Chapter 9
(Flashback chap 6)
[My power comes at a price but this time I won't be taking your arm or any more years off your life. If I help you, then after you defeat Phenex you'll need to do something for me.] Ddraig propositioned his host.
"I told you already I'm done listening to you. Whatever deal you're offering I'm sure is a bad one for me." Issei rebuttaled as he crossed his arms in defiance.
[Yes and how well did that work for you last time? You refused my help and your beloved master payed the price.] Ddraig pointed out getting Issei to look away shamefully but he remained stubborn in his reluctance. [We're partners aren't we, we should help one another. I will give you my power in exchange for a simple favor.]
"Haaah…." Issei let out a sigh before giving in to the dragon's persuasion. "Alright I'll consider it but I won't make any promises until you tell me exactly what you want."
[Fair enough. In exchange for my aid in this fight I want you to recommit to fulfilling your destiny as the Red Dragon Emperor. The White One has been awakened for some time now so after you battle with Phenex I want you to find and Challenge Albion's current host.] Ddraig laid out his demands for his host to consider.
Issei took a moment to think things over, massaging his chin as he formulated his response. "And that's ALL you want." Issei answered sceptically.
[You have my word.]
"Fine, then you have a deal…"
(End of flashback)
CHEH-CHAH! CHEH-CHAH! A late night passenger chain clunked across the tracks. In an almost empty cabin Issei sat in silence on one of the many available seats, contemplating how he got himself to this point.
'It's been a month since I crashed Rias' engagement party and I've spent all that time trying to hold up my end of the deal with Ddraig and track down the white dragon emperor.' Issei thought as he looked up at an electronic screen that displayed the train's next destination. The screen read "Final stop Kuoh Station". Issei couldn't help but roll an eye at the inconvenient coincidence. 'I almost can't believe it but with my luck of course I'd end up back here.'
'I was kinda rude to Rias last time I saw her, hope that won't bite me in my ass.' Issei pondered as his gaze was taken out the window towards the shining stars above. 'In my defense I kinda got heated fighting Riser and I figured I'd never see her so I was exactly careful with my choice of words… I just hope she's not too pissed at me.'
(Meanwhile, in the occult research club house)
PSSSHHH! The sound of hard running water filled the building as Rias was busy washing herself off in the shower. The heat of the water created steamy veil over the glass shower door that hid her more personal features but displayed her shapely silhouette.
"Hmmmm hmmm hmmmm." Rias humed to herself as she twisted the water off and wrapped a towel around her body before emerging from the shower. Keeping the melody going as she approached a four fold japanese dressing screen. She disappeared behind the paper walls for a moment before re-emerging wearing her standard Kuoh Academy uniform. "Hmmm Hm Hm Hmmmm.." She continued humming the same melody as she planted herself down on stool in front of her dressing room mirror where she could closely examine her reflection. There she noticed her cheeks were uncharacteristically rosey and a massive smile seemed stuck on her face. 'Todays the day!' Her innervoice cheerfully reminded her.
(A few days earlier)
Rias sat at her desk, hard at work filling out forms and other such paperwork, same as any other day when suddenly her desk phone started to ring. BRING! BRING! Without a second thought she picked it up and answered it. "Hello…" She answered dryly as she continued her paperwork but suddenly she heard a familiar voice coming through the other end, one of the last ones she was expecting to hear.
"Uh… Hey…." Issei muttered nervously and awkwardly from the other end, and immediately Rias' eyes widened.
"I-Issei!" She blurted out before quickly covering up the speaking end of her telephone with her hand. 'What! Why would he call me?! Why now?!... Ok Rias, calm down. You don't know what he wants so don't get too excited…' Rias collected herself before removing her hand and answering. "Well after your grand exit I didn't think I'd be hearing from you anytime soon." Rias reminded her caller with a stern and slightly passive aggressive tone. "So to what do I owe the pleasure of this phone call."
"Uh yeah… That whole thing wasn't cool of me but I need a favor…" Issei quickly got to his point. "You see…"
"Wait!" A red faced Rias interrupted as she hatched an idea. 'I've got you now!' She thought as a clever smile formed on her. "If you're gonna ask me for a favor then you should at least have the decency to ask in person swing by the clubhouse at the end of the week and I'll hear you out then."
"Haaahhh…." Issei sighed over the phone. "Fine by me… I'll see you then."
(End of flashback)
Rias carefully looked herself over in the mirror and kept focusing in on the odd strand of hair sticking out from the top of her head (ahoge). She tried patting it down to smooth out the top of her head but inevitably the stubborn strand would keep popping up. Meanwhile she didn't notice her second in command, the dark haired Beauty Akeno Himejima, entering the dressing room.
"Well you sure smell nice." Akeno complimented her master with a smile before following up with a joke. "Though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. I think that was your third shower this evening."
"I think we should all make sure we look and smell our best." Rias retorted. "After all we have a guest coming, I don't want to leave a bad impression."
"Uh huh…" Akeno humored her master before voicing her concerns. "I hope you're not setting your expectations too high. I don't think it's a good idea to get your hopes up."
"Yeah, yeah I know.." Rias replied with a wave of her hand. "He was a jerk a lot of the time we knew him, he's a pawn for hire and it looked like at the end of the day he only helped us cause he was getting paid but I don't believe he was only in it for the money or to get revenge against Riser. At the end of the day he went above and beyond for me, he put his body and his reputation on the line and saved me from a life of misery. Can you blame me for being excited to see him?"
"Haaahh…" Akeno sighed as she gave in. "I guess not. I just hope he can live up to your expectations."
(Back with Issei)
The brown haired devil exited the Kuoh Train Station into an urban area. Due to it being later in the evening there wasn't much activity which was fine for Issei. 'I'd better not keep rias Waiting… I wonder if taxis are still running at this time, I'd rather not walk if I don't have to.' Issei thought as he surveyed his area but it didn't take long for his search to be interrupted.
"HYAAAAAAHHHHH!" With his super human hearing Issei managed to detect a women's scream from somewhere in this urban environment.
'Is that a mugging? I probably shouldn't get involved but there was something about that voice…' Issei made a concerned expression but figured it was best to ignore what he'd heard, until the second scream.
"HEEEEEEEEEELLLLP!" The same voice called out for a second time and this spurred Issei into action.
'I knew it! I recognize that voice…' Issei quickly pulled a card out from his back pocket and held it in the air. "Substitute promotion! Knight!" The card flashed green before the image of an emerald green knight piece appeared for a moment behind Issei's back and once it faded away the young devil rushed forward at an incredible speed.
(Elsewhere)
In another part of the city, in a dark but relatively spacious alleyway, Rias' reincarnated Bishop Asia Argento found herself pinned against a wall by a long silver sword with a diamond shaped gap in the middle pressed against her neck. "HEEELP! SOMEBODY HELP ME PLE-MMMMFFF!" Her shrieks were silenced as a hand was placed over her mouth.
"Hahahahah! Shut it!" The man wielding the sword, a deranged looking priest with shoulder-length white hair, went from twisted laughter to being deadly serious in an instance. "Christ, you are so loud! I honestly can't believe you, you used to go on and on about loving god and all that crap and now you're a damn devil! I guess I shouldn't be surprised, once a traitor is always a traitor am I right?!"
The psychotic priest holding Asia against her will brought his blade in closer and began to lick his lips. As the intensity of the situation continued to build and Asia's feelings of hopelessness continued growing, tears began to form on the young devils eyes which only delighted the priest.
"What? Are you crying?" He mocked. "Well just you wait! Before I pay you back for leaving me for dead back at that church and severe that pretty little head from your shoulders, I'm gonna enjoy myself and make sure you won't die a virgin! HAHAHAHAHA!" He cackled as he ripped open her shirt and let her breasts fall out.
"HYAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Asia, with her mouth now free, let out another tearful shriek.
"Oh yeah! SCREAM FOR ME! HAHAHAHA!" The cackling continued until a red light was cast over the alleyway. "Huh?"
"DRAGON SHOT!" Issei now, brandishing his gauntlet, called out as he punched a bolt of red energy that flew into the priest's side, blasting him off of Asia and through a wall at the back of the alley. Issei then rushed over to Asia's aid. "Are you alright?" He asked as he removed his hoodie and covered Asia with it.
"Issei!" The teary eyed girl cried out in surprise upon learning her savior's identity.
"No time to catch up. I wasn't able to put much power into that blast so you need to get out of here before he gets back up." Issei instructed, receiving a sound nod in response before Asia began to head for the opening of the alley way.
"Not so fast!" The priest's voice cried out before a motion blur emerged from the whole Issei made in the wall and the white haired swordsman reappeared and blocked the exit. "Shame on you Asia, now I'm gonna have to kill you and Mr Hero over there."
"Good luck!" Issei cried back in response followed by a [BOOST!] Using his knight speed, Issei dashed forward to deliver the priest a face punch with his gauntlet but before he could even get there his target vanished in another rush of motion. 'He's fast!' Issei thought to himself.
"Close little devil…" The priest taunted issei as he literally ran circles around him. "But not close enough!" CLANG!
The priests sword collided with Issei's gauntlet and created an opportunity for the two combatants to stare one another down as they both struggled forcing the other back. This is when Issei got a chance to better examine the priest's weapon. 'What's some random exorcist doing with a holy sword? What are either of them doing in devil territory? Something weird is going on here.' Issei thought before putting some more strength into his arm and knocking the exorcist back before following it up with a [BOOST!]
The white haired priest caught himself mid air and managed to land on his feet. "Man, that freaky arm of yours sure can pull of some neat tricks. Maybe I should keep it to myself AFTER I CUT IT OFF YA! HAHAHAHAHA!" He let out another psychotic cackle before rushing forward faster than Issei's eyes could keep track of.
FWOOSH! "AAAAHHHH!" Issei cried out in pain as a shallow slash appeared on his arm which quickly began to sizzle and smoke. Issei quickly covered his wound with his hand before he was suddenly struck again. FWOOOSHH! "AAAAHHAAAHHH!" He roared, this time the slash formed on his side and it began smoking as well. "Gah! Damn it!" Issei voiced his frustration [BOOST!]
"Haha! With my handy dandy little excalibur here I could cut you to ribbons whenever I wanted but it's more fun to watch you die slowly and painfully!" The exorcist mocked Issei's pain before disappearing once again.
"GAAAAHHHAAAAHHH!" The priest delivered a quick slash across the back of Issei's leg causing the boy to drop to one knee as his gauntlet went off once again [BOOST!] 'Shit! That holy sword is no joke. He's barely cut me and my body feels like it's falling apart, I'm not gonna survive another slash. I just need a little more time…'
"Awh… You're on the ground already, oh well!" The villainous priest said cheerfully. "All this murdering you has made me horny so this next slash is going for your neck and then I'll get back to raping that blonde bitch!" He declared before vanishing but as soon as he disappeared issei's gauntlet sounded off once again [BOOST!]
[WELSH DRAGON! BALANCE BREAKER!] CLANG! The priests attack was stopped short, caught in Issei's hand as the devil stood up in his intimidating crimson armor.
"Hehe… Shit." The priest muttered before desperately trying to pull back his sword but Issei's grip wouldn't budge. "Shit! Shit! SHIT! Give back you damn devil bastard!" He pulled and pulled with all his might but the sword wouldn't budge and then Issei's grip began to tighten and CRACK! "Oh no…. NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!" The priest began to panic as cracks began to form in the metal blade. "If this sword breaks my bosses are gonna rip my fuckin dick off! Let go you stupid devil!"
'Jokes on this guy…' An injured and exhausted Issei thought to himself. 'I couldn't break this thing if I wanted to, that holy sword took way too much outta me, I don't have the strength any more. But I have more than enough power to do this.' With his empty hand Issei picked up the priest by the neck and tossed him away like he was a ragdoll before once again collapsing to one knee as his armor faded away. "Ughh…"
Issei collapsed face first onto the pavement and Asia quickly rushed to the aid of her rescuer. "Issei! Issei are you alright?!" When she got close enough to assess Issei's injuries she noticed that despite the lack of blood Issei was barely holding on. "Here, let me heal you!" She spread her hands out over the boy's back and a healing green light began to cascade down over his body. "I can't believe you came to save me… What are you doing here…"
"I'm looking for someone…" Issei muttered as he was quickly feeling better. "But I can't stay here without Rias' permission so I was heading to your school when I heard you cry out." After receiving significant healing Issei returned to his feet. "Do you have any idea what an exorcist wielding a holy sword would be doing in devil territory."
"I don't know anything about his sword but trust me he's not just any exorcist. His name is Freed Sellzen and he and I have history. We were both excommunicated by the church and sent here, he's part of the reason why I died as a human and was reincarnated as a devil." Asia explained in a sorrowful tone. "It's possible he blames me for any misfortune he's experienced since then and has come back to finish me off."
'I don't think so…' Issei thought to himself. 'If he's been excommunicated then how would he get his hands on a holy sword and he mentioned something about a boss. I am starting to think that the white dragon emperor being here isn't that far-fetched a development. There's definitely something weird going on.' Issei then turned to Asia who still appeared to be shaken up by this evening's events and he extended a friendly arm to her shoulder. "That's enough worrying about it for tonight, come on I don't wanna keep Rias waiting any longer."
Asia responded with a firm nod and they prepared to head for the clubhouse but when Issei took a step forward. "AAHHH!" He winced as he nearly fell to his knee again but managed to catch himself. 'Damn it! My wounds are healed but the effect of that holy sword is still lingering, my body feels like its on fire everytime I move.'
"Issei! Are you alright…" Asia rushed over to Issei's side and acted as human crutch and helped him back to his feet. "I think you need more healing.."
"N-Nah… My body isn't injured, it's that swords affect. I just need to wait it out…." Issei explained. "Let's just get to the club room…."
"I'm not sure that's a great idea….." The concerned blonde devil tried to dissuade Issei, to no avail.
"I'm f-fine…." Issei gritted his teeth and tried to hold his grunts back but even with Asia's assistance, every step prompted some form of grunt or wince. "Ahhh…. Ooohh… Gahh…"
(Later at the ORC)
"I can't believe it!" Rias roared furiously. "Did that jerk seriously stand me up! Did he call me up just to screw around with me!" The young devil angrily slammed her fists down on the table.
"I warned you not to get your hopes up too high…." Akeno reminded her master but at this point even she didn't feel it was appropriate to brandish her signature smile.
"I know you did… And I know he could come across as a jerk sometimes but still I can't believe him. That jerk!" Rias remained stern and angry on the outside but on the inside she was nearly heart broken and just when she was ready to give up on the last specks of hope she had been holding on to WHAM!
The clubhouse door was thrown open and standing in the door was Asia with Issei draped across her shoulders, barely conscious. "Hey everyone I made it…." He muttered.
Rias and Akeno quickly gathered that something was wrong as even though Issei didn't have any visible injuries any could tell just by looking at him he was in rough shape. "What happened!" Rias called out as she and Akeno rushed over to help Asia move Issei to the couch.
"I tried to get him to stop but he insisted on getting to the club house." Asia defended herself as she let out a relieved sigh upon ridding herself of the heavy burden.
"I couldn't keep you girls waiting…" Issei joked as he struggled to keep conscious. "Though I think our little chat is gonna have have to wait till tomorrow, mind if I borrow your cou-" Issei then immediately lost consciousness mid sentence leaving Rias in utter confusion.
"Wait, hold on! What happened?!" Rias asked as she tried shaking Issei awake to no avail but despite the lack of a response she continued to try and wake him. "Are you ok?! Issei?! Issei?! ISSEI!"
(End)