Hey Guys! Next one! Rolling em out pretty easy. This is what happens when you make a new story you're interested in. It always gets my mind bubbling with ideas. That's why I always say, if you ever experience writers block for one of your stories, do NOT just take a break and wait till you get your muse back. Only an inconsiderate bum of an author would do that. No offense to any authors who have done that. That's just how I would feel about myself if I did that. Everyone's different. Regardless, my advice is: 1) read or watch something interesting that could spark your creative conscious. I usually watch something like Hunter X Hunter 2011 since it's a masterfully written series that gets my mind going. 2) write something else. This is why I have multiple stories. Sometimes writing something else will cause you to bring out ideas which will only work for the thing you are writing currently. But at least even if those ideas don't work for another story, it could inspire something more. That's basically what I think is the best choice. After all, I'm writing this around 15 hours after I uploaded the first chapter.
Last thing…..I have to ask…..um as I said last chapter….The second challenge fic was a lemon fic….so I kind of want some advice….because apparently descriptive sexual interaction isn't technically allowed? The M rating does not constitute descriptive sexual content, that's the MA rating and that doesn't even exist it's just for reference. So how come so many stories actually just get away with it? Is that rule actually just not enforced properly? Cuz I've seen too many very descriptive lemons on this site. So what's up with that? Just asking because I very much plan on writing this story….some of you might be asking why…..well the person who challenged me- is a fuck. He's a friend of mine who challenged my pride as a writer and for that reason I WILL prove him wrong. Let it be known I am a truly petty person. Just because it's the most shocking premise for a lemon I've seen within this community, does not mean I will fucking back down you shit. I know you're reading this.
Also, "Why did Issei save that little girl?" because he's a good person. That is his base character. And it's the best way to illustrate the contrast between pre-tragedy Ise and Post-tragedy Ise.
Anyway, this chapter will be full of dialogue and character development so sorry to any of you action junkies, deal with it for now. Hope you enjoy.
-Scene-
[Thank you, Hashima-san. I am currently reporting from Kuoh in Nagoya, one of the most affected areas in terms of destruction regarding yesterday's earthquake. There were many recorded casualties and an abnormal amount of destruction in certain areas, while other areas seemed intact. This of course, has been attributed to the geographical structure of the town itself. A minor landslide also followed the aftershock though it did not cause any casualties. As of now, considering that the damage is minimal compared to the natural disasters of the past, only one disaster center has been attending to those grossly affected by the earthquake. Those who have lost their homes are temporarily being housed by relatives or by willing participants as per the legislation in Kuoh creating such a policy over 50 years ago. Many seismologists have been confused as to why the quake seemingly reacted within a certain radius only in southern Japan. Areas like Nagoya, Kyoto, and Nagano are the only areas that experienced the shakes while Kuoh specifically is the only city or town that received damage. Whether or not that is a point of concern is still being debated. Moreover, there is a certain amount of funding-]
"Ah, mou. That's enough already... I don't want to hear it..."
Click.
The news report, broadcasted on the Television, had itself switched to another broadcast. The one who changed the channel was a woman in her very early thirties. She was sitting on the floor, in a kotatsu, with a little short-pig tailed girl in her lap.
The one asking her to turn off the program was a man in disheveled business clothing: unbuttoned white shirt, loose tie, and black messy hair. He laid his head in one of his palms as he rubbed his face from under his glasses. He was visibly distressed.
"Were you allowed bereavement leave, honey?..."
The man's wife asked him sympathetically, as to not cause him any further distress. He answered halfheartedly.
"Yes…. I was allowed 3 days….. They were quite understanding..."
"...I see."
These 3 residents were the Aikawa family.
The Father's name is Aikawa, Satoshi. The mother's name is Aikawa, Akane. The 3 year old toddler eating cookies in Akane's lap, is named Aikawa, Maki.
A small 3 person family. Reminiscent of another familiar one. The only difference being their o nky child, which was a girl rather than a boy.
That, and this family was still together...
"Mama, I want taaki."
The toddler, Maki, looked up cutely at her mother and asked for her favorite food, Takoyaki, but mispronouncing it due to her young age.
"Yes, my dear…."
The atmosphere was heavy. The only one who didn't understand it was the poor child. The reason was obvious.
—Satoshi is the first cousin of the Father, Hyoudou.
Early morning, Satoshi was sent to work as usual. However, no more than 2 hours after arriving to his workplace, he received a call from his wife, Akane.
His cousin and his wife, the Hyoudou couple, had passed away.
At the time, Akane was cleaning around the household like usual and was unexpectedly contacted by the Kuoh proper medical authorities. She was informed that the adults known as the "Hyoudou's" were found deceased under a collapsed room in their household, caused by a some sort of explosion.
This was not true. Not only because the truth was covered up, but because the explanation provided by those who examined the scene was that the only remains that were found were identified as the two adults. Those remains being a few severed body parts.
The most poignant one being a severed hand….
The real reason was still unknown to even the authorities. It is speculated to be caused from an explosion. Investigation is still ongoing.
Regardless, there would be nothing, but an empty casket during the services….
In order to spare her husband the mental stress of never knowing the reason behind their deaths, Akane decided to give him the most practical explanation without the more descriptive details. At the very least, he understands that the service will be closed casket and she will be conducting the most when it came to preparing the services, in order to lessen the emotional burden he may face.
They were contacted first because they were listed as the proper 'next of kin'. As a result of Hyoudou's deaths, the most difficult part to explain became grossly apparent.
Their only child, Issei Hyoudou, was left an orphan.
Akane was conflicted about what to do about the situation. —Satoshi was not. He was excused from work for the next 3 days for bereavement, courtesy of his manager.
He did not return home. Rather, he went to retrieve Issei Hyoudou without hesitation. He was in the custody of a department of children's welfare. He filled out the proper paperwork and brought Issei back home with him.
—The boy was dead.
There was no light in his eyes and no life in his movements.
There was not a single word uttered by either of them.
He simply picked the boy up into his arms, placed his coat over his head, and drove him "home"...
There were no words that could be said. And even if there were, Satoshi did not know them.
In truth, reality had not set in for the man yet.
The tragic outcome to a random, non-major, natural disaster was all too surreal.
Satoshi kept thinking that if he returned Issei home, he would be greeted by a happy-go-lucky idiot of a father to the boy….. A foolish younger cousin, standing at the door with a smile to greet him.
...This was something he did not drive to the residence to confirm…
Satoshi brought the boy into the house. His wife immediately brought herself to her husband and took the boy from his arms. She took him upstairs and held on to him, silently, until he fell asleep.
Not a single word was said by the boy, nor to him.
There was simply nothing that could be said.
Their daughter would finally meet her cousin, under the very worst of circumstances. Not yet understanding why he would not come down from the room to play.
Satoshi and the boy's father were not "inseparable" or anything to that extent. But their relationship was good. They spoke often enough. They played together when they were young. They went to one another's weddings and their children's birthdays/events. Their relationship was as proper as a family members should be. Not as they were the greatest of friends, but they were family.
Satoshi did not know that he was the Hyoudou's next of kin.
It came as a surprise to him. That may have been why he so easily accepted the orphaned boy with open arms.
There was someone in his family who thought so fondly of him…. And yet he was not even aware of it….. Now, that person was gone and their only child was all that was left….
—Some part of his heart, he felt crumble.
"Honey…"
Satoshi was snapped out of his depressing thoughts.
"...If you're tired, you can go rest…."
"..Eh? Ah, no, it's fine. I'm alright."
He responded tiredly to his wife's concern, causing her to only worry more.
"...Are you going to wait for him to wake up?..."
To that question, Satoshi had no answer, not even for himself.
"..."
"Mama, Taaki!"
The toddler tugged down on her mother's shirt incessantly.
"Ah, yes, my dear. I know."
Akane stood up, walking with Maki in her arms to the kitchen.
Satoshi was left to sit alone in silence, watching the TV with a vacant expression.
"...Ah, that's right. It's my daughter's birthday in a week….. It's going to be your boy's birthday in a few months too, isn't it, Itoko-kun?..."
He said that dryly as he stared absentmindedly, with empty eyes, at the talk show on TV.
-DxD-
Upstairs, in one of the few rooms of the house, the boy laid silently in bed. Curled up in a fetal position, like the lonely child he was. Hoping that, at some point, he would awake to the warmth of his mother's grasp.
….
...
...
—And from within his mind, an unfamiliar voice spoke to him.
[Partner.]
….
[Partner. Are you awake?]
….
[You can hear me, can't you, boy.]
….
[Is that it? Is this where your journey ends? You will allow yourself to waste away, here, in this room?]
….
….
….
'...There is nothing...'
[..?]
'...There is nothing, Ddraig... Mum... Pops...They're gone...There is... I have nothing left...'
[I am sympathetic to your loss, you are my host, after all. But, is this really how you intend to live your life? You plan to live it in misery?]
'….They're gone, Ddraig..…...My mom…...My dad...…..I'm alone...'
[I see. I do not understand such concepts as "tragedy" and "family", having experienced neither. So losing such a thing is detrimental to the heart? Many of my past hosts did not have proper family. Some of them killed their own. It was something I could not easily comprehend.]
….
'My family was all I had…..I don't have anything else left…..Not anymore…...'
[You do not thirst for revenge?]
'...Revenge?... You mean, payback?... I am weak…...I don't know who did it…. It doesn't matter anymore….'
[I see.]
Their conversation ended with that.
Knock knock..
A light knocking was heard on the door of the room he was in. After some silence, he heard a voice follow it.
"Issei-kun.. I'm going to enter…"
Dakun..
The door opened, and some light from the hallway partially illuminated the dark room.
The person standing at the door was the boy's uncle, Satoshi. He looked onto Issei from the doorway. The boy was lying in the bed on his side, facing away from the door.
"...Some food will be ready soon….. I'm sure you'd like to eat... Did you eat anything when you were with the welfare department?..."
There was no response.
A deafening silence was obvious, even with the subtle sounds of cooking downstairs. Satoshi would more easily hear his heartbeat than a single breath from the boy.
"...Maki-chan has been wanting to see you as well….. She would want to play with you, at her age…. You are her….first cousin…..after all….."
Satoshi hesitated a bit when saying that. It was as if something in his subconscious ate at him as he said it.
"..."
But, again, there was no response. His harvest bore no fruit.
With a defeated sigh, Satoshi decided it was enough and slowly began to close the door.
"...At least come down to eat when we're gone….."
Creak...
Dakun.
And quietly, the door shut.
"Yay~! Taaki! Taaki!"
Little Maki was cheering while sitting in the Kotatsu as her mother placed her dinner on it. Maki loves the Kotatsu and practically never wants to leave it. She is just a child after all. So, because of her, they do usually have to eat dinner at the Kotatsu.
"Maki-chan, remember what you say before food."
"Itakimas~!"
"Yes, good girl. Itadakima—"
Slide...
Just as they were about to eat dinner, the sliding door to the living area they were in, opened…..
There stood the boy with his head down. Truthfully, the parents were shocked to see him. The first ones to realize it were the mother and her daughter. Still so, the girl moved before her mother did.
"Ise-ku—"
"—Nii-Nii!"
The girl interrupted her mother excitedly, calling out her cousin with an incorrect/babyish version of the term 'Big Bro'. She quickly slipped out from her mother's lap and waddled her way towards her cousin, who lifted his head a bit in response.
That's right, this was the first time he met this girl. His uncle's daughter. His baby cousin.
She was small, unsteadily making her way towards his legs, and her head only went up to his stomach. She had brown hair and short pigtails. She was wearing a pink 'onesie' pajama. Most of all, she was unbelievably adorable. She resembled her mother.
—She also resembled that bloodied little girl….
"Ah!"
The girl almost tripped when she reached Issei, but the boy caught her. She smiled brightly up at him.
"Nii-Nii! Taaki~!"
.
.
.
.
.
In what had felt like years, for reasons unknown even to himself, Issei—
— Smiled ever so slightly.
"Ah~!"
Maki lifted her arms, indicating she wanted to be held. Issei slowly picked her up and walked over to Akane, passing her the girl.
"C-Come now, Maki-chan~ Not everyone can pick you up when you ask them, you know?"
Akane said that to her daughter a bit nervously. She was shocked seeing the boy smile after how dead how he had seemed hours ago. Well, seeing a 6 year old boy pick up another toddler half his size so easily also threw her off, but she was hardly thinking about that. Even more caught off guard than her, was her husband.
Satoshi didn't say anything. Once again, he had no words.
What could he say? Should he begin small talk? What sort of insensitive family member would that make him? He obviously can't start with the subject matter itself. That would only spoil the atmosphere and ruin Issei's attempt at connecting with people around him again. Should he ignore him? That shouldn't even be an option. His own cousin was gone. His nephew's father. How was he supposed to address such an issue?
He didn't even know how he was supposed explain that to his aunt, the boy's grandmother, and his child's grand-aunt. His wife was the one who ended up informing the boy's grandmother.
The call was long and silent on his wife's side. It was obvious that there wasn't much to be said. It was something meant to be said in person, but she would find out from someone else if not them, most likely her other son. But as the next of kin, he felt they had a responsibility to explain it to most of the family members. A few of them already knew, after attempting to contact the Hyoudou family and receiving no response, when learning of the Kuoh casualties.
The first ones being Satoshi's sister, another cousin to the Hyoudou parents. When she had been called to receive the confirmation, she had begun crying a bit. She couldn't help it, since she was considerably close to the Hyoudou wife. However, she believed that her 8 year old daughter would have more trouble dealing with this because she is very emotional, even more so than herself. She cared for her aunt/uncle and their son.
To believe that all of this happened because of what was considered a "minor event".
Looking at all of it from the outside, it was an absolute tragedy.
But now, Satoshi and his family were faced with the greatest challenge there was. Confronting this issue with the Hyoudou's very own son. Satoshi wasn't confident that he could handle it. He couldn't even handle calling his aunt when he had the phone in his hands. His wife made all of the calls on his behalf.
—He felt like a coward.
"Ah! Wait, Maki-chan!"
Satoshi was snapped from his thoughts again, seeing his daughter crawl out of her mother's lap with a Takoyaki ball in her hand. She crawled into Issei's lap and lifted herself to his head and held it up to him.
"Nii-Nii! Taaki!"
She held it up to him from her palm. Some of the sauce was on her hand and the top was just a bit squished.
"Ah, Maki..."
But before Satoshi and his wife could interfere, something extraordinary happened.
"...Ah…. Mm…"
Issei lowered his head and took the ball into his mouth, effectively eating it in a few bites.
"...Thanks... Maki-chan…."
He gave her a weak smile. His strength hadn't returned to him, but he was still trying.
His baby cousin smiled happily in response. She then reached for another Takoyaki ball from the plate in front on her mother.
"Wait, wait, Maki-chan. You can't touch it with your hands. Here."
Her mother pricked one of the Takoyaki balls with a toothpick and lifted it to her daughter's mouth.
"Here. Ah~."
"Aaaah."
Maki opened her mouth and took the Takoyaki into her mouth. Of course, she immediately grabbed it out of her mouth and handed it to Issei.
"Maki-chan! I just said—!"
"Iyaaah, Nii-Niiii!"
Akane snatched her daughter from her nephew's lap, causing her to become distressed due to being ripped from her cousin's grasp.
"Okay, okay, calm down, Maki-chan. Here, do it like this."
Akane showed her daughter how to place a Takoyaki on a toothpick. Seeing that, Maki was happy again and repeatedly tried to feed some to Issei.
"Hey, hey, now. You have to eat as well, Maki-chan."
Issei felt a small smile threatening to creep onto his face.
—He felt truly horrible.
There was no stronger pain than what he felt in his heart.
The only thing keeping him from breaking down in the face of those he knew as "family", was the small girl who acted so dearly towards him. He forced down his emotion along with his food, and smiled. Every time he looked upon the child, his mind was sent into a disarray of screeching memories riddled with— beasts, blood, death—
—loneliness, hunger, fear, time, pain, weight, Devils, Dragon, tears, screams, crunches, eyes, night, MUM, DAD—
—"...Nii-Nii…"
"Eh?..."
Issei was brought back into reality by the sound of a light whimpering and the mention of his newly assigned nickname.
When he came to, he realized that he was staring at a teary eyed Maki, holding up a Takoyaki ball he ha yet to take from her.
"T-That's enough, Maki-chan. Let's let Ise-kun eat his food. Too much Takoyaki is bad for you…."
"...Mm…."
Maki-chan lowered her head with a teary pout as she slumped into her mother's lap sadly. Issei did feel bad, but nothing could compare to the sorrow overshadowing his entire being.
…..But, he appreciated it. A miniscule amount of relief came from knowing that someone still cares.
The moment he lost his family, he felt alone. Completely and utterly alone. No one else in the world left with him. As if everything that mattered was gone.
Did anyone care? If they did, did he care for their sympathy? Was there anyone left to impress? To make proud? To love? To appreciate? To make happy? To show off? To introduce? To hug? To cry to? To complain to? To thank?...
"Ah~! Nii-Nii! Hide, hide~!"
"Ah, wait, Maki-chan! You have to finish dinner before you play hide and seek!"
The girl suddenly seemed excited and had already escaped from her mother's grasp the moment she told Issei about "hiding". She ran off and out of the sliding door to another room. Akane could only sigh at her daughter's antics.
"Haah…. My dear….. I-I'm sorry, Ise-kun. She'll come back soon enough.."
Yet, Issei stood up.
"Ise-kun?..."
…..
"..T-Ten…. Nine... Eight…. Seven…. Six... Five... Four... Three…. Two... One….. O-Okay..! Time's up! Here I come!"
—The two parents could only watch in disbelief.
Issei had his back turned to them and counted down the seconds, effectively accepting Maki-chan's offer to play. He walked out of the door and into the hallway, leaving the parents alone together.
When Issei stepped out of the living area, he closed the sliding door and took in the scenery. Right in front him were a set of stairs, against a wall, leading up to the second floor. To his right, was the entrance to the house.
He decided to search the first floor, considering he didn't hear footsteps going upstairs.
There was another room, past the stairs, that he entered. It looked like a playroom.
A playroom…..
...
He entered it, against the will of his his subconscious hesitation.
Rustle..
He could hear the subtle sound of movement on carpet. At one side of the room, there was a small coffee table with a cloth over it. He could see the tip of the girls cute socks sticking out from under it.
…..
Her feet were small….. She had an adorably small stature in general….. She was innocent….. She was happy…... She was normal…..
…...
—'Why did it have to be me?'
"Hehehe~"
[—!]
The moment he heard the girls giggle, Issei felt chills run down his spine.
An enormous amount of disgust filled him.
《"Why did it have to be me?"》— What sort of reaction was that?
So, just because it hurts, that means that it was alright to imply that someone else should feel his pain instead? It's alright to think someone else should be unhappy instead of himself? It's alright to envy others for something that has nothing to do with them?
—It's alright to have thought, even for a moment, that this girl should've been the victim instead?
"Hehehe~..."
The girl was giggling from under the table while wiggling her little toes.
'...'
Issei got on his knees and quickly lifted the cloth.
"I found you~!"
"Aaaaahahahaha~!"
Maki speedily crawled out from under the table, trying to get away.
"I won't let you run~!"
"Aaahahaha~!"
She squealed playfully as Issei caught her leg and dragged her back, while she repeated her attempts to get away.
...
After a few minutes, the two children started playing other various games. The last one they were playing involved Maki's favorite dolls. Playing house with them, specifically. She is, of course, making her doll "cook some takoyaki".
"Yay~! Taaki, Taaki~"
Issei held the same little smirk from before on his face.
—He hated himself. He was a "legendary being"? A "God killer"? He was "special"?
He hates it. He hates the idea of it.
Somebody who could look down at this little girl and think "It's not fair"?
—'I hate you.'
Issei thought that as he looked down on the smiling girl, the image of his own stupid face sitting on top of hers.
...
[Do not blame yourself, partner. That envy is a natural response.]
'Then I hate the fact that it is natural. I hate it all.'
[Yet, you do not hate the Devils.]
'They aren't the ones who did it…. And, even if they did, then what would it matter?'
[It seems you do not fully understand your situation, do you, child?]
'..."Child"…. I haven't known you for more than a day Ddraig, but I know that when you call me that, it's because you're looking down on me….'
[Not at all, partner. I'm simply acknowledging your ignorance because of your age and lack of experience.]
'...I feel like that is the same thing…'
[Regardless, boy, you still are not aware of the most significant issue. —You are no longer safe.]
(—!)
Issei visibly tensed at Ddraig's words.
A monster?! Was it closing in?! He didn't feel like anything was near them. Then again, he wasn't anywhere near as aware of anything around him like Ddraig was.
Regardless, his level of fear rose beyond imagination. His mind raced with the gruesome ideas spawned from the haunting memories of the day before.
[You misunderstand me, partner. There is no immediate threat to your lives. You are currently safe.]
'Wha—?!... You mean…. I'm not in danger?...'
[No. Excuse my language. I had phrased that incorrectly.]
'Ah…. I see…'
Issei breathed a sigh of relief as the girl beside continued playing, unaware.
[You see, partner, the issue is not your "current" state. Rather, it is your "future".]
'My future?...'
[How were you planning to live your life as of now?]
'...I don't know….. I wasn't thinking about it…. I didn't think there was a life to live anymore…. Why?...'
[Well, boy, if you had ever considered the concept of living a "normal" life, you are more unfortunate than you first believed.]
'...What are you saying to me, Ddraig?...'
[You are this generation's sekiryuutei. That is a reality you cannot escape. Just the same as you cannot escape your family's death. It is a truth that has now been uncovered.]
'...Are you saying that somebody knows I'm here?..'
[Not necessarily. Not yet.]
'...Yet?...'
[Once again, you are this generation's sekiryuutei. The Red Dragon Emperor. The wielder of the Boosted Gear, a Mid-tier Longinus. A God killing weapon, which contains the soul of one of the most formerly powerful beings in existence. Whether you are an ally, or an enemy, is something that must be determined by those who view you as "threatening". Essentially, all of them.]
'...What?...'
[I had not explained to you before, partner, but Devils are not the only meddlesome existences running amok in this world, nor the other.]
'...D...Do you mean that... There are more things like Devils?...'
[Yes. There are an insurmountable number of supernatural beings that inhabit this earth and the "earth below". Though, the one below is not where the Devils reside, believe it or not. They reside within a separate dimension.]
'...'
[You had once made reference to your knowledge of the Christian teachings. Were those your prior beliefs?]
'...No…. My friend... Rin…. His family was Christian. They knew a lot about that stuff. He told me there were Angels and Demons. And that the Demons were the bad guys and the Angels were the good guys. Angels were on the side of God…. Demons were on the side of the Devil…. That's all I really know too much about…'
[I see. Well, partner, there is more to the story than solely a battle between Angels and Devils. Even so, that is not the issue itself. It does not matter if you know the sides just yet. All you need to know now, is that they are all enemies. They will do anything to gain the upper hand. And you are that upper hand.]
'...What are you talking about?..'
[You are the Sekiryuutei. It goes without saying that you are a valuable asset to any side. You possess an immensely powerful Sacred Gear and your future potential for it is higher than average. It would be foolish not to pursue you.]
'..?! Pursue?!'
Ddraig's words resonated within Issei. They were going to "hunt" him.
[Yes. To put it bluntly, you are a target, in every sense of the word. You are valuable, and you are dangerous. You cannot be left unattended. You will not be left unattended. They will come to recruit you. If they cannot accomplish that, then they will see to your disposal.]
'Dis...posal?...'
[They will destroy you.]
'..?!'
[My question to you, boy, is: Do you care for these people?]
'...That is... I...'
Issei looked down at the toddler playing with her doll.
'...Why are you asking me that, Ddraig?...'
[Do you not understand? They will find you— All of you— Then, what will you do?]
...
"Taaki~! Taaki~!"
Maki smiled up at him—
—with blood on her face.
….
….
….
….
….
….
….
….
….
"..Maki-chan."
"Eh?"
"I love you..."
The girl's face grew into a bright, beautiful smile. She instantly wrapped herself tightly around Issei's waist.
"Me too! I wuv Nii-Nii~!"
Issei gently hugged her back.
Little did he know that the girl's mother was peeking into the room silently, with a soft smile on her face and a tear threatening to creep out of her eye. Her husband could clearly hear what was happening from from the living area.
He only felt more ashamed of his weakness.
A few hours later...
Issei was lying alone in his new bed. He was told that they would retrieve his belongings tomorrow morning. Originally, his baby cousin tried her best to sleep together with him in his room, but she was not allowed to by her father. Not because he was concerned, but mostly because of what was about to transpire:
Knock knock...
Dakun.
There was a knock at the door right before it opened. It was Issei's uncle. Satoshi had finally mustered the courage to come and talk to Issei.
"Oji-san….."
"Hello, Issei-kun…"
Satoshi entered the room and sat by the side of the boy's bed.
"..."
"..."
It was silent between them. Even though he was able to bring himself to face him, Satoshi still had no words for the boy.
….
"...When your father had first introduced me to your mother…. To be honest, I was afraid of her…. Hehe…"
He decided to break the silence with a nervous tone and laugh. Issei perked up slightly and listened intently.
"...She had a lot of control over your father….. I thought that it was unhealthy for him….. But then I was reminded of how many outrageous things he said and did at his age….. He really was a crazy man."
"Otou-san was?"
"Yeah. He was quite the wild one when we were in high school. He asked out girls around every week. He pulled pranks on our teachers all the time. He never hurt anybody, but he made a lot of things dirty and messed with a lot of people. He was a true troublemaker."
"...I've pulled pranks on Oji-san too, huh…."
"Ahahahaha…. Yes, I believe you have. You were the one who cut my belt during our baby's first birthday. At that time, you were annoyed with your parents for making you attend because you didn't even know who Maki-chan was, and you didn't even want to meet her out of spite, haha…"
Issei lowered his head a bit shamefully.
"I…..am glad that I met Maki-chan….. I love Maki-chan…."
A smile finally appeared on Satoshi's tired face.
"It makes me happy to hear that."
"Mm…."
Once again, the silence returned.
"Issei-kun…"
"Hm?"
"We are your family. I want you to remember that. We are your family….. We will be by your side as well. I will take care of you the best that I can. At the very least, that is my promise to you…... And my promise to your father…."
To that, Issei had no response and only held his head down. The familiar silence returned once again, this time, lingering for longer than ever before.
...
...
Until..
Sob...
A few sniffles were heard from the boy. His body was shaking. Tiny droplets of water landed on his knees, falling from his head.
….Slowly, Satoshi brought his nephew into a soft embrace…
….
"Goodnight, Issei-kun."
"Goodnight, Oji-san…"
Dakun..
After comforting his nephew for a bit, Satoshi was out the door and on his way to bed. He quietly entered his bedroom, where his wife lie in bed. She happened to notice him and lifted herself up.
"You spoke with him?"
"Yes…"
Dakun..
"How did it go?"
"Good….. I think..he will be alright…."
"..?! Honey, what's wrong?"
Akane suddenly stood up from the bed and ran to her husband, gently holding his face with a concerned look. Satoshi was confused at her actions.
"Hmm? What is it?"
She gained a look of sadness.
"...You're crying…"
—And Satosh realized it, as something wet fell from his face.
Drip... Drip...
"Ah."
And yet, he found himself smiling slightly.
"...Heh…. Yes…. I suppose I am…."
Issei lie quietly on his side, in his bed.
….
[I believe I know your answer to my earlier question now…. Don't I, partner?]
"...Yeah."
Issei answered Ddraig out loud.
His grip on the blanket tightened intensely.
—There was a dark, ominous, expression on his face.
"I won't let them find us... I will find them first."
End
Woooh! That's the next one. Inspiration for this story is strong. Especially considering that this story has already become popular. As I thought, the premise really does make a difference. A lot of times an eye-catching premise/summary can really blow up stories. Not to mention, it's a story with a very original execution in writing to a sort of cliche premise. I'm not bragging but I'm pretty sure I've never seen anyone write the "Issei is an orphan" story as I have. To be fair, the first chapter was pretty fuckin crazy and unique. I won't say it's creative but it's really something that no one else could think of because it's something I been boiling up from my fucked up mind.
Anyway, for next chapter I actually want to ask you guys what you guys think the next chapter should be about. Because I can't help but feel that many readers are expecting some sort of time skip. Which is not at all what I was planning. So I want to hear your opinions on what you are/were expecting and what you want to see.
So you know tell me your thoughts on basically anything.
Read, Rate, Review go crazy. Like usual.
Stay frosty.
P.S. Maki-chan is the most adorable character I've ever written. Also, "Itoko-kun" means "little cousin".
