and worth a black gothic Lolita outfit with a bow in her hair. Her hair was blonde and done in twin tails and her eyes were blue.
After looking at each of them, Issei knew something was off about them. Their eyes were lifeless and empty, as if the emotion had been drained from them. They were also silent to add to their emotionless expressions.
"Brainwashed and controlled, huh? These priests…just what is the Vatican doing?" Issei growled at that last part.
Activating the Boost Gear, Issei sprouted his dragon wings and flew into action.
Instantly boosting, Issei punched Dohnaseek in the gut, causing him to gag and cough out some saliva from the sheer force of the attack. Issei gripped him and slammed him as safely as he could into the ground without seriously wounding him.
Set plummeting into the ground, Dohnaseek created a crater with his body as he fell unconscious.
Behind him, Issei sensed two spears of light being thrown at him. Flying up higher into the air, Issei boosted again and fired a powerful pulse of energy that sent Kalawarner and Mittelt flying into the ground with a loud crash.
The two had the wind knocked out of them as Issei's attack knocked them out with sheer force.
Seeing that the three were unconscious, Issei took out another paper with Grigori's seal on it and placed it by their feet. Attaching a note explaining what was going on, Issei activated the slip of paper and had the Fallen Angels transported to Headquarters, in hopes that Azazel could do something to help.
"Now that that's settled, I'll have to stop by another place before my night is done." Issei then took matters to the next level.
Cladding himself in his [Scale Mail], Issei flew into the air and blasted off towards the Church.
Blasting through the roof, he descended like a red meteor of metal, startling all of the priests present with his sudden maneuver.
"Sending three brainwashed Fallen Angels after me was a bit stupid, especially because they were hostages. Just how dumb are all of you?" Issei taunted them, infuriating them.
"[BOOST!]" Ddraig's voice called out. Little did many know, whenever Ddraig said 'Boost' the amount of charges were never specified, meaning Issei could control how many boosts were done with that one activation. It was thanks to his rigorous training that he had reached the point that he didn't have to boost only once every time the command was given.
Having boosted 2 times with one command, Issei coated his armor in an aura to shield himself.
They all reached into their robes and pulled out guns, with each of them firing at him.
As expected, the bullets rebounded in random directions, some hit the exorcists.
With all of the exorcists in the room dealt with, Issei went looking all over the Church.
"Issei, you've gone and gotten yourself into a real mess again." Shemhazai was exasperated as always, as he spoke from a magic circle.
"Sorry, Uncle. It wasn't my fault this time. I got dragged into it. Anyways, I need a cleanup crew at the Church in Kuoh. A containment unit too, since there's Stray Exorcists that need arresting."
"Fine. I wanted to let you know that the Raynare girl and her friends have arrived. The Cleanup and Containment Units will be there in 10 minutes. Try not to cause too much trouble till then."
Sensing only one aura left, Issei felt it coming from downstairs. He expected more resistance, honestly. Issei descended into the basement behind the altar and flew down the stairs.
Crashing the door down in front of him, Issei found a white-silvery haired main in priest robes standing in front of a large stony cross.
The priest turned around and Issei instantly knew what kind of danger he was looking at.
The mad and deranged look in the priest's eyes made it obvious that he was Freed Sellzen.
"What's this? It looks like those weaklings failed to do their jobs. To think I hired help from a bunch of idiots that can't even kill one dragon. Ah well, I guess if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself!" Freed cackled with an unstable tone as he drew a light sword and a pistol.
Suddenly, a purple vapor rose from Freed's body, coating him in a dark aura that basically shouted danger.
"DIE!" He shouted as his pistol fired like a machine gun.
Issei dodged and noticed that the bullets had corrosive effects, with each bullet having melted the stone walls that they had hit.
Dashing forward, Issei gripped Freed's pistol and crushed it with in his gauntlet.
Freed sneered and kicked Issei's chin, though it didn't do anything to him.
Swinging his sword down on Issei's helmet, the Red Dragon Emperor sidestepped and decided to end the battle quickly.
"[Dragon Shot]" Issei fired a small orb of red energy that blew a hole in Freed's side.
The mad exorcist was sent flying into the wall, gagging and coughing.
Grabbing the exorcist by the collar, Issei demanded answers.
"So tell me why you're targeting me?" Issei kept his voice menacing and cold.
He didn't appreciate others being forced against their will to hurt others, let alone targeting him.
"I-I don't know!" Freed felt fear encroaching him as he faced a foe that was completely unaffected by his attacks. The fact that Issei had defeated him so easily scared him, since he had never gone against an opponent that could easily do such damage to him.
"Is that so?" Issei gripped one of Freed's arms and began tightening his hold.
"I really don't know! I was hired by some guy named Vilcifer! He told me to kill you in exchange for some power! He said that I could rampage on you all I wanted! He paid me with magical power! That's all I know!" Freed screeched as Issei let him go because suddenly, Issei dodged a pillar of light that swallowed Freed.
"Light?!" Issei was astounded that in a pillar of light, Freed was gone.
"Damn! I still had more questions." Issei growled.
Deciding to leave, Issei had noticed that the exorcists had all vanished too.
Suspecting a conspiracy from a much higher power, Issei decided that he needed to report to Azazel about what happened.
Boy, this chapter was a real doozy to fix. So much overhype and cringey overpowering.
Anyways, here's the changes I made:
Change in dialogue
Grammar fixes
Toned down Issei's overpowered strength.
