A New Outlook
In a dark chamber-like area, Raynare wakes up with her wound now healed from when Freed attacked her. She sees Freed kneeling in front of her. He has that same smirk on his face that he normally has, but this one feels cockier.
Raynare immediately gets her senses back and looks where she was slashed only to see it healed up. Confused, she looks at Freed with annoyance.
"What happened to my cut? I thought you attacked me, you Judas priest."
Freed shrugs "Yeah, and my NEW boss patched up my work. Apparently, he has a soft spot for…shall we say people lower on the totem pole."
Raynare takes that last part with surprise since Freed has met someone higher than her. He wouldn't work for a devil given the circumstances, so who is it. Freed approaches with the sword he used to cut Raynare and she gets a good look at it. When she sees it, she instantly knows what it is, and it has a glow.
"That's an Excalibur…how did an outcast like you get one."
Freed snickers "Wouldn't you like to know, oh high and mighty angel."
Raynare is mad about this whole thing and she hears a voice, one that she recognizes inside her head.
"Fallen angel Raynare, I suppose it's been some time since I've seen you."
Though she cannot see the person making the voice, she trembles a little.
"Good, it seems introductions aren't necessary….I've need of your services."
Raynare lowers her head in defeat because she knows that she can't fight this person, even if she got a surprise ally or even a miracle.
Outside, Issei is waiting for Yuuma to call him and waits in the park. He sits on a bench and groans a little. He just wants to talk to her some more and hopefully get their relationship further. While waiting, Issei approached by someone from the side.
"Ah, finally found you, Issei Hyoudou… I think."
Issei looks around and sees a young man who swings his fist and successfully punches Issei in the side of his face and this punch is strong enough to knock Issei off the bench. Issei hits the ground with a red mark on his face from being punched and is winded by it. The young man shrugs a little with disappointment.
"I only barely hit you and you're already on the ground? Looks like I'll have to wait longer than I thought."
Issei picks himself up a little, but the young man walks over and offers him a hand. Issei, despite being assaulted by him, accepts the help and gets back on his feet. Frustrated about what just happened to him, Issei immediately swings back, but the young man simply moves his side to side with ease and has a simply disappointed look on his face.
"I thought you'd be at least average in skill, but man this is weak." He mockingly says.
Issei stops and the young man raises his hand to stop the tension and even apologizes for suddenly attacking him. Naturally, Issei isn't happy about being attacked so suddenly.
"Hey, what was that about!? I was just sitting here, minding my own business, and you start swinging at me like a slab of beef or something."
The young man just has a plain look towards Issei "I said I was sorry." He simply states.
Issei just lets it go because he doesn't want to deal with any problems while waiting for his girlfriend so he just sits back on the bench and checks his phone to see if Yuuma sent any message while he was being messed with by this random guy with silver hair.
"She's not gonna send you a message." The young man tells Issei
Issei looks at him "what do you know." He replies.
The young man takes the phone from Issei and checks the number while Issei tries to get his phone back unsuccessfully. He checks the number for Yuuma and nods a little.
"Really classy…Yuuma Amano…Wonder why she picked that name."
Issei is confused and backs off while the young man hands him his phone back and casually introduces himself.
"Oh yeah, I'm Vali by the way."
Vali extends his hand for a shake, but Issei refuses and is wondering why he is speaking about Yuuma like that.
"What do mean "she picked that name"?" Issei asks distrustfully.
Thinking for a moment, Vali puts his hand to his chin.
"Yeah, I think that you should just come with me instead, Issei Hyoudou."
Upon hearing Vali say his name, Issei is naturally is a little flipped out, but has a passing thought that maybe this Vali guy could be someone Yuuma knows or a friend of hers even. Reluctant, Issei nods a little.
"Sure…I guess…" he softly says.
After a moment, the two young men begin walking with Issei following Vali. They don't really talk much, just bits and pieces of random things they come across. About a few minutes later, Issei and Vali arrive near the abandoned church. Vali looks at the building like it is nothing, but Issei has a very suspicious look on his face.
Vali turns and sees Issei's face "come on, it's not like I'm gonna attack you in there." He comments.
"Yeah, like at the park when I was minding my own business." Issei retorts.
"Listen, Issei, I know something about your little girlfriend that you're not going to want to hear. So I'm not going to be the one to tell you. That's what our friend in here is going to tell you."
Issei thinks about it and he just remains ignorant of the whole thing in bliss, but if Yuuma is in danger or something else, he wants to know. Issei assures himself that he'll do it for her as fiddles with his necklace that he got from her. He and Vali open the doors of the church and Issei instantly sees three people, with wings sticking out of their backs with feathers black as night standing near an altar where a man, their leader, sits casually with a smile on his face.
"You finally made it, Issei. I'm glad Vali brought you here."
Vali simply walks to the side with a smile on his face while Issei gets a good look at their leader, and he is the older man from earlier at the docks. Issei is stunned by this, but not nearly as stunned when he sees the three winged people actually fly in the air above him.
The older man looks at ceiling "I thought it'd be easier to show you right away. Since what I'm about to tell you is going to blow your mind, kid."
The man stands up and approaches Issei, who can't take his eyes off the people flying above him.
"What did that Vali guy drug me with?" Issei softly remarks.
The three flying above him lower to the ground and Issei looks upon the older man before him. He isn't afraid of him, but even Issei can tell this guy is dangerous. This man looks at Issei with a clear sense of confidence.
"Sorry that I didn't introduce myself properly. I just wanted to be sure on something before we actually got into the major discussion." He explains.
Issei wonders what these discussions are and the man grabs Issei's necklace, but Issei pushes the man's hand aside.
"My girlfriend gave me this, so keep your mitts off it!"
Hearing this statement from Issei, the three with wings begin to snicker, but the older man turns towards them and gives them a cold look which silences them. He looks back at Issei and sighs a little.
"Now here's the part that I really wish I didn't have to do…"
Issei is nervous about what is to come, but he has to listen as the man explains.
"Firstly, I am Azazel, and these three little birdies behind me are my less-than-exceptional followers. (turns at the three again) considering they disobeyed me. (Looks back at Issei) but the girl you know as Yuuma Amano…Really didn't want to do this….but she's lying to you about everything…"
"No way, man!" Issei interrupts
Azazel puts his hand on Issei's mouth to silence him further.
"I know that isn't easy to hear, but I'm the one who sent her to observe you. Her real name is Raynare, and she was being a naughty girl from what I heard. She, myself, and those three are…well just to say it…we're fallen angels. You know the ones that were cast out and that junk…"
Issei's eyes roll a little giving a "yeah right" vibe, but Azazel responds by letting out his own wings, twelve jet-black wings, and uses his opposite arm to show Issei something, he produces a spear that glows like a light and it shoots towards the altar that he sat on and it obliterates it with Issei's eyes lighting up a little.
"That was…A minor trick for me." Azazel comments.
Azazel lowers his other hand to let Issei speak, but he is beyond words. After moments, Issei figures that Azazel isn't lying to him, and by extension, he worries about Yuuma, or rather Raynare as he claims. He begins wondering about his first date with her, his first kiss from her, and his time with her. Azazel looks at Issei with pure empathy towards him.
He puts his hand on Issei's shoulder "I'm really sorry, kid. I told her to just watch you, I didn't think she'd go that far."
Issei looks down "…why me…" he sadly says.
Azazel takes a breath "Because I found out that a dangerous sacred gear, a powerful artifact, was dormant in you. I didn't want it to go out of control while you're human, so I sent her to watch you. My plan was to leave you alone, but things…changed, to say the least."
Azazel gives Issei a brief description on sacred gears and that this one dormant in him could have gone berserk and he could hurt people without meaning to. Issei wonders what it could be if it is so dangerous, but Azazel's eyes begin to shine with excitement while he happily explains to him what he has.
"I think it's because you're gear is one of the most powerful there is."
Issei looks at his arms and looks at his body wondering if such a thing could be in his body when he's never felt anything weird in his life like that. With that explanation out of the way, Issei has to know one more thing.
"But where is Yuuma now? Or whatever her real name is…"
Azazel understands that the first one really gets to you and he does, in fact, know where his subordinate is, he isn't ignorant of it. He makes an offer for Issei.
"Kid, I know the first one is your biggest clenches, but this one is dangerous. I have a feeling that another traitor is behind this. I could send you in to get her with these three or Vali, but as you are now…"
Issei looks at Azazel with determination "do whatever you need to…I need to hear it from her mouth. I'll do anything to save her, even if she did lie to me. Yuuma is my first girlfriend, so I'm not backing off from this."
Azazel smiles but makes it clear "Issei Hyoudou, I'm stating one clear thing. I want you to join me and be my new subordinate. If you do that, there's no going back. But in exchange, I'll promise to make it as fun and exciting as possible."
Issei nods "does this mean I get wings like you?"
Azazel laughs a little and puts his hand on Issei's head "kid, I've got a feeling that I'm really going to like you a lot more than I already do. Just remember one thing…"
Issei wonders what this one thing is.
"JUBBLIES ARE WORTH DYING FOR!" Azazel declares.
Issei then gives a salute "Sir, they sure are, sir!"
That bit was mostly to cheer up Issei. The three fallen angels give somewhat disappointing works, but Azazel turns towards them, gives them a smirk, and tells something they don't want to hear.
"Well guess what…Issei is going to be your boss in a little, so how do you three like that?"
They each put on shocked looks because Azazel is serious. Clearly, this is also punishment for insubordination. Issei is ready to accept whatever Azazel plans to do for closure with his girlfriend and will also do anything to help her, even she did lie to him. Vali approaches Issei from the side, pats him on the shoulder, and gives him an approving nod.
"Don't worry, I'll teach you how to really fight. I won't leave you out to dry."
Issei is a little iffy about letting a guy who randomly assaulted him train him, but he'll need Vali's help with this and he knows it. Azazel leads Issei to a different room because there is another change needed that Issei must go through; at least he wants to do it. Just from their brief talking, Issei feels a connection with Azazel and is going to need his help with everything that's going to happen.
The three fallen angels don't like this situation, but they have little choice since they know they can't take either Azazel or Vali. They know that they got off easy with everything considered. But they may have to break it to Issei that his necklace, a thing he treasures, is just a tool to spy on him. Azazel didn't say because he didn't want to and Vali didn't because it isn't his business. The three are waiting at the moment because a new fallen angel is about to be born.