A/N: Hello everyone. This is my first fan fiction, written. Ever. So uh...yeah kinda scary to be publishing it. I hope everyone likes it. I'm not sure what the average length for a a person first chapter of their first fan fiction is but this ended up being 2,981 words long excluding any notes. I have an idea for how long I want the first arc to be, I also have a vague outline for what the first two chapters will be. I have a friend who I'll likely be allowing to read over the chapters first to get his ideas on it (He's not a DxD fan so we'll see how it goes.) A few things, this being my first story I'm not entirely confident in my ability to write romance, especially when it comes to a harem so I honestly don't think there will be a harem. I have a few ideas on who I want Issei to end up with in this story and while I'm leaning one way personally, we'll just have to wait and see. Anyways, I'll save the rest of the rambling for the end. Enjoy!

Issei Hyoudou didn't really have all that many friends growing up, sure he had that people at school he would hang out with, but he never made any real effort to hang out with them outside of school; if you had asked him, he would've said they were "acquaintances at best." He did have one friend and her name was Irina Shidou. She happened to be the daughter of the pastor of one of the local churches of Kuoh. Sometimes Issei would join her at the Church, and he always found himself amazed; a being who is above them all in terms of power, knowledge, and everything in between loved them, more specifically, this all-powerful God loved him. He simply couldn't believe it. It was after that time in Church he started asking more questions to Irina's father, Touji. Most were along the lines of "Why would God love someone like me? I don't have power or knowledge to offer him?" Touji answered these questions as well as one could for a 5-year-old, telling him that God's love was never conditional rather it was wholly unconditional. Issei didn't entirely understand this but took it to heart as well as he could. About a year after he started asking these questions, Issei learned something that would change him and as he reflected on it later, set him on a path he could never even begin to imagine. One day, at the tender age of 6, Issei and Irina were out playing with each other in the park as usual, but he could tell Irina was upset, how couldn't he. She was his best friend, they never hid anything from each other and loved each other unconditionally, was this what God's love was? So, after a few hours of lackluster play time Issei finally asked her the question that was on his mind.

"Iri, what's wrong? You seem upset."

Irina stopped at this, she had been trying to hide it as best she could even though she knew her friend would see through her, admittedly, bad mask. She could lie to him, but even at their young age Issei rejected lying in its entirety. He was honest to a fault which often got him in trouble with adults as he had yet to realize that there is a difference between lying and strategically keeping your mouth shut. After a few seconds thinking of what she should do she finally decided to tell him the truth. She looked him in the eyes and could barely hold back her own tears as she told her best friend, her crush, the news she wanted to not think about.

"Ise…I'm moving to England."

The boy felt his brain begin to shut down, restart, and then move at incomparable speed. Iri was leaving. His best friend, his only friend, was leaving. He didn't understand.

"…why? Why are you leaving?" Issei's eyes were already beginning to draw water as he couldn't keep in all the emotions he was feeling at this moment. They stared at each other for a few seconds before Irina could answer, as Irina was not holding in what he was trying desperately to. Tears began to fall from her face as she responded.

"Daddy got a promotion in the Church, but because of it we have to move… I don't want to…. I want to stay here, with you, with Uncle and Auntie!" Irina was now in a full-blown breakdown as she launched herself into Issei and began to sob uncontrollably. Issei, who had been holding it back remarkably well, or at least he thought so, began to cry with her. His world consisted of his parents, his uncle and auntie, and Irina and now here he was, losing 3/5ths of that world so he just held her close and the two cried it all out…how long they stayed like that, to this day neither knows but by the time they had cried to their heart's content and separated it was dark, so they had to go home. Issei decided that he wanted to play with Irina longer, so when they got to Irina's house, they both went inside.

"Mom, dad, I'm home!" Irina shouted. Issei heard the soft footsteps of his aunt and saw her come in. Her hair was black unlike Irina's chestnut hair though one could see that even at this young age Irina bore a striking resemblance to her mother. While Irina's hair was cut short enough that one might mistake her for a boy (which Issei had done for the first few months of their friendship until his mother corrected him.) His aunt's hair was long and flowing. It came down to around the middle of her back and she had it loosely tied so it wouldn't get in the way while she did her house chores.

"Irina, did you enjoy your time with Ise today?" Her mom asked as she rounded the corner and saw the boy she had just asked about standing beside her daughter. Both had red and puffy eyes and sad expressions, it didn't take a genius to realize that her daughter and told him that they were moving away soon.

"Auntie…" his voice was sad, sadder than it had ever been. He couldn't help it. He barely managed to choke out the rest of the sentence as he held back more sobs. "it's true, isn't it? You're moving?"

His aunt knelt down and ran her fingers through his unruly brown hair, she saw how sad he was. After a moment of stroking his head, she brought him into a hug to comfort the boy who was so close to sobbing again.

"Yes Ise. Touji got a promotion in the Church, and it requires us to move. If there was a way that we could do this without leaving we would honey. I'm so sorry." His aunt held him in the embrace and Ise quietly returned it. He managed to keep his sobs down and just let himself be held by his aunt for a while. After a few minutes they separated, and his aunt stood back up and smiled down at him.

"Why don't you stay for dinner tonight Ise? I'll call your parents and make sure they know you're here and that you'll be eating."

"Ok!" Issei practically shouted his response, and he ran into the living room where Irina and he played all the time with Irina was hot on his heels. In the living room sat his Uncle Touji, Irina's dad. He was a burlier man than most, standing at around 6 foot and with the same chestnut brown hair that his daughter had, though his was closer to Issei's in the fact that it never seemed to obey him and stay down. He stood up as the two entered the living room and embraced his daughter and Issei. He had heard the conversation his wife had with Issei when they entered the house and couldn't help but feel responsible for his daughter's and her friend's, who was practically family to him, sadness. So, he just hugged them for a moment and then sat back down in his chair as he began to prepare his last sermon, he was to give to the church he served as the pastor of.

Issei looked around the familiar living room, this practically being his second home he was well acquainted with it. It was as large as your average living room, though it always felt more like a study to him because of the lack of a TV and the number of books. At the opposite of the entrance, against the far wall stood bookcases that lined the wall. They held countless books, honestly it felt like a library and Issei loved it. He loved to read; he was especially taken by mythology. His favorite, excluding the Christian pantheon which he believed was real and not the same as a mythology, was Greek mythology. This was followed closely by Shinto mythology. Near the window stood a small chess table with 2 chairs. He sometimes played against his uncle or aunt but never very often and he wasn't very good. Even though they praised him for being as good as he was for his age. The most striking feature of the living room however was the fireplace and what was above it. The fireplace was to the left of the entrance to the living room, standing opposite to the chess table and the window by proxy. It was your normal stone fireplace that was never really used but what struck him was always the sword that was hung above it. The sword was around 37 inches long, it had a single edge and slightly curved as it came to the pointed end. The hilt was smaller than what one would think for a sword, it had brown wrappings, it had two hand guards on each side at the beginning of the hilt, the pommel appeared silver as it shined. Every time he came to this house the sword always held his attention for several minutes, it was one of his quirks or so uncle had said. Today was possibly the last day he would ever see it, so Issei decided he wanted to do something. He wanted to hold it. Feel the hilt in his hands, run his fingers over the cold steel, grip the hilt and maybe even try to swing it. He stood and stared at the sword longer than usual, which got Touji's and Irina's attention. Finally working up the courage Issei turned to his uncle and asked him the question he had always wanted to ask.

"Uncle…can I hold the sword?" Issei was apprehensive, he didn't know how his uncle would respond. He had assumed that the sword was an important family heirloom as his uncle was from Europe, but he couldn't help it. It always felt like the sword was calling for him to hold it, to swing it, to defeat bad people with it.

Seeing his nephew in this state, Touji couldn't help but smile as he stood up and walked over to Issei and the sword. He put his hand on the boy's shoulder and looked in his eyes, those brown orbs that seemed to be reflections of the soil of the Earth itself. He saw that there was a burning desire, and he knew that this was possibly the last time Issei would see the sword so Touji decided to humor his nephew for a moment. He spoke as he walked over to the fireplace and took the sword down.

"Of course Issei though let's go to the backyard, ok?" Touji looked at the boy who just nodded. They walked outside with Issei following his uncle and Irina following him. As they reached the fenced in backyard, Touji walked to the center and beckoned Issei over to him while also motioning for Irina to stay where she was. Issei quickly walked over to Touji and looked at the sword. It was even more beautiful up close. If the sword was a woman, he'd probably be in love.

"Hold out your hands Issei, it's heavier than it looks so be prepared." Touji said to the boy as he did as he commanded and prepared to hold the sword. Touji passed the sword to the boy, what happened next was a surprise to say the least. As soon as Issei took full hold of the sword it began to shine, faintly, but the shine was there none the less. This took Touji by surprise who just looked back and forth between his nephew and the sword. Issei and Irina didn't notice the shine as they both just took in the sword and it's almost ethereal beauty. Finally, the shine died down with neither child being the wiser while Touji realized something. This boy had the potential to wield holy swords, like the one he was currently holding which was said to be as picky, if not more so, than the legendary Ascalon. The two children didn't know it, but the sword Issei currently held was a sword known as Gladio et Semper Existentem Veritatem, or the Sword Everlasting of Truth. The sword would only allow itself to be wielded by someone who was honest to a fault which was why it was given such a name. All their thoughts were interrupted by his wife calling for them, saying dinner was ready so Touji pushed it aside for now and went to eat with his family. After taking the sword and putting it back in its place above the fireplace of course.

Issei didn't understand why, but now that he held the sword, he felt incomplete without it. It was almost as if it had become another limb to him in the short time, he held it. He pushed these thoughts aside as he enjoyed his auntie's cooking for what was possibly the last time. He laughed and talked with Irina all through dinner and finally came home. After a short talk with his parents where he told them about the Shidou's moving and how his uncle let him hold the sword, under strict supervision of course, Issei went to bed. Today had been exhausting; physically, mentally, and emotionally.

A few days later was Monday, the day that his best friend and her family were leaving. The entire Hyoudou family came to see them off. All their luggage had already been shipped and they needed only to get to the airport, or at least that's what Issei's dad said. As the Shidou's came out, they all hugged each other and said their goodbyes, though all focus was on a particular goodbye between the two best friends. They clung to each other refusing to let go, as if the entire world would end if they let go of each other then and there. After finally separating, Issei spoke.

"Irina, lets make a promise."

"A promise?" Irina sounded confused, what promise could they possibly make now?

"Yeah! A promise that no matter how long it takes, we'll meet each other again and that when we do, we'll go straight back to being the best of friends!" Issei was clearly excited as this promise held his hopes. Irina practically dived back into him as she shouted her response.

"Yes Ise! Of course! No matter what we'll always be best friends, right?"

"Right Iri."

The two best friends beamed smiles at each other confirming their everlasting commitment to their friendship. The parents couldn't help but smile at the pure innocence their children displayed and they all knew that if anyone could reunite after who knows how many years of being apart and go straight back into being normal best friends, it was these two. Touji stepped forward and Issei saw that he had something in his hands. It looked like a bible and a cross, but why? Touji took a knee in front of Issei and ruffled his hair a bit.

"Issei, I want you to have my bible and this necklace." He said as he handed the two items to Issei.

"Why?" Issei couldn't help but be confused at what his uncle was doing, sure Issei believed but he had never been a devout believer.
"Because you once asked me about how God could love us. The truth behind that answer is something every person must determine for themselves, I pointed you in a direction, but your roadmap is in this book, the necklace is something so that you'll always remember that no matter how far away you feel from God, he's right there beside you." Touji answered the boy as he extended the two items to him.
"Ok uncle, I'll do my best!" Issei answered him as he took the cross necklace and hung it around his neck. It was a simple design, but it felt calming; like that nothing in the world could ever affect him now. Touji smiled at his nephew knowing that the cross would help identify him in the town to the exorcist that he had contacted to talk to Issei more. Issei then took the bible and stared at it in wonder. Touji could tell by the boy's eyes that he wanted answers and would seek them earnestly in the book he had been told held them. Touji got up and bid the Hyoudou's goodbye as he and his wife got into the car.

As Issei was lost in his thoughts Irina suddenly leapt forward for one last hug and did something that Issei would have never expected. She kissed him, just on the cheek but a kiss was a kiss to a 6-year-old. Before he could even process everything, Irina leapt into the car and shouted
"Bye Ise! I'll hold you to that promise!"

Issei couldn't help but just smile and wave as his best friend and her family left. He wouldn't see her for who knows how long but he would wait, and he would keep his promise. His parents noticed the blush that he didn't even notice and smiled to themselves. His father was the first to speak.

"So son, how was your first kiss?"

That sentence brought Issei back into reality as he began to blush harder and shouted
"DAD!"

His mom and dad laughed as they walked back to their house for their dinner that night, while it certainly was sad that dinner held promise to Issei, the promise of his future with Irina. He wasn't sure when they would see each other again but he was sure of one thing. That no matter how long the two would be separated, the only thing that could keep the two of them apart forever was God himself and if Issei had to fight God to see Irina again, he sure would.

A/N: You'll find this story very similar to several stories in which Issei doesn't become a devil and that's because I'm drawing a lot of inspiration from them, namely The Jack of Hearts by As the Ghost Whispers. People seem pretty split on their opinion of the story itself, I won't insert my own here but I find the concept very enticing personally. Just so you know, Issei will still be a pervert but it's toned down and he knows how to hide it well. If you wish to, please review and leave me with any tips/critics for later. Also I'm not sold on any name yet, the name that I'm currently using will be "The Promise" which will likely be a placeholder as I take some advice on it. See you guys next time!