Hello everyone! I'm tired and loopy so imma keep it short:
diggerboy4: eventually Issei will wind up with everyone, it's gonna start with Koneko though. (i don't believe in getting all the girls at once).
Soundion: exactly three more chapters.
blackholelord: funny considering your name, but it is of course your prerogative to do so. Thanks for tagging along as far as you have!
: magnificent comment, please review more soon.
afroninja43: Thank you very much. So far I have not yet hit any blocks, so we are still going strong! I might start my own work of fiction after this story (who knows) on fictionpress or something. I could send you the link to that story when the time comes round if you'd like.
Enjoy chapter 13! ~O'Ryaner
Earth – Tokyo city
Issei roamed the busy streets. What he was looking for he didn't know. Something had compelled him to be here. The week of vacation, though he was still getting used to the concept of 'girlfriend'. Over the last two months his and Koneko's relationship had blossomed, like a tender flower, in constant need of attention but oh so beautiful.
Ever since his fight with the Seraph something had felt off. A taint, spreading through the fabric of the world. Unnoticed to most, but a significant change for those with an aptitude towards it. Tonight, something had felt more off than usual and so he had done something he was used to. He followed his instincts. Today they told him to find the busiest place he could and observe.
It was night time, though you couldn't see the stars through the dense neon lighting and the big advertisement screens. How the world had changed over the last three hundred years. Rain poured down from the heavens, making everyone scurry along to their destinations. Most of the passerby's were covered in rain clothing or were holding up umbrellas. Not Issei, the rain did little to him. Clothes could be replaced, the body dried.
Suddenly he stopped and glanced into a dark alley. Something drew him in, begged him to seek in the darkness. Carefully he stepped into the shadows, giving his eyes plenty of time to adjust. The time he trailed through the muck filled alleyways, trailing through piles of garbage and scaring off rats and stray animals felt like hours. Issei was just about ready to give up when he heard quiet whimpers.
Slowly he turned the corner, his hand reaching for Aurora, concealed as a dagger within his jacket. Peeking out at him from behind a dumpster was a hint of white feathers. Something seemed off about them, they were dull, lifeless. And then there was the general smell of rot and sickness. Ever so quietly he stepped forward.
There, on the ground, lay none other than Gabriel, her clothes tattered, red circles under her eyes. "Oh god, what have you done?" Issei quietly asked, crouching down next to the barely conscious girl. When he received no reply he tried to turn her over. Her limbs were cold and grey and slippery wet due to the rain. When her body moved, but her wings remained on the ground, Issei felt a dread rise within him. Surely enough on her back, where the twelve shining white appendages had once graced her body, now only remained twelve, bloody stumps and the wounds were festering.
On closer inspection, the wings on the ground showed signs of progressed decay, patches of brown and green indicating where the rot had progressed most. Her once vibrant golden hair now appeared matted and was clotted with blood. Pulling the girl into his embrace he looked around, carefully taking in all the details.
Next to where Gabriel had been laying, a tourniquet along with a set of syringes and a few packets of white powder lay bundled under one of the garbage bags to prevent them from becoming wet. Carefully Issei stretched out her arm, turning it so he could look at the inside of her elbow. Surely enough the skin was reddish orange in discoloration with advanced scarring from repetitive needle injection.
Next to the syringes were a set of rusty, bloody files. The tools Gabriel had no doubt used to mar herself beyond recognition. Issei felt a shaky hand trace the outline of his face. "You look just like him…" the girl in his arms whispered. Gently Issei moved the strands of hair out of her face. He had wished so many times she would end here, but now that he saw her in her current state, his heart filled with sorrow.
"Just like who?" He quietly asked.
"He wouldn't come for me, not after what I did to him." Issei saw tears rise in her eyes. Gently he pressed her shivering frame to his. "I'm so sorry!" She sobbed. Issei felt her warm tears mingle with the cold rain already soaking his shirt. "I destroyed everything we had! I scarred his already so broken heart! I… I need…" She reached for the syringes.
"Why would you do that?" Issei asked, now certain she didn't recognize him.
"He's gone and I need to stay high… to keep him of my mind. I need to stay in this haze… I need to forget him for his own good… I don't deserve this life that's been given to me… I need to fade…" She said in disjointed jumbles. Issei moved his arms, so one was under her knees and the other just under her shoulder blades, careful to avoid her wounds and lifted her up.
"Noooooo!" Issei didn't know what to expect, but he sure as hell didn't think the fallen Seraph would start to wail and writhe in his arms, desperately trying to get out. "Gabriel!" He said forcefully. She continued to cry. "Gabriel!" He said once more, forcefully turning her head to face him. Her hands reached out to scratch his face. Issei carefully dodged the dirty nails. "Gabriel!" He yelled in her face.
Suddenly she stopped. "Issei?" she asked uncertainly, slowly reaching towards his face. "Are you real? Are you here to take me to candy land?" She was out of it alright. "Yeah, I'll take you to candy land." Issei said. His ears twitched as he heard very faint but certain footsteps drawing closer. "We will take the train in a moment, alright? You just wait here." He said, pressing a kiss to her forehead and gently placing her down.
Issei pulled Aurora from his jacket and formed it into a long stiletto. After a bare twenty seconds a hooded figure came around the corner. Issei moved quickly, pinning the man against the wall and pressing the dagger to the man's heart. "I should kill you where you stand." Issei said, recognizing his childhood friend in the figure.
"Please don't. I have come to defect." Issei shredded his mind apart, looking for a lie. Reluctantly he pulled away from the man but held Aurora at the ready. "Alright, you have my attention. Speak, and speak nothing but the truth." The man removed his hood, allowing long golden locks to flow from the man's shoulders. Behind him twelve wings spread. In his hands his sword and shield appeared.
"I have had my doubts for a while now, ever since his death." Raphael said, referring to that faithful event over three hundred years ago.
"How did you find us?" Issei said.
"I found her." Raphael replied, gesturing to Gabriel's curled up figure. "When we try to use the Eye of the World on you, we only get static. I was able to trace her here. I didn't expect to find you."
"Why defect now? Why not two months ago?"
"Michael… he has crossed a line. I don't know what you did to him after he chased you down to earth, but you got him good. When he came back…" Raphael shuddered, closing his eyes and trying to banish the images that came to mind. "If you wanted the embodiment of evil, you have found it now. Nothing heavenly or divine remains within those eyes now." Raphael said.
"He tries to hide it, but I have seen the young angels that scurry to his rooms late at night, heard their dying screams as he tore them from limb to limb and feasted on their blood. Do you know what he did, Issei? Do you know how far his betrayal reaches?" Issei remained silent. "He raised the Seraph you slew from the dead, clothed their rotting corpses in new flesh. They don't speak, they are mere puppets now. I can see the screams in their eyes, I think deep inside they know what they have become."
Raphael looked genuinely sick to the core. "So Michael makes his first move. What of the remaining… true Seraph?"
"Sariel was in indecision, she is lost, Issei. She knows just like the rest of us what Michael has become, but she can't find the strength within herself to walk away from him. Raziel and Remiel… They might as well be with Michael's 'reborn'."
"Does Michael know you are here?" Raphael shook his head. "You realize that if I take either of you with me I will be in danger of being found, right?" The Seraph smiled and shook his head.
"I don't think so. Take a look." With that Raphael took the shield of his arm and raised it flat, like a tableau for Issei to see. Embedded in the center of the shield was a perfectly circular ring… engraved with very familiar runes. "You took the edge off the Eye of the World…" Issei said, gently tracing his fingers over the smooth stone. "This is of course blasphemy, but damn Raphael, you are one mad genius."
"What's more, if you place this ring over a regular bowl it functions just like the one they… used to have… up there." Raphael said excitedly.
Issei sighed and rubbed his temples. "I'm gonna have to wage a war on Michael now, don't I?" He asked.
"I'm afraid you can no longer run from your destiny Issei. Michael's days are over. He might be clinging to power like a madman, but the system has collapsed. Surely you have felt it by now. Prayers are no longer answered, exorcisms no longer work. If we don't act soon, the world will devolve into chaos."
"We are so fucked." Issei mumbled.
"Now, now. Don't be so negative Issei. I'm sure everything will work out in the end. Besides," Raphael said, "you have this stunning archangel on your side now." He struck a hero pose.
"Don't get ahead of yourself. First we see what my girlfriend thinks about you."
"Since when do your rock a girlfriend?"
"Since she was too stubborn to walk away after repetitive warning. Now help me carry her won't you." Issei said gesturing to Gabriel.
With a wave of his hand Issei cleared out a space large enough to cast a teleportation circle. Together they lifted Gabriel up and walked into the glowing white circle. On the other side they emerged in an almost dark room. Rias was packing up the last of her belongings, preparing to head out for the night. She looked up when the summoning circle opened and gasped as she saw the two angels carrying one of their fallen.
"Raynare!" Issei yelled. Hurried footsteps when the black winged girl ran into the room. "Yes master?" She asked, shooting an uncertain glance to the more-dead-than-alive Gabriel. "Fetch me some rags, a fileting knife and my cellphone." Issei instructed. "Rias, I'm very sorry to steal your evening from you, but could you assemble the rest of the ORC? I'll take care of Koneko. There is something all of you need to hear about and it's urgent."
She nodded and hurried off. "Let's put her down on the coffee table." Issei said. Raphael cleared out the surface with a firm swipe of his arm, letting what was resting on top clatter to the floor. Raynare ran back in and handed Issei the knife and the phone, then ran back out to fetch the rags.
She had truly been an exemplary slave, suffering through her servitude without much complaint. Perhaps it was time to start her healing process as well. Yes… tonight he would offer her the first choice. Quickly he dialed Koneko's number. "What…" came Koneko's tired voice form the other end of the line. "Hey sunshine. Sorry for ruining your sweet dreams about me, but I need you in the ORC. Quickly" He added.
She groaned and Issei heard the rustling of sheets. "I'll be there in a moment. Allow me to make myself… presentable first." She said. Two minutes later a summoning circle opened up and Koneko stepped out. She had made a point of mastering the art since their little escapade in Cologne. Her eyes went wide as she took in the lifeless form on the coffee table and the Seraph next to her.
Koneko walked over to Issei and hugged him. "What's happening?" she asked. He pressed a tender kiss to her lips. "Koneko, this is Raphael. He used to be… is once more… a friend of mine." He said, gesturing to the angel in question. "Raphael, this is Koneko, my… it still feels strange saying this, girlfriend."
The two shook hands, ignoring the traditional Japanese bowing greeting. "So you are the one who finally managed to get through to him? I'm impressed. Take good care of him."
"Raphael!" Issei shouted indignantly. "Regardless. The one on the table is Gabriel. I found her in Tokyo tonight. I would introduce you two, but she is a little out of it." Raynare walked back into the room and dropped a large bundle of old rags on the couch. "Raynare, I am going to tend to her wounds." Issei said, gesturing to Gabriel. "Would you like to help?"
"No." She replied solemnly.
"Ok, in that case you may leave." Raynare was silent for a while, not sure of what just happened. "I said you may leave." Issei repeated impatiently.
"That's it? No scolding? No punishment?" She asked uncertainly.
"I asked you a question. You were welcome to say no from the beginning. If I wanted you to do something I would have commanded you to." Raynare was silent, realizing it was the first question she had been asked in a long time.
"In that case…" she softly said, "I will help you." Unbeknownst to her a small smile spread on Issei's lips who was looking away from her. "Thank you, Raynare. I'm grateful you would assist me in operating on this angel."
"You are actually going to operate on her?" Raphael asked.
"Those wounds have festered, Raphael. They need to be tended to and we can't exactly walk into a hospital to have them do it." Issei deadpanned.
At that moment Rias came back, followed by Asia, Akeno and Kiba. Issei pulled up a chair close to the salon table and gestured for Raynare to have a seat on the carpet next to him. "Please, sit down." Issei said, pointing to the couch opposite him. "Raphael, could you soak the rags? The sink is over there." Issei said.
"Koneko, if you'd please?" He asked, holding the knife out to her. Koneko understood his request and bathed the knife in flame, sterilizing it. Carefully Issei tested the tissue around her wing bones, trying to find where the red, swollen tissue ended and the healthy tissue began. Taking a few centimeter margin to avoid removing too little –gentle healers made painful soars– he pushed the knife into her flesh.
Gabriel barely even whimpered when he began to cut into her rotting flesh. "It appears I have run out of time." Issei said, not once looking up from his task. "It's time the rest of you learned where I came from. Raynare, push a rag there and keep the pressure on." Gently he removed a large patch of dead tissue. "Rias, would you do the honors?" He asked
"Including… you know…. The secret?" Rias asked tentatively.
"How else is your story gonna make any sense?" Issei replied.
Rias swallowed hard, then began her story. "Alright, someone hug Asia." Akeno did as Rias asked. "I'm gonna get this over with as soon as possible. God is dead, slain along with the original Maou."
"Noooo!" Asia burst into tears.
"How is that possible? Shouldn't the world have ended with the death of god?" Akeno asked, softly stroking the back of the crying girl.
"Michael took over to keep the system working, but it's rather rudimentary compared to the way God used to run it." Rias replied. "Regardless, according to legend when god was annihilated, nothing but a single feather remained. From this feather a new being grew. Not god, but not a regular angel either."
"Are you saying that Issei-"
"That feather right there." Issei said, pointing to his first right wing, pointing to the gold dusted feather on the primary, not looking up from his task. Then he proceeded to carefully scratch away the bone splinters which had embedded in the flesh underneath the infections.
"My boyfriend is the descendant of god?" Koneko asked with awe in her voice.
"I am the manifestation of god's anger and hatred, if you really want to look at it that way. Thank you for explaining Rias. Raynare, change that rag please." With a swish of his hand Issei cut through the protruding bones, taking a good portion of the blackened and brown grime with it. "Some think it's my destiny to take over heaven. It's a task I never hoped to have to take upon me, however, it seems we have run out of time. When I went to retrieve Koneko I made… a mistake." Issei said.
"You made a choice." Raphael said.
"A mistake." Issei corrected him. "To find her I snuck into heaven and used an artifact known as the Eye of the World to find her. It's capable of tracking almost every living being on earth, if the wielder is skilled enough. Unfortunately I was caught. In the resulting fight I slew four of the Seraph, wounded four more. Gabriel here," Issei said, cleaning off the wounds with a clean rag. "allowed me to escape them, however Michael gave chase. Through a combination of superior grace and skill-"
"Luck." Koneko intervened.
"By luck Koneko was able to knock him into an industrial machine which should have ground him to pulp. It, however, didn't. If my sources are correct," Issei said looking at Raphael, "what emerged on the other side was a being devolved into chaos. He even went as far as to bring the four Seraph I killed back to life. Those abominations now walk as shadows of their former selves, puppets to Michael."
Issei paused for a moment, carefully inspecting Gabriel's back. "Raynare, would you fetch some needle and thread? This new Michael is no longer capable of good and the system keeping the essentials, such as prayer and exorcisms, has collapsed. If no intervention is made, the world will slowly devolve into chaos. Michael need to be stopped, removed like the fester from a wound, before he tears this universe down with him. No matter how much I would like to turn and run, everyone who rallies against Michael is looking to me for answers and leadership."
Raynare came back and handed him a long curved needle and strong, black thread. "I'm afraid I was only able to find cloth thread, we don't have extensive surgical supplies here." She informed him.
"Thank you Raynare. Koneko?" he held out the needle. She pressed it between her fingertips, allowing the metal to glow red for a few seconds. "I'm going to wage a suicide one man war on heaven. If anyone wants to walk away from this right now, I will not hold it against you." Issei said, beginning to stitch up the wounds on Gabriel's back.
"Issei, do you remember what you said to me a few weeks ago?" Koneko said, moving over to him and embracing him from behind. Issei furrowed his eyebrows, trying to remember what she was referring to. "You said that with you nothing was certain, so that if we were going to do this, we were doing it full throttle." She buried her head in the nape of his neck. "I promised you that, Issei. Full throttle, to the very end. Now that I have you, I will not let you go. Not even for something as puny as a war."
Issei paused his stitching to lean his head into Koneko's, basking in her love for him. "Thank you." He whispered in her ear. She kissed his cheek before pulling back.
"I'm with you, Issei." Raphael stated. "And she will be to, once she recovers." He said gesturing to Gabriel.
Rias stood up. "I'm with you too, Issei. The devils will fight to maintain this world!" she said. "But like Issei said, the choice is personal. If any of you want to leave, you will not be considered stray." Rias said to her peerage.
"Silly King, where would your Queen go?" Akeno said, standing behind Rias.
"Don't think you are getting rid of your knight that easily, Rias." Kiba said, standing up as well.
"I would be dead if not for Issei and you, Buchou! I will help as well!" Asia said.
Everyone turned to Raynare. "Well, Raynare. It's time for you to make a choice." Issei said. He gestured to Gabriel. "Will she be the first, or the last?" Raynare sat down on the carpet, indecision across her face. Think, Raynare. You could be free again! One side of her was saying. But free in a world condemned to end in chaos.
"She will be the first."
"Good. If we want to stand any chance at all, we need to rally allies. Raynare, if this is gonna work, I need to be able to trust you. I want you to go to Azazel, explain to him what's happening and extend an invitation to meet me. Rias, I want you to do the same with your brother. I will take care of the church. The rest of you, get some rest. You are gonna need it."
Everyone went about their respective business. "Raphael, Raynare. You two can take Gabriel down the hall and to the right to my chambers. Raynare knows where it is. My bed is by far large enough to hold the three of you, I made it this morning. Feel free to use it until we can arrange something more permanent." He watched as the two lifted the unconscious girl off the table and carried her off.
Koneko remained in the room with him. "Why is she not in anshara?" Koneko asked, pointing at Gabriel who was being carried off.
"for anshara to take hold, the blood needs to be pure. She has been taking drugs, so those will have to wear off and then some before she regains that ability… what the hell am I doing Koneko?" He asked, looking straight at her. "Your best." She replied.
"I'm going to wage a war on my home. I don't think that qualifies as sane, Koneko." He said. "You are waging a war on a psychopath who tried to kill you and the rest of the world." She corrected him. "Now stop doubting yourself. We have a church to rally under our cause."
"You are coming with me?" Issei asked.
"Full throttle, remember?"
And so Issei and Koneko found themselves in front of the Palazzo della Cencelleria, Rome, Italy. The seat of the Apostolic Signatura, the Supreme Tribunal. It was the final point of appeal for any ecclesiastical judgment, oversaw the administration of justice within the church and unbeknownst to many, oversaw the activities of exorcists and the angels who placed themselves in the service of the Vatican.
"Alright, let me do the talking, ok? And keep that cloak over your wings, otherwise you will draw unwanted attention. Also-"
"Issei!" Koneko pressed a kiss to his lips, shutting him up. "I can handle myself. Stop worrying."
"Just… don't die." Issei said, sagging his shoulders in defeat.
"We are visiting the Vatican, I am an angel. What could go wrong?"
"Actually, a lot. Although you have plenty of battle experience, you are still young in terms of angels. Immortality takes time to set in. Even an exorcist could kill you right now without much effort. There is so much you need to learn, especially concerning your wings. Your inability to hide them means you will always be a bigger target in fights until you learn how to use them to your advantage."
"There are ways to use your wings in a battle?" Koneko asked.
"Of course. Wings are heavy, which means you can use them to maintain balance, do unexpected maneuvers, easily back step attacks, knock dust into the eyes of your foes. All of that requires years upon years of practice, though. I will ask Kiba to spar with me when we return; you can see what I mean."
Together they stepped into the building. Issei dug up a large, gold coin. Inscribed on it was an old Latin phrase. Iuramento invoco in luce diei mortui cruentavit sepultusque est in nocte. I call on the oath made at dawn, the blood spilled in the afternoon and the dead burried at night. One was handed to every angel, in case they urgently needed to contact authority in the Vatican.
They crossed the mostly deserted foyer, heading for the neatly dressed man behind the counter. "I need to speak to the prefect." Issei said.
"I'm sorry, im afraid I can't allow you to-"
Issei tossed the coin onto the counter. "I said, I need to speak to the prefect."
"I will see if he has time-"
"Tell him the Hand of God is here." The man's eyes widened. Clearly the name had meant something to him. Quickly he scurried away, telling Issei to wait right where he was. "I probably shouldn't, but sometimes I love it when my reputation precedes me like this." He said, grinning to Koneko. She face-plamed and slapped him across the head.
"The prefect is between two meetings right now, but he has agreed to make time for you. Please follow me. We are dealing with a bit of a crisis, you see." The man said apologetically.
"No, I understand perfectly. Your exorcisms have stopped working; I'd be worrying my head off as well right now if I were him."
"You know?"
"Why else would I be here?"
They were led through the complex maze of the building. A few men up ahead were having a hurried conversation. "Yes, take care of it. I will try to find out what I can." A young man with auburn hair said. Quickly he turned away from his companions and headed to Issei and Koneko. "My sincerest apologies. I am archbishop Cromett, but you may call me Joshua. How can I be of service to you?"
"You can read this letter. It's an invitation. Tickets are included, but the plane leaves in three hours, so I would not wait too long. Good day to you, Joshua Cromett." Issei nudged Koneko and together they turned and left.
"Is that all you are going to say to him?" Koneko quietly whispered.
"He is young. Young ones are never able to resist mystery. Not only will he read the letter the utmost care now, he will be excited to go where he is going too. Not something I can say myself." Issei replied. "Let's get back home and sleep. We will need all our strength to keep the meeting tomorrow from going down in flames.
They found an abandoned office and cast their teleportation circle. The ORC clubroom was abandoned and dark. Of course, everyone was out doing his bidding after all. That's when Issei remembered. Gabriel and Raphael were in his bed now. "Damn." He silently swore.
"What's wrong?" Koneko asked.
"I forgot I gave my bed to Gabriel and Raphael tonight. Although I don't necessarily need to sleep, I find it… calms my nerves. Although no one has crawled into bed with me since that first night…" Issei silently mused.
"I forbid them from doing it. You are mine." Koneko said. "and you can stay with me tonight. If you would like that at least." She added, blushing like mad. Issei smiled and kissed her.
"You jealous little minx. You will get into trouble if you do things like that without telling me." He scolded her.
"perhaps I want to get in trouble." Koneko said, winking at Issei.
"Hush now, I will stay with you tonight. Rias already thinks me a tease, I don't need you to think that as well."
"Issei, how long have we been together now?" Koneko asked quietly.
"The better part of two months. Why?"
"I can't help but find myself longing for… more."
"More?" Issei asked, uncertain what she meant.
"Yeah… more" Koneko said, emphasizing the word. Issei's eyes widened in understanding before a slight red tinge graced his cheeks as well. "I feel as if I'm not good enough for you." She whispered insecurely. "Don't you want… more?"
"Love, I only want what you give me."
"Then what if I give you more?" Koneko said.
"Then I want more. But what if you were to fall?" Issei stated, tenderly embracing her.
"Then you will fall with me."
"But I'm the closest thing to god there is. I can't fall."
"Then tell me how an angel would fall from loving her god." He nuzzled her face and tightened his embrace. His heart felt warmed knowing that she wanted to be his and only his.