Okay, here we are! The highlight of the 'Raynare arc', and possibly even the conclusion. I warned you guys that it would be short. But, that's does not mean it will be uneventful, oh no, no, no. This one's a doozy. It's been a while since we've seen some Issei do some damage. Despite what Issei may say, he's always trying his best to hold back. But sometimes, you just gotta let loose.
Sometimes, you just can't help yourself. And that shows, right now.
SCENE
The day after Issei met with the Devils. The same day that Issei met Asia Argento. It was later now, nighttime. Issei was walking himself home, silently.
Judging by his expression, and the manner in which he is walking in, he is clearly not in a very jolly mood.
[Partner.]
Ddraig communicated to Issei, causing Issei to halt in his step. Though he was not paying attention due to being lost in his own dark thoughts, Issei's instincts alerted him to a certain recognizable presence. The presence of a Devil.
"...There?.."
Issei turned to his left, and he could see what looked like an unused building not too far off in the distance. Inside that building, he could sense the presence of a lone Devil. Not just any Devil. The energy of this presence was unstable, suggesting that it was actually a 'stray'.
[There seems to be a "stray" in that building. What shall we do? Ignore it?]
Issei remained silent for a few seconds. But his gaze was locked onto the building with a dark expression.
"...No… I need to let off a little steam…."
—Saying only that, Issei made his way to the abandoned building.
When Issei reached the entrance of the unused building, he immediately caught a whiff of something rancid. A familiar, disgusting smell. The sweet smell of blood, and the rotting smell of corpses. Issei took a long, deep breath of the scent straight into his nostrils.
"...Sniff…"
While taking in these scents, he found a small part of himself somehow feeling just a bit more...energized?
But then, he heard a voice.
"...Ah, what is this?"
A voice that slithered out like a snake. A womanly voice. Then, from out of the darkness of building's back end, a woman appeared in the air.
"Aaah~, what is this?... This scent…. An alluring scent. Elegant, like fine wine. Smooth, like chocolate. Mouth watering, like grilled meat. Arousing, like pure killing intent. Haaaah~"
A figure appeared, floating in the darkness. The naked torso of a woman practically molesting her own body with her groping. —No, she was not floating.
Rather, she was being held up by a body obscured in shadows. A very large, grotesque looking body.
DON!
Placing a limb down with its thunderous step, the Devil's disgusting body was revealed. A large mass of flesh with a gaping mouth, lined with sharp teeth, in the center. And a quadrupedal body with four animal like limbs. Two of those limbs were holding things like spears, and the back of its body had a snake like tail. Overall, the monster had to be at least 5 meters tall.
The Devil at the top licked its lips as drool escaped its mouth.
"Aaaaah~ This scent..! It's magnificent~ Aaaah, I want it! I want it so much! I've never smelled anything so deliciooooous~!"
[It seems like she's attracted to our aura, partner.]
Issei did not respond. Rather, his attention was completely focused on something else below him.
—The severed head of a woman rested beside his feet. Her face was forever caught in a terrified expression. It was not a disturbing sight to lay eyes on. Not for Issei, not anymore. But, for some reason, he could not look away from it. His gaze was utterly glued to the image.
He could see the blood from her neck colored dark due to drying up. He could see a fly moving around on her glossy eyeball. And he could see the reflection of himself in her dead irises.
…..
This moment— it was reminiscent of a time from his past. A very similar image which would not leave him for the rest of his life.
The cavalcade of emotions that this reminder caused him to feel, they were simply too complex for anyone to ever understand. But, within the whole conflict of feelings he was bombarded with, one always stood out.
"AAAAH~ I WANT TO EAT IT! I WANT TO EAT YOU!"
—Rage.
CRACK, CRACK!
With the disgusting sound of something cracking and moving, the large mouth of the Devil's lower half opened wide. Sharp, saliva ridden jaws spread open, and lunged to devour the form of the boy beneath it.
"EEEEEEAAAAAAAT!"
Issei did not move an inch, only continuing to hold his head down with hair concealing his face.
—But, through the strands of his hair, a wickedly deranged smile visible.
"..Eat?"
CHOMP!
The jaws clamped down on Issei's form, devouring him entirely and swallowing him whole. The stray reeled back in ecstasy, as if accomplishing its life goal.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaah~, yes! It's so gooooood~! Aaaaaaaah, I want to savor the taste, but I want to rip it apart! Aaaaaaaaah, it's too much~!"
But in the midst of her borderline orgasmic state, stray felt an unpleasant boom within her insides.
THUMP!
"Guh!... Eh?"
Her meal was not settling well.
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP!
"Gu-ha!"
Then, from all around the inside of her body, unpleasant movements were being made. Movements that we're soon to translate into terrible pain.
THUMP!
"Ah!— Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
SPLIT!
And from one of the sides of her large body, a hole was made, and blood spurted outward. Then from the hole, something emerged. A hand— No. A bloodstained gauntlet.
[Boost!] —[Transfer!]
With the announcement of the Sacred Gear, a power was transferred to the stray, and it flowed through her body. For a moment, she felt a brief sense of euphoria as the pain subsided. But then, only a moment later, it was once again overpowered by the pain of being torn through on another end of her body.
SPLIT!
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
[Boost!] —[Transfer!]
Issei was ripping holes through the Devil's lower body, boosting his power, and then transferring it to the Devil. Then repeating the process continuously, in different areas. He was giving the Devil strength, while simultaneously killing it from the inside.
Or, in other words, he was feeding it more and more power— so that it would continue dying slower.
SPLIT! SPLIT! TEAR!
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
The Devil writhed in extreme pain, slamming its large body against the walls of the building in desperation. Bleeding profusely from multiple gaping wounds, screaming its lungs out, and having its inner organs destroyed— The Devil would surely die soon.
But not soon enough.
TEAR!
"Guh—!"
Before even having a chance to react, something tore through the Devil's stomach. But not it's lower stomach, no. Rather, something emerged from the stomach of the human torso she possessed.
TEEEEAAAAAAAR!
"—GUAAAAAAAAH!"
While spraying blood from her stomach, something popped out of the Devil's abdomen. It was the entire blood drenched upper body of the boy— the monster, she had just eaten.
"WHAT'S WRONG?"
The beast, sticking out from her own body, turned towards her and caught a hold of her throat with an iron grip.
In the Devil's eyes, she was faced with nothing more than a powerful mass of darkness, come to rip her soul from her being. But reality was not too far from her perception.
What was holding her was certainly a dark being. The only difference was that it indeed had a body. One that was covered in her own blood and guts— And maintained a maniacal smile, with eyes burning with madness.
"EAT ME."
The beast pulled back one of its arms, and plunged it within the Devil's mouth, piercing through its throat, and exiting the back of her head.
"EAT ME!"
With that being the final blow that killed her, the Devil's legs lost their strength, and its giant body collapsed onto the floor.
DON, DOOOON!
A cloud of dust was left hanging over the Devil's large body, but for some reason, there were still sounds being emanated from inside of it.
SPLAT! CRACK!
The sounds of something snapping and splashing. It took a few seconds for the scene to become visible again. When it did, it was revealed that Issei was still attacking the dead body of the Devil.
He was repeatedly slamming his naked hand into the Devil's mouth, breaking its jaws, and smashing whatever was left of its throat. All the while, he was shouting madly.
"WHAT'S WRONG?! —EAT ME! EAT ME! EAT ME!"
SMASH! SLAM! CRUNCH!
"—EAT ME!
SPLAT!
Issei continued slamming and crushing the Devil's head.
"—EAT ME!"
SLAM!
Until there was nothing left of it, but a red mush.
"EAT MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
DOOOOOOOOOOOONN!
With one final slam, Issei broke the ground beneath the heap of meat, only being interrupted by his partner.
[—Boy.]
—Issei froze in his place.
….His hand was plunged within a red mess, and his entire body was coated in blood. The twisted smile had remained on his face.
But, in the silence of his surroundings, it slowly faded away.
"..."
His maniacal expression was replaced by a dark, methodical composure. With blood dripping from his hair, he remained perfectly still for a few short moments.
…..
Drip….
…..
—Until he shot his gaze towards the entrance of the building, alerted to the presence that Ddraig had snapped him out of his craze for.
WHOOSH!
In one swift motion, the large doors to the building's entrance were suddenly blown open by a powerful force. And behind them, the forms of multiple Devils were revealed. The Devil group of Gremory.
"...Wha…"
Rias Gremory let out a small voice in disbelief. She and her entire group had just witnessed an intensely disturbing scene through the peek of the entrance. And now, the doors were wide open, and the figure of Issei was nowhere to be seen.
"...Devils…"
—He was behind them.
With stiff posture, Rias hesitantly turned around to see him. Issei was looking back at her over his shoulder, with a green, dragon's eye.
"...Is…"
Rias's voice was caught in her throat, and she failed at speaking his name. Issei said nothing, but stared directly into her soul with a wide open eye.
….
….
….
Step…
And just like that, he walked away without a single word uttered.
"Mm? Ah, yeah. He said he can't because he has work to do."
The dead of night, a random woman was walking home while speaking to someone on the phone. She walked and talked nonchalantly for a few minutes. Until, she noticed an imposing figure approaching her from the distance.
"Hm?"
The figure trotted forward with squelching steps. It wasn't until the figure was exposed in the light of a street lamp that she flinched in horror.
"Eeek!"
—A very tall young man drenched in blood, casually passed by her frozen body, without so much as a glance towards her.
"Hah…. Wha…?"
The woman slowly peered over her shoulder to watch the figure gradually disappear into the night, leaving behind only a trail of bloody shoe prints.
…..
"...N-Naomi-chan! Onee-san just saw a walking dead man! It was a spirit! A spirit is haunting this park!"
Part 2
Another uneventful day passed by Issei. Though the night before was weighing a bit on his mind, he had a clear head, for the most part. After all, he was able to release just a bit of stress yesterday.
Issei made his way through the streets of Kuoh at a leisurely pace. He was considering going to the church, to check on Asia, but "considering" was a lie. In truth, he was already headed there on his way back from school. He didn't even care about dropping his stuff off at home first.
But while he was making his way over there, he stopped in the middle of a random neighborhood. His senses were picking up on something.
[Partner, do you feel that?]
'Yeah… A Devil…. But not only that…'
Issei narrowed his eyes in suspicion, and his gaze shifted towards a certain house. When he set his eyes there, he used the enhanced vision in his dragon's eye to focus on it. Almost immediately, he spotted it.
—A magical barrier. It was a concealment, meant to ward off those who would not "belong". It covered the entire house, but it was weak and unstable. It was clearly being held up by someone who had not much experience in the field.
But, above all of that, the two presences in the home was what caught his attention. Both the presence of something demonic— and something slightly holy.
"Ddraig, we're going in."
[As you wish.]
Without hesitation, Issei easily destroyed the barrier with the wave of his arm. The barrier disrupted and disappeared, leaving Issei free to enter. He entered the home without a pause.
Upon entering, he immediately caught onto the familiar smell of blood. Fresh blood. Someone was recently killed. Or rather, 'mutilated'. He could make out the distinct smell of their guts too. And the place it was originating from - was the living room.
Issei briskly stepped into the room and observed the surroundings. The main attraction of his attention being two people.
—One Devil, and one man.
"Hmm, hmm? Ohohoho! Now we have another Devil-kun entering the fray?"
Issei took in the scene set before him.
—A white-headed man with red eyes, wearing priest robes, stood on one side of the living room. Armed with what looked to be a low grade 'holy-sword', and a 'holy-gun' which shoots bullets loaded with compressed holy light. Those weapons must have been what Issei sensed. The man held a wicked smile on his face, and his eyes were clearly indicative of his madness.
Then, on the other side, a familiar Devil. The little white haired Devil known as "Toujou Koneko", sat on the floor with bended knee. —No, she had been shot. There was a bleeding wound in her kneecap. The priest must have shot her while they were having a scrap.
And finally, a dead body nailed upside down to a wall beside Issei. Pinned on the wall with some sort of work tools, and with the image of 'stigmata'. With torso being split open and insides hanging out, it was an unusual crucifixion, to say the least. Clearly revealing of one's own twisted imagination. Though, Issei gave it a few points for creativity.
"Hmm, that's fine too! I can kill two Devils in one night, that'll be fine for me!"
Issei switched his gaze back to the crazy priest. He seemed to have misunderstood Issei as being a Devil.
"Devil? Don't joke around. I'm not going to be lumped in with one of these fucks."
To that, the priest raised an intrigued brow.
"Oho? Oh, oh, oh?"
That was when the priest noticed the cross hanging from Issei's chest.
"Oh! What have we here?! You can't wear that cross as a Devil! More like, I recognize that cross from somewhere! Yes, I've seen it before! Someone was wearing it! Oh, oh, oh?! Could you be an exorcist from some foreign country?! Kuhahahahaha! So then you're one of the churches allies! A part of my former allies, huh! Kyahahaha! Is that so! My bad, I had you mistaken for the Devil scum, that's funny! Since you showed up at the most convenient time, I had no choice but to think that, right? Ah, but I see! So you're an exorcist too! Well, that still doesn't make you my ally though. I was excommunicated after all, so we're on different sides now, haha!"
The priest rambled on and on about things that didn't interest Issei in the slightest. But, one thing did catch his attention. The mention of his familiarity with Issei's cross.
"So you recognize this cross?"
"Hmm, oh yeah! I traveled a lot as an exorcist, so I can guess that I met someone with that thing on. Not sure who though~ I can't remember. All I know is that you're not the one who wore it before, I think."
Well, he was certainly right about that, unfortunately..
"Ah, ah, whatever! Who cares about that! You came here to help me kill this Devil, right? Well, too bad! I call dibs on this one! I can kill this one by myself, so you can go! Buzz off, shoo, shoo!"
Even though the priest was waving him off, Issei paid no mind to him. Instead, he turned his head to the Devil on the ground. Koneko was injured, with her usual stoic composure being maintained, but clearly in a worried state. The sweat on her forehead was enough to portray that. She's at a disadvantage now, after all. Even if it was a lucky shot, in this sort of situation, that kinda mistake can be fatal.
Issei's dead expression only portrayed his apathy.
—But now, he was stuck in an odd position. Part of him tells him that he should just leave, and let whatever happens be, but he can't. Something about the situation was nagging him.
Why is there a priest that he's never met here? Where did he come from? There's one church, and it's abandoned. The only ones in it are Fallen-Angels and Asia. Unless, he was also a part of their group. In which case, he could be a 'rogue' priest. After all, he did say "former allies" when referring to the church. He said he was excommunicated. Which means that Issei can freely kill him. Though, he wouldn't have hesitated either way.
…..
And one more thing, the thing that was pinned to the wall beside Issei.
A dead man. A middle-aged man, judging from his appearance. Killed in a very brutal manner, without so much as a chance for resistance.
"...Oy.."
Issei called out to the crazy priest. When he caught the priest's attention, he pointed towards the body.
"Why'd you kill this guy?"
The priest tilted his head at Issei's question, and answered in a bizarre way.
"Hmm, hmm? What do you mean? Obviously I did it because~, he was a regular criminal who has been summoning Devils, so I had to kill him. Huh? Are you shocked? Aren't you going to walk away? That's weird? Really weird. I mean humans who make a pact with Devils are scum. Scum indeed. You're a member of the church. Can't you understand that?"
—For some reason, the skin under Issei's right eye twitched once, in an almost violent manner. He was left with his head hanging down, silent.
"..."
Seeing Issei's silence, the priest lifted his gun back to aim at the Devil before him.
"Well, whatever! If you'll excuse me, I have a Devil-kun to attend to!"
Koneko flinched, but due to the pain in her leg, she was too slow to dodge. And the priest pulled the trigger.
—At that point, time began to move in slow motion for Issei.
With his gaze caught onto the face of the dead man next to him, Issei's inner conflict came to a final halt.
The man died with a horrified expression— and tears in his eyes.
BANG!
The gunshot reverberated through the quiet halls of the house, even though it was a small sound due to being a bullet of light. And a sizzling noise was heard after. A trail of smoke was released from the chrome barrel of the priest's gun, obscuring his vision for only an instant. Once he clearly observed the scene before him, he let out a confused sound.
"...Ah?"
A line of smoke was also being released from in between the fingers of the hand that caught the priest's bullet. The red palm opened, dropping the crushed bullet onto the ground below, where it bounced. —Yes, red. That's because this wasn't any ordinary hand. Rather, it was a red gauntlet with a green jewel embedded on its front side.
When the gauntlet lowered from its height, the face of the boy who it belonged to was revealed.
"...I hate Devils…"
—And on his face was an ear-to-ear grin so twisted, that it dwarfed any possible sign of madness that the priest had previously expressed before him.
"...BUT, ABOVE ALL ELSE IN THIS WORLD— I HATE YOU ZEALOUS, SELF-RIGHTEOUS, BRAINWASHING, KID-KILLING FUCKS!"
[—?!]
Before the priest even had the chance to fire a second shot off, Issei was already invading his personal space. With his left hand, Issei caught onto the priest's gun, and with his right, he clasped the priest's face.
And in one swift motion, Issei slammed the priest's head into the ground, instantly knocking him unconscious, and breaking the wooden floor.
DOOONNN!
The priest's legs dropped instantly, and his head leaked some blood. His body was unmoving. Issei stood straight up and cracked his body in different areas. The patient manner in which he did it in was almost unsettling.
"Get out of my sight, Devil. I'm not some perv who likes it when someone watches."
That was all Issei said to the uneasy Koneko.
—Whether that sexual innuendo was an implication towards Issei torturing the priest, or eating him, was unknown. But, it was the fact that there was a debate that really unsettled Koneko.
"..F-Father Freed! I'm sorry, but..! For some reason, I couldn't erect the barrier properly, and..!"
But the moment was interrupted when another person ran into the room. It was Asia.
"..Eh? Ise-san?"
"...Asia? What're you doing here?"
Asia looked around, and then noticed the body hanging on the wall.
"N-NOO!"
She let out a shrill scream and averted her gaze.
"Asia, don't look at it! Just focus over here!"
Asia hesitantly returned her gaze to Issei, upon which she gained a confused expression.
"...I-Ise-san… Why are you here? Why are you standing over Father Freed like that?"
Issei glanced down at the unconscious priest, presumably named "Freed", and stepped away from him.
"I'm sorry, Asia. This priest killed that man."
"N-No… Father Freed did?... That can't be…"
"I'm sorry, Asia. But that's how it is. That's why I took him down. I came in while he was trying to kill this Devil."
Issei gestured to Koneko behind him. When Asia made eye contact with her, her eyes widened in shock.
"...No… C-Could it be… Ise-san is a Devil?!"
Asia exclaimed in shock. To which, Issei paused for a second, then smirked.
"Ah. —Ahaha, no. I'm not a Devil, Asia."
"Eh?"
"Sorry, were you worried about that? I'm just a human though. Mostly."
Asia seemed to calm down a bit after that.
"..Oh, I see…"
"Hahaha."
Somehow, Issei found her reactions slightly amusing. It was enough to decrease his previous bloodlust. Though, not all the way.
Shiiin!
Suddenly, a red magic circle formed around the back of the room, right by Koneko. Multiple figures emerged from it.
"Koneko-chan! Are you alright?"
The first one being Kiba Yuuto, who was armed and ready with a demonic-sword in his hand. And then, the rest of his group followed.
"Koneko!"
Rias Gremory knelt down beside her injured servant and hugged her.
"I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have sent you here when you were already overworked. Please forgive me."
Issei rolled his eyes when witnessing the scene, but there was a minor twitch under his eye.
"What happened?"
"...That person saved me."
"That person?"
Then, the group noticed him.
"...Sekir… Ise…"
"Hoh, if it isn't Rias Gremory. Come to pick up her lost kitten. You need to take better care of your pets, little bat."
Rias just averted her gaze from his own. Whether she was feeling a mixture of guilt and fear, she refused to maintain eye contact with him.
Asia, who was beside him now, tried to step forward, but Issei stopped her.
"What are you doing?"
"...I should heal her."
"You can heal Devils?"
"...Yes."
Issei narrowed his eyes while looking back at Koneko. Rias held her servant in a warm embrace, and apologized repeatedly. For a minute, Issei only stared silently at them.
….But then, he released his grip on Asia and allowed her to progress foward.
"...Do what you want, Asia."
"...Thank you."
With that, Asia stepped towards the Devils cautiously.
"A-Ano…"
She pointed down at Koneko's leg wound.
"May I heal her?"
Rias looked at Asia with suspicious eyes, but then turned her head.
"..That's not necessary."
"—Are you refusing Asia's kindness, Rias Gremory?"
Issei interjected with irritated brows. Rias replied hesitantly.
"...A wound like this is something that we can handle."
"I didn't ask if you could handle it. I asked if you were planning to disrespect Asia by refusing her offer."
"P-Please don't fight… It's okay if she doesn't want me to, Ise-san..."
With a few seconds of contemplation, Rias reluctantly agreed.
"...Alright."
Rias confirmed it, and Asia knelt down in front of Koneko. She said it the moment Asia started healing her.
"..Thank you."
Asia smiled softly. Issei merely scoffed and crossed his arms. Though, there was a moment that he felt conflicted about Asia's act of kindness, silently contemplating it on his own. After a quick minute, Koneko's leg was fully healed and she was able to stand up.
But this moment of rest was short lived.
"...!"
Issei's eyes shot towards the ceiling above their heads. Only a moment later, a different colored magic circle appeared there.
Shiin!
[—?!]
"Buchou! There seems be to multiple Fallen-Angels approaching. At this rate, we'll be at a disadvantage."
Rias glanced towards Issei, but he just looked away disinterestedly.
"...We'll have to return to headquarters. Akeno, prepare for transportation."
"Yes."
As Akeno was preparing a magic circle for transportation, Rias called out to Issei.
"Ise. Aren't you going to leave this place? The ally Fallen-Angels to these people will be arriving soon."
Issei clicked his tongue while looking up at the ceiling.
"Tch! Running away? From pigeons? Ha, yeah fuckin' right…. Get out of here, flying foxes. Scamper on back to your nests."
Rias frowned, but gave Issei her gratitude for saving her servant nonetheless.
"...Thank you for saving Koneko."
But Issei just waved it off arrogantly.
"HA! "Saving", she said. Yeah right, don't fuck with me. Just get outta my sight before I add you to the kill count."
Then, Koneko said it.
"...Thank you."
To which, Issei did not turn or respond to.
Shiiin!
In a moment's notice, Rias and her group of servants disappeared from the house, leaving behind only Issei, Asia, and the knocked out Freed. Asia was about to walk towards Freed, in order to heal him, but Issei stopped her.
"Don't heal that man, Asia. He doesn't deserve it."
"...B-But, what if he dies?"
"Then he'll have gotten off easy."
"..."
Asia resigned and stood beside Issei, waiting for the Fallen-Angels to appear.
"...Ise-san."
"What?"
"..You knew that they were Fallen-Angels?"
"Yeah."
"...I'm sorry, I didn't tell you.."
"I didn't tell you I knew, so we're even."
"...Ise-san."
"What is it?"
"..What are you going to do when they come?"
While staring up at the magic circle, Issei's expression gradually became darker.
"...I just wanna have a little talk…"
Shiin!
Then, from out of the magic circle, four Fallen-Angels emerged.
Foom! Foom!
With open wings, the Fallen-Angels descended into the living room, filling up the empty space in front of Issei and Asia.
"Wha—?! It's this guy again!"
The Fallen-Angels immediately took notice of Issei, all of which had similar reactions, aside from one. Issei recognized the first three. Those being the ones he's met: Raynare, Mitlet, and Kalawarner. The last one, the man in trench coat and fedora, he did not recognize. He would assume that it is "Donasheek", the name of the other ally they seemed to mention the day before. And with Freed, he now understood that the entire group of rogues was gathered properly.
"Good timing. Now he can introduce himself to us, considering that Raynare has refused to do so up to this point."
Kalawarner said it while looking at Issei. Mitlet, Kalawarner, and Donasheek all looked down on Issei in a supposedly intimidating manner. Meanwhile, Raynare, their own leader, was already shaking in fear.
"Speak, human. Who exactly are you?"
Donasheek said it while pointing a light-spear at Issei. But Issei snarled in response.
"Shut your mouths, scum."
[Boost!]
—And on his left arm, they suddenly took notice of the glowing, red gauntlet.
[—?!]
"T-That gauntlet..! That's..!"
"The Sekiryuutei!?"
"The Red Dragon Emperor's gauntlet?!"
Raynare's three allies all reeled back in shock, quickly being overtaken by an oppressive pressure which covered the entire the house.
OOHHHMM!
Due to the amazing pressure, they were forced to remain completely motionless in his presence. Issei commanded them in an authorative tone.
"You will all follow me outside. And we will have a civil discussion about some things that I want to know. Otherwise, you will be forcing me to broom up a house full of feathers. Understood?"
Being completely enveloped by the dominating atmosphere, they could hardly even verbally agree. However, Issei took their silence as agreement enough.
"Now, follow."
Without waiting for them to follow, Issei made his way out of the house. Despite exiting the home, the pressure inside hardly let up. While the rest of her group was frozen still, Raynare spared no hesitation in walking forward without a word. Seeing that their leader moved forward, they had no choice but to follow as well.
When they made it into the backyard of the home, Issei was waiting for them. Bathed in the soft, white light of the moonlight, his figure resembled nothing but the dark silhouette of some sort of 'demon'. And that was not considering his glowing red eyes.
In a low, unnerving voice, Issei demanded answers from them.
"I will ask you this only once. —What do you plan to do with Asia?"
The Fallen-Angels were all hesitant to answer, only giving peripheral glances to each other. But while they were hesitating, their leader had made the firm decision to survive.
"W-We were planning to steal her Sacred Gear from her."
[—?!]
The group was shocked to see their leader admit it so easily. But her survival instincts were overpowering any of her rational thoughts.
"Steal?"
Issei raised a brow at the interesting detail. Raynare clarified while still being struck with total fear.
"I-In Grigori, our home base, there is a certain ancient device that allows one's Sacred Gear to be forcefully extracted from their being. W-We stole that device and plan to use it to extract Asia's, so that we can offer it as a gift to our superiors…"
That was her explanation. Issei was skeptical, but he could see that she was telling the truth. Out of suspicion, he consulted his partner through the jewel of the gauntlet.
"Ddraig, is such an act possible?"
Ddraig responded to him aloud.
[I'm not sure. But, removing a Sacred Gear which is tied to one's spirit— it would surely end in death.]
OOOOHHHHMMMM!
Just like that, Issei's dark aura pulsed out at full blast, easily cracking the floor beneath him.
"THAT IS ALL I NEEDED TO HEAR."
Taking one heavy step forward, Issei had finally made his decision.
[—?!]
"W-WAIT! Please—! Don't kill me! I-I don't want to die! I-I'm sorry! I know I promised to leave, but I was stupid! I'll leave this time! Really!"
While Raynare was begging for her life, already aware that no amount of resistance could save her, her allies were about to prepare for battle. Though, they would have virtually no chance against him.
"P-Please! I-If you kill us, then..! Our superiors will become angry! They'll want to hunt you down! P-Please, just spare us!"
Despite her warnings, Issei did not hesitate in his step. Her allies each spawned their spears of light in their trembling hands.
"S-STOP, PLEASE! I-IF YOU KILL US..!"
Just as Raynare was beginning to think she'd run out of options, she suddenly thought of something. In her moment of desperation, she blurted out the only thing she could think of, while her allies took to the air and prepared to attack.
"IF YOU KILL US, THEN WHAT WILL ASIA THINK—!"
—Issei halted abruptly. He was mere inches from Raynare's face.
Raynare said it with a trembling voice and body.
"..T-That's right… I-If you kill us, w-what will Asia think of you?... S-She's an innocent girl…. If you k-kill us, her allies, then what will she think of you?... Y-You think she won't be afraid of you?..."
Once Raynare said that, Issei went quiet… But the rest of his body did not.
His fists clenched so tightly, that it was possible to hear his palms ripping, and blood dripping from them. His muscles tensed so strongly, that it was possible to hear his skin stretching. His teeth grinded against each other so roughly, that the sounds they emitted were similar to the low creak of wood. Meanwhile, his aura spurted out from his body with the sound of a gushing waterfall.
—All in all, it was clear to tell, Issei was hesitating.
And he was hesitating, because the image of a frightened Asia would not escape his mind. Terrified, just like a similar amount of the murder victims he's seen throughout his life— and his own victims from the past.
"...GRR….RRGH..."
Issei growled like a beast, using every ounce of his strength to hold back from snapping Raynare's head right off of her body. Sensing that it was an opportunity, Raynare pleaded with Issei once more.
"...P-Please spare us…. I'll give up on my plans and return home, I swear…. J-Just, please, let me live…."
Issei snarled in deep frustration, wishing that he could tear Raynare limb from limb. But he knew that he couldn't. And that idea only enraged him all the more.
"...GRR..!"
With one final growl of frustration, Issei caught Raynare by an iron grip around her throat and lifted her up to his level. His glowing red eyes bore into her very soul.
"FROM THIS DAY FORTH, YOU WILL NEVER COME NEAR ASIA AND I AGAIN. ASIA IS MY FRIEND. SHE DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU. THAT'S WHY, YOU WILL GET OUT OF MY HOME, AND YOU WILL NEVER COME BACK AGAIN. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?"
Raynare, not being able to nod her head or speak, simply uttered out any response she could.
"...Y...es…"
And with that, Issei dropped Raynare onto the floor, where she was left gasping for air.
"HAA—! Cough, cough..!"
"The same goes for all of you. Get out of my sight."
With Issei's last words to them, the Fallen-Angel group quickly took off, with Raynare unsteadily following behind. Watching them flee into the night, Issei walked back into the house. When he made it into the living room again, he caught Asia healing the head of the unconscious Freed.
"Ah… I'm sorry."
Being caught red-handed, Asia apologized. But Issei just shook his head.
"It's fine. Too late now. More importantly, Asia. There's something I need to ask you."
"Where are Raynare-san and the others?"
"They left. They won't be coming back to this place ever again."
"Eh?! Why?!"
Asia was in shock at Issei's declaration, but he only placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Asia. Tell me something. If you had the chance to live a normal life, would you take it?"
Asia was confused by his question, as if not expecting it.
"Eh? A-A normal life?"
"Yes, a normal life. If you had a chance like that, would you take it?"
Asia was hesitant to answer, not because she didn't want to, but rather because she didn't know what to answer with.
"...A normal life…. But that is…. I was always seen as a saint who served one purpose…. So the idea of a normal life was….. I…"
Issei gave a small sigh. He wasn't annoyed, but rather saddened by the fact that it was difficult for her to answer. So, he rephrased it.
"Alright, Asia. Let me put it this way. If you could live a normal life, what would you want to do?"
"W-What would I want to do?"
"Yeah. Aren't there things that you've ever wanted to do? You know, like activities you didn't have the chance to do?"
Asia took a second to think about it.
"...Um, I…. I wanted to make friends…"
Issei nodded his head.
"Okay. What else?"
"...Um…. I, I wanted to go to a beach…."
"Keep going."
"..A-And, I wanted to eat at places with friends…. They never let me go to restaurants, so I wanted to eat at those places…. Um, and in Japan, they have those things called k...karaoke? I wanted to try that…"
Issei nodded his head, as if finally confirming something to himself.
"Yeah. Alright, I've got it."
With that, Issei smiled and looked Asia directly in the eyes.
"Asia. That normal life that you seek, I will give it to you."
"Eh?"
Issei opened his palm and extended his hand to Asia.
"Asia, come with me. From now on, you can live with me. From now on, you can have a normal life. I will take care of you."
"Eh, take care of…. Ise-san will?"
Asia made a confused face, but Issei nodded reassuringly.
"Yeah. I will take care of you. I will make sure that you get to do all of those things that you want to do. I will let you experience all the things you missed out. You'll be able to make new friends, go places you want to go to, see things you've never seen— you'll be able to live a 'normal life'. Just like everyone else. Just like you've always wanted to. Just like you've always deserved."
Asia was speechless. Her eyes were starting to water at the thought of the almost dream like scenario, but she still stuttered out her hesitation.
"..B-But Raynare-san and the others… I was supposed to—"
But Issei interrupted her with the shake of his head.
"—No. Asia, from now on, you'll live your life for yourself. No more "purpose" bullshit. No one decides what you do with your life but you. You live your life how you want, not how others tell you to. Got it?"
"...B-But, something like that... I-I… Is… Is it really okay?... Can I really have a normal life?"
"Yes. I promise you. I will give you the best life that I possibly can."
"...For someone like me… It's okay for someone like me to have a good life?"
"Yes. It absolutely is. And anyone who says otherwise is my enemy. I won't let them get in the way of Asia's happiness. —That life full of friends and happy memories, I will give you that life. It's your right to have it. And I will do whatever I can to make it happen. Come with me, and I will make it happen….. What do you say?"
Asia's tears flowed out like waterfalls. But her face was beaming like the sun.
"...T-That…"
And she gratefully took Issei's hand.
"...Yes! I would…! T-That would make me very happy!..."
—While Asia wept tears of joy, Issei was caught in a memory from the past.
He remembers once, when he was sleeping in bed, in the middle of night, Marie quietly entered his room. She came to sit on his bed, and placed her hand on his head. Caressing his hair, she prayed quietly. He remembers her prayer very clearly.
("...For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you made me welcome….. And for that, I will always be grateful to you…. So please, let him find happiness...")
…..
Issei softly grasped Asia's hand back, wearing the most genuine smile he had given in years.
"I see…"
Part 3
Clack— Dakun..
The sound of a door being unlocked and opened. It was the door to the empty Hyoudou Household. And from outside, Issei and Asia entered.
"E-Excuse my intrusion."
Asia stepped in lightly.
"In Japan, it's custom to remove your shoes at the door."
"R-Right…"
After removing their shoes at the entrance, Issei led Asia through the main hall of the house and into the living room.
"So, this is my home. Or at least, it's the one I lived in my early years. I grew up in another house a bit always from here. It's in a place called Nagoya."
"Oooh.."
Asia took in the surroundings with an almost childlike sense of wonder and intrigue. It was like she had never been in a normal house before.
"Never been in a house like this before?"
"Eh? Ah, no, it's…. Well, not having any friends…. I've never been to a friend's home before..."
Issei smiled sadly.
"Well, more than a friend's home, you also live here now. So, it's kinda just your house too. Right?"
"No, but, that's…"
"It's okay. I'm sure my parents would've welcomed you too..."
Issei patted Asia's head, to which she just smiled shyly.
"Now, are you hungry? I'll make us something nice to eat."
Issei asked while making his way towards the kitchen. But Asia questioned him on something that piqued her curiosity. She asked with a tilted head.
"Hmm, where are Ise-san's parents?"
—Issei halted midstep.
…..A long silence was left hanging in the air. Issei remained still and silent. Asia began to feel uncomfortable, assuming that she had asked about something taboo. But, just as she began to feel worried, Issei lifted his arm to point somewhere.
"...There…..."
He pointed his finger in a certain direction. Asia followed his direction and peered down a dark hallway. That short hallway led to an extra room in the back, one that seemed like it would be a playroom. Being covered in darkness, Asia assumed that she couldn't see anything unless she walked in. So, with a bit of hesitation, she walked down the hallway.
The closer she stepped, the easier she could make out a certain shape. Something tall, and made out of wood. It looked like a shrine of some sort, and it held burnt out candles and incense. But the most noticeable detail..
—Two pictures of unfamiliar people. People who resembled Issei, and even held the same name above their heads: [Hyoudou.]
(—!)
Asia covered her mouth in realization, and Issei's large figure appeared from behind her.
"..I-I'm sorry… I didn't know…"
"It's okay.."
Issei stepped in front of Asia and knelt down before the shrine. He spoke to it casually, as if someone were listening.
"..Hey, mum, dad…. This is Asia. She's going to be living with us from now on… You don't mind, right?..."
Issei could easily imagine their responses.
《Eh?! A girl?! And she's a foreigner?! No way! Ise could never have such a beautiful girl as his girlfriend?! Honey, we're going to have grandchildren soon!》
《That's my boy! Now, just like I taught you, you must continue to obtain woman's hearts! Become the harem king your father always wanted to b— ouch!》
《Don't influence him with such stupid ideas! That old man at the park was bad enough! Asia is living with us now, so you keep your filthy perversions to yourself!》
"...Hehe…"
For some reason, Issei chuckled to himself.
"...How pathetic…"
"...Ise-san?"
Asia knelt down beside Issei with a worried face. But Issei just smiled.
"It's alright. They said it was fine…. Or, they would've, at least…."
"...May I pray for them?"
Issei smiled sweetly at her suggestion.
"...Yes, please.."
Asia put her hands together and lowered her head in prayer. Issei merely sat beside her silently, thinking about the memory of his parents.
—But, in watching Asia pray quietly, he was also reminded by her resemblance to another person he cared deeply for….
'...I hope you won't be jealous.'
《What?! Écaille, you're letting another girl besides me live in your house?! Unacceptable! This woman is my rival now! I challenge her!》
….
Unbeknownst to the praying Asia, a lone tear fell from Issei's smiling face.
It was the next day. It was a normal school day, however, Issei decided to take the day off. That's because, today, Issei has taken Asia out for a day in the town.
"Alright, Asia. What do you want to do first?"
Issei asked Asia as they were standing in the middle of an outdoor plaza. Asia's eyes darted around the plaza, unsure of what activity to pick from. That was, until the growl of her stomach was heard.
Gyeroo~
"Ah."
Asia's face went red, but Issei just laughed.
"Ahahaha, well, it is just about time for lunch, isn't it?"
"..Uu, sorry…"
"Don't apologize. It's part of an outing, right? C'mon, I know a place."
The scene cuts to the inside of a fast food restaurant. But, here, another dilemma was faced.
"…Auu."
It was an unusual sight. A Sister was getting confused in front of the restaurant's cash register.
"W-What would you like to order…?"
Even the employee doesn't know how to handle this situation.
Asia has never been to this kind of place before, so she is having a hard time choosing her meal.
Issei offered his assistance, but she said proudly, "It's fine, I will manage it somehow", so now they've been waiting for her to say something.
….But, thinking carefully, she can't speak Japanese.
Realizing that it was hopeless with a sigh, Issei helped her.
"Sorry. She will have the same order as me."
"Okay."
The employee takes their order. Asia, on the other hand, has a guilty expression.
"..Auu, I'm ashamed. I can't even buy a single hamburger by myself…"
"No, well, you need to get used to Japanese first."
Upon receiving their meals, they head towards one of the free tables in the restaurant. While moving inside the restaurant, most of the male customers were staring at Asia. Even though she's a nun, it's more likely because she is cute. Logically, any guy would stare at her when they saw her.
The two sat opposite each other, but Asia was taking a really good look at the hamburger and wasn't eating it. Rather, Issei questioned if she even know how to eat it.
"Princess, you can eat this by taking the wrap off like this."
Issei showed Asia how to eat it while smiling.
"T-There's actually a way to eat like that?! A-Amazing!"
Another reaction Issei found adorable.
"You also eat the fries like this."
"Oh my!"
Asia was watching at Issei eat his food with very keen eyes.
"No, no, you also eat, Asia."
"Y-Yes."
She takes a small bite of the burger and starts eating it.
"...D-Delicious! This burger is very delicious!"
She says it with stars in her eyes. It made Issei curious about her regular diet.
"You never ate a burger before either, huh?"
"No... I have seen it often on television, but it's my first time eating it. I'm moved! It's delicious!"
"I see... So what do you normally eat?"
"Mainly bread and soup. I also eat vegetable and pasta food."
Very simple foods. It was the same with Marie. Perhaps it was more common in European countries like France and Italy, especially for churches.
"Is that right? In that case, eat it carefully so you remember the taste. "
"Yes. I will eat it with joy."
Asia starts eating the burger happily, clearly savoring the new taste of it. Issei continued eating his food, all the while keeping his eyes on Asia.
"Asia."
"Y-Yes?"
"Let's go and have some fun now."
"Eh?"
—From that point onward, Issei brought Asia to many to many different places in the plaza. Starting with the game centre.
"Here, Asia. Try this one."
"Eh? O-Okay.."
Issei suggested a driving arcade game to Asia. But unfortunately, she lost very shortly while playing.
"Ah, you crashed."
"Auu…"
"Oh well. Everybody dies some time."
"Eh?"
"Haha, just kidding. C'mon, let's move onto something else."
Issei led Asia around the game centre, searching for a new game that she could possibly get accustomed to in a short time. But while they were walking, something caught Asia's eye and she went to it. She was standing in front of a crane game.
"What is it?"
"Hua! N-No… I-It's nothing."
Asia was startled by Issei, clearly showing that she was interested in whatever was inside the machine. But she tried to hide it.
"Is there something you want?"
When Issei looked inside the machine, he noticed that there was a doll of "Rache-kun" inside. It's a cute mascot based on a mouse. It was a character that came from Japan, but it was also popular worldwide, explaining why Asia also knew it.
"Asia, do you like Rache-kun?"
"Eh? N-No, t-that is…"
Asia's face became red, and she nodded her head shyly.
"Okay. I will get it for you."
"Eh? B-But…!"
"It's okay, I will get it."
Issei placed a token in the machine and aimed to claim his prize confidently. Little did most people know, Issei was a master at all types of arcade games. He, Narutobi, and Tsubomi would always be playing at game centres during their days off. And during those times, he just practically never lost a game, mainly due to his inhuman reflexes and skills.
"Alright, I've got it."
Issei easily managed to capture the plush toy on his first try. He retrieved it from the compartment once it dropped in.
"Here you go, Asia."
Upon receiving it, Asia became so happy that she held the doll to her chest.
"Thank you very much, Ise-san. I will take care of this doll."
"Oi, oi, if a doll like that makes you happy, then I'll get you more next time."
That's what Issei promised to her, but she just shook her head.
"..No, this Rache-kun that you gave me represents the wonderful day I had with you…. Since this is the start of my new life, I will take good care of this doll..."
Asia hugged the doll tightly. Again, Issei was caught with a rare smile on his face.
"Okay. But we haven't started yet. Asia, we'll be playing for the whole day today. Follow me."
"Y-Yes!"
—With that, Issei took Asia's hand, and they went to various places around the plaza.
From playing games in the arcade, to bowling, to even shopping for new clothes for her. Asia felt ashamed to be needing clothes, and even refrained from asking for them, but Issei forced her to try some on and bought them nonetheless.
He was almost tempted to buy her a swimsuit, possibly to take her to the beach one day, but he held back. For now, it was more important that she got some regular clothes. And helping her pick out a swimsuit at this stage could make her uncomfortable. Well, that is to say, if all of the other clothing didn't do that already. Because, regardless of it being normal clothing, Asia was still embarrassed to be seen in it. Especially skirts. She'd never worn skirts before.
Issei would never forget how difficult it was to keep a straight face when she said it was "breezy". It was one-to-one the exact same description that Marie gave the first time she wore a skirt. And that time was even funnier, considering that Marie's regular battle attire was absurd anyway.
All the minor details aside, the two spent the entire day together. Playing, talking, walking. It was an outing that many others would describe as a "date".
Though, at the thought of that, Issei could only smile sadly.
("Écaille~! Let's go on a date!")
("Go die instead.")
("oh Dio, crepacuore!— How can you say something so cruel! I can only cry. Boohoo!")
("I'm still not taking you.")
("...In that case, I'll just tell auntie that you're bullying me.")
("Wha..?! Why, you little..! …..Grr, fine!... Get your fuckin' coat….")
("Yaaay!")
"...Hehe…"
Asia raised a curious brow when Issei let out a random chuckle.
"What's wrong, Ise-san?"
"Huh? Ah, no, it's nothing…. Here, let's take a little break, Asia."
Issei and Asia took a seat on a nearby bench, resting after their whole day of play.
"So, did you enjoy your first day of your 'new life'?"
"Yes! I had a lot of fun! Thank you, Ise-san!"
"It's no problem. We'll be doing it pretty often, so you should learn to get used to it. Ah, that reminds me, I'll head up to the school and try to see if I can get the paperwork to get you enrolled. Would you like that, Asia? Going to school?"
"S-School? I've never been to a school… All of my lessons were privately taught…"
"Would you like to go there? You would be able to make a lot more friends."
"...Mm, in that case, yes! I want to go!"
"Alright then. It's settled. I'll see what I can do at the academy."
'..That Devil, Sona Sitri was her name. She's the current student council president. She can probably pull some strings from the inside…. I'd hate to ask for a favor from their kind, but if it's for Asia…. Well, a threat could work too.'
Issei thought to himself about that subject. But while the two were sitting in silence, Issei happened to notice a more somber expression on Asia's face.
"...Hmm, what's wrong, Asia?"
Asia didn't answer, but instead, tears fell out of her eyes.
"...! What is it, Asia? Is there something wrong?"
Issei asked with genuine concern, causing Asia to shed even more tears.
"...I am…. I am very happy being with Ise-san like this….. I always wanted to have a friend…. But..."
"But what? What's wrong? Is there something you're unhappy about?"
Asia just shook her head and tried wiping her tears away.
"...N-No…. But…. All of my life, it was always my dream to have a life like this…. And now that I have it…. Maybe I didn't deserve it…"
(—!)
"No, you're wrong, Asia! You deserve a happy life just like everyone else. Anyone who tells you otherwise is just wrong, and I will blast them away. Who convinced you of such a thing? Was it those scumbags from the church? Or was it those wretched, dirty Angels? Say the name and I'll blow them away."
But Asia just remained silent.
"...Asia. I want you tell me something. Tell me, what was your previous life like?"
"..."
Asia hesitated to speak. But, at some point, she decided.
—She told Issei a story about the girl who was once called the [Holy Maiden].
In a certain region in Europe, there was a girl who was discarded by her parents. She was raised in a Church nearby by a nun, along with other orphans.
The girl, who was a strong follower of the Church, received a special power at the age of 8. She healed a wounded puppy, and a person from the Catholic Church witnessed it by chance.
From there on, her life changed.
The girl was taken to the main Catholic Church and she was symbolized by many as a "Holy Maiden" because of her healing power. She used her power to heal many believers and they were told it was a power of divine protection.
Rumors brought rumors, and she was respected as a "Holy Maiden". Even without her approval.
She had no dissatisfaction for how she was treated. People from the Church were kind, and she didn't hate healing people. She, instead, was happy that her power was of use. The girl was thankful to her power which was bestowed to her by God.
But she was a bit lonely.
She didn't have any friends she could open up to. Everyone treated her nicely and was nice to her. But there were no one willing to become her friend.
She understood why.
She knew that they were looking at her power as something irregular. They didn't look at her as a human but as a creature that could heal humans.
But one day, that changed.
By coincidence, there was a Devil nearby. A wounded Devil. The girl couldn't ignore it. She thought that, even if it was a Devil, she had to heal it if it was injured.
It was her kindness that made her take such an action.
But that changed her life forever.
One of the people from the Church saw that incident and notified others of the Church.
The ministers of the Church were shocked about it.
("A power that can heal Devils!?")
("Something absurd like that cannot happen!")
("The power of healing can only heal the followers of God!")
Yes, there were several people who had the power to heal.
But the power to heal the Devil was out of the question. The people of the Church thought it was common sense that the power of healing didn't work on Fallen Angels and Devils.
Apparently, a similar incident had happened in the past. The power to heal Fallen Angels and Devils that were not protected by God. But that was feared as the power of a "Witch".
So the people saw her as a heretic.
("Damned witch that heals Devils!")
The girl who was respected as a Holy Maiden, was then feared as a "Witch", and the Catholic Church— abandoned her.
She didn't have anywhere to go and the organization of 'Stray Exorcists' picked her up.
In other words, she had to get "divine protection" from the Fallen-Angels.
But the girl never forgot to pray to God. She also never forgot to thank God.
Even so, the girl was abandoned.
God didn't save her.
What shocked her the most was that there was not even a single person in the Church that was willing to defend her.
—There was no one who cared about her.
"…It's because I didn't pray enough. It's because I'm clumsy. I'm so stupid that I can't even eat a burger by myself."
That girl, Asia, wipes her tears away while laughing.
"This is also a trial that the lord gave me. Since I'm a clumsy nun, the lord gave me this trial. So I have to endure it."
She was laughing as if she was talking to herself. And just like that, the world had gone silent again.
…..
…..
…..
"...Don't fuck with me."
Issei's body shook in place, to an almost unreasonable degree. His fists, resting against his knees, tightly clenched, to the point in which blood seeped out from them. He held his head down, with hair covering his face, and his upper body hunched over. And his voice was released in a low, enraged tone.
"...Trials? Don't fuck with me."
—But there were tears falling onto the ground below him.
"...There are no trials…. This life that was "bestowed" by God…. It is filled with nothing but cruelty….. It's all filled with suffering….. There are no "lessons" to learn, or obstacles to overcome… It's all just a sick game played for his amusement… To say that what you went through….. What I went through…. What she…... What we went through… To say that it's a trial, that's just an excuse….. It's all bullshit… My parents' deaths….were not an "obstacle"…. She….. She was my…. She was not a "trial"..."
—The only thing that Issei could see, was that woman's true and beautiful smile, shining as bright as the early morning sun.
"...Kuh…"
Issei's teeth grit tightly, and a small puddle of water formed at the ground beneath his feet. Aside from the sound of his quiet weeping, the world was still without noise.
"...I think Ise-san is right… But, I also think that you are wrong…."
Until finally, Asia responded.
"...I understand if Ise-san does not have faith, but…. I believe that this world has many ugly things, as well as many good…. I believe that, even though there is a lot of cruelty in it, there is also much beauty…... I believe that, as people, we are made to suffer through many hardships….. But, whether it is a trial from God or not, it is something we all face….. And part of living, is to make it through those things… With friends, with family, or even sometimes, alone….. Maybe even after you've lost them….. But, at the very least…."
Asia softly placed her hand over Issei's own.
"...I do not believe that we are alone forever…."
—And Issei could only hear that woman's voice.
("I will always be with you, partner.")
"...Kuh!"
And for the first time in so long, Issei let out all of the emotions he had held up inside.
"...Uwaaaaaaaah! Aaaaaaaahaahaa!"
While being held onto by a silently weeping Asia, Issei freely sobbed his pent up sorrows away.
Part 4
It was nighttime now. Issei and Asia were now back at the Hyoudou Residence after a whole day out.
"Alright, Asia. I'm off to the school. Knowing those Devils, they're probably still there around at this time. It's already night, so I'll be able to get there using my wings without being seen. I'll be back real soon. Just stay put, alright?"
Asia nodded her head while the black cat in her arms meowed.
"Yes, Ise-san."
Meow~
"Okay then. I'll be back in less than five minutes. We'll have dinner after that."
"Have a safe trip."
With a strong gust of wind, Issei extended his wings from his back and took off into the sky, headed straight for Kuoh Academy.
FOOM!
In the clubroom of the Devils' "ORC" group, Rias Gremory and her servants were gathered. Their leader was finishing up her paperwork, while the rest of the members were just passing by the time. That was, until there was an unexpected knock on the door.
Knock, Knock…
Lifting her gaze from her paperwork, Rias raised a curious brow.
"Ara, who could it be at this time? —Come in."
With Rias's approval, a surprising figure entered the clubroom.
Dakun…
It was none other than the current Sekiryuutei.
[—?!]
The group was immediately on guard when they saw him. Though they didn't display it in an outward manner, it was quite obvious from the sweat on their heads.
"...Ise.."
"...Yo, shitty Devils."
Despite feeling nervous with his appearance— and even a bit disturbed, with the abandoned building incident still fresh in their minds— Rias stood from her seat and spoke calmly.
"...Welcome, Ise. It has been a few days since we've last spoken. From what I heard around the school, it seems that today was your first absent day. Perhaps you were feeling unwell?"
Rias tried to make formal conversation, but Issei didn't respond. He merely observed the other Devils around him. They were clearly on guard, all of them having stiff postures despite their seemingly calm exteriors. It was most obvious for the boy, Kiba Yuuto, who was resting his arm on his hip in a casual manner. To Issei, it was easy to understand that it was because he was a swordsman that he kept that pose.
Putting all of that aside, Issei had more important things to attend to. He looked at Rias directly, to which she began to feel uneasy for.
"...Is there something we can do for you?"
When Rias asked that, Issei clicked his tongue in some sort of annoyance.
"Tch..!"
He averted his gaze, leaving Rias confused on what Issei was trying to communicate. He was clearly irritated with something. Maybe himself?
"...I have…a favor to ask."
To that, Rias let out a surprised noise.
"...Huh? A favor?... You mean, you're asking something of us?"
"Che!"
Issei clicked his tongue again, in an even more angry way this time.
"...I'm not repeating it again, so listen close. There is something I need done, are you willing to do it or not?"
"...Something you need done, huh?... Well, that all depends on what it is…"
Issei held back his irritation and clarified.
"...That girl from the other day, Asia, do you remember her?"
Rias thought for a moment before quickly recalling it.
"...Oh, the Sister?"
"—Her name is Asia."
Rias was taken aback by Issei's nonchalant interruption, but continued nevertheless.
"...Right... But, yes, I do recall. Why do you ask?"
"...That girl wants to go to school. Can you set that up on my behalf?"
"What?"
Issei growled in frustration.
"—I SAID: she wants to attend this school. You lot are acquainted with the other Devil, Sona Sitri, right? She's someone who can enroll people into this academy easily, isn't she? In that case, tell her that I want to have Asia enrolled here. She wants to attend this school, so I'm asking for this….favor. Can you do that?"
Rias was surprised, to say the least. She never expected such a development. Especially not in such a short time. Whether or not it was a good sign, she was unsure. But for now, it made one thing clear: Even this brutal Sekiryuutei had things he valued. So that means he's willing to act in a diplomatic manner, if need be, for the sake of whatever he cares for.
Rias released a small sigh of relief from her mouth, now realizing that nothing drastic would happen. She straightened up her posture with a slightly more relaxed attitude.
"So, you want to enroll that girl into this school? That doesn't seem all that difficult, but, what of the Fallen-Angels she happens to work for? Just so you know, I cannot be doing anything that would help them accomplish some sneaky goal. I am the protector of this town, and their natural enemy, after all."
Issei almost popped a vein in his forehead from anger, but he held back while reminding himself that it was for Asia.
"...You don't have to worry about them anymore. They won't be a problem."
Rias narrowed her eyes in suspicion, but considering what she witnessed him do the other night, she decided she didn't need to know.
"Is that so….. I suppose I can take your word on that?"
"...You have it."
"..."
Seeing that there was no deception in Issei's stern gaze, Rias conceded. She sat back down in her chair with a regal posture.
"...Very well. I'll talk to Sona about it. Consider it done."
To that, Issei only responded with:
"...I see…"
After that, he said nothing, and simply turned around to leave. Just as he was walking out, however, Rias called out to him again.
"Ise."
He stopped, but did not turn. Rias said it with a very subtle smirk on her face.
"...You'd usually ask for a favor from a friend, you know?"
Issei said nothing.
"...Tch.."
With that, he walked out of the clubroom, and flew off back into the night.
Dakun..
"Asia, I'm back."
Issei announced his return upon entering his home. While removing his shoes at the door, he noticed the first one to greet him. A black cat.
Meow, meow~
—And not Asia.
"Asia."
Issei called to Asia once more, only to receive no response again. Only another meow from the kitten.
Meow~
CRACK!
Issei's body bolted into the living room, leaving a cracked place behind him. The moment he arrived, he scanned the room for any signs of entry.
—And he found it in the form of a broken back window.
Meeeow~
His gaze moved down towards the black cat who was meowing at him. Right next to where the black cat sat down—
.
.
.
.
.
—There were a couple droplets of blood on the floor.
[WELSH DRAGON BALANCE BREAKER!]
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMM!
In the clubroom of the Occult Research Club:
"Alright, everyone. It's fine for you to go home no—"
—CHILLS!
[!?—?!]
Suddenly, their bodies were overcome by a terrifying sensation. And in the distance, a loud explosion was heard.
(BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!)
"What?!"
Looking out from the window of the old school building, it was easy to tell where that explosion originated from.
"..The old church!"
"Let's go! Now!"
[Yes, Buchou!]
Inside of the abandoned church:
"T-This is a mistake! W-We're going to die! We're all going to die!"
From underneath the church's altar, there was a secret passageway that led into a large room. In this room, many rogues priests surrounded another altar, reciting the prayers to a ritual. At the top of the altar, the rogue group of Fallen-Angels were preparing for the ritual, with an unconscious Asia tied to a mechanical cross of some kind.
Out of all of them, Raynare was the one shaking in total fear.
"Raynare! Snap out of it and help us do the ritual! You're our leader, aren't you?! What happened to that Raynare I admired so much?! C'mon! If we can do this quickly, then we can get out of here before he notices! This is our only chance, we're doing it now!"
Mitlet berated her ally for quivering like a child, but it made no difference to Raynare. Because in the next moment, she felt the fear of the death she so desperately avoided, rise.
OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHMMMMMMMM!
[!?—?!]
—She felt it. She felt it in her bones. She felt it to the very core of her being.
From far out in the distance, something was approaching. A beast. A monster. A monolith of pure destruction.
And it was coming straight for them with unimaginable speed.
"HE'S COMING! NO, HE'S COMING!"
Raynare began panicking in fear while her allies continued attempting the ritual and failing. It was only a matter of seconds— No, possibly even milliseconds, and before they knew it—
[BOOST!]
—A Dragon descended upon on their church.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMM!
An explosion of dust that reached high into the sky. So high, that it could be assumed an entire quarter of the mountain was destroyed. And the whole town shook from an earthquake that reminded the inhabitants of their false pasts.
Before the dust even began to clear, the Fallen-Angels were able to realize that, the entire church was previously above them— was turned into a complete wasteland. And most of their human priest allies were unconscious from the blast.
With only one slam into the church's exterior, the surroundings were blown away, leaving only the basement that they were residing in, and no trace of the church itself.
But there, through the dust left over, a silhouette could be seen. A figure of darkness that peered through the smoke, with glowing red eyes.
OOOHHHMMMM!
Then, from the monster's body, a wave of energy was released.
BOOOOOM!
The pulse was so strong and potent, that the moment it was released, all of the dust that was clouding the area disappeared in an instant. And just like that, the monster was revealed. A red & black mass of energy.
—An impregnable force of annihilation.
"FALLEN-ANGELS."
The distorted voice echoed with a boom that rattled their bones.
—And in a mere moment's passing, they were all already face-to-face with it.
DOOOOOOOOOONN!
First, Mitlet, whose head was slammed straight into the ground. The floor around her body was was broken, for up to 20 meters around. And she was unconscious without even a single breath uttered.
DOOONN!
"GUHA!"
Then, Kalawarner, who was launched into a wall with only the shockwave of a punch sending her flying, and no actual physical contact from the being.
DOOOOOONNN!
Next, Donasheek, who suffered a direct hit into his abdomen. The attack was so precisely concentrated despite its power, that he wasn't even sent flying. Had the strike been even a few hundred newtons stronger, every single one of his internal organs would have ruptured and blown out of his backside. But, he was fortunate enough to only have two of them destroyed.
DOOOONNNN!
And finally, the ancient device which removes Sacred Gears. Without even having half of the ritual completed, it was broken into a thousand pieces. An ancient device that was preserved for centuries, it was destroyed in an instant.
Grab!
The body of the unconscious Asia fell, and was easily caught by the beast. It held her delicately in its arms, and carefully lowered her onto the ground. Meanwhile, the quivering Raynare, who had fallen onto her back during the explosion, could not contain the quaking of her legs.
Slowly, the beast rose up again.
OOHHMMM….
With movement that was so gradual, that in Raynare's mind, it looked as if the beast was growing in size just as it rose up. In fact, in her eyes, the beast was increasing in size, without end. To the point at which its gigantic form dwarfed her, reaching into the red colored night's sky, and took an identifiable appearance.
—The dark outline of a massive Dragon, with eyes glowing a red as deep as blood.
"IYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Overtaken by an unimaginable fear, Raynare expanded her wings and attempted to flee. But—
DOOOOONNN!
Like a bird that was snatched from the sky by a feline, she was caught by the giant claws of the Dragon, and slammed down into the ground.
And just above, the monstrous form of the legendary Welsh Dragon, gazed down upon her puny existence.
"N-NO! I'M SORRY! PLEASE, FORGIVE ME! IT WASN'T MY FAULT! IT WAS THAT SCOUNDREL, FREED! HE ACTED ON HIS OWN AND KIDNAPPED HER! I DIDN'T ASK HIM TO! I WAS READY TO LEAVE! IT'S JUST HIS FAULT! HE MUST'VE ESCAPED DURING THE EXPLOSION! HE'S THE ONE YOU WANT! PLEASE DON'T KILL ME! PLEASE, IF YOU WANT TO KILL ANYONE, YOU CAN KILL MY COMRADES! THEY WERE ACTING ON THEIR OWN IN ACCORDANCE WITH FREED! I WANTED NOTHING MORE TO DO WITH IT, I SWEAR! PLEASE!"
Despite all of her passionate pleading, the Dragon did not listen. Instead, it only lowered its head closer to Raynare's body. And when it was close enough, it opened its massive jaws to chomp down on her body.
"NO! NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! PLEEEEEEAAASSEE! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'LL LEAVE THIS INSTANT! I'LL NEVER COME BACK AGAIN! I BEG YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOU!"
And just like that, the Dragon's open maw was ready to clamp tightly shut on her.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Shiin!
When the Gremory group arrived on the scene by magic circle, they immediately realized, there was no longer a church. It was only a wasteland, along with what looked like the ruins of an underground room of some sort.
Sprawled all over the floor were the unconscious bodies, and even some remains, of many rogue priests. Those who were dead seemed to have split in half. As if something sharp cut right through them. But the cut was too precise to be from a normal blade. That's because it wasn't from a blade at all. They were as a result of a single, powerful pulse of energy that was previously released.
But the most important detail: all of the Fallen-Angels were unconscious, lying in different places from each other.
—And ahead of them, a Sekiryuutei with an overwhelming aura being released from his body, held his foot firm pressed over the back of the last of the Fallen-Angels.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Raynare flailed around violently, as if fighting off an invisible force. The truth was that she was so fear stricken, she was hallucinating that she was being eaten alive by a gigantic Dragon.
But, once again, her perception was not too absurdly detached from reality. After all— there was certainly a monster above her head, itching to devour her.
"...Is…. Sekiryuutei…"
Rias uttered out that name, not capable of identifying the being as anything else. When the beast took notice of them, they flinched under his red gaze.
"...RIAS GREMORY…"
Rias felt chills hearing her name being spoken with such a voice. It sounded distorted and inhuman.
Then, the Sekiryuutei lifted its leg, and brought it down on top of Raynare's head.
DOONNNN!
The stomp rendered the Fallen-Angel unconscious, without so much as a breath of resistance. After that, the Sekiryuutei trotted its way over to the unconscious Asia. It very carefully lifted up her body and held her in its arms.
And then walked over to bring her to the Devils.
"Wha—"
"...TAKE HER TO MY HOME.."
The Sekiryuutei handed the body of Asia to Rias in a delicate manner. The moment she was handed over, Asia, who had a bleeding mark from where she'd been hit on her head, rustled in her sleep. And soon, she opened her eyes slightly.
"...Uu… Ise-san?..."
Before Asia could have seen what the Devils had seen, the Sekiryuutei's mask was already gone, and a smiling Issei was revealed in its place.
"...It's okay, Asia. They're going to take you home now… I'll be there soon, so just wait for me, okay?"
Issei stroked Asia's head softly, and then turned away from her. He began to walk towards the unconscious Fallen-Angels, with his aura growing darker and darker by the second. Until…
"...Ise-san.."
Asia called out in a weak voice.
"...Please….don't kill them…"
"..."
Issei remained totally still, and silent. For a long time, he didn't respond. But after a while, his voice came out in a small way.
"..Oh, Marie…. Asia…. How could I ever refuse you two?... Of course I won't kill them…."
Due to being wounded, Asia could not maintain her consciousness and passed out again.
—That's when the Sekiryuutei's mask came back on.
"...I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE THEIR PRIDE FROM THEM."
With that, the Devils made off to return Asia, in order to spare themselves from watching anything possibly horrific.
That left only the Sekiryuutei - and its prey.
DON!
"GAH!"
Raynare awoke to the harsh stomping on her lower back. When she did, her wings expanded themselves without her consent.
"...Hey, did you know, pigeon? If you press down on this part of the spine, you can make a flying bastard's wings come out. I'm not sure how many types it works on, but I'm sure that works with Devils. And if works with you bastards too, then that must mean it works on pretty much everybody, huh…"
Raynare was sent into instant panic mode again.
"N-NO, WAIT! PLEASE, DON'T KILL ME!"
"...Ah, silly little crow…. I'm not going to kill you…. Not anymore…. Unfortunately, I made a promise, so you have to live…. But luckily, I didn't mention what state you had to live in…."
—At that moment, the Sekiryuutei opened its hands, and gently grabbed onto something. Raynare's wings.
"W-What are you doing?!"
And then, it began squeezing them.
"..N-NO! P-PLEASE!"
And twisting them.
"—AAH! NO! PLEASE, STOP! IT HURTS!"
And crushing them.
"AAAAAAAH! PLEASE! PLEASE, STOP! I'M SORRY! PLEASE, TAKE MY LEGS INSTEAD! NOT MY WINGS! PLEASE!"
And, without remorse, it brutally ripped them off from her back.
TEEEEAAAAAR!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Raynare shrieked the most painful howl she'd ever released in her entire existence. The pain was unbearable, and unmatched. And the worst part, was that it wasn't even over.
FOOOOOOOOOOOMM!
Without warning, Raynare's back was lit ablaze by the Sekiryuutei's fire, and the wounds from which her wings were plucked from, were scorched in flames.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
She screamed in unimaginable pain. Until, the Sekiryuutei silenced her with another stomp to the skull.
DOOOONNN!
And she was left unconscious again.
—The Sekiryuutei moved onto its next target. And without a pause, it repeated the same process of plucking wings off of backs with each of the Fallen-Angels. Starting with, Donasheek.
TEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAR!
"GUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
But after removing his wings, the Sekiryuutei did not burn the man's back. Instead, it decided to give him some special treatment.
"...YOU'RE ONLY AFRAID OF WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE…"
—And so, it plunged its clawed thumbs into the man's skull, crushing his eyes into a mush.
"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Thud!
The Sekiryuutei dropped the body of the man, who lost consciousness all on his own. It then moved onto the next victim, Mitlet.
TEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAR!
"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
After ripping off her wings, the Sekiryuutei pulled up the small bodied Fallen-Angel and held her up in the air, up to its level. And with its free claw, it placed two of its sharp, metallic fingers into her mouth.
"...YOU TALK TOO MUCH…"
—And with its two fingers, it forcefully ripped out the girl's tongue.
RIIIIIIP!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
DOOOOONNN!
Quickly knocking her out afterward, the Sekiryuutei finally moved onto its final victim. Kalawarner.
SLAM!
"GAAAH!"
Kalawarner was brought back to consciousness in an instant, by the sensation of having one of her limbs stomped on. When she looked, the Sekiryuutei had crushed her right leg under its clawed foot.
"...AND YOU'RE TOO SERIOUS…. SHOW SOME MORE EMOTION…"
The Sekiryuutei crushed the leg even further, practically detaching it from the rest of her body.
"AAAAAAAAAAAH!"
And just as the Sekiryuutei instructed, Kalawarner's expression changed to one of fear, and there were painful tears falling from her eyes.
"...GOOD…"
With the kick of its leg, the Sekiryuutei flipped Kalawarner over onto her stomach and stomped on her back, revealing her wings.
"...IT'S NICER THAT WAY…."
And, of course, it tore those off as well.
TEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAR!
"IYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
SLAM!
After tearing off her wings, the Sekiryuutei knelt down by slamming his knee onto Kalawarner's back, and nearing close to her face. Once they were at eye level with each other, the Sekiryuutei dematerialized its helmet, revealing the "man" behind the mask.
—With glowing red eyes that bore through her soul, Hyoudou Issei commanded her.
"..DISAPPEAR FROM THIS PLACE, AND NEVER COME BACK AGAIN… IF YOU COME BACK, ASIA MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SAVE YOU AGAIN.."
With a profuse amount of tears escaping from her eyes, Kalawarner frantically nodded her head.
And so, the Sekiryuutei's work was done.
'...Ddraig. Let's go home.'
[Jet!]
And he shot off into the night.
At the Hyoudou Residence:
Back at Issei's house, Asia, and the Gremory group, waited for his return. After only about 10 minutes of their arrival, they heard a crash in the backside of the home.
CRASH!
Issei had just landed.
"...Asia? Are you here?"
Entering a few seconds after landing, without his armor and in a completely normal state, Issei entered the house.
"Ise-san..!"
Asia ran up to hug Issei and he accepted her into his arms.
"Are you alright, Asia?"
"Yes. I was able to heal myself when I woke up, so I am fine."
"I see. I'm glad… I'm sorry that I let you get captured…. I shouldn't have been so naive, not again….. I promise you it won't happen again….."
"It's okay…. Ise-san saved me, just like he said he would. So, I'm okay…."
While Issei and Asia were hugging, Rias let out a sigh.
"...Good grief. It looks like I'll have to contact Sona and let her know that it was a "false alarm"... I'll also have to manipulate the minds of any authorities that go to check on that explosion as well. Speaking of which, what did you do with Fallen-Angels?"
Just as Rias asked that, Asia looked up to Issei with a worried face. He just smiled and patted her head.
"...I spared them. Just like Asia asked."
"Ise-san…. Thank you.."
Asia hugged Issei again. But Rias raised a brow at him, clearly not believing it. Issei simply gave her a dead look.
"..They're alive…. But I made sure that they wouldn't be coming back to this town again. Otherwise, they'll regret it."
Though Rias was suspicious about what that meant, she accepted that answer nonetheless and nodded her head.
"I see. Well, in that case, it looks our business here is finished. I suppose we'll get going then. Thank you for allowing us into your home, Ise."
"Shut up, Devil. If I had the choice, I never would've let you set your filthy foot on this place. I'll be sure to thoroughly clean it after you've left."
Hearing what has now become a common occurrence, Rias sighed in defeat and stood up from her place on one of Issei's sofas.
"Haah… Right. Well, until we meet again, I suppose. Come, everyone. Let's go home."
"Don't forget our deal, Devil. I want to be able to watch over her at every moment."
"Yes, I know. I'll be sure to consult with Sona about it."
And just as quickly as they arrived, the Gremory group transported out of the household via magic circle, leaving behind only Issei and Asia.
"What deal were you talking about, Ise-san?"
"Good news, Asia. You're going to be able to attend school with me from now on."
Hearing that news, Asia's face brightened up.
"Really!"
"Yup, you'll be able to make more friends from now on."
"Yaay, I'm so happy! Thank you, Ise-san!"
"No problem. I said I'd take care of you, didn't I?"
Asia hugged onto Issei for a long time before finally letting go. When she did, Issei sat down onto the sofa with her beside him.
"...Hey, Asia?"
"What is it, Ise-san?"
"...Would you mind sayin' a prayer for me?"
"A prayer? What kind?"
"Any is fine… Just as long as you say it out loud, please."
"Yes, of course."
At Issei's request, Asia began praying aloud. Issei merely listened to her prayer silently, and closed his eyes. His left hand rested on top of Asia's own, gently holding her in place.
Though he hated the church, and the God that they followed, for some reason, prayers were something that would always settle down Issei's nerves. Sometimes, they would even help him sleep at night. But, perhaps that was because of the person who used to say them, not the prayer itself.
—And in that same way, it was almost like he was hearing her voice again.
"...Lord. Please, let me stay by this person's side from now on..."
My Friend
"Asia! C'mon, are you ready to go?"
"C-Coming!"
Asia quickly ran down the steps of the stairway and made it into the living room.
"I-I'm ready, Ise-san!"
—She was fully dressed in a Kuoh Academy uniform.
"Hoooh…"
Issei let out a small sound of amazement as he tilted his head. Not being able to judge Issei's blank expression yet, Asia asked shyly.
"H-How is it?"
Issei gave her a kind smile.
"Yeah, you look beautiful."
Not expecting such a bold compliment, Asia's face went red, though Issei thought nothing of it.
"Alright then. Let's go. We wouldn't wanna be late, would we?"
"R-Right!"
And with that, the two exited the house, shutting the door of the empty house behind them.
Dakun..
The two walked to school together, whilst wearing genuine smiles of happiness.
'...Mum, Dad... Marie... I wasn't able to protect you... But... I was able to protect her... Do you think...that's worth something?'
—From that point on, the once dreary, lonesome home— became just a little bit brighter— and a little less lonelier.
Happy end
AND, there you go! The end of the 'Raynare arc', basically. It wasn't a long one, but you certainly can't say that it felt too short either. I think it was just enough for this arc. Next chapter will be a little 'breather' arc, one that doesn't really focus on action but character development, again. I'd say that it's likely to be a bit shorter, I think. And it'll probably be focused on the weird dynamic Issei has with the Gremory group, and how Asia's kindness towards them affects that.
So, whaddya think? Did that shit go down like you thought it would? I bet it didn't. I also bet you didn't expect that opening with Issei going wild on a stray Devil for old times sake. That was pretty hardcore, eh? If you ever have a question about it, remember that scene, cuz Issei is definitely a psycho fuck. Or more like, so mentally damaged that he's just deranged at times. But yeah, he tortured the fuck outta those Fallen-Angels. And they got off easy. Imagine what he'd do to Freed if he caught him. Yikes! Kokabiel arc, you better watch out! That one's gonna be a REAL doozy. It's kind of what I've been waiting for, ever since we got into canon. One of my favorite arcs, personally. And the fact that we have this Issei instead, ooooooo-wee! I cannot wait, honestly. It's gonna be a fuckin riot. And if you've all been wondering how strong Issei is at this point, then the Kokabiel arc is gonna be your fuckin answer. I mean Raiser arc too, but, more Kokabiel arc than anything.
—[And, for maybe the first time ever, Issei received something new to one of his many life stories: A happy ending...]
So, tell me what you guys thought: Is Issei a fucking nutcase(lol)? What do you think the ORC thinks of Issei? What do you think of Issei's current dynamic with the ORC, and how will Asia possibly affect it in the future? What do you think about Issei's relationship with Asia? What do you think about what happened to the Fallen-Angels? Did you enjoy their comeuppance? And are you happy with what Issei did in this chapter? Do you think he made the right decisions?
Read, Rate, Review go crazy.
Stay frosty.
