The Devil and the Chicken
Chapter 2: The Fool, Part 2
Arc: Monk of Destruction.
Glossary:
"Greetings." Normal speech.
'Greetings.' Thinking speech.
[Greetings.] Comms and phone speech.
{Greetings.} TV and Radio speech.
{START}
Throughout history, scholars, scientist and whoever had a thinking brain has always asked themselves if they were alone in this universe. In this vast plain of existence, with planets, stars, and darkness around the planet, people wondered if there is more to it than just Earth floating by itself in a galaxy filled with other planets.
Humans, for possibly since the dawn of time, ruled the realm of known by many as Earth. The Human Realm. The Land of the Living or whatever name it has been given by those outside has been walking in this realm in a complete obliviousness, with some having the idea they are the only ones walking, living, and expanding creatures on the planet. Not counting non-sentient creatures, humans have always seen themselves as the one species. Even with the different religions everywhere citing different legends and stories with some believing it and others not so much.
While humans wondered beyond the world, beyond the Old Life. They failed to see around them, for the realm they walk in, and the planet they inhabit has more than just a simple ball of oceans, lands, and life.
Humans who stop watching above and alternately observe around them will realize that they were never truly alone or unique.
Not really, not ever. Not since the dawn of time.
For these Legends and Stories started from somewhere. All of them began like any other place in history.
An illuminating light blazed around the park, sparks of it sheeted through like fireworks as a dark figure landed violently on the nearby grass in a loud thud.
The figure wheezed in pain and coughed blood. All over their body were wounds, small flesh wounds to severe ones by their legs and their black wings.
"Shit…"
Raynare coughed out blood from her mouth, grimacing in pain after trying to move her body too quickly as arrows, blue energy arrows all over her body, three of them on her back, which all of it happened in a span of one minute.
"Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!…" she gritted her teeth, trying to sit up to no avail as she lay on the grass face first, punching the ground in frustration and anger "DAMMIT! THIS WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN!"
Her mind went back to Hyoudou Issei, the mission she was tasked to be done in his name. The moment she stabbed that boy was the moment she felt complete fulfillment! Doing what she felt needed to be done! For the sake of the mission!
For the sake of being accepted by him-
"Still alive, crow?"
Her eyes enlarged in fear, slowly turning her head to see an approaching Bazzard Black. His shoulder bleeding from the lucky shot she managed to hit him with, but all it did was piss him off, and judging from his nonchalant expression, he seems more irritated at the wound than being in pain.
Almost on impulse, she tried to attack the red-headed student, jumping at him with all of her remaining strength, generating a purple blade from her hands, she attacked.
Only for Bazz to dodge the attack easily, letting it pass by close to his face as he crocked his free hand back and swung, delivering a vicious punch at the Fallen Angel, powerful enough to break nose from the force.
"Stay down" he warned to the Fallen Angel, staring her crumble in pain as she held her nose and face. His tone turning dangerously low and filled with venom. It was clear he was holding back, but it did not mean he will give her a breathing room or let this fight be any faster or easier for the Fallen.
He wanted to savor it, he wanted her to know she is not getting out of this with a quick death. No, he is making sure the message is sent for what she has done, for the sake of the kid she has killed.
"I'll hand it to ya, it's been a while since anything managed to get me to bleed, almost made me feel getting rusty" he noted, slowly approaching her "Thanks for reminding me that I am only human… and that I can die if I slip up" Bazzard stared down at her with half-lidded eyes, holding up his blue energy bow, he took another step, which caused Raynare in fear to crawl away from him.
"No! No… not here… I cannot die in this place!" she begged, crawling through the grass in a pitiful attempt to run away from the tall student. To her, dying in this godforsaken park, a nameless place, would be the ultimate humiliation for her. Especially after completing her mission "Please! You don't have to kill me!"
"You're seriously saying that after you just killed that kid?" Bazzard Black asked sharply as he quickly came up to the Fallen Angel, looking down at her with a look of contempt "Shits like you don't deserve the idea of walking out of this mess alive. You never gave that kid a chance, so why the hell do you get one too?"
Raynare continued crawling away, grimacing in pain while she bled all over the grass. Fear gripped her heart, remembering the short fight if you can call it a fight. Bazzard Black completely and utterly showed her no mercy, in a span of one minute he left not a second for her to have an opening. Every shot, every arrow sent, were precise and on point. Every time she tried lunging at him like earlier, he answered with a swift punch, shattering her nose and damaging her face every single time.
He made sure to not give her even a second of chance to fire back, the one lone holy spear she managed to throw was the only form of an attack she managed to hit him, forcing him to stop his onslaught but it all seems for naught as it didn't seem to have any effect on the tall student.
"Do you…" she tried to speak up, rolling and turning up to glare at Bazzard Black, who looked down at her in a dull expression "Do you even know why I did it?..."
"Not really, nor do I care" Bazzard replied bluntly, standing above her fallen form.
Raynare chuckled in pain and coughed "You hang out together for a while and you don't even notice…" she cited "Do you really think I just picked him in random? Huh? Do you think that me? A Fallen Angel of the Grigori is just picking some random kid off the street and just kill him?" she growled in anger, eyeing the man with a piercing gaze "That fool has a Sacred Gear! A weapon like that! In his hands would mean a disaster!"
Bazzard's eyes widen, stopping his walk after that bit of revelation falling on him about Hyoudou. It made sense, why would a Fallen Angel target a human randomly? Unless said humans offended them, which is something Hyoudou Issei did not do.
He sighed, and slowly lowered himself and squatted beside her. Letting her continue her explanation.
"No… you knew… you know what he really is…" Raynare coughed, trying to keep eye contact with him. He had that look about him that he knew the second-year student had something within him, or at least suspected it "I was given a mission… a mission to watch and confirm what he has as proof that he is a danger. You might laugh at me and say he is not. But if you knew what is inside him? And what he can do with that power? He has the power to ruin the world!" she explained, her tone slowly turning to venom, trying to justify herself in killing a seventeen-year-old "I did it for the sake of my orders, I don't need to even explain how it feels to do what is needed!"
Bazzard stayed silent, letting it seep with her words. Raynare cocked her head, hoping that with her words he might understand the reasons she committed, to do for the sake of high power. To do for the sake to be recognized for your loyalty and work ethics to be rewarded!
"I actually do…" Bazzard's voice was calm, flat, and even. Yet Raynare picked up another tone under it, a tone of frustration "I know how it feels like to do what is demanded sake of a mission under orders. For the sake of being recognized…" he remarked, sounding far away like he was remembering something.
Her eyes widen, feeling hopeful-
"Except there is no justification in killing a kid just because you are afraid of what he might or might not do" he cited, his tone changing into a vicious one "We don't get to decide that, not even God himself decides that. Sacred Gear or not. You spilled innocent blood, and God isn't here to grant you crows any forgiveness"
Raynare's eyes widen in shock, then slowly felt herself shaking as her heart sank.
Bazzard stood up, his eyes still looking at in contempt, his hands gripping the bow handle. Getting ready to finish her off once and for all.
"Wait! Please!"
"Don't worry, it'll be quick…" he lamented at her attempt to crawl away from him before walking up her and put his foot her back, preventing her from escaping, he had his fill for today when it comes to this worthless fight "I'll have to explain this fucking mess to him after I am done-"
Abruptly, he felt an energy surge up nearby.
Near where Hyoudou Issei's body is located.
Bazzard turned his head in the direction where he felt the energy, eyes narrowing.
'Another crow?...' he wondered then sensed it again and grimaced, recognizing the energy, it felt dark, demonic. 'No… another headache…'
Raynare, who was still pinned down, saw his attention being focused elsewhere. Seeing her chance, she began to flap her bloody wings in a desperate attempt to fly off the ground, knowing she doesn't have the time to prepare or the energy to move his foot off of her back.
Bazz's foot slipped the moment she managed to fly forward, causing him to fall. She rapidly flew forward, leaving a gust of wind, dirt, and grass behind her, making her escape.
"Fucking hell!" he shouted in anger and quickly took a position. The Fallen Angel began to raise up from the ground, struggling off the pain she felt around her body all the while flapping her wings into the sky. Taking a deep breath, he got into a shooting stance, aiming the spirit bow to where the Fallen was flying off, Bazz took another deep breath and pulled the string.
Time slowed down around him, like he was in a trance, in the focus of his target. From his fingertips, he pulled the string, a blue arrow made out of energy began to form, taking shape until it's complete. He focused his sight ahead, his eyes zeroed in the Fallen Angel.
The perfect shot, a shot he took a thousand times.
'God I hate bows and arrows… takes too long to get ready…' he aimed carefully, making sure he had the perfect shot, there is no room for mistakes 'Really missing my crossbow by now…'
And released-
"RUN! KATRINA RUN!"
What?
Memories, several of them, began flooding through his eyes. No longer was he standing in the middle of a park, where a fountain was located, where small trees stood, where a wide space of area was around him.
"MOMMY!"
No…
The area around him change, no longer was he in a park, instead, he was in a forest. Deep at the heart of a thick forest. Trees so tall you would they are as tall as any building, you can feel nothing but the sense of strangulation, the sense of tightness of the spaces.
The sense of imprisonment, like a rat being cornered.
Lichtreich…
The smell of burning, still coursing through still years later.
No… not now…
Ahead of him, where Raynare was at his sight, where she was feeling from him. Now at his sight was a different person, a child. Her hair color… blond, a young girl who some say she was born impure…
"You are his Knight" those words echo around him "Finish it, finish your mission. In the name of our holy emperor!-"
"Shut up!"
He allowed the arrow loose, but in his lack of concentration from the memory, he didn't have a lock on the Fallen Angel. Because of it, the arrow sailed through the air before it completely missed the escaping Raynare, not even a graze on her as the Fallen continued flying through the sky with whatever strength she can muster to keep her wings flapping.
Bazzard aimed once again, trying to get another shot, but the Fallen managed to get a good distance away from him. Away at his level of strength at the moment.
"Tch…" he clicked his tongue "I am losing my touch… I could have burned her if I was still a hundred percent…" he muttered. The Fallen was already out of his sight, and before long she would hide her presence and energy from him finding her.
He turned his head back to where Hyoudou's body was resting, feeling the new energy beside his cold body. Bazzard clicked his tongue once again before taking a step forward before grunting in pain. His body finally making him notice of the big wound he suffered at the hands of the Fallen Angel.
"Either she is good… or I am losing my touch…" he muttered before shaking his head, this pain meant nothing to him, he suffered worse "Two years of doing nothing and look what that got me…"
He stepped forward with the intention to greet this newcomer who managed to give him a few seconds of pause, which in turn gave the Fallen Angel the needed escape they desired.
'So much for keeping my head down…'
{D&C}
She was too late.
Leaning closer to carefully examine his wounds and Grimacing at the sight of the hole on his chest, the sensation and smell of holy elements still lingered around his wound and in the air. To her kind, even the smell of anything that resembles a holy element would make them sick, hesitant to approach anything that their kind so much as touched it.
"I am sorry… I should have been faster…" she knew if she teleported right away the moment she felt the mark going haywire, she could have made it time and saved him, but something kept interfering with her teleportation circle that caused it to be blocked. However, a minute later she was able to find an opening when that same interference was suddenly weakened. "His body was still warm" she noted. Knowing he is on burrowed, even with the young student being dead, she could still save him, save his soul from going to the other side.
Opening the palm of her hands, red energy surged from it, and out came a chess piece. Grabbing it, she brought the piece close to his body, something she has done a couple of times by now-
She suddenly felt a hand grabbing her by the wrist. The hand-pulled her up from her place, making her come face to face with the newcomer, their emerald eyes glared to her with hostility and mistrust.
She had to keep her expression neutral from shock after recognizing who she is facing at the moment, cursing to herself for not sensing them earlier when she focused on Hyoudou Issei. She sensed the Fallen Angel, but the other presence, which is now clearly the person in front of her, somehow hid it from her sensing them. Either that or she really kept her guard down.
Bazzard Black gave her a wary look, frowning at her with suspicions "Body ain't cold yet and already you are going for it?" he questioned her in anger, his hands tightly holding her wrist "You bats are always involved in these type of messes… and they always end up with someone dying"
Her eyes widened, his tone and his name-calling indicated one thing. He knows. He knows who and what she is.
Rias Gremory, keeping her composure together and the heavy power she felt came down to the pit of her stomach after her realization, stared back at Bazzard Black with a glare of her own, standing her ground. Identifying if she wavered or show too much strength in her part, it could be the end of her.
'From his tone… he also knows of what I am about to do with Hyoudou Issei…'
She needs to maintain control in an equal ground. Particularly if the person questioning you has an energy bow by their side.
"Bazzard Black, I think this is the first time we've actually spoken to each other" Rias noted "Although I would have favored a better place and conditions for us to speak" she eyed his grip on her wrist "I would appreciate it if you didn't have to grab me this roughly and try a more... delicate grip"
Bazzard answered with tightening his hold.
Keeping her composure in place, Rias eased herself and her presence. Letting her free hand down while eyeing him with interest and focus.
"How did you know?" Rias asked, if she can stall him for a few moments then maybe she can answer with something of her own. Her eyes turned to the wound on his shoulder, bleeding heavily, possibly from the fight against the fallen "Of… what I really am? Did you sense my powers?"
"That… and your last name" Bazzard answered bluntly, eyeing between her and Issei. He kept his grip on her wrist "No one carries a name like that is literally apart of the Ars Goetia list of demon houses" cited the young man before his eyes narrowed "And everyone knows who you are, Rias Gremory"
Rias raised an eyebrow, impressed with his observation.
"I did not know you actually read Solomon's books, or any books for that matter" Rias noted "Forgive me for wondering, you just… don't look like it" she motioned her hand around him, before stopping dead on his hair.
Bazzard glare intensified but kept his emotions in check and through gritted teeth answered her "You're lucky I am not in the mood to argue but yes, I read about your people because someone annoyed me into memorizing each of the names" he answered in an honest tone "Not bothering with changing the name, are you? Thought you devils were all about keeping the whole supernatural thing under wraps"
Devils. Denizens of Hell or the Underworld as most people living there tend to call it. Are long-lived species that have been around since the dawn of time, or after it depending on the scholars with too much free time, with the Angels of Heaven being around a little longer than the Devils. Unlike the Angels or Fallen, Devils represent the personification of demonic energy, emotions come to form with dealing with others as their main tool.
To the eyes of many, they look no different than humans. But to the eyes of few who are aware, there is more to them than strength and psychical capabilities. Such as their mind when it comes to dealing with others with words and temptations.
Or so they are said by priests who don't know any better.
Rias shrugged at his question "I don't see the need to hide who I am. After all, I am well-known, and not because of my hair" she explained, moving her head slightly to emphasize her crimson hair, her most prominent feature, shared by her other family members.
"Not afraid someone coming to get your head to send a message to your brother"
She narrowed her eyes, not only he is aware of her, but also her relations outside of school.
"No" she answered back "And I like to see them try if they want to know just what I am capable of"
The two locked eyes, tense exchange of looks between the two, Bazz's emerald eyes pierced at Gremory's blue ones. Each waiting for the other to give in in this exchange.
Before Bazzard closed his eyes and sighed, releasing his grip, letting the red-haired Devil move her arm away.
"Thank you," Rias said with a smile, massaging her wrist. She eyed the energy bow once more, which made Bazzard sigh once more before he commanded it to turn off, dissipating the blue light away, showing its cross form.
She raised an eyebrow, not expecting a small cross would bring out a weapon like a longbow, looking back at the foreign student, she wondered "Never knew you were an exorcist" he didn't look the type, possibly he is an exile from the Church?
Bazz snorted and shook his head "Do I look like a raving lunatic to you? I got better things to do than judge people for everything" chided the young man before walking past her and standing by Hyoudou Issei's body.
Rias continued massaging her wrist while she thought over what she saw and felt on the energy coming from him. When she first arrived, the place was already a mess, like a fight passed by, which quickly answered her wonderment when she felt a magical presence resonate from a distance away in the park. There was no mistaking it of the Fallen Angel's magical presence, their holy energy was almost sickening to feel for not only it is the Devils' greatest weaknesses, but the bloodlust they left behind mixed up with it.
However, the other presence, Bazzard Black's presence, was… different. It felt like most Fallen Angels and even Angels but it felt... old, very old. He is a human, that's for certain. However, he lacks what other spiritually aware humans she met in the past.
'Is it a Sacred Gear?' examined the red-head as she massaged her wrist 'The cross looks like any other except the blue gems on the edge… unless… hmm?' she stopped massaging her wrist after realizing something amiss. Looking down on her arm, her eyes widen in shock.
The fabric of cloth that covered her wrist had some parts of it burned off, showing her smooth skin, untouched from whatever burned through the cloth. She can smell the ash left behind from the fabric burned away.
She turned back to Bazzard, opening her mouth to ask him about what and how he managed to burn through the cloth without touching her skin but quickly clamped her mouth to stop herself from speaking.
Bazzard was down to one knee near Hyoudou Issei's body, his hand on the boy's chest. A few inches above the hole the Fallen Angel executed in killing the young man, before moving his hand to close his open eyes shut. He was giving her his back, hiding his facial expression from her while he said something under his breath, possibly a prayer, or simply scolding the young man for going through the date.
He stood up, wobbly with his footing but kept himself steady after shaking off the pain he was feeling on his bleeding shoulder, which was pouring out by the minute. Rias wanted to give him her help, but knowing his reputation and his attitude to her, he will obviously reject it without a second thought.
Bazzard turned his head to face Rias, his hand on his injured shoulder to try and stop the bleeding, or at least slow it down. Giving her an annoyed look "Well?" asked the foreign student "What are you waiting for? A talking cat to give you permission?"
Rias realized what he was saying and quickly moved towards Hyoudou's body, there was still time to bring him back if his spirit did not move on to the other side.
Going into her pocket, she took out a chess piece. Its white marble exterior shined through from the light of the moon rising above them. Rias moved the piece closer but stopped after recognizing something, she looked up to see Bazzard staring at her with the same annoyed look. Curious, she asked the foreign student, considering from his tone he seems well-aware of the process she would be using to bring Hyoudou Issei back from the dead.
"You're just going let me use my Evil Piece, even though you are clearly against it?" asked the red-head.
"I am still fucking against it" he answered firmly "But it's not my right to decide for the kid, so I am not going to argue with you about bringing him back, especially with how shitty his circumstances"
Rias raised an eyebrow, he is letting this one go because he is fond of Issei. Well… fond in his own way.
Bazzard's eyes narrowed, the attention he was giving had a clear glint of displeasure. Not happy with this idea but he is not going to fight it.
"Neither is yours to make for him" he chided, the air around her is turning hotter, feeling a sweat drop from her forehead as the once cool air turning higher by the second. "Whatever he has inside of him put a fucking target on his back, and made you, the crows, and everyone else with the resources interested like a pack of wolves" he looked back to Hyoudou's body, his face soften at the sight of his body before sighing. Turning back to Rias, he continued "But he ain't here, physically, to decide whether or not he is willing to join your little family"
"I always intended to recruit him into my family, but in a situation where I try to persuade him to join with me without anyone getting hurt or worse. The transformation can work even with the parties are alive and healthy" Rias explained her reasons, putting her hand over Issei's chest and continued her explanation in solemn "This was the last possible scenario that I hope will never come to pass, but because of the Fallen Angel in the area we had to ensure his safety for any potential attack"
"So that's why you had him marked… why you were watching him a few days ago…" Bazzard remarked, his tone growing lower and harsher "To make sure no one gets to him before you do" he stabbed a finger at the red-head "Not another Devil to recruit him to their family or the fucking crows to do the same"
She stood up, angered at his accusation.
"We watched over him for his safety, to save him when danger comes such as this!"
Bazzard scoffed then sneered "Well congratulations, you did a shitty job in protecting him" he cited in anger, his eyes glaring at Gremory. "Tell me… if the kid didn't have whatever he had inside of him, would you still try and save him? Or plan for his funeral?"
Her eyes widen like plates in shock, dropping the chess piece to the ground as his question pierced through her like a dagger to her heart. Unable to think of a retort to defend herself or her reasoning why she is interested in Hyoudou Issei.
He scoffed once more "Guess I got my answer…"
Bazzard turned back, slowly walking away from the two. Blood slowly poured through his shoulder even his effort to cover it with his hand, he could feel it dripping through his fingertips as he continued his march.
Shaking off her initial shock, Rias took a deep breath to control herself before asking him one last time of a question she is sure would make him think over things now that he presented himself to her and his awareness of things.
"You do realize I need to tell Sona, right? Of you knowing what we are since the beginning" asked the red-haired girl "Judging from your tone, I can take a guess that Sona was the first one you've noticed since arriving here in the city"
Bazz stopped his walk as if contemplating an answer to her question.
Before he resumed walking away.
"Do what you will, I don't care…" he answered, sounding far away as Rias felt the air around her growing cool once more and the warm air dissipating in an instant "I've done enough more than I should…"
He continued walking away until he was far enough for a normal person to be unable to spot him as he got out of the park. Rias continued staring at him before sighing, getting down to pick up the chess piece, she looks back at Hyoudou Issei.
"I always wondered why you follow him… even with his personality," Rias asked the unresponsive Hyoudou Issei, bringing the chess piece, a pawn piece, closer "Sona is right… he is a miserable bastard"
{D&C}
"…it's not my right to decide for the kid…"
Hmm?
Where am I?
Why am I…?
He stood in an empty space of darkness. Formless and voided.
"This was the last possible scenario that I hope will never come to pass"
A Voice?
"So that's why you had him marked"
No… Voices.
Several of them echoed around him in the nothingness, he tried to pick some of them, some he recognized…
"Hey, Issei! There is this new magazine I've been keeping at the side-"
"Issei, darling, don't forget to get the grocery-"
"Are you seriously advising me? Harem King?-"
"I take it your friend is the one who paid this-"
He shook his head or felt like he was shaking his head. Trying to pick up a single recognizable voice amongst the many-
"Will you go out with me?"
Like a boulder crashing all of its weight on his back, carrying it with all of his strength. Another set of voices came around him, this time a single voice, a voice he recognized.
A voice that made his heart sink…
"Can I ask you something?"
Her voice… her voice echoed around him.
"Tonight… it was great…"
The scenery change around him, the world slowly began to take shape and form into something with substance.
"So my question…"
Something familiar.
"Are you willing to love me?"
He was back there… he was back in the park.
His vision, however, wasn't as clear as he hoped. But in front of him stood two people, it seems they were in a conversation, talking about something. Their hair color matched together, expect one was brighter than the other. One was taller, their hair standing upright, their shoulder wide. The other, the bright crimson hair, shorter in a couple of inches from the tall one, a girl, there was no mistake from her figure, he has seen a lot of girls to know the size of their breast.
"Rias Gremory?"
The other figure, however, he immediately recognized, he's been around him long enough to immediately recognize him on sight.
"Bazz…"
"Look down"
Practically on command, he moved his head to look down and his eyes widen in shock and horror, feeling his heart sinking further, his mind going haywire at the sight he was gawking at as it was the only thing that was clear among all of this blurriness.
It was him, his dead body laying back first with a hole on his chest, bleeding all over the ground, his last moments before… before…before…
"Are you willing to die-?"
The world change once more, bringing him back into the darkness he was in the first place. The nothingness, unable to see anything around him.
Am I dead?
Is this… heaven?
Is this… hell?
Where am I?
Fear once more gripped his heart, feeling he was sinking into the dark abyss. Into the nothingness.
"Neither, for this is your world, child"
He stopped himself, feeling a rumbling around him as if an earthquake passing through when the voice spoke up.
Who… who are you?
"Who am I? How can you ask such a stupid question? I am who I am for I am I"
He is starting to feel confused.
Another rumble, as if the whole world was shaking.
"When the time comes, you will know who I am. For now, accommodate your place in this new world you've been thrown into. Prepare yourself, weakling, for the White One will come for your pitiful head"
He felt another rumble, then, he felt hot. Like the temperature rising around him.
"We shall speak, host. And don't go dying again for I will not help those who are weak to use my gifts. Grow stronger. Earn my powers. And you shall have it all."
…
…
…
…
…
"Issei?"
His eyes snapped open, startled, and tensed up with the events. He sat upright with sweat running down his head, breathing heavily and ears ringing from the dreams-
"Whoa! Easy there!"
He looked around and found himself lying in the school courtyard. It was lunchtime, the sun shined through in this sunny afternoon, and the students were enjoying their time hanging out together.
'Again… same dream… but… that was new'
Hyoudou Issei rubbed his head in confusion before directing his eyes to address his friends. Matsuda and Motohama, his fellow… companions who share the same reputation around school.
"How…" he grimaced, embarrassed at how meekly he delivered his voice before clearing his throat and continued "How long was I out?" asked the second-year, remembering the events when he followed his friends absentmindedly when they asked him to hang out with them, which has been a while since he always hanged out with Bazz.
Plus, the reason why he is not hanging out with Bazz is that he had something to do (And his utmost refusal to be seen with Motohama and Matsuda, two people Bazz outright calling them pest to society, which is a bit harsh from his view), must have to do with the missing days of school he took last week, so he had to collect the needed material and catching up to make up with it. It wasn't the first time either of him missing classes as last semester he one time missed two whole weeks, citing it to be personal reasons but it was enough to warrant some of the teachers questioning him for his absences.
Hell, that is a normal thing at this point but there was something weird happening he can't put his finger on it. In fact, since yesterday, after Friday night, he has been in deep contemplation about another problem. His parents were taken aback at how quiet he has become, he also noted something... strange with him. He never noticed it until he started hearing his parents speak about his future, while he was outside, and hearing them clearly. Another odd thing is how well he can see in the dark when he threw the trash last night, seeing everything much clearly even without the lights. He did not even feel fatigued or sleepy in the morning.
"Dude, you were out for five minutes, but you were snoring loudly!" Matsuda exclaimed, cutting his thinking process, his bald head shined through the sunlight. Issei's eyes widened, it felt like hours passed by "You were mumbling too, saying random stuff"
Issei raised an eyebrow, confused and curious, he asked: "What was I saying?"
"Something about black wings, tits, and blood" Motohama noted, eating through his lunch while eyeing at some girls nearby. "Weird combo dude but seriously, what is that chicken head giving you when you started hanging out with him? Probably some of those bad drugs…"
"What?" Issei's eyes widen "No! He doesn't give me anything! And he doesn't even do those stuff!"
"Really?" Matsuda asked, also eyeing the girls Motohama was looking at "You've been ditching us since last semester for that chicken head. Didn't you hear what he does to people who pick a fight with him? He puts them into comas!"
Issei felt a sweat drop at this assessment, but not exactly willing to fight it because Bazz does beat up the gangs in the town, just not as brutally as people paint him to be doing. They just always try to pick a fight with him based on his appearance and the reputation he built from beating those guys who pick a fight.
Shaking his head at his friends as they went back to leering some girls eating nearby. At any other time, he might have joined them with delight, but his heart just wasn't in it. His mind, which has been working in trying to remember what exactly happened last Friday night since yesterday has been plaguing him, he couldn't even focus on reading his favorite magazines for God sake-
"Ouch!" he massaged his head. Weird, not expecting a headache to sting him like a Taser.
"Oh right, dude you also said something while you were mumbling," Matsuda said after turning away from the girls, who finally noticed the trio and quickly change their place, much to the two perverts displeasure "You were like… repeating it, a lot, it's a name I think"
"A name?" Issei felt his gut-wrenching as if knowing what is coming, his mind flashed over the events once more. Remembering the last image before everything went dark then finding himself back in his room. "What… what was the name?"
Matsuda scratches his head, trying to remember before clicking his finger after finding it.
"Amano Yumi! I think… or was it Yuma?" Matsuda noted in confusion before shaking his head in confirmation "Yep! Definitely Yumi!"
Issei didn't hear his friend, his mind was still replaying the events that have happened on Friday night, like a film reel of memories.
With the last words, the last heard her utter before he saw darkness.
"Are you willing to die for me?"
{D&C}
The ringing bell that signaled the end of lunchtime echoed all over the school. While students were heading toward their classes after enjoying their break, one such student did not have the luxury to do the same, for he had to contend a problem waiting to get their hands on him.
"And for the last time! Don't skip any more days moving forward! I don't care about your grades if you're continuing to act like a delinquent! The principle will not stand for this-"
"Yeah yeah, thanks for the advice. Instructor"
"Show some respect you little punk! Kawakami isn't going to protect you forever! So watch yourself or you'll get kicked out of school! If so help me I find out you skip like last time I'll-"
"Whatever…"
Bazzard Black, with a scoff and a look of annoyance, turned his back and walked away from the fuming teacher before he even finished, opening the door that led him outside to the hallway and closed it shut, ignoring his rants
'If the bell did not ring, I would have swung at the fucker…' he thought to himself, walking through the hallway trying to keep his temper in check.
The teachers have been on his ass since his rather infamous two weeks absent last semester, he had a very good reason for being absent but that's a story for another time. However, he'll admit even he would be pretty pissed if one of his students skipped out for two weeks straight so he can't blame them for being extra cautious and making sure he isn't doing anything stupid with him now on thin ice as it is.
He scoffed, his usual teacher/career advisor who the school assigned him to isn't around today, so he had to contend to the others for the next few days. The teacher who he is assigned to at least tolerated and even goes the extra mile to help him.
'Gotta give her a medal for doing it for me…'
The temporary replacement was a teacher that wanted his head for a while now, so he had to sit through the whole lunchtime listening to the guy rant over his absences and attitude to the other teachers with him not using honorifics that much. One of the reasons why they haven't really gone hard on him, other than Shitori making it her life mission to annoy him until they graduate, is because of his grades, which, for some unholy reason he managed to become one of the highest-ranked students in the school, twenty third to be exact, which isn't much but people say that he is the highest among the male students.
'I don't know if that means I am smart, which is news to me. Or I am surrounded by idiots and this school's educational system is failing the youth…'
Of course, he put the effort into his studies because he has nothing else to do, lots of free time, and refuses to be lazy.
He took a deep breath and sighed, trying to calm his nerves as he put his hands in his pocket. Walking forward to a window nearby to see the students down below heading to their classes, already had their fill with lunch "While I ate shit…" he muttered and looked up, noticing the tall tree, its leaves pink and recently grown healthy for the new season. He noticed something resting on one of its tree branches.
'Huh… never knew cats hanged around here…' there it was, resting and sleeping soundly on the tree branch was a black cat. 'Guess the school doesn't mind strays walking around… as long they don't get stuck in trees'
Turning his direction, he started walking back to his class, empty stomach be damned, scratching his shoulder and grunting in pain 'Did a piss poor job in covering the wound… that damn Crow got me good…' he thought in annoyance as he scratched it before shaking it away, it would heal eventually.
Along the way, some of the students moved out of the way whispering amongst themselves at the sight of him, a usual thing that happens whenever he walks around the school. The boys were terrified of him because of his reputation, and the girls either avoided him or blushed whenever he walks close by.
'Two weeks in and no love confession from the girls… should be a new record… for now…' he thought tiredly, it reached to a point whenever a girl he doesn't know or talk too much if they ask him to talk in private he always answers with "I don't feel the same way" if he wants to be polite or "Not interested" if he just wants to be left alone.
Both results made him feel bad a little because it always ends up the same, the girl crying and him standing there awkwardly. But he has better things to worry about than some useless high school romance.
His mind went back to Hyoudou, which he has been thinking over all morning as he did not have the time to even talk to him about any… changes that might have happened.
'Yeah… ask him how it feels like to be a Devil… smart plan there…' knowing how that conversation would be very awkward to explain if he doesn't know about it already.
He expected to see the kid panicking or close to it when they walking together in the morning, maybe telling Bazz from the get-go about what happened. With their homes close to each other, it became a habit for them to walk together (Which is more from Hyoudou because he always follows Bazz around). However, this morning was different. Very different. For the first time, that he can recall, Issei did not engage him with any form of conversation, not about some girls he found on the internet or a porno mag or him trying to remember an exam he had and was panicking.
Nothing at all, all he got was a good morning and they walked in silence. Bazz did expect him to be his usual self after Gremory brought him back. Especially after he got killed by a Fallen Angel, but it's clear he doesn't remember anything that has transpired when the Fallen stabbed him through the heart with her light spear.
Either that, or he is repressing it deep and is trying to cope.
'Judging from his lack of praising of breasts and red-hair… Gremory did not tell him anything yet of his change…'
Another thing that really kept his mind going is the Sacred Gear, what is it exactly that would force a Fallen Angel to target a human for a kill. Usually, they try and recruit them, but killing them? That's new, even by Fallen Angels standard.
He scolded himself for not engaging first, he knows it would be weird for him to do so after so long, as he has grown accustomed to not talking that much and letting others speak instead. He knew he had to make sure the kid is alright, especially after what happened last Friday with the Fallen, but instead, they walked in silence before reaching school, and just as they reached the gate, the teacher was waiting for Bazz to tell him to come to the teacher lounge in lunchtime for a talk (rant) because of whatever, he dozed off after the first few words that came from his mouth-
"BAZZ!"
Bazz stopped his stride, quickly turning his head to see Hyoudou running towards him. Raising an eyebrow, Bazz did not expect Hyoudou to actually come to see him, notably now that lunchtime is up.
"Kid, you should be heading to class. If a teacher sees us they'll-" Bazz began before Hyoudou caught up to him and grabbed him by the shoulder, which quickly caused annoyance from his part from the sudden contact.
"Do you…" Issei leaned closer tried to ask but he breathed heavily, tired from all the running he must have taken to reach him. And from the small grass still on his shoulders, meaning he was in the courtyard. Meaning he had to take quite the distance to reach here at full speed "Do you know…" he breathed once again, trying to convey his words through his tired breath.
Bazz for his part simply stood still as he waited for Issei to speak, not moving the second year's hands off his shoulders.
"Amano…." He finally managed to get his bearing after getting a few seconds of catching his breath "Amano Yuuma!" he cited, shaking the third year roughly "Do you remember her?" he asked, his tone growing in a panic with every word "Please tell me I wasn't imagining it… I asked everyone who I told about her but no one knows or thinks I am just imagining her…"
"What are you?" Bazz began before the realization kicked in, noticing the look of desperation Issei bored behind his eyes.
'Yuuma… the Fallen Angel…' Bazz remembered the name, Hyoudou has been saying that damn name like a prayer last week before his disastrous date. From the looks of Hyoudou's reaction, he remembers clearly what happened on that particular night.
"I've been asking anyone who I told them about her, from my friends to even some of my classmates" Issei cited desperately. It's an open secret that the kid bragging about it to anyone willing to listen, his two friends (Two that Bazz has high contempt for) and Bazz himself bearing most of it, so that's a lot of people "I thought they were joking with me… but I asked everyone… even the Kendo club! Everyone who I know wouldn't be lying to me… it's like she didn't even exist" his grip tightened on his shoulder "Please Bazz… tell me that I wasn't imagining it-"
"Ara? There you two are"
The two turned their heads at the newcomer approaching them, each sporting a different reaction upon turning their eyes at the girl. Issei, his eyes widen and his cheeks reddened, looking at the beauty in front of him with focus up and down before lingering at her breast. Bazz, in turn, grimaced at the girl after realizing who she is.
Akeno Himejima, known around the school as one of the beauties of Kuoh Academy 'A rank that includes Shitori… somehow…' smiled at the two, her purple eyes looking at him and back to Hyoudou.
"Issei-Kun, I believe this is the first time we've met, yes?" Himejima asked him, which Issei answered by nodding quickly "I've just come to tell you that someone will come to you after school and take you to our clubhouse. Buchou told you about the meeting, no?"
Issei furrowed his eyebrows, confused at what Himejima is saying. Bazz knew that look, he is trying to remember but can't grab anything of note, or it's all jumbled up.
'He is still trying to process what happened that night... especially after he was revived…' he noted, turning his eyes to the side to look at Issei 'Gremory must have healed his wounds… but even that is something he can't seem to remember…'
"I… I don't remember…" he said truthfully, feeling bad at the fact he forgot something important "But that doesn't mean I won't be coming! Whatever it is" he corrected himself, waving his hands around to assure the girl "But uh… what exactly did I agree to come to?"
Usually, Bazz would fight the urge to sigh at Issei but this time he understands his lack of knowledge about what he was just invited to.
"Ara? Buchou did not tell you?" she asked and Hyoudou shook his head "Why it is an introduction to your first day as a member of our club."
Issei mouth was agape in shook and, much to Bazz's disappointment, he started breathing in and out in excitement after realizing what club Akeno Himejima meant
"By Buchou you mean..." he did not finish his sentence, as if his mouth dried up at the mere mention of the name.
Himejima smiled "Yes, Gremory-Sama. She did tell me you might forget about the meeting she told you about, so I came here just to remind you of it~" she noted, giving the boy a wide smile that caused him to blush deeper.
The Occult Research Club, or the ORC for short. A club, which isn't much on it compared to like the Kendo or Archery 'Those two brought trophies at least…' or hell, even the Student Council. The ORC was mostly well-known because of two things, it is run by Gremory as president and Himejima as her vice-president, that's it. A running rumor around school is that at one point almost half the male students in school tried to sign up to the club after Gremory started running it, but they refused all of them. This is why Hyoudou is both shocked and excited at the prospect to work with not one, but two beauties of the academy.
That's not to mention that the club also has some kid named Yuuto Kiba (He never met the kid nor does he know how he looks like), who is very popular with the girls and also got some of them to try and sign up to the club, also the same results for the guys.
Turning to Bazz to address him, Himejima eyes narrowed a bit, while still smiling. Bazz quickly noted she is studying him, unlike the look she was giving to Hyoudou, she is giving him a different one, a look he has been seeing her giving to him since they used to share classes.
"Buchou also extends the invitation to you, Bazz-Kun" Himejima addressed, both hands behind her back, "She said with you being there might help young Hyoudou should he be… confused with anything, after all, you seem to be quite knowledgeable from what I was told"
'She told her…' Bazz noted, not shocked "What am I? His supervisor?" Bazz asked sarcastically, not helping himself.
"Huh? Why does he need to be there?" Issei asked and turned to Bazz with a confused look "Don't tell me you are secretly a member!" he accused the tall student "I thought we were friends and you betrayed me like that by joining the club!" he stabbed a finger, feeling betrayed "I am stuck here while you play around with Gremory-san- OW!"
Issei clinched on his shoulder in pain after Bazz punched him.
"Not like that, dumbass" Bazz cited in annoyance, at least the kid is the same as usual not depressed like he feared. Turning to Himejima, he asked "I don't get to say no in the matter do I?" knowing the answer he would be getting.
"Actually, Buchou said it's up to you if you wish to come," said the black-haired girl. Causing Bazz to raise an eyebrow, it's not every day he gets to choose on something he was asked to come. Especially with his experience with a certain council president. "Don't worry, Kaicho will not be there if you are hesitant but we won't force you to come if you don't wish to come"
Bazz scoffed "If she was there it would a long meeting…"
Issei nodded in agreement "It will, I still remember you two arguing for like…. An hour."
He sighed and addressed Himejima, "Fine, I'll come. And no, it has nothing to do with Shitori" he stabbed a thumb pointing at Issei "Knowing the kid he might screw this up or too dumb enough to get what you guys are saying, so I'll be there to… explain it"
"Hey!"
Bazz can see Himejima trying to make sure to not jump the gun and admit to Hyoudou about his changes from the get-go. It has to be from Gremory and they need to explain to him without overwhelming him with the information about his new status. Telling him that he is now a member of their little club might help calm him down for now until the meeting by thinking he might have
Himejima giggled "Well~ Buchou will do her best to explain his… membership to the club" she turned to Issei "After school, someone will come to pick you up and guide you where the clubhouse is located" she explained before turning to Bazz "Same with you, Bazz-Kun"
Bazz shrugged while Issei nodded profusely.
Himejima clapped her hands "Excellent! I will tell Buchou of this!" she bowed and took her leave, "Until then~"
Issei waved at the black-haired beauty with a blush on his face. Turning to his friend he began to address until noticing him walking away.
"Hey! Where are you going?"
Not stopping or turning his head, Bazz continued walking away and spoke "If you haven't noticed, we got classes and it started minutes ago."
Issei's eyes widened "Crap!" he shouted before running off to his class, which is quite a distance to take.
"Hey! What the hell are you doing out here?!" a teacher shouted nearby, the same teacher who was giving Bazz a hard time earlier, glared at Issei as he ran past by him, "Classes started you punk!"
"Sorry!"
Unbeknownst to the two high schoolers, outside, seating on top of a tree branch was the black cat Bazz noticed earlier. Their eyes were aimed at the running Hyoudou before turning to Bazz, their yellow eyes having an intensity like no other.
The cat smiled, before going back to its slumber…
{D&C}
If there is one thing Bazz finds more annoying than someone having the balls to talk shit about his hair is when he starts overthinking something trivial.
Or as he would call it, mental masturbation.
This means you are thinking over something you have no control over but you are jacking yourself off. Crude term yes, but still the same meaning if you think about it more than needed.
While he thought over how the meeting between himself, Hyoudou, and Gremory's crew later today after classes. He knows it would a simple introduction that is needed to be given to the kid to welcome him to a new world he got thrown into unwillingly 'Must be one hell of a Sacred Gear to want to kill him for it…' so he doesn't have anything to worry about.
However, what worries now it won't be long before everyone in this damn school would be on him, and not in a good way either. The moment he landed himself in this place and realized it was run by Devils he knew it was a matter of time before he gets found out. He thought this year would be like the last, he would keep his head down, go to school, do the work, get annoyed by Shitori, do odd jobs for the old goat here and there, hence and repeat. It worked last year and he hoped it would work in this final one.
And now, because he forced himself into this situation. A member of a very influential family belonging at the very tip of the Devil world is now aware of him, and it won't be long before others would know. Bazz trusts Gremory enough (which isn't much) she won't be spreading it much, just to those who she trusts the most.
So right now, he has a target on his back. The problem is he has no idea just who aiming the target at him.
'Shouldn't have bothered going out for the kid, he ended up getting killed anyway and I couldn't do jackshit because I had to take my time on it… useless crap of powers…' he thought bitterly at himself, his hands absentmindedly resting on his chest. He knew he could have been there faster. No, he should have been faster 'Why did I bother in the first place anyway? Gremory would have brought him anyway, whether I saved him or not…'
Another inevitable part that Gremory will ask him is his powers, he is sure she did not see any of it except for the aftermath and the energy bow he carried, along with the presence he seeped out would warrant questions and interests.
He looked ahead, leaning against the chair as he tried to listen to the lecture. Nothing of note came out of it except the teacher was getting into it and writing a lot on the board 'I'll probably ask one of the girls to give me her notes…' he thought, after all, he is the only male in a classroom full of girls.
When he first showed up to Kuoh he came to find out that the Academy was once an all-girls school, which explains why their populations beat the boys by a large margin. So to his surprise and annoyance when he first came on his first day finding out that he is the only male student in the second year at that time. He heard there was another male in the third year but he never met him, but he probably thought he was in heaven while Bazz felt he was being punished for leaving-
His eyes turned to the right, focusing on another that may. No, it will come up in the next few days or hell, even in the next couple of hours.
Seating in the front row and writing down on her notes was Tsubaki Shinra, Souna Shitori's number two henchwoman who more or less looks like her now that he studied her. The only difference that she is more… developed 'Now I am sounding like the kid…' compared to Shitori.
Another problem he is not looking forward to seeing is Shitori knowing about him. Gremory said she has to tell Shitori, either because she is looking out for the President or just because she thinks it would be funny for the two of them.
Him knowing what they are isn't the problem, but for the fact, he knew for the past year might come back to bite and will bite him in the ass. So he anticipated and waited the whole day just for Shitori to come out of someplace to accuse him of knowing or something of that note 'Which isn't a big deal really…' or so he hoped.
However, neither Shitori nor even any of her crew walked up to him all day, which is shocking for itself. Especially after last week when he just told Shitori off and walked away, not the first time he did so but he admits it was harsh when he basically accused her of trying help is just another accomplishment on her part and not out of the kindness of her heart but sometimes his anger gets the better of him, so he is not exactly looking forward to the conversation.
'I half expect to get an earful from Shitori the moment I stepped foot in the academy… but so far nothing… so far…'
He felt something smack him to the forehead.
"Ow! What the hell!" he shouted at the one who threw the item at him only to stop himself after realizing it was the teacher, who threw a white chalkboard at him.
"Finally back to reality, Black" the teacher noted in a harsh tone as he glared at the boy before pointing at the blackboard "Care to answer now that you are paying attention?" he asked Bazz, who simply stared dumbfounded at the board, unable to answer as he read the text and the drawing of a circle, the bottom is written 'Appetite', the middle is written 'Spirit' and the top is empty.
"Uhh…" he mouthed off weakly, much to his despair and remembering this was a Social Studies class, a pretty useless class in his opinion but he understands the need for it.
The teacher, Mr. Ushimaru, another teacher who has a very low opinion of him despite his grades, glared at him with anger "I was explaining the class of the Greek Philosopher Plato's theory of the soul. Dividing it into three parts," he pointed at the board "Appetite, spirit and a third one that I want you to answer, which should be easy if you were paying attention instead of ogling the girls"
'Oh… hell no…'
He really had to fight the urge to not look around him to see the different reactions the girls were giving him, the auras alone were enough to shudder despite trying his best to ignore it and he doesn't need to use any sort of supernatural power to know which is which.
Each of the reactions, from what he can make most of it, ranged from shock, considering it is him, disgust mixed in with sadness (Which confused him) extreme disgust (Understandable), and… hope? He shudders to even look or wonder who had that aura around them.
"Well? Black?" the teacher asked again "A soul is composed of appetite, spirit and…?"
Despite the best efforts of his brain screaming at him to not answer the question and just be silent or at least admit you have no idea, his mouth refused to listen.
"Body?" he answered in confusion and nearly balked after seeing the teacher's reaction, clearly he answered wrong. For some reason, his brain stopped working, with all of his overthinking he's going through in just a couple of minutes ago, now his brain decides to just stop him from thinking, even if the question seems obvious if he put the effort into it.
"Wrong answer" the teacher brought out another white chalk, already forgetting the one he just threw at him "Pay attention and stopped staring at the girls or this will go to my report"
Bazz grunted in response and the teacher went back to the lecture as usual.
'Great… now people will think I ogle girls this whole time…' he thought, feeling tired of overthinking and now he has to worry about people's opinion on him being a pervert.
As much as he tends to really care how others preserve him or his image, he cares about the air he gives out, all of his looks aren't just for show, he likes to maintain his image as a cool but terrifying dude for as long as he is still breathing, and people thinking he is just a pervert who stares at girls is no go in his part. His pride demands so.
'Tatsuki will have my head by the time she gets back…'
The next hour was a letter better for his sanity (He had to explain to a girl he did not ogle them, much to his pride telling him he should not be explaining anything he did not do, but he did not want people to think he got corrupted from hanging out with Hyoudou, or worse, people would think the kid got corrupted because of him) and it's a class where he excels at, English. The only class where he always scores perfectly in it with some effort put into it, of course, he is not lazy, but the class at less kept his mind occupied from overthinking too much.
The bell rang the final one for today, indicating that school is done for today.
Immediately putting his notes and materials in his bag, Bazz stood up and slung it on his shoulder (Which made him twitch in pain after realizing he put it on his wounded one), knowing he has to wait for someone to come and get him only to notice someone approaching him.
He sighed "I got peace for the first time since I got here and now you decided to talk to me?" he asked nonchalantly to Tsubaki Shinra, who solely carried the same calm look she always had every time he saw her "And no, I did not ogle anyone"
"Nor do I expect you to do so, Black-san" Shinra remarked, carrying her books as she got ready to head wherever she is supposed to go "But I can't say the others will share the same feeling"
"Wow, did not expect you of all people to be buying my story"
"You are simply too unpleasant and miserable to actually be looking at girls" Shinra noted, which caused Bazz to glare at her.
"Is that from your observation or from your boss?" he questioned, wondering why he is asking such a question after the embarrassing display of his pride dying just an hour ago.
"Does it make a difference?"
"Not really" he shrugged and walked past her, making his way to the opened door that led to the hallway "I just remembered you are basically a clone of Shitori, honestly if you told me you were sisters I would believe it…" he cited and stood in the hallway. Turning to Tsubaki, who followed him, he asked: "I take it you did not approach me to comment how much of a dick I am so what does your boss want?"
Tsubaki glared at his use of profanity but did not comment on it, knowing it would be just a waste of energy "I am simply telling you that tomorrow Kaicho wishes to see you for a… personal matter"
Bazz turned to Shinra with a bored look, studying her as he did with Himejima, wondering if she knows too considering she is always by Shitori's side. Clearly, this meeting isn't to annoy him over something he did or did not. This was about his knowledge about them, and Shitori wants to know something out of him like Gremory in the next few minutes.
"I take it this is not something I can't say no to?" he asked in sarcasm, his face facing ahead as he waited, a couple of students passed by them talking amongst themselves, greeting them along the way "Or your boss will be thoughtful for her troubled student and give him the privilege to refuse?"
Her silence and glare is all the answer he needed.
"Guess not…" he sighed "Fine… I am feeling generous and I know your boss would try and drag me by the ear if I refuse, so I'll pick the bone she is throwing at me for once"
For her part, Tsubaki simply sighed, either out of relief or felt tired from a long day from school, or just from interacting with him. She bowed and walked away, heading wherever she was supposed to head.
Before stopping on her tracks.
"Can I ask you a question?"
Bazz raised an eyebrow, finding it odd for her to ask him anything, and fought the urge to respond with 'You just did' because she at least did not treat him like a pest like her boss would usually do to him "Is the question from Shitori?-"
"No" she shook her head "It is from me, for my curiosity even though Kaicho would ask you the same question, just in a different manner"
'Yeah… by different manner as in she would probably try and strangle me…' he thought but did not voice it out loud and simply nodded "Shoot"
Tsubaki's brows furrowed, confused at his word "Shoot?"
'Oh, you've got to be kidding me….' He thought in irritation, remembering he is dealing with a Japanese girl who has yet to experience the different forms of someone giving permission that doesn't boil down to either formality or just casual greeting. "Shoot as in…" he sighed 'why am I explaining a goddamn word?' before nodding at her "Yes, I mean yes, you can ask your question…"
She blinked, confused but nonetheless continued on "I am just wondering when you knew about us being…"
"Devils?" he finished after seeing her being unable to finish her sentence, possibly trying to make sure that what she was told was true "That would be two months when I came here."
"So you did not know the nature of the academy?"
He scoffed, "If I knew the Gremory clan or any kind of the supernatural ran this damn school I would have picked another place…. Heard there was one in Tokyo but that one was too big for my liking…" he noted, his hands still in his pocket "But no, I did not know anything about this school when I first came in, so there is that…" he responded, "Honestly if I had the power I would have chosen an even smaller town than this, at least people wouldn't annoy me every few seconds…"
Expecting another question or for her to go on with her day, Tsubaki instead stared at him for a few minutes for what felt like forever, like she was studying him. Which really creeped him out at how… cold she looked.
"Thank you for the answer, Black-san" Shinra cited and bowed "Until then, we will be expecting you tomorrow morning," she said before taking her leave, leaving Bazz to himself as he waited in the hallway.
After what felt like forever, Bazz sighed "Man… and I thought her boss was cold…" he cited before realizing something "Wait… did she say early morning?"
{D&C}
The ORC's location, as they came to find out, was located just outside the school grounds where the old building of academy before they abandoned due to a large number of students signing in along with the recent establishment of a co-op school and ditching the all-girls one, multiplying the number of students registering, so it forced the administration to build a much bigger building where most of their studies happen while the old building was simply left to dust.
That is until the Occult Research Club decided to open it back as their main 'clubhouse' due to the lack of place for their club to be able to do their duties.
Tapping his feet in nervousness, Issei sat near the edge of the leather sofa, hands on his knees as he tried to calm himself. He came a bit earlier after class right away when someone from the ORC came to pick him up and guide him to this place.
"Hey, kid…" Bazz, who came after him, called for his attention, seated relaxed and looking bored compared to Hyoudou.
"Yeah?" Issei asked, turning to his friend.
"I get you are nervous and all but…" Bazz waved around him indicating the room they are in "Do you have to seat right next to me?"
The two were seated right next to each other, too close for comfort, in a room that had two sofas, on one side the two occupied on it together, much to Bazz's charging. The room's size was big enough to house at least twenty people, a wooden desk with a leather chair, another door that led somewhere besides the desk, and on the other side of the room is another door that led to the hallway.
For such a small club, they sure took up a lot of space.
"You got another couch right over there" he pointed at the other sofa, which was occupied by another, sole seated, member of the ORC.
Her hair was white, long but not by much, with a pair of hair clips on both sides of her hair, shaped of the head of a black cat. Dressed in the Kuoh Academy uniform, she seated calmly on the other side opposite of them enjoying a snack of sweets while staring at the two blankly. They both thought she was a middle schooler who hangs out with Gremory until they noticed the uniform.
Issei stared at the girl, who responded with a glare before going back to her sweets, causing him to sweatdrop at the clear disdain she is showing him.
"I… I don't think I am very welcomed in that side of the room…" he whispered to Bazz, who rolled his eyes.
"Gee, I wonder why Mr. Harem King" he cited in annoyance, with his reputation not everyone is gonna be giving you the benefit of the doubt, so he can't blame the white-haired girl for showing him nothing but contempt.
Issei felt a sweat drop at Bazz, who seemed to be more annoyed than nervous despite his relaxed position. Determined, he turned back to the white-haired girl, now that he is a member of the ORC, he better make himself well acquainted with everyone in the club! Especially Rias Gremory and Himejima Akeno being members!
"Uhmm…" he started, trying to get the girl's attention by waving, who glared back at his hand as she chewed on her sweets "Hi there! My name is Hyoudou Issei! Please take care of me!"
"…." She said nothing, eating through her sweet in silence as she stared at Hyoudou. Until she swallowed through the last piece, she finally spoke up, eyes focused on Issei like some kind of disease just decided to show its ugly face.
"…Perver.t" she uttered in a cold and emotionless tone.
"…!" he was taken aback at the harsh tone she just gave out "Wait! It's not what you think-" he tried to explain himself before stopping mid-sentence after realizing that the name has more truth to it and he usually admits it in public "Ahhh… never mind… I kinda deserve that one"
"Ha! Good one." Bazz laughed at Issei's little bout of disparity after he was pointed out how he really is.
The white hair girl for her part continued glaring at Issei before turning to Bazz with a bored look, which made the foreign student raise an eyebrow, this was the first time she actually gave him a look when he first came here-
"…Chicken."
That ticked something off the moment she called him that nickname, a nickname most wouldn't be standing when they heard it.
"Why you little-" he stood up from his seat almost the moment those words came out from her mouth, ready to punch someone.
Issei, whose mouth opened agape at the bravery the white-haired girl has shown in calling Bazz out in a nickname he publicly stated he would drop the person who would call him such, no matter the person, quickly held Bazz back, trying to stop him from doing something he might regret.
"Bazz! No! You'll regret it!"
"Fuck that!" he shouted as Issei tried his best to hold Bazz back from doing something foolish.
The white-haired girl for her part, simply stared at Bazz nonchalantly as she continued eating her sweets, almost not feeling threatened by the infamous student.
"Ara ara?~ Having fun with our guests, Koneko-chan?" Akeno Himejima said as she came into the room, not noticing the standing Bazz trying to start a fight and Issei holding him back. She walked to the wooden table that stood between the two while carrying a tea set to put it above it.
The situation calmed down, in Bazz's part, as his face turned sour and turned back to his seat, all the while glaring at the white-haired girl who did not seem to notice it as she continued enjoying her sweets. While Issei immediately brightens up at the sight of one of the two beauties of the academy coming in.
"Hmm…" The white-haired girl, or Koneko as Akeno called her, nodded in response, eating through her sweets normally.
"You shouldn't eat too many sweets, Koneko-chan" a voice called from the door as they entered right after Himejima "It's bad for your teeth" another fellow academy student came in, dressing like the rest of them in the traditional Kuoh uniform without any added personal things put into it. Blond hair, blue eyes, and looks that would any girl swoon on sight at how… charming it looks. The new boy closed the door behind after coming in and walked up to the sofa where Koneko sat on.
Yuuto Kiba, famed around the school to the point the girls call him the 'Prince of Kuoh Academy' because of his good looks and friendly nature, always helping out anyone in need, which added to his popularity, making him so adored to the point that some female students tried to sign up for the ORC just for him, but like the male students, they were promptly rejected.
Issei's expression turned as he glared at Kiba as if an enemy just came into his view. While Bazz did not seem to care nor acknowledge the blond-haired boy.
Oh right, Kiba's reputation is pretty two-sided, girls love and adore him, boys hate his guts over his good looks, most of them that is.
"Hmm…" Koneko pouted at the boy after advising her before eating one last sweet and set it aside, which made the boy smile at the girl as he stood behind the sofa rigidly and hands behind his back.
"Sheesh… doesn't he let that fake smile go… bastard" Issei muttered as he went back to his seat "Like… everywhere I go this guy is just smiling and advising and helping everyone…" he continued and turned to Bazz who does not seem to care to listen to Issei "All the girls are practically throwing themselves at him and all he does is just smile and wave"
"That got you all riled up? Someone being polite to another?" Bazz scoffed "and wasn't he the one who brought you here?"
Issei's eyes blinked "Well yeah… it's not like I wanted to follow him…"
"Clearly" he sighed, Bazz came with Himejima but he's not going to tell Issei because he knows the brunette will open a fuss about it like he always does "Wasting your energy over nothing…"
"It's not nothing! The bastard is so freaking popular he got all the best ones by the palm of his hands!" he complained in jealousy "At least you aren't like that."
Bazz turned to Issei with a scowl "What the hell you on about?"
"Dude, don't you know that you are his rival?" Issei pointed out "I legit thought no one would beat that guy in the rankings but then you showed up and just toppled him! Girls follow you around! But at least you don't show it off like him because you are so cool! But kinda a dick but still cool!" said the brunette in pride before turning swollen "Although I wish you could give me some of it… except being a dick to people"
"Again, what are you talking about?" he asked in a tired tone.
Bazz is well aware of his reputation around school, if some of the love confessions he gets every other week isn't an indication of what it is, then he is stupider than he though. He is aware that for some weird and stupid reason he is popular around the academy, to the point people started calling him the 'King of Kuoh', which is a stupid title to carry around because with that kind of name people would put a target on his back, especially students from other neighboring schools coming over just to pick a fight with.
At least he got a good practice out of it, the gangs from other schools always gave him a reason to punch someone without any fear of repercussion.
'And you're goddamn right I am cool, got a rep to maintain' he doesn't care about some girl having dreams about him, but he cares about maintaining the air about him just for people to leave him alone.
"Tea?" Himejima caught the duo's attention, presenting them a hot cup.
"Oh! Thank you!" Issei happily grabbed on the cup before hissing in pain "Ow! Hot hot hot!" he shakes his hand trying to ease the pain, and just as he became comfortable enough to hold it steady, he began blowing the hot tea before taking a quick sip, and hissed once again in pain.
Himejima giggled as she presented another cup "Careful, it's still hot"
"I can handle it" Bazz grabbed the cup from Himejima, compared to Issei, he did not complain nor show any annoyance to the heat and proceeded to quickly drink the tea completely unaffected.
"Not bad" Bazz praised as he set the teacup aside after finishing it while Issei still struggles through the hot tea "So where's your boss?"
As if on cue, the door that was beside the desk opened, and out came out Rias Gremory.
'Speak of the devil and they shall appear…'
Issei quickly perked up when the redhead came in, happy to see another of the academies beauties in all of her glory, his eyes turned lower, focusing on a particular part of her body that made him dream about it for a long time-
"Ow!" he touched his cheek after feeling something hit him, looking down he found a piece of candy on the floor.
"…Pervert" Koneko chided the brown-haired student in the displeasure of the looks he was giving.
"Thank you for coming, Issei-Kun," Rias started as she addressed the brown-haired boy, smiling at the boy before turning to Bazz, which changed into a glare "Nice for you to accept my invitation, Bazz. I actually expected you to refuse like you always do to Sona like the brute you truly are" she indicated, her tone growing lower "Do you mind me calling you Bazz?"
"No."
"Bazz it is then"
"…"
Rias clapped her hands, her focus going back to Issei. Her mood turning back to a radiant one "Now, Issei-Kun. I would like to be the first to congratulate you on being a part of our club. I take it you've already made yourself acquainted with your fellow club members" she pointed at the other members of the ORC.
Issei nodded, smiling at Himejima, glaring at Kiba (Who felt a sweat drop at the sudden glare), and avoiding Koneko's gaze in fear.
"Good! That saves uptime with the introduction for now" she clapped once again, leaning against the wooden table to keep herself steady "Now, I am sure you have questions about why you are a part of our club even after we rejected your application nearly… how many were they, Akeno?"
"Eleven times" Himejima noted as she gave Bazz another cup "Not the highest record we've received but it's still up there"
Issei avoided Bazz's glare at this revelation, clearly not happy with the fact the boy tried to get in the club far more than most just for a stupid reason like most of the students.
Gremory nodded "Yes, now back to our discussion, you must be wondering why we suddenly accepted you into our club, as the reason is much more… complicated than you think"
"Ah… not really," Issei replied, scratching his head in embarrassment "I am just happy to be accepted into the club, so I probably thought I got luckier than most" before raising his hands frantically "Not like I don't want to be here or anything like that! I am really working forward to work under you!"
Rias smiled "Well, that's great to hear. But I have to explain why I recruited especially" she crossed her arms under her breast "You see, I've been planning to recruit you for a while now"
Issei was taken aback at this revelation "You did?"
The redhead nodded "But I needed to find the right time to explain to you an important detail for you to be a part of the club, or more specifically… my family"
Issei titled his head in confusion, unsure what to think of what she meant 'My family', turning to Bazz with a look. His friend simply nodded at the girl, basically telling him to continue listening.
"Tell me, Issei-Kun. Do you remember Friday night?" Rias asked the second-year, whose eyes widen at the question "Or to be specific, on the moment you were in the park?"
"I…" he tried to speak up but couldn't find the right words, turning to look between Bazz, to Rias, to Akeno, before going back to Rias. "I… I remember… something that happened, but they are just…"
"Everywhere" Kiba spoke up, catching his attention "You are trying to remember that night but it is everywhere and you can't make anything out of it" he noted.
"Well… yeah," Issei nodded before realizing something "Yuuma! Amano Yuuma!" he cited aloud the name that has been in mind for the whole day, nearly growing desperate in his search of their actual existence "You guys know what happened to her and what happened that night!"
Rias nodded once again "Yes, and because of that we are currently talking to each other right now. I am sure you don't remember but I and Bazz here helped make sure you were taken care of, namely… in bringing you back"
Issei's widened before it turned to confusion and looked at Bazz in question.
Sighing, Bazz set his fourth cup aside and turned to Gremory "You've made him even more confused, and enough with the build-up, just tell him what he needs to hear" he cited.
Issei's eyes went back to Gremory, who cleared her throat and took a deep breath "Yes, forgive me, I was trying to explain to you the circumstances slowly to make sure you get enough knowledge. But it seems to be better to just show you what I meant and why you are now a part of my family" she nodded at the rest of the club mates and turned back to Issei "You see Issei, you are not lucky. You are special, you have something in you that made you one of the very few individuals to possess such a special gift, something sacred that can truly shape the world"
She got off the table and extended her arms wide.
"You see, Issei-Kun. That fateful night, you died" she revealed, her voice growing dramatic "But I brought you back, and you have become something different, something… powerful"
His eyes enlarged in shock after seeing what is beginning to come out from Gremory's back, slowly two pairs of bat wings sprout out of her back. The other three members of the ORC followed suit, each of them with their own bat wings.
"Hyoudou Issei, you are now a Devil, same as us. Serving in the name of the Gremory clan, my clan, my family" said the redhead in pride, arms in her hips "My pawn!"
His mouth was agape, shocked at the display in front of him. But it all made sense somewhat, turning to the other members of the ORC, Each of them giving him a show of support and acceptance into the club, Koneko included.
"Welcome to your new life. Issei-Kun." Rias said with a smile.
He turned to Bazz, who was still seated and not seeming impressed at the display like the second-year was. As if sensing the question coming up, Bazz turned his eyes to the boy with a scowl, knowing the exact question he is about to ask.
"Are you-?"
"Fuck no, kid. Do I look desperate?" he said before turning to Gremory "I am a human, through and through"
It was the truth... and yet he felt he was lying.
{END}
Author Note:
As you guys have seen, I am not aiming to make Bazz the most powerful guy in the setting, he is a human (WHo is a Quincy, the lore in Bleach does state they are humans somewhat) and can be injured and put in danger but don't worry when the time comes to kick ass, he will kick some ass.
Also, because this is a merge universe, there is some stuff in not only the Bleach lore (Which will be revealed later down the line) that is changed but also the DxD, like the Angels but that is a topic for another time. Also, the top ten most powerful in the setting will be changed as a result of the merge, you guys are welcomed to make it and mix it with the universe and characters (Important note! The Shinigami will not play that much of a major role in the story, or as I have things planned at the moment)
Other than that, hope you guys enjoyed the story!
And remember, I always welcome constructive criticism, it's always appreciated and my DMs are open for any discussion!.
EndNote.
