I don't own Highschool DxD or sparse mentions of Fate/Nasu stuff
Speech: "."
Thoughts: '.'
Chapter 2
6 months after Miki's death. Issei is still 10 years old.
Life goes on, even after the most dire circumstances. Something Issei had realized after a while. Still hurt though.
'It's been a half a year since she died.'
The funeral was a quiet affair, neither his mom nor his dad had relatives who cared enough to show up. As for his dad…
'He hasn't been the same.' Issei thought as he looked at his father on the couch, surrounded by various empty liquor and beer bottles. Even from here Issei could tell he hadn't been showering lately. Life hit the boy hard. It was now up to him to cook. He refused to clean up after his dad, instead picking up his own mess only. Day in and day out you could find his dad here. His mom was the one with a job, so when she died, they had to move into a small dingy apartment, living off the government.
Something in him hated that, relying on others that is. He found it hard to not get mad at his dad.
The loss affected them both, Issei just chose to better himself. And better himself he had. He had limited himself to light exercises, but that would change when it would be safe enough to not stunt his growth. He had also devoured every book he could get his hands on.
Which brings up his next task. If he wanted to kill monsters like that, he was too small for physical combat. Which meant he had to rely on his treasure, as Gilgamesh called it. He hadn't tried since that fateful night.
'I need to learn how to use it. Ignoring it would be stupid.'
He then went to his room to try it out.
He entered the small, bare room and sat down on the wooden floor. He then closed his eyes and tried to do it again. He stayed that way for a moment. And then it hit him. Like an eager dog, there was something in the back of his mind that sent shivers down his spine.
'It's like it's begging me to use it.'
He felt something and then the room shined with golden light. He winced at the contrast between the dim light and his treasure. He then looked at the single portal in front of him. A spear came out. Silver with a golden tip, as thick as an apple. Awe filled his thoughts. He touched the weapon and it felt right. Like it was his and his alone. Shaking his head he went back to experimenting.
"Now then, time to get rid of it." Issei mumbled.
Before he could finish his sentence though, it disappeared into motes of gold dust. He then summoned another one, this time a very large and long sword. It had a leather handle and gold hilt. The blade itself was a beautiful silver. He then dismissed it again. After admiring his weapons for two hours he realized that he felt no strain, no sign that it could run out.
The realization brought a smile to his face. Now all he has to do is know his limits.
'How many at one time can I make?' Which brought an interesting problem. He needs more space, and a lot of it. Which meant…
'Time for a walk.' Normally a ten year old would feel scared of going out at sunset with no adults. But Issei felt no fear. Not when he had his treasure. If anything, something in him was eager for a challenge. He squashed that thought and crept by his passed out dad and left his apartment.
The sun had already set by the time he got to the outskirts of town. Uneventfully that is. Issei was almost disappointed. Odd. Shaking his head he raised his hand up in the air. The eager feeling was back and like magic, light filled the night and Issei gaped. There above him were dozens, no, hundreds of portals. Each had a unique weapon sticking out of it. Issei then laughed. It was more like a cackle.
'Who could possibly stand against something like this!?' He then lowered his hand and they all vanished.
'Just a couple of them skewered that monster.' For the first time in six months, Issei felt good. He was eager too. To test this power out. He almost decided to see what would happen if he carpet bombed the forest. The ultimate offense, and it was his. That was something he could take pride in for once. He wasn't the brightest child, or the most talented.
He was a normal ten year old. Or was at least. No one could deny this power.
'No one.' Issei thought with a grin.
Time skip 5 years. Issei is 15.
'It's raining today.' Issei thought absentmindedly as he dropped flowers off at his mom's grave. He did the same thing every year. Tomorrow was also special. His school had planned a trip to Kyoto of all places. It would be the first time he left Kuoh since then.
He shook himself out of his thoughts and headed home, ignoring the cold rain.
He made it there uneventfully and went upstairs ignoring his dad who was watching TV with beer in his hand. He grit his teeth as he passed. He couldn't remember the last time they exchanged words. Things had gotten bitter between them. There were no arguments, at least not yet. Issei was sure his dad blamed him for his mom's death. In a way he was right, at least in Issei's eyes.
'If I never left…' He then shook himself out of the brooding thoughts and went upstairs and showered. He then passed out as soon as he hit the bed.
"So this is Kyoto? Beautiful." Issei said casually as he took in the old architecture and ambience. All his schoolmates are scattered around the area, taking in the gardens around them.
He never got along with his classmates. He often asked himself why, but grew out of it as he aged. He was different from the rest of them, and they couldn't see it. He then felt something rub against his leg and looked down.
'A cat?'
The cat had pitch black fur, along with piercing yellow eyes. It seemed like it wanted him to pet it…
He stared at it before sighing. After a few minutes of petting it, It then jumped on his shoulder, surprising him. He tried to shake it off, but it seemed content to stay there. He was always fond of animals. Cats in particular.
His attention was then brought to his teacher when he announced that they were leaving for a local shrine. With the cat in tow, they made their way uneventfully.
The torii gates were one of Issei's favorite things about the shrines in Kyoto. The large imposing gateways gave him a sense of peace. Issei and the cat made their way to the top of the shrine hill, where the rest of his classmates were.
The closer Issei got to the main shrine housing, the more unnerved he felt. Like something was flowing through the air. It was foreboding at the very least. He then felt eyes on him, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. He tensed as he looked around, but found no one. He glanced at the cat who licked him on the cheek.
He spent the rest of the day looking over his shoulder, when he made it to the hotel he and his classmates were staying in, he went to his room and sat down at the chair in the corner. Like a veil was lifted, the odd feeling went away. And he could no longer feel eyes on him, making him give a sigh of relief.
He looked down at the cat only to find it laying on the bed, dozing off. Issei could only come to one conclusion.
'More monsters are here.' They must have been at the shrine.
'They must've been wary of fighting during the busy day.' Issei could feel the river flowing in his body, just like it had during his first fight. He then looked at the cat, who was now gone.
Kuroka was many things. Heartless was not one of them. Despite the bond she felt from the brown haired teenager, she had to leave. She was on the run after all. She definitely didn't want to get the boy in any trouble. And trouble it was. It seemed to always follow her. Another thought came to her as she ran through the yokai-infested city. There was something attractive about the boy's aura. Something powerful.
'He probably has a sacred gear.' She thought as she locked onto the only conclusion. She made it to the Amaterasu shrine where she felt the killing intent from.
"Our quarry came to us. How weird." Kuroka heard as she sensed two powerful signatures from behind her.
She quickly turned around and felt her hands get clammy from the sight. Two powerful yokais.
"Stray Devil Kuroka, surrender immediately." The large crow-like yokai demanded. Dread pulled in her stomach as she felt the energy coming from the karasu yokai.
'S class at least.' Would this be the end? One she could take. But two powerful yokai was a death sentence. She quickly channeled her senjutsu into an illusion that made her disappear. Her only chance was running. With unnatural agility she turned around and started to run.
Only to feel the cold bite of steel on her neck, stopping her in her tracks. She felt dizzy at the turn of events.
'That illusion should've lasted longer.'
"We were given orders to stop you at all costs. We were to hand you over to the Devil's, dead or alive. It was foolish to come to our territory." Kuroka gritted her teeth. She had wanted to come to Kyoto to talk to the chief yokai, Yasaka, and explain her situation.
What a foolish mistake. She turned her head slowly to look the smaller yokai in the eyes, only to stop as she spotted a familiar face in the tree directly behind them. The teenager from before.
An explosion rocked her a few feet away an instant later sending her to her stomach as she blinked spots out of her vision. She shakily looked up and saw a sight that made her blood run cold. The yokai that had a sword to her now was dead, pinned to the ground by beautiful swords, each different.
"How amusing, monsters killing each other." She heard the teenager say as he casually walked towards the both of them. His eyes which were a bright green changed to a sinister red. He had a small smile on his face and she could barely sense any energy from him. It's like he was a completely different person. She quickly tried to analyze what happened, not sure if he was hostile or not.
"I'll deal with you in a second." The teenager said as he stepped in front of her, not even sparing her a glance. The moment he stepped again the ground cratered as the large crow-like yokai landed in front of him. The amount of killing intent radiating off the karasu-tengu sent chills down Kuroka's spine.
"You bastard!" The yokai spat out. In response the teenager laughed.
"Was he your friend?" He then raised his hand and numerous gold portals appeared all around him. The yokai took a step back, and Kuroka gaped.
"A human like you has no right to interfere!"
It only seemed to make the teen madder as the amount of portals tripled.
"Beautiful." Kuroka whispered. And it was, the clearing was now filled with a bright golden light. The teen glanced back at her and she quickly shut her mouth again.
The yokai charged and an explosion detonated in front of the human, blinding Kuroka with debris. It happened quickly and when the smoke cleared, the second yokai was now skewered horrifically.
He then slowly made his way to her, each step causing dread. He then raised his hand again, this time the portals facing her.
"Wait! I can leave!" Kuroka babbled out with tears in her eyes. She didn't want to die. At least not before she told Shirone everything. He seemed shocked at her tears.
"Please spare me, I can hide us from the other yokai, otherwise the whole city will be onto you in minutes."
Silence overcame the clearing. The portals hadn't dispersed and Kuroka stood up shakily with tears still in her eyes.
"Please, my sister!" Certain death faced her.
Issei was conflicted as he looked at the woman begging for her life. His hatred for them was great, but he wanted to know the full story. So he lowered his hand and the portals disappeared. Even he couldn't kill a defenseless woman.
"Fine, hide us and start explaining." Issei demanded and the cat woman shakily nodded. She raised her hand and mumbled something before a weird feeling came over him, causing him to tense. Seeing that it did nothing harmful he nodded his head and beckoned her to follow him.
They made their way through the streets of Kyoto with none the wiser.
After they snuck back into his room Issei looked at the monster and noticed how human she was. She was shivering in a ripped yukata. It also seemed she could barely keep her head up.
Issei sighed and thought back to the monster that killed his mom. She didn't have a shred of humanity. Things got a lot more confusing for him as he stared at the terrified woman.
Issei looked at her and finally spoke up.
"Why were they chasing you?"
She looked down at the floor.
"Because I killed my devil master."
Issei tensed as she quickly continued.
"They reincarnate those with power and force them to do their bidding." Issei's eyes softened.
"What are you?"
Kuroka blinked.
"What do you know about the supernatural world?" Confusion went through his mind.
"Supernatural?" Issei asked.
Kuroka spent the next two hours telling him just what kind of world he is in.
"Do you have a sacred gear?" Kuroka asked after a moment of silence. Was that what he had? From what she explained some humans were born with a unique power.
"I don't know." Issei said warily. He then yawned.
"Can I trust you?" Kuroka asked with a look Issei couldn't describe. The teenager said nothing and layed down on the bed. As he laid there he felt a cat curl up beside him. He then slowly fell asleep.
"I see you've found yourself a woman. A king needs many." Gilgamesh said as they faced each other. Issei looked down and thought about Kuroka. It seems not all monsters are bad.
"She's indebted to you. Make use of her. The world is an unforgiving one without allies." He then looked at Issei seriously.
"Have you decided on an answer. You've now witnessed our power again."
Issei said nothing and felt the familiar pull, dragging his body back into the world of the living
After doing some research about writing, I'm evidentally a pantster, i found it extremely difficult to make an outline with scenes and such things. It feels much better to write and see which way the story goes. I've also read every single review and I truly appreciate each and every one of you. The pairings will be a harem.(Kuroka is in) He'll only accept strong ones, or those that impress him because of his arrogance. I want to make it a slow descent into the true pride and arrogance that Gilgamesh has. Thanks for reading, and as I said before, all reviews are welcome, especially those that help me tweak my writing. TY
