Disclaimer: I do not own High school DxD
Chapter 10
He remembered the look on her brown eyes, it was unlike anything he had ever seen from them; they were always emotional, headstrong, wild and full of fire. Her eyes rarely showed weakness, it was a quality he always liked about her; they were the contrast to his plain and apathetic aqua orbs…so it hurt every time he saw the sadness in them, this moment, this memory, would be the first and last time he would saw weakness reflected into those headstrong eyes.
"… …What do you mean you are leaving… …?"
He remembered her voice; it was pleading and in denial – it was as if she already knew what was about to happen, but didn't want to believe it or consciously decided to ignore it until the words left his mouth.
"…It's self explanatory…"
His voice left his mouth, sounding as apathetic and blunt as the first time they met all those nights ago near the church's creek.
"No it isn't! ….we just graduated…we just inherited our holy swords! We made our Sacred Oaths under the light of God! …are you telling me you will throw your hard effort for nothing?"
She yelled and pleaded, trying to avoid the inevitable.
"…I don't care about being an exorcist…that may be your dream, but it isn't mine…"
He was cold…he had to be, if he was to spare her out of future grief – he had to be…even if it tore him apart.
"Then why put with all of this? Why train, live and pray with us, if it is the same to you! What about your devotion to follow God's teachings! WHAT ABOUT OUR PROMISE!"
"Worthless – You should've expected it already"
He felt sick, even now, even if it was just a dream…he felt nauseous when those words left his mouth.
"…was it all a lie…"
She lowered her head; her long blue hair darkened her brown eyes as they were casted at the ground below, her mouth twitched and her shoulders shook…if either in sadness or anger he would never know…
"Yes – after all, why would I concern myself with the whimpering of those beneath me…?"
He wanted to puke…every word that left his mouth that day…every syllable…they tasted like shit; voicing them now, in his dream, unable to reword them or omit them entirely, was the worst kind of torture he could imagine.
"…I see…" she stopped shaking and from her lips escaped a whisper – one that would become a fiery rage "…THEN BEGONE WITH YOU HEATHEN! – leave this sacred ground immediately and never come back and if you ever set foot on God's domain I will personally hunt you down and execute you with my blade!"
Her eyes…they were losing their emotion…becoming less and less full with the life that once filled them…they were cold and distant. She was locking them and the emotions they carried behind large doors.
"…only if you can keep up with me…"
"– Do not test my patience Oath-breaker –"
It matched him…her tone, her words, her eyes and her features they looked like his owns…the ones he had when he arrived at the church for the first time; apathetic, cold and single minded – shielded from the world that denied him and the world he loathed.
"May we never see each other again…Xenovia Quarta"
Repulsed, Sickened and Angry – he wanted to puke at the memory of his words, he wanted to scream at and hit his former self, he wanted to hold and apologize to her…but he couldn't…no matter how he felt about his actions…they were the correct ones to take…and even if it tore his heart out of his chest, he would repeat them once again…for her sake.
"…"
Her silence was deafening…so he marched onward and didn't turn back, didn't face her eyes again. His steps were heavy, the Great-sword strapped to his back was heavier…yet…they paled at how his heart weighted – this event would be one that would plague his mind forever, this dream…no…this nightmare he could not escape from.
He wanted out…
…didn't want to be remained anymore…
…that he broke her trust
…that he broke his promise to her
…even if he did it for her sake
If there was anything that his heart longed for was for a chance, not to be forgiven, but to explain himself, maybe she would understand…maybe she wouldn't – both ways his end would be the same and her sorrows would be avoided…
…at least he hoped so...
…
…
His eyes opened and they were greeted with the Sun's warmness.
"Find a club and tutor she said…pfff…as if that were so easy…" Katsuo exhaled in frustration as another door slammed on his face "Who would have thought that school clubs would be so picky…"
Another door shut means another name off his list; he wouldn't have much of a problem with it if his list was longer to begin with. It had been only few minutes of searching for a club and already more than half of the school clubs had denied him – denial didn't bother him, he could be brazen enough and say that he was used to it, no…what bother him was the total and utter segregation he suffered at the hands of the students of Kuoh academy…
Male Students didn't want him because in their words: 'This club has no place for a handsome like you trying to steal all the girls…Go Away!'
Female Students were weary of him because, and again he quotes: '…I heard he is a friend with Hyoudou, he most likely is as shameless as him…disgusting…'
Truly this Academy was filled with Injustice – He could only sigh at it.
Now there were only three names left on his list and they were…less than promising: The Girl's Kendo Club, The Manga Research Club and, because the forces of the Universe liked playing with him, The Occult Research Club.
'Deep breaths Katsuo, In and Out…no time for freak-outs…think clearly'
The Girl's Kendo Club was in his area of expertise while they used Japanese swordsmanship he could adapt to their style eventually…main problem, it was exclusively for girls…so no. The ORC was self explanatory; he just got out of a deal with Rias he didn't want to enter another. That left the Manga Research – he had absolutely no idea what that was about, but beggars can't be choosers, so he went there and knocked on the door.
When it opened a girl came to greet him and he decided to go through the lines he had already said to the other clubs – with the most forced smile ever.
"Hello, my name is Katsuo Hirai from second year-"
"Yes, yes, yes I know who you are come!" the girl interrupted him mid sentence with way too much enthusiasm.
He shrugged and followed, at least the door wasn't slammed in his face.
The club was mainly made on girls and they seemed to be a bit flustered, maybe they were sick…and they were eying him very predatorily…and…he felt it…danger.
"So…I came because I wanted to see if it's possible to join your club" he said in an attempt to shake their eyes of him and change the subject for the better.
"Yes! Of course you can, but you will need to read these lines first…to see if you got the qualities needed for our club…" between every sentence she let out a heavy breath like a thirsty animal.
She handed him the paper and in kind he took it. It was a script of some sorts, kind of weird initiation, but he could work with it, so he began up top with the title – it read…
Prinz x Beast vol. 2
First paragraph read…
"Don't do this…please…you know our love is forbidden…you are royalty of another land and I'm a beast of the slums…"
...Ok…second line then…
"It's because it's forbidden that I cannot let it escape – I love you Issei"
…What…
"And I you, my prince in shinning armor…Katsuo…"
No...No…Nein…Hell No…he now understood…those looks…their heavy breathing…their now bleeding noses…
He wouldn't be joining any time soon…
No luck finding Clubs.
Sadly this applied to finding a tutor, beginning with the fact that he knew less people form third year that he knew from second year, he really doubted that any upperclassman was willing to put up with his subpar self…being a student really sucked and to be honest wanted to occupy his mind with something else…
…like the sky, here on the school rooftop, the blue of the sky appeared to be more radiant than in the schoolyard. He never frequented this place, what made today different was that the chase the Manga Club gave him lead him to this secluded area – it was quiet and isolated, he liked that.
"Ara, Ara. What do we have here?"
Correction – it was quiet and isolated.
"Hi there Himejima-senpai" he didn't need to turn and see who was behind him, that voice gave it away. So when he turned his head around he wasn't surprised with what he saw.
"Ufufufu, I see that you've had a fruitful day" and there she was standing with her usual sophisticated smile on her face and her hands folded behind her back.
"Getting chased by a group of thirsty girls isn't exactly a fruitful activity" he shrugged and responded sarcastically
"I'm sure many boys would like to be in your position"
Akeno's words left her mouth and in an instant his face tuned grim, a cloud of darkness surrounded him for one second and he spoke in the most comically-serious way conceivable.
"…No…they wouldn't…trust me…"
"Ara, so you are still searching for a club?" she asked away, dismissing his reaction in the process.
This intrigued him, if the raised eyebrow present on his face was anything to go by.
"How did you know?"
"I go shopping with Sona at least once a week"
"Oh…I guess that explains it…"
"So…?"
Katsuo's shoulder slumped, this being followed by a heavy sigh.
"Well yeah my search hasn't given many fruits…say…does Rias have an extra place to spare at the ORC?" he halfheartedly answered back.
"Of course Buchou has a place – you will need to become a devil though" the school onee-san responded in a coy tone.
And her response drew another defeated sigh out of him.
"Ahuh…figured as much – last time she tried I ended up in the floor bleeding out" if sarcasm could be visible his mouth would be dripping with it.
"Ufufufu, I remember, it was such a delight to see" her smile became wide and seductive, all accompanied with a small blush on her face and predatory eyes; like a hungry lion who just spotted a wounded gazelle.
"…I think I need an adult…"
"I'm just messing with you…probably ~" after the hormones settled down and the fear of being molested slipped out of Katsuo's face, Akeno asked in a more solemn and ladylike manner, yet a small layer of mischief still being present on her words "say Katsuo-kun, do you also need a tutor?"
"Yes! That is exactly what I need right now! Do you happen to know any who is willing?" he said in desperation, at the point he was at he would sell his soul to the devil if it meant avoiding Sona's wrath – funny how both were one in the same.
"Ara, Ara, perhaps I do ~ but you have to respond this one question for me – it has to be truthfully otherwise I will keep my secrets to myself"
"Well then ask away – I'm an open book"
"Why do you push yourself so hard for the benefit of others even when you get nothing in return?" the voice that left her mouth was stripped of any sort of sarcasm, playfulness or allure. In their core those words were something he rarely saw in Akeno – truthfulness.
"What kind of question is that, I thought that-" he tried to deflect the topic, but the look in her eyes told him that she was not teasing him like usual; it was an honest question that required an honest answer, so he tried his best to give one "I-I don't know…I tell myself that I do it because it's the right thing to do and that is that…but the best way to describe it is…like an impulse…deep inside me, that drives to fulfill someone else's whishes…"
"So it doesn't come out of Kindness for others"
His eyes didn't meet hers when she uttered those words, but he could tell by the tone of her voice that she wasn't surprised, it was as she already expected it. Like all her belief in the concept of a 'Stranger's Kindness' was not existence…he wondered; 'what could have caused that reaction of hers?' – No matter that, he still had to answer her.
"Sometimes yes…sometimes no…yet I'll do it all the same. I don't do it for glory or fame, I don't do it out of guilt or to have someone indebted to me…I do it because I feel it's right and it makes me feel right…now that I say it like that it doesn't sound as noble…ha…" a raspy and sarcastic laugh left his mouth.
"…I see…tell me…you said that something drives you to fulfill the wishes of someone else, if you take care of the wishes of others…Who takes care of your whishes?"
"…I don't…" he tried to say something, perhaps it was something akin 'I don't have any wishes' or 'I can make my own wishes'…but he knew he was lying and if he couldn't lie to himself he couldn't lie to her, so whatever he was going to utter died in his mouth.
With a bit of shame and remorse he avoided eye contact with her, his view drifting to the ground below, as an uncomfortable silence filled the rooftop. They stayed like that for what seemed like forever, yet in reality was a couple of seconds, that was until, with her right hand, she reached out to him and broke the uncomfortable silence.
"Here, this is your tutoring plan make sure not to come late, there is a lot of catching up to do with your subjects" she handed him a paper and, without even registering his move, he took it.
Upon closer analysis it was a very detailed, handmade studying schedule that explained in high detail which subject, at what hour, on what day and where would he receive tutoring. It explained a lot, way more than he expected, yet for his dumbfounded mind it didn't answer one question.
"Wha – then who is gonna tutor me?"
Akeno's previous and more usual vigor came back in full swing, gone was the serious girl that asked those questions and back was the ladylike, teasing and subtly sadistic senpai he knew her as.
"Ara Ara, you sure are dense Katsuo-kun, it will be me of course" a coy smile appeared on her face and a giggle escaped her lips "or is little old me not enough for you ufufu"
"Y-yes, I mean No…I mean…what would you do this? You have nothing to gain form it?"
"No, I don't, but you do – You have pushed yourself enough for the wishes of my precious friends. I think it's time that someone took care of yours" her more honest streak appeared for a second and in the blink of an eye it was squashed "You can always say no and search for another tutor ufufu"
"N-No, I mean y-yes I would like you to tutor me, I'll be in your care"
"So honest as always, as expected of my little kohai ~ ufufufu" she said with her usual smile and proceeded to turn heel, only stopping to say some last words "take care Katsuo-kun"
The skies were still blue, the sun was still shinning, the air was clear and the people of Kuoh were still going about their business. No earth shattering cataclysms or sudden attack of a supernatural faction, just two students that just finished talking with each other, nothing out of the ordinary. Perhaps his luck will give him a rest for today…probably…hopefully…he could always hope…
"One errand down, one to go – I guess this day won't be so bad after all"
At the same time in another part of the Academy, two students also met to talk about pressing business. Sitting on her usual chair was the red devil of the ORC herself, with her buxom figure and red hair, her face poised as ever and eyes closed in anticipation. Facing her was the blue devil of the student council, no emotion betrayed her visage and a discontent frown was placed on top her eyes.
"I'm assuming you aware of our visitors" the Heiress of Sitri stated.
As for her rival heiress, she waited a bit before opening her eyes and answering her fellow devil.
"Yes, I'm aware of them – they weren't exactly subtle last night… do you think they will make contact right now"
The Heiress of Sitri put a hand under her chin a waited a bit before responding, gathering her thoughts in the process.
"Right now, I doubt it; they wouldn't be so brazen to go around our territory during day light – most likely they will wait till sunset to do so…still…"
"We should gather our Peerages – be ready if anything goes array"
"Exactly"
The bell rang and all students were called back to class, an ominous feeling was left lingering on the room where both Kings met.
School was…School…and for him, it was finally over. There were no surprises left during his last block of classes, aside from one thing – Issei was being awfully quiet during class; normally his mouth had no off switch, even when the teacher was talking, but today he was keeping to himself, Asia was still cheerful and pure as always thankfully. That reminded him that today he was meeting the pervert to watch his raunchy movies…they weren't his favorite form of entertainment but he had no other plans for today so he would make due…if only Issei hadn't left with such a hurry back home, he would have been able to follow him.
So after many twist and turns, helping old ladies crossing the streets and pulling cats off trees, he finally arrived to the Hyoudou residence. Taking a few closer steps to the door he rang the bell and waited in silence.
A few sounds could be heard from the outside of the residence, the sounds of footsteps approaching, and before he knew it the door opened revealing the person behind him; a middle age woman in a white button-up shirt, blue jeans and green apron with a clear expression of surprise on her face.
He didn't know how to respond so he decided to simply introduce himself.
"H-hello Mrs. Hyoudou, my name is Katsuo Hirai, a friend of Issei. He invited me today to watch some movies…Is he home?" he asked in the most mild manner and most respectful way possible, bowing in the process as a sign of respect.
As for who he assumed was Issei's mother…well he expected for her to also speak cordially to him or call Issei so he could greet him…but what he didn't expect was for her to jump out the door, clasp his hands and speak to him with streams of tears running down her eyes.
"You are Hirai-san right! My son always talks about you!"
"…wait what"
"I was afraid those boys, Matsuda and Motohama, were having a bad lecherous influence on my little boy…but seeing that he is now friends with this gentleman…I…I…thank you very much Hirai-san, please guide my son to a righteous path!"
"…what…"
"Oh my, sorry I got carried away"
"N-no problem Mrs. Hyoudou – is Issei by any chance already back home?"
"Oh well he was back a few moments ago along with Rias and Asia, but went back to school. Rias said that they had some club activities to take care of, such a diligent and hard working girl"
That was…odd – according to Issei Rias had given him the day free, but again this was Issei, so most likely he misinterpreted something while daydreaming about boobs and didn't attend to his 'club activities'.
"Well that is a shame; we were going to hang out for the afternoon"
"You can come in and wait until my son comes back"
"Thanks but I wouldn't like to intrude; besides I'm sure I have some chores of my own"
"Such a gentleman – my son really is turning on a new leaf"
"Have a nice day Mrs. Hyoudou"
Well that was an interaction…still it bothered him to no end that Issei would cancel their after school bonding time so suddenly, considering that he was so pumped about it the day before…that coupled with his very out of character attitude today…the last time something like that had happened Katsuo had to save him and Asia from four fallen angels – but again he was now under Rias' protection and had power of his own, so he shouldn't worry.
Now he had to find some use to his new-founded free time. An array of ideas flowed through his mind; he could write to Roman, it has been way to long since they exchanged words, he could run by the grocery store to stack up on food or he could read the school manual regarding extracurricular clubs…that last one didn't sound that bad considering his situation…
Then an epiphany came – today was Friday, which meant Saturday was tomorrow, that meant he had two days of no school, which meant he had to focus on finding a club fast since his deadline was until Monday, also all groceries would be closed on Sunday, he normally didn't care since he ate outside on Sundays due to him not wanting to cook but, since The Governor had scammed him ,his wallet was running dry and he couldn't afford that anymore – all of that landed him back to start of his train of thought, today is Friday, which meant sales on the local groceries stores. He looked at his watch
5:51 p.m.
The grocery' sales of choice ended at 6:00 p.m.
To go from where he was to that grocery it would take about twenty minutes if he took the bus.
Bus, Train or Car they would be too slow.
So he ran like hell; never in his life did his legs moved at that speed. He even used some of his cursed power to increase his speed and he began leaping like a human bullet without regard for the bystanders watching – nothing in hell, earth or heaven could come between him and those sales.
The air ran cold and the tension was so high and concentrated that it could be cut with a kitchen knife. The Devils of Gremory were standing behind their King, watchful eyes locked in distrust on the two humans before them – a steel pair of orbs not only were being directed at them but also at their swords, hate, loathing, despise and repulsion surfaced on the once immaculate and perfect face of the Prince of Kuoh, his visage unrecognizable.
A thought surfaced on the Crimson-Princess head, one that he longed her knight could hear 'I need you to bear with it a little longer Yuuto…'
It would be the exorcists who would break the silence.
"The other day, three of the Holy Swords Excaliburs were stolen while under church care" One of the two exorcists present spoke, the one with two ponytails and light-brown hair, her name was Irina Shidou.
"Excaliburs as in plural, so you mean there is more than one?" A stupefied Issei asked his childhood friend in curiosity.
This time it was Irina's partner that would speak her mind. She was also a girl but with short blue hair and brown eyes.
"After the battle of Camlann and the destruction of the blade, the sword was shattered into seven pieces. Nowadays the sword lives on in seven alchemy-based blades – this one is Excalibur Destruction" her voice was calm and collected devoid of felling and completely professional.
Kiba's hate deepened.
"…and this one is Excalibur Mimic, it can take many shapes" On the other hand Irina's voice was more joyful and passionate, a bit more outgoing than her partner.
"…and your business in my territory is?" the Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess interceded in the conversation and demanded answers.
The dangerous voice of the Princess of Gremory didn't faze the exorcist, as they continued as if nothing had happened.
"Between the Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox churches all have ownership of one Excalibur pair, excluding the one who was lost. A month ago one of blade was stolen from each church. Thankfully we traced the trail of the perpetrator and his assailants to this Island"
The blue-haired exorcists explained, leaving it open for her partner to finish the sentence.
"The Star of God, the One Who Guards Against the Children of God, the Watcher of Stars and Leader of the Grigori – Kokabiel"
The reaction was immediate and physically visible, more of Akeno's than Rias' side, whoever the president of the Occult Research club was the only one that voiced said concerns.
"A Cadre of the Grigori?! Is he really the one?"
"Yes, along the Stray Exorcist Freed Sellzen and ex-priest Valper Galilei"
Issei physically tensed at the mention of the name of the stray exorcist, a vivid memory of freshly dead corpses filled his mind and a maniacal laugh resonated through his mind, a pain that he hadn't felt a while surfaced – Asia's hand clasping his own provided an anchor to reality.
Kiba also tensed, his anger raised at the mention of that monster, not the fallen angel nor the stray exorcist – the monster wearing a priest's skin – unlike Issei, no one was there to pull him out of his memories.
"What could they be doing in my territory…with those stolen holy blades to add…?" the Gremory devil asked.
"We don't know, not entirely, but that isn't the reason of this conversation. We came to tell you to stay out of our business and let us retrieve the Excaliburs on our terms" the wielder of Excalibur Destruction responded.
"Humph – how full of yourselves, are you afraid that we will ally ourselves with the fallen angels?" such terms didn't bode with the Heiress of Gremory.
"Headquarters is concerned with that possibility – whether you align yourselves with our enemy is no concern, a supervisor from the Vatican is on the way as we speak, with this supervisor on our side you pose as much of threat as an ant poses to a human"
Rias was seething with anger, her arms folded, her shoulders visibly shaking and her teeth were grinding against each other. She would never, in the name of the Duke of Gremory, ally herself with those crows, that this human would assume so was an insult to her pride.
"…you have the gull..."
Tensions were running high, if the red aura the Princess of Destruction was exuding was anything to go by, so Irina decided to defuse the situation her partner's bluntness had caused by switching the topic back to its main course.
"…as Xenovia was saying, the reason we are requesting privacy on this matter is to keep this problem from scaling upwards – right now this concerns just fallen angels and the church, if the devils are suddenly thrown on this mix…well the threat of the three faction war sparking once again is as real as the air we breathe"
Now a more calm and composed Rias analyzed her words and found some truth to them, but…
"Still facing Kokabiel alone is a death sentence, even with this Vatican supervisor the odds are stacked against you – are you both willing to die while following orders?"
"That's right – our lives and bodies are the only thing we can offer to our faith – if they are essential in the retrieval of the Excaliburs then we will gladly give them" Irina's devotion was strong and burned like a bonfire against the black of night.
"Our faith has given us purpose, now it's asking our servitude in return – We are bound by a Sacred Oath, to violate them would be to violate our faith. If madmen like Kokabiel and Freed Sellzen get their hands on those swords the cost on innocent life would be incalculable; to turn a blind eye to that would be to turn a blind eye on our Oath" Xenovia's devotion was more akin to the pact of a knight, it was pure and deadly like the steel they wielded.
"Such devotion…I understand why the church takes advantage of people like you…"
"Think what you want Devil – our business here has concluded" a snort left the blue-haired exorcist while strapping her warped sword on her back
"Ara, won't you have some tea before leaving"
"We don't need it" Xenovia's gaze shifted and met the petrified gaze of the ex-nun "Meeting you at Issei's House was the last thing I expected but are you the Witch Asia Argento"
…
One minute.
Just one minute – that is how late he had arrived. During his mad dash to the grocery store he went over fences, over traffic, he blitzed past some motorcycles and left cars in the dust, he even jumped some rooftops for good measure…still…one minute late. As that minute passed all his hopes and dreams left him too…
Now on his way back home all he could hope for a normal travel back ho-…
"Let go of me! You pervert!"
A call for help reached his ears and grunt escaped his mouth.
"Hugh…why do I've to tempt fate"
Two aqua eyes shifted from his usual destination to the way he heard that cry for help coming from. A secluded alleyway; too dark to distinguish who was inside it He heard it, a cry for help, and he couldn't ignore it – so he headed straight into the lion's den. There he found dare he say a questioning scene; a young man, probably on his eighteens and dressed in priest's clothes and with silver hair, was trying to get on top of a girl, from the alley's shadow he could not discern her features. She was resisting his advances and physically keeping him away, something incredible considering her smaller frame, but he didn't know how much she would last. So he reacted and took the closest thing to him, a garbage can's lid, and threw directly at his head.
His shot rang true and the man lost his grip and stumbled.
"Hey there buddy-"
Katsuo wasn't able to finish his sentence as the faux-priest's mouth opened and spilled his vile.
"What do we have here another fucking heathen…it seems like I'll have my fun after I deal with you trash!"
"You interrupted me at the best part, I was about to give some killer lines…" He said sarcastically, trying to take the mind of the man off the girl – if he could make himself the target of confrontation the girl could slip out of the man's grasp at a moment's notice.
The faux-priest however took the target too literally; taking a gun out of his coat and without remorse pulling its trigger.
BANG!
The gun resonated, the girl screamed in horror and the bullet made out of light impacted dead center into his forehead. The fake priest expected him to collapse, the girl expected him to collapse – on any normal circumstance a normal high school boy trying to play hero would have collapsed…he wasn't a normal high school boy though.
His head moved slowly and his raging eyes, like a storm about to be unleashed, faced his assailant in full force.
"…you missed" Katsuo's voice was mocking yet didn't hide animosity behind them.
"…what the fuck?"
Shots were fired once again; four bullets of light came at him at full force – this shots he could see, to these he could react accordingly. Two shots came crashing into him; one hit his right cheek while the other one impacted his open left eye – both shattered like glass upon contact, becoming nothing more than sparks in the wind. As for the remaining two shots, they were headed for his chest and stomach…they were swatted away by his hands, as if they were flies, with pinpoint accuracy. They were weak artillery, he recognized the mark and model, and something so weak would never pierce him.
Shock was plastered on the lecherous priest's face.
"Be careful where you aim, I only have one set of school clothes…I would hate to make that just one pair…" his tone was dead-serious even if his words were not.
The fake priest put a hand to his mouth and started shaking, then suddenly…
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA – I guess that you are a cut above of all the trash in this town…it gives me a good opportunity to test my new toy" the man then proceeded to put a hand into his coat…
Time stopped, every single superfluous use of his concentration was cut out and his instincts kicked in. Katsuo knew the weapon so thoroughly because it was a exorcist gun, he was trained in their use after all, this along his coat and vulgar and violent demeanor left no doubt in his mind – this man was a Stray Exorcist…because of that if he had a light gun, he also had a holy sword. It may be not as strong as his own blade, but it didn't need to have the ability to destroy half the city to be dangerous to bystanders…especially to the girl, and if the possibility existed that the blade was as dangerous as his own, then he had to stop him from drawing it.
Time resumed and his body jumped into action in a single motion, kicking the ground and shortening the distance between the two in a second – he extended his hand and then…
Rias Gremory had no idea the how or why she let things scale to this point, how the interaction between the ex-nun and the blue haired exorcist could lead to a fight between the enforcers of the church and her pawn and knight. She hadn't done anything to stop it and their fight was stated to be only a private duel without affiliation to any faction…still she couldn't help but be worried for both of her boys.
'Knowing Yuuto he won't calm until this happens…I just hope that he won't react the same way he did during that duel with Katsuo…'
Issei was facing against Irina. She looked like a speed-based fighter, without enough Boosts or Promotion he would have a very difficult match. There wasn't much she could analyze about this match without more information.
Kiba against Xenovia looked more promising. The Blue haired girl, by the looks of her sword of choice, appeared to be more focused on brute strength and heavy hitting blows while Kiba used his speed and arsenal variety to attack an enemy from different directions – good, this wouldn't be the first time her knight would face a stronger but slower swordsman.
"Get ready" Rias called the attention of the duelist; their muscles tensed ant their hearts raced – adrenaline coursing through their veins.
"To think my childhood friend would become a devil…this must be a test from the lord – I will overcome this trial with true faith! Come, Ise-kun I will judge your sins with my blade and bring salvation to your lecherous soul! Amen!" her bracelet unwrapping and becoming a Japanese katana.
"I don't get your justice but I'll show you mine – Boosted Gear Go!" his left arm glowed and in a flash of red fire the gauntlet of the red emperor appeared "Sexual Desire is strength! It is Justice!"
"Prepare yourself Devil, my Excalibur will not go easy on you" the white bandages untangling and reveling the massive sword hidden behind the curtains.
"…The thing I wanted to crush for all my life appearing before me…I've never felt such happiness – that you, an exorcist like him, is wielding it…it fills my heart with joy" a blade appeared in his hand, a sword of darkness meant to consume the light, Holy Eraser.
"Go!" And with the call of the Red Devil their clash began.
His hands wrapped tightly around his, the grip that could dig deep into a strong oak, around the weak and breakable composition that was a human's hands – muscle, skin, fat, bones, blood, tendons and nerves…he could shatter them all if he wanted yet he exerted the necessary pressure to inflict discomfort unto his assailant but not enough to cripple him.
"How what a strong Grip you have there! HAHAHA! Strong as a Bull are we!" even right now with both of his hands held on a stationary spot, the fake priest found something to get excited about.
As for Katsuo, he was completely serious, because unlike the time where he rescued some cats out of trees or pulled trucks out of holes…this time there was a life on the line and unlike that time when he rescued Issei, he had no hidden trump card and he was on a heavily populated area.
Now he would have to rely on his words and ingenuity, if he wanted the girl to get out of this situation.
"…Let's not do this right now"
"Ohhh of course we are going to do this right now…after what you have showed me…I'm so excited for this!"
"There are a lot of bystanders, do you want the ruler of this land to come on your trail"
"I don't give a fuck about that red bitch, I'll be going for her after I'm done with that girl and you" the sick priest seemed to give some thought to his reasoning before a sickening smile plastered itself on his face "say, have I by any chance tried to kill you before?"
"First time I've seen your deranged ass" the man wanted to be vulgar so he would respond in kind.
"You sure…you just look so familiar…tell…have you been to the Sellzen family reunions – it get wild down there! HAHAHA!" his blood red eyes stared into his aqua ones and there Katsuo could see it…a rabid and unhinged animal whose chain had been cut loose.
He had to try another approach; it was clear this stray was crazy with no regard for human life and consequences…perhaps giving him what he wanted was the correct answer.
"You want a fight…I'll give you one, but not right now. Go back to whatever sewer you crawled up from and when the sun sets, you and I can play cat and mouse all you want"
"That sounds good…BUT I WANT MY FIGHT RIGHT NOW!" the deranged man swung his head in and struck directly Katsuo's forehead – a splat of blood formed on their faces, but only a trial of it travelled through the priest's face "HAHAHAHA YOU TRULY ARE UNBREAKABLE"
"…" his face remained stoic and unscratched.
A white magic circle appeared upon the faux Priest's ears, he could not hear anything coming form it, but by the sudden look of his assailant someone was relaying something to him…something that was more important than their little altercation.
"It seems like my boys are calling me home – if you don't mind" the voice of the faux priest became less wild but its original savagery was there, hidden between layers – Katsuo couldn't stay in this position forever so he let the wild animal free and to his surprise it didn't bite "I'll take you up to your promise…next time I'll be raping your corpse"
With that last snide remark that beast left the alley and disappeared into the streets.
He took his time to clean the blood on his forehead, before finally turning at the victim of this whole situation. She had remained near a corner crouched during the whole situation, her hands on her ears and both eyes closed – Good, he didn't want to explain how he survived a shot to the face – now that her abuser was gone, she carefully rose up from her spot.
Now in full view he couldn't help but stare more than what was needed; she had a very athletic body with a pair of what Issei could only describe as a pair of Killer Kazangas that weren't too disproportioned with her 159 cm and actually fitted quite well with her overall aesthetic-
"God damn it! I'm spending too much time with Issei!"
She was wearing a, dare he say, very risqué school outfit; consisting of high thighs, a very small black shorts, a small black jacket and a very tight school shirt with a small tie – the shirt was so tight that he could see-
"I really need to find myself a new friend…'
To round up her appearance she had a large-braided ponytail made of light blonde, almost golden, hair and her eyes were as blue as the sky.
"Are you alright"
The soft and innocent voice woke him up from his stupor, only to realize that the voice belonged to the girl he just helped.
"Ah…y-yeah everything is fine" he stammered a bit, the self-confidence aura from before dissipating in the process.
"It's just that you were staring…" her actions were pretty shy and nervous – he wouldn't blame her after being in the hands of that beast.
"Sorry about that! I didn't mean to…I just…remembered something I friend said…" he wasn't exactly lying with that statement, but he was stammering so much that a light blush set on his face "So…are you new in town"
'Smooth right there Don Juan'
"Ah, yes, I tried to get directions from that man…but his intentions were anything but noble…"
A snort escaped his lips.
"It wouldn't surprise me at all – where were you exactly going? I may be relatively new in town, but I know how to get around" before even registering his words, he was already extending his help to her.
"I was due to meet some friends of mine at Kuoh Academy"
That was unexpected and convenient; though there was some distance between where they were and the academy, reaching it would be no problem to him though.
"That is a big coincidence – I study there, if you want I can show you the way…but I would understand if you didn't want to trust a complete stranger"
In response to his words she shyly shook her head before giving him a very childlike and cheerful smile – it wasn't very wide and didn't show any teeth yet the radiance it emanated was unmistakable.
"You have proven to be a real Good Samaritan; I would gladly accept your help once more"
"Well then follow me, it's not so far off" Katsuo said, guiding her out of the alley and unto the streets.
The atmosphere between them was suddenly filled with silence. A smile was present on her face as she took in the scenery before her, she most likely wasn't used to the people and ways of Japan – speaking of which, that made him notice something…
"I noticed you carry an accent – if I've had to guess I'd say…French?"
"Is it that obvious…I try really hard to hide it" her gaze shifted to the side and she started to fidget with her hair shyly, yet responded nonetheless "…but you are correct, I'm from Orleans…you are very perceptive"
"Well I'm from Germany myself, France isn't so far off"
Those Sky blue eyes focused him and she sincerely asked.
"May I know your name?"
"Sorry, I guess with all the excitement I forgot formalities. My name is Katsuo Hirai"
"Katsuo – Victory and Hero – a very appropriate name for you, I like it, hehe" a childish and innocent giggle escaped her lips in response – suddenly her face turned serious, placing a hand under her chin, she was drawn into her own thoughts "Katsuo….hmmm, I wonder…Kat- no that wouldn't work….I know! How about Katsu-kun as your nickname"
Katsu means…Cutlet …from hero to a slice of meat…Gaijin-san, European Prick Face and Katsu – truly he had nicknames that nobody would envy.
"A-a little bit on the nose don't you think" As much as he was troubled for his new nickname the stars in the girls eyes made it almost impossible for him to react negatively…so he had to settle with it " …can I know yours?"
That shining and cordial smile made her way into her face once again, with sky blue eyes focused on him and her arms behind her back – the words that left her were joyful and childish, but most importantly they were honest and carried a sense of pride to them.
"Just call me Jeanne"
Broken blades littered the battlefield, large craters replaced solid ground and the clash of swords filled the area replacing the singing of birds and the blowing wind. The duel between the exorcist and the devils continued, and though the devils were giving it their all, the match was becoming more one sided with every clashing sound.
Steel eyes focused on his opponent with a snarl forming in his mouth, his breath was becoming ragged and hate was forming in his heart. He could see it, how could he not? From the moment she raised that massive sword Kiba Yuuto saw a mirage, a flashback, of a silver-haired swordsman.
'…This Style'
Holy Eraser clashed against Excalibur Destruction – his demonic blade shattered upon contact.
'…This Strength'
His body twisted in response to the incoming blade, drawing from the speed of his Knight piece to avoid the holy blade in the nick of time – another set of Demonic Swords being birthed on his hands.
'…The way she moves…'
His opponent was relentless, using her physical strength to propel herself across the battlefield; wasting no time she used her momentum to deliver an empowered blow. The Knight of Gremory reacted instantly and moved out of the way of her attack. Once she completed her motion the aftershock of her swing displaced the air and sent the Knight of Gremory skidding away.
'…Those heavy moves…those larger than life swings…her great-sword fighting style…and the way she uses her strength to make up for her speed… …There is no doubt about it…those are His moves…'
Kiba Yuuto didn't see the Blue-haired exorcist before him – no – he saw Him, the ex-exorcist with the unnatural strength and with the unbreakable skin – the Holy Sword wielder that lived under their noses…and that infuriated him more. All her moves reminded him of that duel at the Gremory manor; her stance was heavy and unmoving, her swings carried the strength of a raging bull and her defense was akin to an unbreakable fortress – and he could see them, he could predict them; this time he was prepared for this type of opponent… but there was an underlying difference between the two…
Finesse – the Excalibur wielder lacked it…or at least lacked the one He displayed. In contrast to the Silver-haired swordsman, whose stance was peerless and wasted no energy in his moves, her swordsmanship was rough around the edges, not to be confused, she was tremendously skilled…but the knowledge she lacked she made up in another area – the defining difference between the two.
Ferocity – her moves, her techniques and her fighting spirit carried it to a disproportioned amount. What she lacked in skill and finesse, she made it up in an unrivalled ferocity that made her style more aggressive and deadly than His. She was like angry tigress chasing her prey – fierce, unrelenting and unforgiving, unlike His more defensive-based style, her offense left him barely any time to breath.
Those two factors alongside that she was using a live Holy Sword instead of a wooden bokken made this fight more difficult than it should.
'Just being near that blade is enough to drain my stamina…'
"I've already disarmed you thirteen times and you still continue to struggle" her voice was smug and confident, yet retained her calmness and seriousness.
The Knight of Gremory entered his dual wield stance.
"I'll rest when that sword of yours becomes nothing more than shards…" the loathing he carried for those blades and their users surfaced, though he had to keep his head straight to defeat her, just the presence of the Excalibur and the mirage of that man was enough to draw his anger to surface level.
"As you wish – I'll keep count of how many blades I'll shatter before you surrender"
A dark chuckle escaped his mouth.
"…Then I hope you can keep up…" both demonic swords were plunged directly into the ground and he called with all his might "[Sword Birth]!"
From two came four – from four came eight, from eight sixteen and so on until, in the blink of an eye, a trail of demonic swords formed into the direction of the Blue haired exorcist, what followed did put a grin in his face – in the stoic and prideful face of the exorcist for the first time in their match worry appeared.
Issei was restless; he had worked hard, unlocked his power and beat the Yakitori and his female only team, but…he hadn't had time to use his secret technique, the power he worked so hard to make…
'…WHY CAN'T USE DRESS BREAK ON ANYONE…I WORKED SO HARD TO MAKE THAT SPELL'
He knew he could win, he only needed one touch but Irina was fast, way too fast, faster than him and even after boosting he was way too slow to catch up to her. Even after drawing strength from his lecherous sprit he was nowhere close to catching up to her
But if being a pervert had thought him anything is…he had to go all out!
[Explosion]
All his power gathered into one leap – leap into those twin soft melons, a leap into God's domain and it was there just an inch from his fingers until with a blur…
…
…
'…wait…these boobs on my left – they are too flat…and these boobs on my right – they are good but still need development…'
When the sound of clothes ripping and two high-pitched screams filled his ears it was too late. The pervert stared directly into two sets of eyes; one set was light green while the other was gold – then he understood.
"Ah? Koneko? Asia?"
His eyes drifted downwards and, though their hands were keeping their modesty private, nothing escaped the gaze of a pervert…and his nose bleed.
…
CRACK
…
He was happy a smile on his face reflected it; he thanked whatever deity heard his prayer…though his ribs shattered from Koneko's punch and he was flying straight into the stratosphere...he could die happy knowing that the last sight he saw were Oppai!
"No way! You spent your childhood in a church?"
Jeanne's excitement and wonder was almost contagious, it made him chuckle in response.
"It isn't that impressive…to be honest it was quite boring most of the time"
"Still…I find it whimsical – to live in the sacred ground of god every day, it must have been a very eye opening experience" the way she said that appeared to be more akin to a child that spoke of a candy shop instead of a church.
"You are quite devote, not many people are so today"
"Quite a shame to be honest – the importance of prayer is not to be underestimated, under any circumstance"
"…to ease the burdens of one's soul" Katsuo asked.
"To ease the burdens of the Lord – His must be an incredible and unimaginable burden, to have the weight of every life unto His shoulder must be something with no comparison and to do so for millennia…so I pray not for myself but to ease his sorrow and heal his laments – I know it's not much but I hope that He finds solace in my small prayer just like I find solace in His way and teachings"
"…"
Silence – that was the only response he could give her. Her words were true and honest; there was no arrogance in them. It wasn't a statement made to make her appear nobler, it was the voice of her heart and the way she expressed her outmost and sincere devotion; any believer would have been moved by her words and the irradiating charisma that came with her humbleness…it made him feel horrible that he couldn't feel the same way…a life like his, an existence like him, who the hand of fate had given such a rotten card…could not believe in the same way as she did…
The way was becoming familiar and, before they knew it, they arrived. This should have been the place where they parted ways, he had no reason to stay…yet something made his feet move by instinct – he didn't knew what it was, be it fate or Jeanne's shinning charisma.
They kept walking, no longer was he the lead…neither was she…someone else...something else made them move in tandem.
"…"
"…"
The once cheerful and joyful personality that was the French girl was silence and sense of seriousness, unlike anything she had shown before, could be felt emanating from her.
They moved through the gates, past the main building, past the parking lot and then…he heard it…a sound engraved in his brain…engrained in his being, in his core.
Swords Clashing
The sound of battle finally reached his ears and then he understood…this was it…this was the force that was guiding them both – it spoke to their very core and activated the part of them that was meant to fight…guiding them, putting them into a state of trance.
When they arrived at the Sports Yard they saw it; broken ground, thousands of shattered blades, the heat of battle filled the area. There was Kiba lying on the ground, supporting his weight on one hand, never before had he seen him so beaten.
But that didn't matter.
None of that mattered.
The broken Demonic Swords, Rias and her Peerage, Jeanne's dead serious expression and the destruction that filled the area were secondary, all of it was unimportant in his mind…
All that matter, all that was worth caring about…were those brown eyes.
His expression softened, a genuine smile unconsciously formed on his lips, his heart started beating faster and he felt a warmness unlike no other – though he told himself it was better if they never met again he could not deny the happiness he was feeling…and the shame it came with…
They focused on him, those brown eyes, and in them saw his reflection, the complex and contradictory feeling he was feeling right now reflected on them, as the widened in surprise.
He had so much to say, much to explain, much to ask…he didn't care how this encounter was possible or if it was even real…he could only summarize it all with a simple…
"…Hi Xenovia…"
A/N: Another chapter and so fast, this must be the work of an enemy [STAND]
This Note won't be as long; I wanted to address openly two reviews, since they are actually pretty important to the fic as a whole: What type of romance I've planned for Katsuo? Will he have a harem or is single pairing?
I'll be 100% honest, when I started this fic I did it with the harem idea in mind, BUT I'm approaching the whole romance aspect like a gardener meaning I'm letting seeds fall in different places and they may grow as they may not. You can easily see where those seeds are falling; I've been pretty obvious with them…If the seed grows into a flower I'll make sure that it gets the care and development it deservers with its own arc exploring and developing it . There are some girls that I consider off limits since they are so interconnected with Issei I don't feel comfortable and/or are really difficult to switch them over e.g.(Asia, Rias, Irina, Ravel, possibly Koneko and Kuroka)…so yeah.
Thanks for reading, if you liked the chapter leave a review reading them makes my day.
Till next time
