Chapter 5

Monday Afternoon

It was moments after Issei hugged onto Raynare and Akeno Himejima. Both of the girls started to become nervous. The few people that would hug them were the girls' parents and Uncle Azazel. They did not know how to react and because of this their face started to turn red and steam began to come out of their ears.

"Aunty Shuri, so these are the cuties you told me to hug?" Issei innocently said.

"Ufufu, these cuties are mine and Uncle Baraqiel's daughters." Shuri giggled.

"M-M-M-Mother, so this is I-I-Issei?" Raynare asked.

Raynare was not good with people. She could not comprehend why this boy would just hug her out of the blue. She was unprepared just like her sister when it comes from other people showing them affection. Raynare then looked at her sister and she looked like she was about to say something.

"Mother… you and Father know Issei?"

"He trains with your Father and the other families here. This is a secret but come here girls." Shuri told her daughters. Gesturing for them to come closer, she whispered the last part.

"Issei is the Red Dragon Emperor, remember how Uncle Azazel and your Father talked about the Supernatural." Receiving a nod as confirmation, she continued.

"He has a Sacred Gear which is called the Boosted Gear. It houses the spirit of Ddraig, and it is one of the thirteen longinus."

Hearing this from their mother, they both had faces filled with amazement. They never knew someone that housed a dragon. Well, Uncle Azazel is creating a dragon type sacred gear but that is still in the making.

"Issei, you house a dragon?" Akeno asked.

"Yea! Ddraig is so nice! You want to talk to him?" Issei replied excitedly.

A nod from both of them, he asked ones of his best friends, Ddraig. Both had a conversation in Issei's head.

'Ddraig, could you come out and talk to them?'

[Partner. I am not a toy that is shown to everyone you see..]

'P-Please! Okay then! Let's make a deal! I will get you some dragon apples from Uncle Tannin, the next time we go to the Underworld with Aunty Cleria.'

[Hmph. Dragon Apples aren't tha-]

Cutting Ddraig off, Issei continued.

'Then I will also get you some of that God level dessert that caused you to be jealous of me eating, from Grandpa.'

[Ah. You win. I expect it soon though. You hear partner!]

'Yea, yea. Just for now, show yourself to Akeno and Raynare.'

Finishing their conversation, a green light appeared on Issei's left hand. It blinked everytime Ddraig spoke out loud.

[Hello, my Partner's friends. I am Ddraig, the Welsh Dragon and this kid's Partner.]

Akeno and Raynare had a look of fear when Ddraig first spoke. It then turned into smiles on their faces with stars in their eyes.

"Akeno Raynare, do you want to play with Issei?" Shuri asked her daughters.

"Yes!" " Y-Yes! Thank you Mother!"

"Issei, can you go with my girls? I wanted to talk to your mother."

"Yes, Aunty Shuri! Mom is sitting down over there." Issei excitedly said.

Pulling Akeno and Raynare hands, Issei ran off with them. They went to a secluded part of the park, to tell more about each other and play tag.

"Akeno are you ready? Raynare, you too?"

"Yes" "Yes"

"I got you!" Issei said.

"Nuh uh! I got you." Raynare said as she lunged at Issei. Issei dodged Raynare's attack and bumped into someone.

"Ray, be careful! Also, I got Issei." Akeno said as she held Issei's collar of his shirt.

"Yay! Good job Akeno!" Raynare congratulated.

"Anytime Ray!" Akeno replied as she let go of Issei's collar. He began to run away from the girls in the off chance that they don't catch him.

Slowing down, his instincts and Ddraig told him something.

[Partner. Be careful. You can feel that right?]

Feeling something he hasn't ever before, he stopped running away from the girls and started to breathe heavily.

'I do, Ddraig. It seems like what mom said to be careful of.'

[Just in case. If need be, generate the gauntlet and I will silently boost it]

The conversation ended and he heard Akeno and Raynare called out to him.

"Issei, where are you?"

"We are looking for you Issei, we wanted to make sure you didn't get hurt."

Akeno and Raynare journeyed off to find Issei. They found him standing still and staring off in the distance.

"Issei, there you are! Why did you run off?"

"A-Akeno, I feel something… something or someone is coming."

As he said that, a creature attacked them. One of the worst type of creatures, it was a stray devil. A devil, a deformed devil who either killed or ran away from their master. Even though Issei was prepared for something like this, he saw a couple people chasing after it. He spawned his Boosted Gear and boosted once. But he was beaten to attacking the stray by two white lightning bolts.

[BOOST]

"Holy Lightning!" "Holy Lightning!"

Akeno and Raynare used the power that flowed through their veins. After being taught on how to use their power by their father and the other cadres at Grigori. What appeared were storm clouds and two lightning bolts appeared from those dark clouds. It was then converted into white lightning by using the holy power that came from their father and struck the stray devil.

The holy lightning had an effect but it wasn't enough. Since the young fallen angel hybrids were still children, it didn't have enough power to completely disintegrate the stray. This caused the young fallen to release their wings and attacked again but was stopped by a red shot of energy.

Meanwhile

Issei was shocked when he saw the attack that was placed upon the stray devil. He boosted two more times since he first spawned his sacred gear. The aftermath of the white lightning bolts revealed the stray to have an arm cut off and their hair puffed up but that was it. He asked Ddraig if he was ready.

[Let's go Partner! Use that move I told you about.]

"Let's Go! Dragon Shot!" Issei said as he released his move created by the Boosted Gear.

He then took out a paper then focused his magic into it. It glowed then he put it back into his pocket. He then asked the two girls.

"Akeno..Ray! Are you okay? I'm sorry I didn't protect you." Issei began to falter as he remembered his parents lesson.

Flashback

"Issei, before we start your training, we need to tell you something." Reniel, Issei's mom said.

"That right, my boy! We will explain the duty of ours in Kuoh." Gorou, Issei's dad continued.

"Our...duty?" A young Issei slowly said.

He was confused about what their family's duty was. He knew that he wasn't fully human thanks to the explanation from his best friend Ddraig and his parents.

"Yes son, our duty." Gorou replied.

"Issei, we are part of the four great families. Which means that we need to protect the other family that is in a time of crisis." Reniel continued after her husband. Issei asked his parents in an attempt to learn who.

"Who do we have to protect?"

"You remember, Uncle Baraqiel and his wife, Shuri Himejima. They also have two girls a year older than you. There is also Irina's parents and Irina." Gorou in an attempt to fulfil his curiosity.

Issei's mom finished her husband's words.

"And there are Aunty Cleria and Uncle Masaomi. Aunty Cleria also has a child about to be born."

"Either me or your mom will train you along with a few others." Gorou finished. Reniel soon concluded their conversation.

"Okay! We finished so let's get training!"

"Yeah! Let's go Mom, Dad, and Ddraig!"

[Okay Partner, I will put you through an even more strenuous training later]

Present

Remembering this, Issei turned away to avoid the two girls' gaze. He felt horrible for not protecting them as he took up this job as a young boy. As a Hyoudou. And as a supernatural being.

"Issei, look at us!" Akeno and Raynare yelled.

"NO! I failed to protect you!" Issei cried.

"Issei, you did protect us in the end. Raynare and Akeno know that we have limitations. At least you tried and succeeded in the end." They both said.

"Bu-"

"No buts! You protected us and we owe you are lives. If it weren't for you, we possibly wouldn't be here."

"Akeno..Raynare..what are those wings?" Issei asked.

The two girls forgot completely about their wings. They looked behind them and their faces made a look of horror. Their mother told them to not show their wings in the chance of them being ridiculed. They didn't know how their young friend would react. They thought.

'Will he stop playing with us now that he seen my black wings?'

'I-I-I don't know what to do. Big sister, Mother, Father, help me.'

These thoughts were going through their minds as quickly as a lightning bolt can touch ground. Both girls looked at Issei and he had a big smile on his face. They were shocked to say the least. Both of them thought he would condemn them but with this they didn't know what to think.

"Issei, we are Fallen Angels." Akeno and Raynare cried. His reaction made them began to blush.

"AWESOME! Although, I knew you two were Fallen Angels already. Look at this!"

He unfurled his three pairs of grayish white wings.

"See Akeno, Raynare. I am angel. And if you are wondering if I won't play with you anymore then you are dead wrong."

Both Fallen Angel Hybrids had looks of disbelief and red that tinted their cheeks. Akeno knew that she might get criticized by others while Raynare did not know what to think, so she did nothing. A few stray tears fell down both of their faces as they brightly smiled.

They launched at Issei and started to hug and kiss him. What either of them knew from this moment on would be a beautiful relationship. Even though neither child was at an age where they could do anything except hug and kiss someone's cheeks. They would do whatever it took to show their appreciation for Issei. Someone who didn't condemn them for what they are.

In Kuoh, there is support for the supernatural beings such as the 'four great families'. There is also support given from these families to other supernatural beings who take refuge in this town. The ones who would most likely condemn others are the ones who are not apart of the supernatural.

This involved young kids and their parents who were ignorant to the effects the supernatural has had on this town.

As Issei was getting attacked by the girls, multiple lights appeared on the ground and from those lights, beings came out of them.

Those beings were none other than the leaders of the 'four great families'.

The first pair that all three children saw were Cleria Belial and her husband Masaomi Yaegaki. They were the main protectors of Kuoh along with Cleria's peerage.

The second were Issei's parents and the the parents of Irina with a little Irina holding her mother's hand.

The third and final pair were Baraqiel and Shuri Himejima, the parents of Akeno and Raynare Himejima. They had scared looks on their faces and a tears threatening to fall possibly not wanting to see what may have happened if Issei eliminated the stray devil.

All four families checked to see if the kids had any injuries on them. They didn't have any, and they wanted to know what happened.

The three children told them and each adult sighed in relief. Each and everyone knew of Issei's strength and that he was this generation's Red Dragon Emperor. After all, they were the one of the ones who trained him for situations like this.

"Thank you Ise. Reniel and Gorou, now I think we agree.." Baraqiel and Shuri said.

"No problem, Aunty Shuri and Uncle Baraqiel. But what did you agree too?"

Shuri the one who answered put a finger over her mouth and said.

"I think we'll tell you when you are older! Right?!"

"Right!'

"R-Right'

"Hmph"

Issei's parents and Baraqiel replied.

Although he replied, Baraqiel did not want his little angels to be seduced by that demigod angel hybrid. Even if he trains Issei, he didn't want his daughters like him. He wanted things to stay how they are right now.

He wanted for his precious angels to just be his precious angels. Never growing up, never having a boyfriend and certainly not having a husband. Unfortunately for him, he was too late. Too late, to stop a stray devil from attacking them. Too late, to stop his girls from meeting him. In the end, he was too late.

"Well looks like everything is okay now right?" Masaomi asked with a big smile on his face as he held his wife's hand.

"Yeah! Thanks for coming Uncle! I'll see you tomorrow! And Aunty Cleria can we go to the Underworld tomorrow to see Uncle Tannin?" An excited Issei asked.

"Ise, we can go. But why? Not that I don't want to, it's just tha-" Cleria said before getting interrupted.

"I made promise! I want to get some dragon apples but I need your help Aunty Cleria" Issei said while making puppy dog eyes.

"Ise, you know I can't win while you do that. Okay we'll go tomorrow but you will be training harder now because you interacted with a stray devil. Okay?"

"Okay!"

As the other families went away, Issei left with his mother and father to go to their home.

The next day

"Aunty! Uncle! Good Morning!"

"Ise, good morning! Are you ready to go?"

"Yes Aunty!"

"Okay!"

Before making a magic circle to the underworld, Cleria gave one last kiss to her husband and said.

"I love you! I'll see you later~."

"Bye Cleria, Ise." Masaomi replied as he waved bye.

Underworld

"Ise, we are here! Are you ready to see Tannin?"

"Yes Aunty Cleria! I am ready!"

As they continued their conversation, a whole group of dragons flew to their location. One of them being the former dragon king, Tannin.

"Ise, it is nice to see you again! Did you come for more training or for some dragon apples?" Tannin asked as he approached the duo.

"Uncle Tannin! It is good to see you too! I came to get some dragon apples for Ddraig! We made a deal and I said I could get some from you." Issei said as he ran up to Tannin and hugged albeit he hugged his legs since Tannin is about fifteen meters tall.

"D..Ddraig" Tannin growled.

He didn't want dragon apples to be an incentive. They were hard to grow and only in a certain area. Even if he is doing research on dragon apples, he didn't want to be given away so easily.

"Ise, let's do this. I will give you a small crate full of apples if you give Ddraig just two and grow the rest." Tannin told an excited Issei.

[B-But Partner promise-]

"Ddraig, even if you are my friend you need to think about the hatchlings too! I will give them to you. But, I need help too you know!" Tannin yelled.

"Awesome Uncle Tannin! Putting Ddraig in his place! I can try to grow them! I need to ask grandpa and possibly Uncle Baraqiel too!" Issei said as he hugged his 'Uncle Tannin' again.

'Ddraig, to make up for only two apples, I can ask grandpa for extra dessert.'

[Thank you Issei, those are go..I mean I will agree not that they are good or anything]

'Anytime Partner!'

The conversation with Tannin ended and Issei soon left the underworld with Cleria. It was already close to midnight when they got back to Kuoh. Issei told his parents of the events for today and told them if he could ask his grandpa something. Like always, both Reniel and Gorou were hesitant to agree until Issei said it had to do with Uncle Tannin.

Knowing Tannin's good reputation as a dragon king turned former dragon king to help out his fellow dragons, they finally told Issei he could go see him at the end of the week but he had to help out his grandfather with any services or anything he needed for that day.

Going to sleep soon after he held a dragon apple in his hand as always he was pulled into his mind by Ddraig. Converting the dragon apple Issei had in his hand, Ddraig consumed it as quickly as he received it. After this, he started to train to see if he could use a alternate version of the infamous juggernaut drive, Ddraig constantly told him about it and to be careful with it.

Time Skip - Saturday

"Ise! Are you ready to go see grandpa?" Gorou unenthusiastically asked.

Gorou didn't want to see his father. The last time he saw his father was right after Issei revealed his sacred gear. Knowing that his father is a battle maniac wasn't helpful but he knew that he was the best to teach Issei a fraction of his power.

Although, Gorou was a son of Susanoo, the fifth out out ten sons, he was a little scared of his father. He wasn't the strongest son, and he always preferred to have peace instead a life of battle. It all changed when he met his wife.

He wanted to grow strong enough to protect her even if she was stronger than him. But that is a story for another time.

"I'm ready dad!"

"Alright, let's go!"

Using a magic circle to transport to the realm of the Gods, both Gorou and Issei were off.

Scene Skip - Takamagahara

Teleporting outside, hand in hand Issei and his father walked in and he was met with guards.

"State your business, and your name!" A guard announced.

"Gorou Hyoudou, Son of Susanoo."

"Issei Hyoudou, Son of Gorou and the Red Dragon Emperor"

"Alright, you are clear. Approach slowly. There is an event, so be careful."

Approaching the throne room of the shinto gods, Issei noticed a sword on the wall next to a picture of his grandfather. He wondered why it was there but didn't say anything.

Entering the room, were Amaterasu, the Goddess of the Sun. Susanoo, the God of Storm and Sea, and Gorou and Issei's Father and Grandfather respectively. And finally Tsukuyomi, the God of the Moon.

Unfortunately for Gorou, his Father spoke.

"So I see you brought the brat again, Gorou."

"Yes Father, Ise wanted to ask you something."

"What is it boy? But first come here."

Listening to his grandfather, Issei walked slowly to him and then Susanoo picked up Issei and asked.

"Ise, it's been a long time. How is my favorite grandson?"

Overcome by this odd sense of relief, Gorou let out a chuckle since he rarely sees his Father act like this.

"Grandpa! I wanted to ask if I could grow some dragon apples here? They are from Uncle Tannin and I want to help him out! Also could I have some more of that desse-"

"Yea that's okay! I have to ask my sister first." Cutting Issei off, he looked at his sister and she nodded.

"Looks like we can! Also remember I told you not to talk about that! I'm gonna get in trouble but eh who cares! Haha!"

"Thank you Grandpa! I love you!" Issei said almost in tears.

"Hmph, yeah yeah." And just like that Susanoo is back to his regular persona. Not the one who is excited to be a grandfather but the God of the Storm and Sea.

"Is that all, Gorou?" Susanoo continued as he got a nod.

"Alright, send me some dragon apples and I'll see it myself that they are planted. I will give you updates once a month on how they are, okay?"

"Kay!"

Leaving the realm, they went back to their house and went along their day as usual. Issei, using the gym to train while his parents enjoyed each others company.

After training, he asked his parents where he can find Akeno and Raynare. His mom said that they lived on the hill that had the shrine since all three ladies were shrine maidens.

He thanked his parents and left the house. It was almost dinner when he arrived at the shrine. Shuri immediately noticed and welcomed him into their home.

Even though Baraqiel has trained him before, he has never gone to their house. It was always a separate place where each person could train.

He noticed Akeno and Ray sleeping in their shrine maiden attire and asked why they were so tired.

"Aunty, why are Akeno and Ray, so tired?"

"Ufufu, there were a lot of people today and my girls worked hard. If you want you could go lay down next to both of them." Shuri replied with a mischievous smirk.

"Okay, Aunty! Please excuse me!"

Walking over to his best friends, he slowly laid down next to both of them and held onto one of their arms. He felt his eyelids becoming heavy and it closed.

It was thirty minutes later and he was still asleep. He heard a shout and got up thinking someone was in danger.

…

…

Thankfully, it was just Uncle Baraqiel calling out he was home. He noticed me and immediately spawned his holy lightning as his overprotective side of him came out.

He stared for a little bit at who was with his daughters and retracted his powers.

"Ise, I didn't know you were here, my bad"

"Well, it was my fault too! Although, I was a little scared, to be honest." Issei said and he scratched the back of his head.

"Anyways, what are you doing here, Ise?"

"I wanted to see Akeno and Ray but they were asleep and I fell asleep beside them. I didn't realize it but when I woke up the girls were on top of me. Haha!"

"Hmph, can you wake them up? I need to talk to Shuri about something." Baraqiel asked while crossing his arms.

"Okay Uncle!"

Issei went back to his two friends and gently shook them awake.

"Ugh. I fell asleep. Ray, wake up!" A half awake Akeno said.

"Akeno, are you awake now?" Issei questioned. Akeno looked to see who said that and was shocked.

"AH! Issei, when did you get here?" Rubbing her eyes, she asked.

"I wanted to see you and Ray but both of you were asleep and I fell asleep next to you. Anyways, Uncle is home and he asked to wake you up."

"Father, is home? Ray wake up!" Akeno wondered then saw her sister still asleep. She tried to wake her up and now was successful.

"Haaaahh, Big sister. I am awake now."

"Issei is here!"

"W-W-What! I-I-I-Issei!"

Looking left and right to look for Issei, she saw Akeno holding on him, she pouted and yelled.

"Akeno that isn't fair! I want Issei to be with me too! I want to hold him too!"

"Ufufu, come here then!"

"Okay" Raynare slowly walked to Issei then put her two arms around his right one since her older sister holded his left. They went to the table and saw that Shuri made a lot of good food.

"Everyone put up your glasses! Congrats!"

"Yay!"

"Y-Yea!"

"Ufufu"

"Hmph!"

Issei soon slept over and went back to his home the next day. Issei left earlier than what he wanted because a family member from the main Himejima family came over to see how the shrine was holding up and how Shuri was. What the family member didn't know was that she married and had two kids. To prevent the main family from learning of this, Baraqiel for safety reasons, took his daughters to his work and to Azazel's joy had him watch over them.

Azazel made a promise to the two girls if they helped with his research, if they helped they would get an artificial sacred gear. But he would only give it to them when they turned ten, for reasons that he didn't want to share with them...and also to not gain the fury of a sadistic Japanese woman. He didn't want Shuri to find out that he was using her daughters to help him research and create his projects that might not even work.

Scene Change

When Issei got home he began to thank his parents and went to play with his friend and neighbor Irina.

"Irina, I'm here" Issei said asa he knocked at the front door.

To Issei's much suprise, Irina's mother Hana opened the door. A surprised look on her face as she saw Ise she said.

"Ise, come in, Irina is still asleep but you can go upstairs and wake her up."

"Okay!"

Walking up the steps, he gently knocked on Irina's door but received no answer. Opening the door, he saw that his friend was sleeping. Shaking Irina, she opened her eyes slowly, then she jumped up and hugged her friend.

"Issei~! I missed you!"

"I missed you too, Irina! But I was only gone for only a week."

"I know but I don't want you gone too long." Irina whispered.

"What?" Issei wondered.

"Nothing!"

"Alright are you ready to play Irina?" Issei asked.

"Yeah!"

Irina and Issei began to play heroes. Irina took her father's sword and began to swing it around. Issei generated a light sword and began to fight with his friend.

"I'm coming Issei!"

"Let's go Irina!"

"HAHHH"

"AHHHHAH"

Issei and Irina yelled. In the end, Irina won since Issei held back a lot and didn't use his sacred gear.

After this day, Irina and Issei got close, just as close as Akeno and Raynare was to Issei. It began a better friendship but unlike Issei, he didn't know that after today, Irina started to have a crush on him. But it wouldn't work out in the end….or would it?

Thanks for reading! I am still gonna update on Saturday but since today is labor day and I had inspiration I thought I would do it. Please like follow and review to tell me what I did wrong or what I did right. Thank you

Aloha!