A/N: I just realized putting some of the text in bold font sucks if you're reading it in contrast mode, and might cause some confusion to the reader. Fair warning, people.

Disclaimer: I do not own High School DXD


CHAPTER TWO: I ALMOST DIE... AGAIN

'Girlfriend?'

'Yup.'

'Straight up? Seriously?'

'You bet!' Issei says triumphantly, his 'girlfriend' at his side. Yuuma, was her name. Matsuda and Motohama look at Issei dumbfoundedly, Caleb, a little wary. There was no way in hell someone would agree to be your girlfriend straight from the get-go. Even if she was the one who asked you out. However, Caleb notices how happy Issei seems to be and shrugs off the thought. He moves past the crying duo and offers his hand to the girl, like a real gentleman.

'Nice to meet you Yuuma-chan! I'm Ouma Hideki, you can call me Hide.' The girl beams at Caleb and eagerly shakes his hand. 'N-nice to meet you too, Hide-kun!' Caleb suddenly feels a sharp chill run up his spine, but keeps himself composed. There was something about this girl that spelled trouble. Issei pushes aside Matsuda and Motohama and waves goodbye to them. Caleb keeps a steady look at their retreating figure.

'Say, Hide.' A crying Matsuda says. 'Yeah?' 'Have you ever had a girlfriend?' 'Yeah, but she dumped me when she found out I was moving here.' Caleb says casually, still looking ahead. Meanwhile, Matsuda and Motohama's crying intensify at his statement.


The rest of the week had been rather boring for Caleb, with Issei spending most of his time with Yuuma, and Matsuda and Motohama only doing perverted things, he was stuck to wandering around the school on his free time. Right now, he was lying down on a slope overlooking the field, lazily trying to taking a nap.

'Damn this heat.' He mutters to himself. Suddenly, as if someone from above had heard his call, he notices a shade come over him.

'Ouma-kun. Am I right?' Caleb is a little peeved at someone disturbing his nap, but cracks open one of his eyes, nonetheless. The guy who had said that, and also doubled for the shade, was a blonde guy. Who was looking down on Caleb with a smile.

'Yeah?' He says. The blonde guy smiles at his acknowledgement and point to the spot next to Caleb 'May I take a seat here?' Caleb sits himself up, and beckons for him to sit down. 'Ah, what the hell, beats sitting alone anyway. You're from class 2-B right? Kiba something?'

'Yuuto Kiba, pleased to meet you Ouma-kun.' Kiba says as he takes a seat beside Caleb.

'So, Kiba, I hear you're always the main topics of the girls around here.' Caleb had heard girls gush over Kiba before, whether they were walking by him or when they were in class with him. It was getting annoying for him.

'I hear you're making a name for yourself as well.'

'Really? Crap, that means I gotta start hiding more.' Caleb grumbles, crossing his arms. Kiba laughs at his comment. 'They're not really people you can shake off,' Kiba says, mentioning to Caleb that the school was crawling with females; everywhere he would look or go they would be there.

'That's why it's nice to be able to talk to other guys every once in a while.' Caleb's new friend quips, leaning back on his hands. Caleb follows suit.

'Yeah, I know what you mean. I miss being able to talk about baseball and football with other guys. I was promised a team here when I transferred!' Caleb shouts, waving his arms in the air for emphasis. Kiba's attention seemed to have been caught by the word 'football'

'Do you play Football 2012?' He asks. 'Damn straight I do!' Caleb says enthusiastically. Finally, someone he had something in common with!

'You can go over to my place with me after school to play. What do you say?'Caleb didn't even need to think about it. Screw unpacking, he found someone to play normal people games with. 'Hell yeah I'll go! Matsuda and Motohama are probably gonna do something perverted after school anyways.'


'So, Hide-kun, you live alone?' Kiba asks. Caleb had told him to start calling him 'Hide' instead of 'Ouma', since they were friends. 'Yeah, my sponsor was nice enough to give me a big apartment for myself. He's a really good guy!' Caleb had beforehand told Kiba about Akano-san, and how he had helped him through his education.

They had been walking for a little while now. Kiba had told Caleb that his house was a little far from the school. This being confirmed by the dirt path they were walking on. 'So you live in the forest, huh.' Caleb casually says. 'Yes, my parents like the outdoors more than the hustle and bustle near the city.' Kiba walks ahead, not bothering to look back at Caleb. He suddenly stops, and turns to look at Caleb. The latter suddenly senses killing intent.

'I'm very sorry, Hide-kun. You seem to be a good enough person, but sadly, you're a threat to us devils.' Caleb's eyes widen as Kiba starts to draw his sword. Shit. Caleb thinks to himself. This guy's a devil? Shit! Stupid, why else would he lead me to the forest at dusk? Caleb starts to back up little by little.

'Hey now, this isn't funny.' Caleb says nervously, taking bigger steps back. He is surprised when he hits a wall instead.

'It's no use.' Kiba says, a little too nicely. 'Akeno-san already had a barrier set up.'

Son. Of. A. Bitch. There more of these guys? Caleb barely has time to react as he feels a force headed towards him. He quickly jumps out of the way before it collides with the ground. Revealing a small girl, who just punched a crater on the ground.

'My, my, you're very fast. I guess our suspicions are confirmed, right, President?' Caleb notices two girls step out of the trees. One had black hair in a ponytail, the other one, had stark red hair that was let down.

'Rias Gremory.' Caleb remembers. Rias acknowledges this with a nod. 'That's right, heiress apparent of the Gremory household. And you, Ouma Hideki, a fallen angel, have travelled way past enemy lines.' Rias says calmly, standing by as the girl beside her starts walking towards Caleb.

'I'm no fallen angel!' Caleb shouts, jumping out of the way as a lightning bolt suddenly strike the place where he stood. 'Now, now Hide-kun, just stay still and this will all be over.' The ponytail girl says. Caleb is momentarily distracted, enough for Kiba to rush in and strike with his sword. Caleb barely jumps out of the way, although too late for the imminent strike from the short girl. The hit lands with a deafening thud, sending Caleb to the other side of the barrier.

'Ugh! Shit. They're really trying to kill me.' Caleb says in a panicked tone. He coughs up blood. For the first time in two years, his life was once again in danger. His bow had saved him the last time. What the hell? He could use it again.

'Sacred Gear!' Caleb shouts at the top of his lungs. Light begins to envelope his left arm, soon, his arm brace appears, covering his fingers up to just above his elbow. He summons his bow and readies himself.

His four opponents seem momentarily surprised, before resuming their attack. This time though, they notice, Caleb had gotten faster and more elusive. No holding back. He thinks to himself.

Kiba lunges at him with his sword, to which Caleb easily jumps over, while deflecting a hit from the short girl with his left arm, kicking her away. He lands behind Kiba and kicks him hard, sending him off. 'Kiba, you fucking traitor!' He shouts as Kiba lands, unconscious. Caleb feels a chill and jumps away from his spot, a bolt of lightning striking it.

'You're pretty good, being able to knock out Koneko-chan and Kiba-kun.' The girl in the ponytail states. Caleb stares at her blankly. 'I don't want to fight, just let me go!' A pissed off Caleb shouts. The girls simply smiles at him.

'I'm afraid I can't let that happen, Hide-kun.' She sends more bolts of lightning to Caleb, who doesn't move from his spot. No backing down.

The bolts hit the spot where Caleb was standing, but to the surprise of the ponytail girl and Rias, Caleb is unscathed. He smiles at both of them. 'My turn.' The ponytail girl notices a speck of light on the ground beside her. She has no time to react as an explosion hits, sending her off.

'Akeno!' Rias shouts. She looks at Caleb murderously. 'You hurt my precious servants. I'll make you pay.' She springs up a magic circle. Just then, a black streak heads for Caleb, who narrowly jumps out of the way.

'Just let me go! I told you, I'm not some fallen angel!' Caleb had figured that showing that he could use magic was enough proof. Apparently, it was not. Caleb could still feel the hit that had landed on him earlier. The adrenaline was starting to subside, and the pain was throbbing. The barrier was still intact; and Rias would never let him leave alive. His only option now was to tell the truth and pray that she listens to him.

A bolt of lightning hits Caleb from behind, sending him to the ground. Shit, seriously? Caleb dodges another lightning bolt, only to be hit by o strong kick from Rias. He lands on the ground with a thud. Fuck, I can't move. Caleb says to himself. This was it. He was gonna die. Rias calmly walks towards him, grabbing him by his shirt collar and hoisting him up.

'Why don't you try to see if God is willing to save you?' Rias says sarcastically. Caleb simply laughs, making the former, frown.

'Can't, every time I try praying I get a splitting headache.' Rias changes the grip to his neck. 'Don't kid yourself. You're no devil.' She tightens her grip on Caleb's neck, the latter ending up gripping Rias' hand. He tries to stay as calm as possible. 'You're right. I'm no devil. But I'm no fallen angel, either.' Rias narrows her eyes on him, daring him to say something wrong.

'I'm both.' Rias tightens her grip even more. For a moment, Caleb thinks he was as good as dead. Suddenly the grip on his neck loosens, and he falls flat on his ass on the ground. He coughs, struggling for air. Rias looks at him intently, by this time; Akeno had walked back to Rias' side, roughed up, but still able to fight.

'Prove it.' That was all the beckoning Caleb had needed. He sighed, he had no choice anymore. Well, the truth shall set you free. With that, he shows his wings. Indeed, those of a devil's, except, fuller. The size that of an angel's wings, and its skeleton, but the main features were those of a devil. Hey, he had to make do with what he had. Rias stared at him blankly.

'Akeno, go get Koneko, I'll get Yuuto. We're leaving.'

Caleb felt like he had won the lottery. Soon enough the four use a magic circle to depart, the barrier fading away. Leaving a tired Caleb, who falls on his back, staring at the stars.


The weekend had been rough to Caleb. As a downside to being a fallen angel and a devil, his healing was bit out of sorts. He healed slower than most devils, yet, still faster than a human. He was now walking around school with a bruised neck in sight for all to see. He turned at a corner, headed for the stairs, where Issei had told them to meet.

'You two really don't remember?' He starts to hear Issei's voice.

'Remember what? You're girlfriend? Seriously Issei, I think your perverted fantasies are starting to mess with reality.' He hears Motohama say.

Girlfriend? Do they mean Yuuma? Caleb walks closer and soon enough is in the sights of the three. Matsuda calls out to him first.

'Hey Hide! Finally someone to knock some sense into Iss-' Matsuda stops abruptly, noticing the bruise on Caleb's neck. 'Are you okay man?' Issei and Motohama also notice his bruise, concerned looks on their faces.

'Uh, yeah! I'm fine. Just got into a fight.' He wasn't really lying. He was in a fight. 'Now what was this knocking sense thing about?' He changes the subject, not wanting to dwell on matters he didn't like.

'Oh yeah, you see, Issei here claims to have gotten himself a girlfriend that he had introduce to us last week. Which we had told him dozens of time that we don't remember! He even tried to look up her number on his phone! Could you just clear everything up for us?' Matsuda says. Issei looks at Caleb hopefully. The latter getting a bad vibe. He knew that girl was weird, what the hell happened? Caleb knew he had to play it safe, at least until he had some facts straight.

'What girlfriend, man? I don't remember you introducing someone.' He says quizzically, hiding the fact that he remembers. 'See? What did I tell you?' Matsuda says triumphantly. To which Issei slumps in defeat.

'Say Hide, were gonna have a little 'gentlemen's gathering' later, wanna join?' Motohama whispers, wiggling his eyebrows. Caleb is not impressed. 'Dude, I'm not into that kind of stuff.' Motohama pats Caleb on the back sympathetically, as if he was missing out on a luxury.

Caleb's unimpressed mood is suddenly broken when he notices a flash of red. He looks up to see Rias Gremory, heading down the stairs. She momentarily sets her eyes on Issei, then to Caleb, and gives him an unreadable look. The latter noticeably looks away, jaw clenched.

Amidst the 'Oohs' and 'Aaahs' of the other students, Caleb simply looks at the ground, clenching his fist. They may act with hostility towards you. Perfect. I'm in this town in a little less than two weeks and I already have a death threat. Caleb's musing was suddenly interrupted by a shout.

'Hide-kun! You shouldn't be hanging around those perverts! They'll corrupt your being!' For once, Caleb was thankful for the distraction of the girls, whom he just smiled to and waved off, resulting in Matsuda and Motohama shouting at him about getting the girl's attention.


Caleb didn't feel like going home straight away, so he opted to go around for a walk in the town, to try and get to know the place. Limping was a better word that walking, but he wasn't complaining. His abdomen still hurt like hell, and the lightning strike, and his neck, but hey! He was alive, and that was all he needed.

He stumbled upon a fountain near the park and decided he needed a break, so he slumped down by the fountains edge, pitting a hand by his abdomen. Man, that kid packed a punch. She probably broke a few bones there.

'Hide?' Caleb looked up to see Issei headed towards the fountain, he gives him a wave. 'Oi, Issei! How was the gentlemen's gathering?' Issei shakes his head and waves his hand. 'I wasn't really feeling well, so I left early.'

'I still don't know how you guys can watch that stuff.' Caleb comments, to which Issei immediately defends their show, claiming it was sacred to the three. Their small talk was suddenly when they hear a voice a good few meters away.

'I never would have expected to run into devils here.' Caleb and Issei look to the direction of the voice, Issei with uneasiness, Caleb with complete panic. There're fallen angels here too? What's with this place!? The figure gets closer to the both of them, Issei suddenly feeling the air of urgency surrounding Caleb.

'I don't sense any masters or servants around. Hmmmm, you two must be strays. No matter, you'll be dealt with accordingly.' This was bad for a number of reasons. First, Issei was there, so he couldn't show his powers, he couldn't risk other people finding out about him. Second, Caleb had left himself too vulnerable in his last fight, resulting in him with a lot of injuries, and in no condition to fight. Third, this was his second attack within the span of a few days, when was he gonna get a break?

The man pulls out a sword of light, and heads for Issei. Caleb musters up whatever strength he has and pushes Issei out of the way, ending up getting stabbed in the stomach. He falls to his knees, clutching the new hole that had decided to grace his body.

'Shit!' was all he could say, blood dripping from his wound. 'Hide!' He hears Issei shout, he turns to his friend and shouts back. 'Issei run!'

Sadly, it was too late. The man had swung for Issei, also stabbing him in the stomach. Light weapons were excruciating for devils, but not Caleb, an advantage given to him by his status. He again musters up his strength and stands up 'Hey, asshole.' He proclaims as he struggle to balance himself.

'Oh, you must be a strong one, being able to take a hit like that. The light should be burning you right now.' The man says as he starts walking tauntingly towards Caleb.

'Yeah, well, that was my friend you just stabbed. I think you deserve a punch in the face for that.' He bluffs. He was already about to pass out from the blood loss, hanging onto whatever willpower he had left. The guy said Issei was a devil, if that was true his master should be following suit by now. Caleb had to buy time.

Just before the man could swing his sword at Caleb, whose vision was a blur, something lands between them, sending the man back. That was enough indication for Caleb. Help had arrived, and he could finally lose consciousness.

The last thing he remembers was someone breaking his fall.

END CHAPTER TWO


A/N: Caleb just can't seem to catch a break, can he? Well, at least he got rescued. Anyway, I hope you guys like this chapter! Reviews and criticisms are always appreciated. Kai out!