Chapter 65: Devils Commerce

Before long, the sun had set, with Adrian, Rias, Asia, Issei, Damon, Katrina, Akeno, Sirzechs and Grayfia returning to Adrians' home, where Adrians' mother was waiting for them with dinner preapred and even a bottle of wine opened for the occasion.

"...Okay I know I said shit would get interesting at the end of the last chapter, but dinner comes first," Damon said, aiming his attention to his invisible wall before returning it to Adrians mother, who was handing out plates with chicken parmesan, complete with sides of fried eggplant. He had his bandages on his Devil Bringer arm, so he wouldn't alarm Mrs. Michaels.

"This is delicious Mrs. Michaels," said Sirzechs, enjoying his chicken parmesan emmensly.

"I'm glad you do," said Adrians' mom, "I used to be a chef back in New York." Sirzechs gave her a look of surprise,

"Really? Did you work at the Grazie Dio?"

"I have actually," she said, equally surprised that Sirzechs would know.

"...I thought this chicken parmesan tasted familiar," said Sirzechs with a smile. Adrians' mother returned his smile, ableit a sad one,

"I'm glad someone does," she said, "When we left New York I had no choice but to start working in a smaller restaurant, with not as great of service."

"I'm guessing you had to leave due to the viral outbreak, Mrs...?" Began Sirzechs.

"Micheals, but you can call me Victoria." She offered her hand to him, expecting a handshake, but he took her hand and kissed the air above it.

"It's amazing how two people can come so close to each other and not even notice until much later." Victoria blushed, and Adrians' eye twitched.

"Adrian, why did you invite my brother to have dinner with us?" Asked Rias.

"I was being polite," Adrian gritted through his teeth, "I didn't know my mom would bust out a bottle of wine at the occasion."

"At least we are getting good, five star quality food," Said Akeno with a smile. Katrina nodded in agreement, while Asia and Issei smiled as they continued to eat.

"So if you don't mind me asking, where is Mr. Micheals?" All was silent at the table, and Adrian answered in place of his hesitating mother,

"He's upstairs in his study," he said, "No doubt working on his chemistry set," he added, staring down at his plate, his appetite vanishing, "...Trying to recreate the cure for the Blacklight Virus coursing through me." All but Victoria looked to Adrian, now curious,

"'Recreate?'" Repeated Katrina.

"Recreating the Whitelight," said a voice from the shadows. Almost everyone at the table jumped at the voice, save for Sirzechs and Grayfia who remained in their seats. Into the light appeared Richard Micheals, cold as ever, and slowly approaching the table.

"Holy crap he scared me!" Gasped Damon.

"So this must be Mr. Michaels," said Sirzechs, "A pleasure to make your acquaintance." Richard simply raised an eyebrow at the red haired man, and made his way to the kitchen where the food was made, and made himself a plate as he spoke.

"You're correct in thinking I'm trying to recreate the Whitelight. What you're wrong about is why." He turned to his wife, son and his sons friends, "I am trying to bring back the Whitelight so I can purge the Blacklight Virus, and finally get my son back." Adrian stood up, left the table, and stood toe to toe with his father,

"You really need to stop bringing this up in front of my friends. They all know I got the Blacklight, they all accept me for who I am, and they are not afraid of me," Adrian said in a hushed tone. "If you really want to continue this conversation, we should talk outside."

"Agreed." Soon Richard and Adrian were heading out the front door, with the first mentioned turning to the Devil Virus,

"Listen up you little freak," began Richard, "My son died in New York, and you are just an imposter. That fact will never change." Adrian opened his mouth to speak, but Richard continued, "You think I am afraid of you because I don't understand you. You're dead wrong. I'm afraid of you because I understand you perfectly." Richard paused, his eyes beginning to well up, "In case you forgot, I was a scientist for Gentech, I helped on working with the virus. So all the people that died in New York, including the real Adrian, their blood is on my hands, yet you still think I am prejudiced to you because of something simple as having powers. If were just powers I wouldn't care, but it's what gave you those powers, what it cost to get them...it's not a blessing, it's a fucking curse!" Adrian glared at his father, shaking his head,

"You still think I'm not the same boy you fathered for sixteen years? Still? After I saved you and mom? Regardless of having to kill psycopaths with guns, you still don't think I'm that same boy?" Richard kept silent, "My DNA may read off as Blacklight, but my spirit is still that of Adrian Micheals. But that doesn't matter, because you would still work on the Whitelight, you'd still try to cure me, even if it kills me. I would say have a little faith in me, but of course, you're the man of science, so having a little faith in your son is meaningless." Adrian turned, and walked back inside, done talking with his father, and upon entering his house, he saw everyone had piled next to the door, waiting to see what had transpired. Adrian sighed, and was then unexpectedly hugged from almost everyone around him, save for Issei, Sirzechs, Grayfia and Damon, the latter of which went outside.

"Yo, Mr. Michaels?" The older man faced Damon, only to recieve a punch to the jaw from the disguised Devil Bringer, sending him falling onto the ground rear first. With nothing more said, he walked back inside, leaving Adrians father to rub his sore jaw.

Sometime later, all were either heading to bed or leaving, with only Adrian awake, standing outside in his backyard, clothes shifted into a set of pajamas and robe, with a glass of wine in his hand.

"Didn't take you for a drinker." Adrian turned around, seeing Sirzechs had returned,

"Normally I don't," said Adrian, "But after my dads bullshit, I needed a little something to take the edge off." Sirzechs nodded, half understanding, and joined Adrian in his backyard, seeing mostly a large open yard, with a bird bath in the far left corner, and an in ground hot tub in the far right.

"I didn't realize you had a hot tub," said Sirzechs.

"It hasn't been used in a while," said Adrian. He sighed deeply, "You do realize that if my dad does come up with a successful Whitelight knockoff...it will not only be game over for me, but all I care for as well, right?" Sirzechs looked to Adrian, silently wishing for an elaboration, "I won't be able to protect him, or mom, or Rias or anybody, because if and when the Whitelight enters my bloodstream, it will purge the Blacklight Virus from my DNA. That virus is the only thing keeping me alive at this point. More so, if I die, the hive I built below this house will go mad, like a bee hive with no queen. My 'children,' for lack of a better term, will turn into mindless, ravenous savages..." Adrian paused, mulling something over in his mind.

"Well, with that being said, I could easily alter your fathers mind into not making the Whitelight," offered Lucifer, wanting to help his little sisters boyfriend.

"But I was also thinking...maybe it's for the best." Sirzechs looked to Adrian in shock, "Since I arrived in this town, it seems more and more shit from NYZ keeps following me here. Raynare and her personal Juggernaut bodyguards, Mercers return, Riser and his Bloodtox perfume..." Adrian sniffed, trying not to shed any tears, "...the rise of Zeus..."

"Don't do that to yourself..." said Sirzechs, not wanting Adrian to hurt himself worse,

"No, no, NO! Listen!" Adrian threw his wine glass towards the house, shattering it, "In that bastards timeline I asked Alex Mercer to help me take him out, instead he gets absorbed by Mercer, and takes over his body, takes you out, and who knows how many others?!"

"ENOUGH!" Bellowed Lucifer, his voice almost rumbling like thunder, "What Zeus did, what he became, was not your fault...Calvins' death was not your fault." Adrian was no longer holding back his tears, with Lucifer pulling the boy close into a tight hug, and for the first time in a long time, Adrian finally let go of the pain inside...

That following morning, Adrian was walking to school with Issei and Damon in tow,

"So, feel better after your cry last night?" Asked Damon, waving his bandaged Devil Bringer. Adrian looked to his white haired friend,

"How do you know...?"

"Dude, everyone in that fucking house of yours heard Lucifer shout," said Damon. Issei shook his head,

"Well, on the plus side, I used to be on the bottom of the totem pole, hated by everyone, and now I'm surrounded by hot chicks all the time, and even got a beautiful girlfriend!" Adrian turned to the pervert,

"You really like Asia that much?" Before Issei could answer, both his and Adrians dragon arms throbbed, a familiar prescence falling upon them. Both boys locked onto the source, finding Vali standing right by the schools entrance.

"You again?" Called out Adrian.

"Who's that?" Asked Issei, not recognizing the silver haired boy.

"It's Vali, the white dragon," said Adrian.

"No shit?!" Squeaked Issei.

"No need to fret," said Vali, "I only came to talk to the Red Dragon. You however, Bone Dragon, have someone a bit more...familiar to talk to." Adrian furrowed his brow, until his hunter sense went haywire, and he broke into a cold sweat,

Whitelight?! It can't be!! Adrian turned around, slowly, painfully, dread befalling him as he saw a feminine figure approaching him. It was a girl with purple hair, dressed in a grey tee shirt, a jean skirt, black leggings, white shoes, a purple belt with a gold star buckle, a blue sash tied loosely around her waist, and a black bat-like mask covering most of her face, but what stood out the most was her mismatched eyes, her left eye hazel, and her right sky blue.

"Blizy...?" Adrian murmured, hardly believing his eyes.

"Haven't seen you since New York...Adrian," she stated. Damon, who had been silent, turned to his invisible wall,

This is where shit gets real! He mouthed...