"Ufufu." – Saying out loud.
"Ufufu." – Thought.
[Ufufu] – Sacred Gear.
[Ufufu] – Ddraig/Albion/Beast speaking.

Midnight IV: Devil
҉

The weekend passed relatively smoothly for Lachesis Azures. On Saturday, she had a fun time talking to Koneko and on Sunday she walked throughout Kuoh, looking for a nun, but had no luck. However, she did find a nice ice cream parlor, so the walk wasn't a total waste of time.

Now that it was Monday, her usual routine kicked back up again.

Waking up a few minutes before her alarm clock going off, only to then fall back asleep, just for the clock to ring out, freaking her out. Taking a nice and relaxing shower – which took nearly an hour. Then dressing, eating breakfast, realizing that it was a school day, having to redress, and finally leaving with ten minutes till the start of school, even though she woke up much earlier than that.

Arriving at school, she greeted Sona, the President of the Student Council, and then made her way to her own class. Talking to Koneko for a few moments, having the bell ring out, and then starting class as the teacher walked into the room.

It was just an average day for the tan-skinned girl.

However, it was during lunch that things took a turn. But, for the worst or the best, none may know.

"H-hey, Neme-hime! I need to talk with you for a sec!" the voice of Hyoudou Issei called out from behind Lachesis with a slight panic in its tone. She turned around, a questioning gaze on her face, as Issei ran towards her, slightly out of breath.

Stopping before her, he crouched down a bit, resting his hands on his knees as he hung his head down low. Gasping from the running he had just done, he looked to be in a panic.

Tilting her head slightly to the right, she frowned. "What do you need, Issei-chan?"

Though the brunette wanted to refute the chan part, he could only shake his head, dismissing the way she calls him from his mind, and focusing back on what he wanted to ask.

"Do-do you remember Yuuma-chan? My girlfriend that I told you about last week?"

"Girlfriend?" Not really understanding as to why Issei would be asking this, she frowned even harder. Placing a hand on her chin, she questioned this, but couldn't arrive at any conclusion. And then, her eyes widened. 'Oh, I see. So, it's like that, huh?'

Smiling coldly, Lachesis looked down on Issei with a wide grin and half-lidded eyes. Turning her nose up to him, her mind a whirl, she quickly reached the correct conclusion about Issei's question. Of course, this was just in her mind. On the outside, she merely looked as if she was seriously thinking about his question.

'Issei-chan… is a Devil.' Closing her eyes, she hid her grin with a hand. 'If I may offer up a hypothesis, it most likely went like this: he was killed by his supposed girlfriend, Yuuma-chan. The fact that he has to ask me about her with such a panic, suggests that his two perverted friends forgot about her too. This wouldn't be that much of a shock, as they would be jealous, being perverts and all, however, if the information on her disappeared from his cellular device, then he would begin to doubt and question her existence. However, he knew that she had existed. After all, she was his girlfriend. But this is an incorrect assumption on his part. She was never his girlfriend. After all, she was most likely a Fallen Angel. He was then killed by her and resurrected as a filthy Devil, which led us to here. Fallen Angels can erase memories, like the other two factions, though their skill in it is much higher than Devils or Angels. Most likely, this Yuuma-chan used it to erase the memories of everyone Issei had told, but not to Issei himself. After all, why would you erase the memory of someone who is dead? Afterwards, she deleted her contact info from his phone and fled the scene. Right afterward, a Devil showed up and resurrected him. But this begs the question of who. Who had resurrected him? There are two Devil Kings at this school, but which one of them did it?'

After figuring this all out, Lachesis began to plan and plot. What could she do in this situation? How could she swing it into her favor? Why could it help her in the first place? What would be the plus of Issei becoming a Devil?

He has a strong Sacred Gear.

There is no plausible meaning to resurrecting a pathetic human, thus, since Issei has been resurrected, he most likely possesses some sort of power.

That was her conclusion.

Taking a closer look at the boy, she smiled reassuringly. Issei, seeing this, perked up slightly, a smile loosely hanging on his face. She reached forward and placed her right hand on Issei's left shoulder. Showing him such a bright smile, Issei felt hope flap up in his chest.

The hope of someone knowing, of someone remembering!

"Sorry, not ringing any bells~!" Lachesis happily sung.

Issei froze, his smile dropping as a bead of sweat slipped down from his forehead to his cheek.

"Huh?" He could only make as Lachesis patted his left shoulder like a parent would do to their own child in sympathy.

"If you're having these kinds of delusions, then you might be going a bit crazy! I can't have my precious servant going mental, now can I?"

"B-but, I'm no-!" Trying to argue the point, Issei was stopped with Lachesis closing her eyes in apparent thought and raising her left hand, palm facing him and fingers the sky. When she opened her eyes, she continued with a confident look in her eyes.

"Go to the Occult Research Club in the old school building. They can fix you; I'm sure."

"That's-"

"They have cute girls with big boobs."

"I'm on it!" Crying out this, Issei spun away from Lachesis and bolted, completely forgetting about what Lachesis was accusing him of – of going crazy.

Lachesis stood there, smiling in victory.

'With the magical residue hanging off of him, he was undoubtedly in contact with Rias Gremory's power. And with the unique feeling of the Evil Piece residing within him… it has to be a Pawn; eight of them, in fact.'

She easily figured this out from just the simple touch she had made earlier. It took a few moments to see clearly, but she was able to feel the Power of Destruction that the Bael and four members of the Gremorys' are known for. After that, she had to search deep within him using her Senjutsu and found the Evil Piece that was used, or rather, pieces. Eight Pawns. This could only draw forth the conclusion that Issei was a big player in the world.

A human who has a value of eight – someone like that most likely possesses an extraordinary Sacred Gear. Possibly, a Longinus.

This means that Issei had value and potential.

"Ufufu." Lachesis laughed with her right hand covering her mouth. "I wonder what kind of future this perverted boy will show me? This will be very interesting."

҉

"So… she said it was… here…?" Gasping out, I slouched down in front of the old school building of Kuoh. 'Even after coming this far… am I even sure that they can help me?' I thought to myself, but quickly shook my head. "No! Don't say that Hyoudou Issei! There are cute girls with big boobs in there! I can only move forward; as a man!"

Some might say that a pervert was a bad person. However, a pervert is only natural! It is the natural way of the world! Why anyone could condemn a pervert for seeking out the source of their pleasure – the boobs – I will never know; however!

The only thing I can do from here on out, is to march forward with a grin on my face as I stare at all of the boobies!

Rushing into the building I immediately paused.

"H-huh?" Even though no light was on… the inside of the building was clear to see? What was the meaning of this? Why could I… "Why can I see so clearly, as if the sun is in here?"

I had no answer for this peculiar question. I could only move forward, seeking out where this club was. And the boobs.

It only took me ten minutes, but I eventually found the sign that read 'Occult Research Club' on the second floor. There was also a room that was locked up with a padlock and chains, but I ignored it. It felt freaky, so I didn't even want to get within one meter of it.

Gulping nervously, I approached the door. I lifted my hand to the doorknob and paused. I vaguely heard something within, meaning… someone was in there. Was it a girl with big boobs? Was she cute!? Lachesis was right, the beautifully flat girl!

Shoving aside my nervousness, I gripped the doorknob and pushed the door open.

"Hellooo-ah!?" I shouted, before surprise overtook my features. Within this room… this dark, but surprisingly bright room… Was… "Rias Gremory-sempai!?" No, no, it wasn't just her. With raven black hair styled into a ponytail, there was Himejima Akeno, another sempai. Then, on the couch, there was the mascot of the school, Toujou Koneko! Oh, and across from her was the prick Prince of Kuoh, Kiba Yuuto. But let's forget about him.

Lachesis! Thank you! I humbly bow before you for suggesting me to go here!

"Um…" Interrupting me from my thoughts, I stared over towards Rias Gremory. With crimson red hair falling down to her waist and beautiful blue orbs as eyes, she was truly a beautiful woman. Not to mention her large melons! "What can I do for you?" She asked me with a tight smile.

Ah, that's right. I just rudely entered the room whilst they were in the middle of their club activities… whatever they may be. Of course, they would be surprised and nervous. Perhaps even a little bit angry…

"Ara ara, don't pick on him too much Buchou." My eyes were then drawn in the beautiful raven-haired beauty – though they quickly drifted down to her impressive bosom. "What did you wish to ask, kouhai-kun?"

With those words, I remembered what I had come here for. "Cute girls and big boobs!" I ended up shouting what Lachesis had told me. I quickly moved to cover my mouth as my face lit up red like a tomato.

"…Um, okay?" Rias hesitated slightly in saying this, obviously confused, though there was the hint of amusement in her tone.

"Oh my. How flattering." Akeno softly pressed a hand to her cheek as she chuckled with a bright smile.

"Pervert." Koneko muttered, though loud enough for me to still hear her.

Kiba chuckled underneath his breath, but I ignored him. He wasn't a cute girl, after all.

"No! I mean, yeah, that's true, but no! That's not what I'm here for!" Shaking my head, I breathed in, trying to calm myself. After a few moments, when I was calmed down, I turned back to Rias Gremory, who looked at me with slight uncertainty. "I was told to come here by a friend… saying that this place could help me out!"

"If I may ask, with what?" with a curious look, Rias asked.

"…Well, it's a bit weird, and I'm not sure I should really say this, or if you'll believe me… but since I came all the way here, I might as well just say it!" I took another few moments to prepare myself, before finally saying what I really came here for! And it wasn't cute girls and big boobs! "I had a girlfriend… but nobody seems to remember her! Um… What I want to know is… Am I going crazy, or is everyone just playing a prank on me?"

Though I didn't know exactly what to say, I decided to just say the truth. Hopefully I'll get my answer… and not be laughed at.

"A girlfriend, you say?" Rias spoke with a frown. She cast a sideways glance to Akeno, who nodded in turn. However, I did not notice this, instead, focusing on the look in her eyes, which has to be one of disbelief.

'Ah, I knew it… they don't believe me. Why did I even come here? This was stupid… Neme-hime probably just sent me here to get a few laughs from me, yeah, that's probably the case. She's that kind of girl, after all. Who would believe that a pervert had managed to score himself a girlfriend? Dammit, this was all pointless…'

"Ah, don't look that way." Rias said, drawing in my attention. "I believe you."

"Huh? Wait, what did you say? You… believe me?" I asked in disbelief, my jaw hanging uselessly. Does she truly believe me? Or… is she playing me for a fool?

"Of course. After all – Akeno, if you would?"

"Certainly, Buchou." The raven-haired woman moved over to the desk that Rias sat behind and picked up a vanilla folder. Opening it, she searched within it for a few seconds, before finding what she was looking for. Taking it out, it was revealed to be a flat square. A piece of paper? No, that looks to be a photo…

Then, with a toss that sent the photo spinning through the air, it landed on the table that Koneko and Kiba sat beside. From where I was, I couldn't properly see it, so I took a few steps closer. The moment I saw the photo, I gasped out loud.

"Th-that is!?" It was her. Amano Yuuma. My girlfriend. It was a picture of her walking amongst other people, a few of which were students. The sky… it was orange, most likely, evening. And the area she was in… was this? It was. It was near the bridge that she had confessed to me on. How… how did they get this picture? "H-how?" I stuttered out, disbelief clear in my voice.

"It was a bit difficult, shall we say, to take a picture of a Fallen Angel without her noticing, but we managed it, nevertheless." Akeno explained to me.

"Fallen… Angel…?" I echoed, not understanding why she would use a term like that.

"Correct. Your girlfriend – Amano Yuuma – is an existence that is human-like but is not human. She is a Fallen Angel; an Angel that has been cast out from Heaven." Rias further explained.

"But… that isn't possible! Fallen Angels or whatever; they don't-!"

Before I could even finish my words. Before I could even process what was happening. Fallen Angels? Don't say this kind of shit! You don't know her… You don't know Amano Yuuma!

The image of the girl flashed through my mind. Her smiling face, her slight blush, the look of innocence in her eyes… And then, it morphed; changing into a girl with black wings on her back, a sadistic look on her face.

Before my eyes, coming out of the backs of each member in the room, Rias, Akeno, Koneko, Kiba, were wings. While similar to that of Yuuma's that I saw in that… dream, they were more bat-like.

Stunned, I could only stare from one pair to another, before a strange sensation spread itself out across my back. A feeling as if something was trying to free itself… then, a force pushed me a step forward and I felt a strange feeling, as if I had grown two more limbs, go out to my side.

Looking over my left shoulder with slight hesitation, my eyes widened in surprise.

Wings.

Bat-like wings.

Why were they… what is…

"Hyoudou Issei." Rias declared my name, causing me to turn back to her in panic. "We are Devils. And you are one too."

҉

I sat on the top of a skyscraper, the moon hanging low behind me as it slowly rose up into the sky. Kicking my legs forward lazily, a smile spread itself out across my face.

The temptation of looking for someone this night was strong, but I managed to repress my urges. I couldn't draw more attention to myself. I already got caught once. I didn't want to have a second encounter so soon after the first.

Things were moving. I could feel it; my connection to that was wriggling. Not out of fright, but out of excitement. It wanted to be let loose, to fight, to kill.

But this was not the time. The power within me… It was too soon.

"Hyoudou Issei…" I muttered into the silent night. "What will you do from here on out? How will your fate spread itself out for me?" Finishing those words, I leaned forward, letting my body fall off of the building I sat upon, and falling down into the darkness below me.


Hey everyone, sorry this chapter is really short and took such a long time to write. Next one will hopefully be a bit longer.

Hm, next time, will probably be meeting with Asia...

But as for this chapter, Issei has found out that he is a Devil a bit earlier than normal. I never did like how Rias went about this. I mean, she makes him into a Devil... and then leaves him alone for a few days, leaving him very confused. So in this chapter, I had him meet her earlier, and though she was surprised and confused as to the situation, she decided to go ahead and introduce Issei to the Supernatural world right then and there, with but a look from Akeno.

A few events might take place a bit earlier, but that is easily forgiven, right?

Anyway, thanks for reading and I'll see you later!