8 - What Drives You?
DISCLAIMER
The following is a fan-based story of Fiction
Highschool DxD, New, BorN, Hero and other products related to the DxD series are all owned by Ichiei Ishibumi, Miyama-Zero, Fujimi Shobo and TNK
Please support the official release
NOTE! This Story is recommended for those over the age of 18+ as this story involves actions such as violence, blood, nudity, etc.
NOTE! Any Original Characters (OC's) added into the story were all created by me and are owned by me
Enjoy!
The sound of heavy breathing along with heavy footsteps. It was all heard on the mountain trail. The Gremory Team were all currently walking up the steep mountain trail, all wearing different sized backpacks. For example, both Koneko and Takeda held the same sized backpacks, as did Kiba and Issei, while Rias and Akeno had the same sized backpacks. Issei and Kiba had the least heavy, while Koneko and Takeda had the heaviest. As for Rias and Akeno, both held backpacks sized between the other two. Asia as well had a bag, as a means to help build up her strength just a bit. Of course she wasn't a fighter, but it would still be best to raise her statistics.
Takeda himself was at the front of the group, sweat pouring down his face. His face was in it's usual state, yet his eyes were much different. They still held there hollow look, but there was still the emotion of determination within them.
"President, we gathered some herbs. Let's use it for the meal tonight." Kiba said as he walked closer towards Rias. Rias nodded her head in agreement and they continued to run up towards the top of the mountain.
As they continued the journey, Rias looked up towards Takeda. He seemed to not be bothered by the size of the backpack he was carrying. It was a matter to her the amount of magic that was placed on his.
While the bags are carrying essentials for training, they wouldn't be enough to be that heavy. So Rias had magic seals be placed on everyone's bag. When it came to Takeda, he asked for his to seal to make the bag 50 times its original weight. She wanted to deny his request immediately, but the look he gave her told him he would be able to handle it.
Takeda himself couldn't explain it, but the more he trained, the stronger his strength became, and not in a normal way. He would only be expecting a small boost in his strength, but would get much more. At first, he thought it was because of the Boosting Evil Piece within him, but Rias denied that that would be the case.
Perhaps it had something to do with what Kuroka told him. His affinity with senjutsu and touki. Perhaps that had something to do with it. If he was able to use those powers, it would mean he was more than just a Fallen Angel and human hybrid. He just didn't know what, but what Youkai type would have such enhanced strength.
After making it to the top, the newest members took notice of the rather large house that rested on the peak of the mountain, which obviously belonged to the Gremory Clan. Everyone slowly moved in, heading to their own rooms to change.
Takeda was the first to finish, as he sat outside meditating. He was in complete silence, as his shoulders slowly raised and lowered.
"Still the one to meditate when you need to calm yourself, huh?" His concentration was broken, as his eyes widened at the sound of the voice.
He looked to his right, seeing a figure walking closer from the trail that led to the house. The man held long dark brown hair, most of it tied back in a ponytail that falls down his back, as his bangs help frame his face. His eyes are colored gold in color, as his skin is a bit darker in color, appearing as a dark tan. His clothing consists of a open white jacket, revealing his muscular physique, a golden necklace around his neck. Around his waist is a red cloth, with his white baggy trousers on underneath. He is also barefoot, as he holds red armguards that leave his fingers shown, the same time of armguards also on his feet, along with golden rings on his biceps. He also holds golden circle shaped earings on.
"S-Sensei Iruku...!" Takeda spoke, as the man stopped right in front fo him.
"What? You didn't expect me to come?" Iruku spoke, stretching a hand to help Takeda to his feet. Iruku, the name of Takeda's old Kung Fu master, and the man who helped Takeda a lot when he was in middle school, but that alone is a story for another time.
"I gave you a voicemail, but I wasn't expecting you to come, no." Takeda responded.
"When have I ever declined you, Takeda?" Iruku spoke with a small smirk, before he took notice of the others walking out of the house. "Well would you look at that, you made some friends."
"Takeda, who is this?" Rias asked.
"No worries, Takeda. I'll introduce myself. Besides, it's better if the Devils and myself know each other well." Iruku's words shocked Takeda, as the raven haired young man turned to Iruku. The others also held shocked looks on their faces.
"Y-You know?" Takeda asked, making Iruku chuckle.
"How could I not?" He responded, turning back to Rias. "My name is Iruku, daughter of Zeoticus Gremory." Suddenly, from underneath Iruku's red cloth, a brown fluffy tail unwrapped from around his waist. "I myself am a Youkai, a monkey Youkai, to be exact."
"I-I see..." Rias muttered, taking Iruku's extended hand with her own. "If you don't mind me asking, why are you here?"
"Well, Takeda called me. Said he felt he needed touching up on not only his Kung Fu techniques, but his weaponry fighting style. Seeing as I taught him both of those, he asked for my help."
"Don't take it the wrong way, Rias." Takeda said, making the crimson haired beauty turn to him. "It's just that i know first hand Iruku-sensei's skill in these categories. Besides, it's not like I won't continue training with the rest of you." Takeda said, as Iruku placed his hand on the boys head.
"No need for that. Simply explain to me the situation, and perhaps I'll help the others here as well." He stated, shocking Rias.
"You'd be willing to help us?"
"You all are friends of Takeda, are you not? It's one of the first times I've seen him with this many friends, so I'd gladly help friends of my best student." Iruku said.
It took a few minutes, but the situation was explained to Iruku. He stood with crossed arms, occasionally giving a hum in response to certain statements.
"I see. Tell me, which people here are fist fighters or weaponry fighters?" He asked, as Koneko, Kiba and Issei stepped up. He looked them over, humming to himself. "The Red Dragon Emperor, interesting. Never in my life did I think I would train a wielder of that dragon."
"You speak as if you knew the Red Dragon Emperor when he wasn't sealed into the Sacred Gear." Takeda spoke, earning a laugh from Iruku.
"Shishishishishishi~ who knows." He said, looking towards the others. When he looked at Koneko, he seemed to look at her a bit longer than the other two. "Hmmm, been a while since I've seen one of your kind."
Koneko's eyes widened, as her eyes cast downward.
"But it would seem you keep your powers locked away, I wonder why. Tell me, do you hold fear at the thought of senjutsu?" He asked, kneeling down in front of her. She didn't bother looking him in the eyes, only nodding. "Is it the thought that you'll lose control and become mad with power?"
She met his eyes that time, her eyes wide.
"H-How..."
"It's a common thing for those who don't understand Senjutsu to believe Youkai can lose control of its power. The truth is that no person with the blood of a Youkai within them can lose control when using Senjutsu. If someone like a human or any other species tried to use the technique, then the chance of losing control is there, but never for a Youkai."
The other devils looked in shock at this, except for Takeda. He had heard it all from Kuroka before, so this information wasn't something knew to him.
"Come free from such fears that shouldn't be there in the first place. What's the human saying...they fear what they don't understand. That is the case for senjutsu." He finished, standing up straight. "Tell me boy, do you use a spear or sword?"
"Swords, sir." Kiba responded, receiving a hum in response.
"Mmm...very well. Takeda, we'll get to work on your sword and spear skills and techniques, and then you and myself will help this young man in swordplay. I doubt I'd be of many help in attempting to teach the others senjutsu or any of my magic techniques."
"Your help is appreciated either way, Iruku. Thank you." Rias stated, earning a small smile from the Youkai.
"Very well." He said, as he led them to the back of the house. "I should warn you all now that I don't plan on going easy on any of you, at least the ones I'll be helping. I expect to push you all to and above your limits. If you can't handle that, then you might as well back away now."
Every one of the devils watched as a small smirk overtook Iruku's face.
Instead of stepping back, Takeda stepped forward, taking a basic Kung Fu stance. Iruku smirked, matching the stance with his own.
"You never were one to back down." He stated, as the two ran at one another. "The rest of you, sit back and watch what should be expected of you." He spoke, before the two collided with fists.
The winds picked up a bit, as Iruku's smirk widened.
"For the longest time, I had to train you while holding my own strength back. But now...I can cut loose a little bit~"
Takeda blinked, and Iruku was gone. His senses and instincts kicked in, telling him to roll to the side. He did so, as Iruku landed from above, his feet making cracks within the ground. He continued to back away, dodging strikes from his sensei.
As he went for one of his own, Iruku caught it. He tried with the other hand, but that one was caught as well. With a heavy breathe of air, he tried to go for a headbutt, but Iruku saw it coming. His tail came forward, pushing itself against his forehead. Takeda's head recoiled backwards, before Iruku pulled him closer, his knee landing right in Takeda's gut.
Takeda gagged, coughing up built up saliva as he dropped to the floor.
"Tell me Takeda...what was the second lesson I had taught you?" Iruku asked, as Takeda slowly got back up.
"T-To...watch your opponents movements...follow the movements, and beat their movements..." Takeda said, groaning as he rubbed his stomach.
"It would seem you needed to be reminded of that. Are you prepared this time?" Takeda didn't answer with his voice, simply taking his stance once more. This time, it wasn't the basic stance he had done before.
He held his left hand behind him, the other in front of him, as he held good space between his legs. Iruka smirked once he saw the stance, before taking it himself.
'...He's definitely your son...old friend...'
To say the little sparring match was eventful, was an understatement. Of course, Takeda had lost, but the others couldn't help but remember what he said after he lost.
"Suffering a defeat, it only means you have room to grow."
He didn't believe himself weak, he just knew he could grow, and he definitely would during these next two weeks. Currenly, Akeno was off with Asia, helping teach her more magic techniques. Of course, they would all be healing techniques, ones that increase her skill with Twilight Healing.
For her first day of training, Rias decided to look into old battle tactics and strategies, as a means to try and find more ways she could come up with a solid plan. Kiba and Issei were with Iruku, starting their own training.
Iruku wanted Takeda to begin training with Koneko, to help teach her more fighting styles since her style was that of a hand-to-hand combat fighter.
The two were in the forest near the house, as Takeda was having Koneko practice kicks and punches against the trees.
"Tell me...why am I doing this over and over again?" Koneko asked, leaning her back agaianst the tree. The indents of her gloved fists embedded within the tree bark.
"Just because these are the basics, doesn't mean they can't be refined." Takeda said, making Koneko look straight at him. "What I'm having you do are the basics. Simple punchs and kicks, nothing special. Helping refine the basics will make your overall punchs and kicks much better. Not only that..." Takeda jumped down from the tree branch he was sat on. "Your rook piece gives you incredible strength, but your speed is lacking."
He walked to another tree, and began to punch at it with good speed. The speed was a little above Kiba's own speed. Koneko watched with an agape mouth, before Takeda came to a sudden halt.
"How did you increase your speed so quickly? You've only been a Devil for a month." Koneko asked, as Takeda turned to her. He found himself taking a seat against the tree he was just punching at. He beckoned her over with a small smile. She hesitated at first, but came closer and sat next to him.
"Ever since I learned I was a Devil and that I had this Sacred Gear of mine..." His right eye switched to the Sacred Gears red color. "...I've been training basically every day."
"Every day? That's not healthy." She said, making him give a small laugh.
"Perhaps, depending on how you look at it, but you didn't let me finish." Koneko looked up at him, as he clenched his right hand. "Most of my training has been within my own mindscape, the very place the Dragon within my soul resides. I train with her every night, whenever I sleep. I'm sure I told you this already, back when we played that game of dodgeball with Sona and her peerage."
Koneko thought back on it, and he did indeed tell them this.
"That hasn't stopped at all. Every night, I'm training, and that'll continue for quite some time." Takeda said, looking down at Koneko. "Tell me, did you not like hearing what Sensei said?" Takeda asked.
Koneko's eyes widened, before her eyes cast downward. In all honesty, Takeda wanted to tell her all he heard from Kuroka, but he believed it better if it came from Kuroka herself.
Koneko looked up when she felt his hand fall atop her head, as he held a small smile on his face. Perhaps he could at least try and make Koneko more comfortable with the idea of Senjutsu.
"Maybe Senjutsu isn't as bad as you've believed it to be. Afterall, a Youkai themselves said it didn't they? There's no way for you to lose control of its power, so mayb-"
"Did you know yourself what I am?" Koneko interupted. Takeda thought hard on what to say. He did want to get Kuroka's freedom before something like this, but that wasn't the case here.
"If I can be honest with you for a second, I don't know how to explain it that well myself, but...my senses, they're quite...enhanced. More than they should be. It's to the point I can sense different species. I don't know how, but...because of it, I've known. I didn't know specifically what it was since I'm still learning things about the supernatural world altogether, but I could tell you were more than just a Devil." Takeda explained.
It wasn't a complete lie, not at all, because his senses were enhanced that high.
"Back to what I was saying before, perhaps senjutsu isn't as bad as you had thought it was. I mean, you must have thought it was awful for you to block it off completely from being used. Besides..." Takeda placed his hand atop her head again. "If you ever feel too scared, or believe that you'll still lose control, then I'll just have to be there to make you come back to your senses."
Koneko looked at him with wide eyes, as a small blush slowly creeped onto her face. For a good portion of the time they had been around each other, both Koneko and Takeda could tell they had a good bit of similarities.
Slowly, Koneko allowed her cat like ears and tail to appear, as her pupils turned slit and cat like. Takeda looked at her with his own small blush, just from how cute she looked, even more so than usual.
As he continued to rub her head, she slowly began to purr, as she leaned into his touch. Takeda watched her with his mouth agape, before he smiled. For the first time, he saw Koneko smile.
Soon enough, she took herself away from his touch, as she stood up.
"You wanna continue?"
"No..." Koneko shook her head, turning to Takeda as her tail swung back and forth. "...I wanna begin senjutsu training." He nodded, a small magic circle appeared on his hand. Before he left with Koneko, he and Iruku made a way to contact one another with magic circles.
Currenly, he could see the schedule Iruku made, and it was already about time for Koneko's training with the Youkai either way.
"Alright. He said he'll meet you out front the house. And could you tell Kiba to meet me outback for sword training?" Koneko nodded, before walking off.
"Takeda..." The raven haired young man hummed, waiting for her to continue. "...Thank you..." With those simple words, she continued to walk off. Takeda watched her leave with a straight face, before allowing a small smile to come over his face.
"Focus, Kiba." Takeda spoke.
He and Kiba had already been at it for an hour of sparring and technique training, as well as power training. Unlike Koneko, who had the strength but little speed, Kiba had the speed but little power.
It was Takeda's goal to fix the basics for both of them first. If the basics weren't right for either of them, it would only be much more difficult to increase everything else.
Both young men charged towards each other and started slashing at each other with great precision and sword techniques. It showed that even if he hadn't used a sword in a while, Takeda still didn't forget all he learned. To the normal eye, their movements couldn't be followed, as they continued to slash at one another.
'The way he uses the sword and the way he moves...it's almost like he's dancing, like the blade is apart of his body...' Kiba thought, as he attempted a downward slash, but again Takeda blocked it.
He used his own blade to move Kiba's down to the ground, before another sword appeared in his other hand. He held it near Kiba's neck, which made the blonde sigh, before loosening his grip on his sword. It dropped to the ground, as Takeda pulled his blades away.
"You never cease to amaze me, Takeda." Kiba stated, earning a small smile from the raven haired devil. "Never expected dual wielding."
"To be honest, I only know the basics of it. Other than that, I would practically be useless. I only won this for one simple reason."
"Care to share light then?" Kiba asked, as Takeda looked him dead in the eye.
"You care too much about 'knights honor' and all of that. If it were a true battle, would you really truly allow the enemy to pick their blade back up, just to give them a chance?" Takeda asked, stabbing his blades into the grass. "I've learned a lot about swordplay and battle in general. First rule...kill or be killed. There is no room for honor or respect." Takeda spoke, before one of his blades disappear.
Kiba took in his words, before he looked up at the young man.
"Say, Takeda..."
"What is it?"
"You never knew your real parents, did you?" Takeda was confused by the question, but answered either way.
"That's right. Why are you asking?" Takeda asked, but Kiba simply shook his head, a smile returning to his face as he picked up his sword.
"It's nothing. Let's focus on training for now." Takeda looked at him with a raised eyebrow, but raised his blade and aimed it at Kiba, before the two charged at one another.
Takeda found himself confused by the question. It was random and out of the blue. What reason did Kiba have to ask such a question? Is it possible...he was in a similar situation? Perhaps, but Takeda wouldn't know that. For now, he had to put his focus on training for the upcoming Rating Game.
Takeda was back in the forest. Rias had wanted him to help get something for todays dinner, and she knew that there were many animals in the forest, some of which had meat that could be cooked.
He stood on a tree branch, knelt lowly as he looked around. He had set up bait for a certain animal that he sensed in the forest. Slowly, he heard rustling coming from closeby. He turned, seeing a boar walking closer.
He felt a smirk come onto his face, as he waited for the perfect moment. Once it was close enough, he summoned a knife made from Erebus' power, before throwing it down right at the back of the neck.
The boar roared in pain, before Takeda jumped down, stabbing it again with another knife, this one right in the top of the head. With a sigh, he stood up straight, looking down at his work.
He didn't know how, but he knew how to hunt in the wild. As he tried to remember it, he suddenly felt himself get a headache. He clutched his head in pain, as it slowly disappeared.
'What the hell...' He thought, before getting the necessary meat for dinner. With it put away in a small sack, he moved over to the river nearby. There was plenty of fish to choose from, but he knew tuna was for the best.
At least 2 hours later, dinner was set, as everyone was sitting down in the dining room. The food was of many different kinds, the boar and fish Takeda caught, to rice, potatoes, all mixed in with the spices Kiba had found.
Issei himself smiled brightly as he commented.
"This is really delicious!"
Ufufufu. We still have more food left so eat as much as you want." Akeno replied.
"Akeno, you are the best! I even want you as my wife!"
"Oh my, you're embarrassing me~" Akeno smiled with a hand on her cheek, as Asia seemed to make a slightly sulking expression.
"...I also made this soup." Takeda put a hand on her head, making her face him.
"It tastes great Asia." He said, making her smile. Issei then also started tasting the soup that Asia had made and smiled towards her, with an enthusiastic expression on his face.
"It's really good Asia! It's the best! Give me another one!"
"Really? I'm so glad...Then now I can become Ise's..."
"Hmmm? I couldn't hear that last part. What was that" Issei asked, but Asia began to blush.
"N-No, it's nothing!"
"Hey, who made this fish? It's delicious." Kiba spoke.
"That was me." Kiba looked towards Takeda, who was eating some rice and boar, a shocked expression on his face.
"Really?"
"I don't know how to cook many things, but one of the things I do know is fish." Takeda stated, as Akeno took a bite of her piece of fish. Her eyes widen, as she seemed to grow a blush just at the taste.
"Wow, Kiba wasn't joking. This is amazing, Takeda." She spoke, making the raven haired male rub the back of his head.
"T-Thanks..."
Rias looked towards Iruku, who had been silently watching the interactions while eating his own food.
"I would like to thank you again for helping us, Iruku. It means a lot to both me and my team." Rias said with a smile, which Iruku returned.
"It's not an issue, Rias Gremory. Just remember one thing you need to remember in the rating game...and that's just having pride won't allow you to win against your opponent. He holds more experience over you. Potential wise, your peerage outclasses him completely. Considering I've met Riser Phenex before, and his peerage, I know that with enough training, you and your peerage can beat them. Even then, that doesn't change the fact that he'll still be a dangerous opponent. In the best case scenario, you'll have to use his own overconfidence against him, and keep your pride in check."
"I'll do my best." Rias nodded, as Iruku nodded back before he stood up.
"I need to be off for the night. I'll return before any of you wake up, so no need to worry about changing up the schedules." Iruku suddenly disappeared in a bunch of mist.
"Well then..." Rias caught everyone's attention again. "...I think it's time we head to the baths." Issei's face immediately rose.
"W-Wait, baths!?" Rias turned to him, a smile on her face.
"That's right. What is it, did you wish to join us?" Rias then turned to Takeda. "Would like to join as well, Takeda?" Just at the thought of the baths, Takeda grew a heavy blush. "What do you think, Akeno?"
"No, I think it'd be fun. We could take turns washing their backs." Akeno said, no one seeing her licking her lips.
"How about you, Asia?" Rias asked the former nun.
"I-I don't mind." She muttered, a blush clear on her face.
"And you, Koneko?" The neko looked at Issei with a blank expression.
"I'd rather die." Her eyes turned to Takeda, as she seemed to grow a small blush. "I don't mind with him, though." She said.
"Well you heard it. Come along, Takeda." Rias got up and walked over to him, grabbing onto his arm, but he didn't budge.
"Bastard!" Issei called out, as Rias looked at Takeda with a raised eyebrow.
"Takeda?" She called out to him, before his entire body turned into a pile of shadow that fell to the floor. Everyone looked at it in shock, before understanding just what happened.
Takeda had made a shadow replication of himself, and made an escape. Akeno gave a low groan, a smile still on her face.
"That's too bad, I was really hoping to wash him personally." She stated.
With Takeda, he had already entered the mens room, laid down with closed eyes. Within his own mindscape, the landscape was much different. No longer the long mountain ranges and gloomy skies, now the blue skies above, as they stood upon the clouds. Takeda found himself sitting down with crossed legs. In his hands, a white aura was surrounding both as his veins would occasionally pop out. Sweat was pouring down his forehead, as he was continuing to bring out his holy abilities.
Erebus slowly walked around him, her arms held behind her back as she held a calculating gaze in her eyes. She held a monotone expression on her face, as Takeda allowed a heavy breathe of air escape from his lips.
"I can feel it, brat." Erebus spoke, as the aura from his hands slowly surrounded his entire body. His Fallen Angel wing popped out from his shoulder blade, wrapping around that side of body. "It's about time. Usually, we would continue training on what you just accomplished, but considering the Rating Game coming up, I think it's time. Though, I'm still uncertain if you'll be able to achieve it."
"Achieve what?"
"Before you were even born, you were chosen to hold my soul as apart of my own, thus giving you my Sacred Treasure. Since my soul is a piece of the Sacred Treasure, it immediately turned you partially dragon." This revelation shocked Takeda, who turned to look up at the Elder Dragon. "You haven't gotten to that point yet, but eventually, you'll be able to take a humanoid dragon like appearance, and once you fully learn all of my power, you yourself can fully turn into a dragon yourself." Erebus finished.
"I see...and what would it take to reach those points?" Takeda wondered.
"From what I can remember, to achieve the humanoid dragon transformation, you'll need to completely learn and master half of my power. Once you master it all, you may be able to transform into a dragon yourself. That is the point in which no other wielder of mine has reached. They all stopped once they held half of my power, wanting the other half of my counterpart to compliment and have true equality between the two seperate powers. I'm prepared to witness my first wielder master all of my power."
Erebus smirked down at Takeda, who returned it with a small smile, as he stood up.
"Then...better not waste time, right?" He questioned, taking a stance. With a low chuckle, Erebus did the same.
Currently, it was the fifth day of training, the night sky watching over the town. Takeda released a yawn, as he walked through the woods to meet up with Issei, who had called him out for something he regarded important. Takeda didn't know what it was, but the Pawn sounded very determined.
Eventually, Takeda came through to a clearing, where he found Issei, currently in a pool of his own sweat.
"You've been working hard I see." Takeda called out, catching his attention, as Issei turned to him. He scratched the back of his head, laughing nervously.
"Y-Yeah. Thanks for coming out, by the way."
"Sure. So...what is it you wanted?"
In a huff, Issei sat down, back against a tree while he wiped away sweat from his face.
"I've been thinking, and...when I first became a Devil and learned I could reach the status of High-Class and have my own peerage, my first thought, immediately, was to have my own harem. I won't lie, it's still a dream, but I don't know if i'd consider my ultimate goal." Issei stated. "I spoke with the President the other night, and...I wanna be more than just the perverted idiot who looks useless in the eyes of others. I wanna be the perverted idiot who can protect others with the power I have. If I can't fully grasp this power, then I'll never find what my true goal is."
Takeda listened closely, and he could hear the sincerity in Issei's voice. Just how serious the Pawn was about becoming stronger.
"You really care about Rias, don't you?" Takeda asked.
"She's the best thing that happened to my life. If not for her and all of this, I'd still be some idiotic pervert chasing something that wouldn't come at all." Issei answered, before he stood back up, his eyes hardened with determination. "That's why, I want you to personally train me. I saw the things you were able to do back at the Church. I know I won't be able to do those same things considering the differences between our powers, but...I want to master the power of the Sacred Gear. Are you willing to help me with that?" Issei questioned.
Rather than give a verbal answer, Takeda smirked and took a stance. Issei recognized it as the stance he took against Iruku their first day of training. Issei smirked in return, before taking his own stance.
That was all Issei needed to see to know Takeda's answer.
'Your passion is higher than anyone else's I've ever met, Issei. If you truly want to master the power of the Boosted Gear and show why you're the Red Dragon Emperor, then I'll help as best I can.' Takeda thought, before the two charged at one another.
Another few days later, and the rest of the group had been woken up early by loud noises from outside. Crashing, explosions, yells, and much more. They had each gotten dressed quickly and headed outside, only to be met with a surprising scene before them. Out back, were Takeda and Issei, sparing. Both were drenched in sweat, to which Takeda and Issei both had taken their tops off. They both had a bit of bruising, but neither were backing down.
Feeling they were being watched, both paused and turned towards the back door. Seeing the rest of the group standing their, Issei let out a nervous laugh, while Takeda gave a small smile.
"Sorry if we woke you guys." Issei said, as the group moved closer.
"What are you both doing up so early? It's 4 in the morning." Rias wondered.
"Issei's the one that asked me to help with his training. I'm just seeing how serious he is." Takeda said. All eyes turned to Issei, who looked towards Takeda. He didn't give a verbal response, rather gesturing to the rest of the group. As if to say 'tell them.'
"Well...I wanna master the Boosted Gear, and seeing how much progress Takeda's made with his power, and it's a dragon based power like mine, I thought he'd be the best to help with it." Issei stated, as Rias walked closer, placing her hands on his shoulders.
"But what brought this on?"
"I...I wanna be more than the guy you all first met. Some lousy perv with only one thing on my mind. I wanna prove I can master the Boosted Gear and be something more." The revelation shocked those of the group who didn't know already. They turned to Takeda, who shook his head, indicating he had no part in Issei's new attitude.
"Very well." Rias started. "Takeda. I'll leave Ise's training in your hands." Takeda simply nodded.
"If I were to recommend anything, we should work towards connecting and speaking with the Red Dragon himself. Once you can do that and meet him within your own mindscape, you should be able ot train while you sleep, the same as I do. Mix that with the training you'll do here in the real world, you should see progress come rather quickly. The only thing you'll have to worry about is the built up fatigue from training within your own mindscape. Once you do it enough, the fatigue will become less and less." Takeda explained, as Issei nodded, determination clear in his eyes.
"Sounds like a plan to me." All heads turned to see Iruku up in one of the tree's.
"How long have you been there, sensei?" Takeda asked, as Iruku let out a laugh.
"Shishishishi...a bit longer than you'd think." He answered, jumping down and walking closer. "I'll tell you this much, Rias Gremory. Takeda Nakamura. Issei Hyoudou. These two may very well be your tickets to winning this Rating Game. Depending on how far Issei gets with training in this last week, will prove who has the advantage coming into this Rating Game. Work hard you all, because in the end...this is more than just about the future of Rias Gremory. It's the future for all of you."
From the words he spoke, the determination in all of them grew, as they promised themselves they'd work harder than ever.
Stay Safe...
Stay Healthy...
Have a good one!
