Dragonsaiyanblue - Oh I am definitely going to have Jack attack the peerage lol. Look forward to it.
R3hmix - Thanks, and I am sorry for the late updates
God of War - I'm sorry but I haven't really been focusing on AIB since I started this. I will go back and write more for it if you'd like to read more, just let me know.
Guest - Their dad will have something to do with the story but only behind the scenes. Neither brother will know of his involvement which will make for some interesting plot ideas lol.
Kamen - Thank you, I hope you like it.
Guest - SORRY, I really am. I hope you enjoy this, and I'll do my best to update more often. Again, I'm sorry.
13Ryusei was always accustomed to nightmares. They were a daily part of his life. He had learned to live with his nightmares. He realized that they were his fears, the manifestation of his hidden fears. Ryusei had learned to accept it. However, since he met Jack, his fears have felt different. It was as if he had been hit with every psychological horror he had been dealt with over the past five years all in one. Jack's face was fresh in Ryusei's mind, although it wasn't his actual face.
He wanted to wake up, to be back in his bed, imagine as if everything had never happened. He would've went to America, gone to school, have a normal life. But then images flashed in his head. Krissy, Kaito, Lyon...Jin. If he had never been shipwrecked, Ryusei would have never met any of them. He wouldn't have learned what Kaito taught him, or knew what it mean to be human again from Krissy. He wouldn't have been able to learn archery from Jin.
Ryusei opened his eyes. He was back on the island, back on Lian-Yu. The jungle was vast, however Ryusei could see a few of the traps they had set up all over the ground. Bear traps, land mines. Everything had been set up to either keep away intruders, or to hunt food. And it rarely ever caught animals.
In his heart, Ryusei felt at home. He took in a deep breath, and the smell of the forest made him feel at ease. The wind blew through the trees and rustled the branches. Ryusei then heard the sound of leaves crunching, but he wasn't moving. "Hey, kid. Looks like you've done some growing up."
Ryusei looked forward. Standing in front of him, wearing a black trench coat over a gray button up, was Imari Kaito. His hair was dark and wavy, his gray eyes fixed on Ryusei with sadness. Ryusei almost felt like crying, and it was then he knew this was a dream. "Kaito."
…
Hyoudou Ryusei, Five Years Ago
"Don't pass out on me now," The man cleaned his knife once again. The man had grown tiresome of this interrogation, and Ryusei could tell. He knew that somehow, in his heart, he didn't want to torture a child. However that didn't stop him from inflicting serious pain. Ryusei's body was so numb from the pain. His eyes were that of a dead fish, so void of emotion, he felt like he was going to drop dead. However his hands and feet were bolted to the crucifix, so he couldn't even if he wanted to.
The man slid over a chair, and sat in front of Ryusei. Ryusei's eyes were drawn to the man's tattoo. An intricate and elaborate design of twin dragons snaking around his whole arm, meeting at his wrist. The dragons were blue, like that of the sky, but their eyes were blood shut red.
"Do you know, who you're trying to protect?" He asked. "Do you know who Hasegawa Jin is? Or what he stands for?"
The man held up a photo of Jin. He was younger, maybe around 20 or 25. He had shorter black hair and dark eyes, yet he had a maniacal smile. He was wearing a robe, or rather a garb with a cross on his chest. He looked like he was a Father for the church.
"Hasegawa Jin was one of the most powerful exorcists of all time." The man explained. "He was greatly admired for his skills and abilities, but one day, he was excommunicated from the church. He slaughtered an entire village, to hunt down a single Stray Devil, and he didn't even get her. He's a ruthless man, kid. Don't try to protect someone who's not going to even save you."
Ryusei wasn't about to waver. His eyes were fixed on the tattoo, when the man noticed Ryusei's gaze. "Ah, you're curious about where I got this. Let me tell you a story.
"There was once a dragon. A powerful and majestic dragon, who was one of three powerful Heavenly Dragons. She was as beautiful as she was powerful. She was highly respected by others, and the other two Dragons as well. However, a war broke out as she gave birth to two children. She had twins, the Twin Dragons of the Ice Barrier."
Then it hit him. They were the dragons on the tattoo. "In order to protect her children, the Dragon sacrificed herself and was sealed inside of a Sacred Gear. Her twins have, throughout time, seek to find their mother again. Over time, they became sealed inside of this," He touched his arm. "But do you know what happened to the mother Dragon? Where she was, throughout history? Purgatory, lost through time and forgotten through the annals of history. She will soon rise again, and know little one, that the man whom you protect shall only stab you in the back."
Imari Kaito
Kaito had not left Krissy's side since they returned back to the cave. As Jin was outside, gathering more herbs. Lyon was getting better. His fever had gone down, ad his wounds were starting to heal. Krissy, on the other hand, only seemed to be getting worse. Her body temperature was spiking rapidly, and she was breathing heavily. Kaito cursed himself. If he had his wings, healing her would be a piece of cake. It's been more than a century since the war had ended, yet he still was not used to not having wings.
Krissy coughed. Kaito soaked a towel in warm water before placing it over her forehead. If he hadn't been so careless, letting Ryusei go with Jin by himself, he would still be here and not trapped in some torture chamber with God knows who. He had never this useless, not even during the war.
"R-Ryu…" Krissy muttered. "Ryu…"
"H-Hey…" Kaito looked up to see Lyon scooting himself up and grabbing his shoulder. The wound from the arrow was still there. The boy's silver hair was slicked back, though his black eyes were dead tired. "Where are we?"
"A cave," Kaito sighed in relief. "We were able to find this place. Jin will be back soon with something for you to get better. Hang on."
"Is she okay?" Lyon asked, eyeing Krissy. "They took turns, torturing us. They made me watch as they cut her, everywhere, but somehow they had this old guy who healed her…just so they could do it again."
"Valper. Valper Galleli," Kaito explained. "He's an ex priest from the church. He's here to reopen the portal to Purgatory."
Somehow, Lyon didn't question what he just said. Instead, he leaned his head back against the wall of the cave. "I was supposed to meet my parents, in America. I was supposed to attend M.I.T next year. I was supposed to get a phD, have a good life. Not…this."
Kaito's eyes returned to Krissy. "None of this was supposed to happen."
Jin returned to the cave. He poked his head through. "It's time."
…
Issei sat quietly by Ryusei's side on the king sized bed of one of the vast rooms of the Gremory Manor. A spacious and well lit room with a king sized bed, draped with silk curtains and clean sheets. In the room were Issei, Asia, Dulio, Griselda, Rias, Akeno, and the student body president Sona Sitri and her queen, Tsubaki Shinra. Issei hadn't let go of Ryusei's hand since they got here.
"Have you found out what infected him?" Rias asked the angels.
Dulio nodded. "A psychedelic drug that infected the amygdala part of his brain, giving him hallucinations and visions of his worst fears. He was infected by the guy who blew up the outside border of the city."
"What!" Rias demanded. "Who? I didn't even realize…"
"Don't beat yourself up," Dulio said. "This guy is a psychopath with the mind of a genius. He planned this all out perfectly. He infected Ryusei first, so he knew we would take priority in keeping him safe. He blew up the borders to give us an ultimatum. Choose the life of an Angel, or the city."
"What about the civilians caught up in the blast!" Sona demanded.
"No need to freak out now," Griselda said. "Lord Gabriel and Lord Raphael are already taking to the scene. They're healing everyone who was injured and keeping everyone calm. For the time being, the Factions have been able to keep the explosions a secret from the general public."
"But why would he do this?" Rias asked. "Why would this Ripper, cause so much damage and destruction?"
"We don't know," Dulio said. "but I'm guessing it's to cause fear and panic. Jack the Ripper is a genius. He knows just how to frighten people. What's more terrifying to normal civilians then a terrorist attack in their city?"
Issei gripped Ryusei's hand and was almost driven to tears. His emotions were a wreck. He had lost him before, five years ago. Then he suddenly came back, miraculously out of the blue. And now, he was about to lose his little brother again.
"There has to be something we can do to wake him up!" Issei found himself angry and lost. "You're angels! Isn't there something…"
But Issei saw the looks on Dulio and Griselda's faces. They wanted to help Ryusei too. They wanted to go out and hunt down The Ripper as much as Issei did, but they were much wiser then he is. Issei kept quiet, but balled his fist. Issei looked to his little brother. He looked peacefully asleep. It was hard to imagine that this was a work of poison.
Suddenly, the doors opened. Sirzechs Lucifer walked through with a stern face. "I do not remember welcoming you into my home."
"I invited them in, brother." Rias said. "Hyoudou Ryusei has been poisoned, he needs our help."
"Why not let the kid die? Or better yet," Sirzechs smiled.
He began to walk over to Ryusei. Feeling the pressure, Issei almost lashed out into a frenzy, but Dulio stopped him, and stepped in front of the Devil King. Dulio had a serious, and almost deathly aura to him. He set a hand on Sirzechs' shoulder, and glared right into his eyes. "Touch him, and die."
"You'd dare attack a Devil King?" Sirzechs asked.
Dulio extended his hand. A mini tornado began to form. Furious winds, all compacted into the size of his fist. "Zenith Tempest has been getting lonely as of late. There just aren't enough powerful people in the world whom I can really go at. Tell me, Sirzechs, which part of "under our divine protection", did you not understand?"
Sirzechs narrowed his eyes, and sighed. "Very well. Do as you will." Then he left. Just like that, Issei looked to Dulio.
"Thank you."
Dulio smirked. "No problem. But our problem still stands. What do we do about The Ripper? And Ryusei?"
"Why don't you guys go out and look for him?" Rias suggested. "Take Issei and go. Asia will stay with Sona and I and do our best to heal Ryusei. Kill two birds with one stone."
"I am not leaving my brother." Issei said.
"Issei-San." Asia said. "Please, go. Go take down whoever did this to Ryusei-Kun. I promise, when you return, he'll be up and about. I promise."
Issei looked to Asia, who nodded at him. "Okay. I trust you Asia. Thank you, Rias."
Dulio and Griselda walked to Issei, and placed a hand on his shoulders. "We'll be back."
…
"Kaito," Ryusei said, fighting back tears. "I…I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry?" Kaito walked to a tree, and rubbed his hand against the bark. Engraved onto the tree was an arrow. It was one of the ways of communication when they were on the island. It was how they would tell each other where they were. Each arrow was unique in some way, to distinguish who engraved it.
Ryusei didn't know why, but this forest felt like home to him. The smell of the trees, the feel of the ground, the air against his skin. He felt more at home here, then in Kuoh. Kaito had been his brother, a wise figure who led him through the darkness he felt here. And it was his fault that Kaito died. It was his fault…his fault.
"Stop blaming yourself, Ryusei." Kaito said. The wind blowing back his black hair. His gray eyes were like the color of steel, looking at Ryusei. He knew this wasn't real, that this was an illusion created by whatever he was poisoned with.
"But it's my fault," Ryusei said. "If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have died. You would've been able to to.…"
"I would've died one way or another," Kaito said. "My wings were clipped, and my Grace was gone. I wouldn't have survived as a human. I would've died if it wasn't for meeting you guys on the island. You saved my life. All of you."
Ryusei felt the wind get colder. Suddenly, ferocious winds circled him. Everything around him began to fade away. The forest was gone, Kaito had disappeared. Everything was black and hidden in darkness. The circle of wind suddenly froze, and ice began to form around his feet. Although there was ice in the wind, Ryusei wasn't affected. In fact, he couldn't feel the cold at all.
"Did you get why I showed you this?" An ominous voice echoed all around him. It was male, and felt just like the time Ezreal first approached him. Then it clicked…
"Akiva."
There was a laugh that echoed. "So you know my name. I suppose my sister must have spilled the beans about me."
"This is your doing," Ryusei said. "You showed me this. You're the one who's showing me these visions."
Suddenly, a great figure emerged from the shadows. It was a large…no, gargantuan Eastern dragon with great wings the size of football fields. The entire dragon had a casing and scales made of pure ice. Its eyes beady red, like Ezreal.
"Yes. But did you understand why I showed them to you?" Akiva asked. "Your heart has been clouded by endless darkness, regret, doubt, and misgivings. You must shed away your fear, Hyoudou Ryusei."
Ryusei gulped. "Why? Why are you helping me? Ezreal said you'd be more…reluctant."
"Past owners of the tattoo have misused our power, and sought out evil and greed. Yet even now, my sister has hope for you." Akiva explained. "I trust her, and I hope that you will trust me."
The dragon shattered, and replacing him was everyone Ryusei had lost on the island. Ryusei saw his friends. He saw Kaito, he saw Lyon, he saw Naomi, he saw Jin. They were smiling and laughing, and just as quickly they appeared, they vanished. Ryusei was engulfed in a great light, and then he opened his eyes.
Ryusei was confused as to where he was. He was laying in a large, soft bed, covered in a large sheet. He felt something grip his hand. Ryusei looked over to see Asia. "A-Asia-Chan?"
"Ryusei-Kun!" Asia jumped on him and squeezed him tight. "You're awake! I was so scared!"
"I'm fine," Ryusei smiled. "Where are we? This doesn't look like home."
"You're at the Gremory Manor." Rias Gremory explained. "You've been out for 6 hours. How are you feeling?"
Ryusei got up and rubbed his head. "I'm fine. Where is my brother? Is he here?"
Asia shook her head. "He's out with Dulio-San and Griselda-San, looking for the person who did this."
Ryusei smirked. "Tell them to come back. They won't find him."
Rias raised an eyebrow. "How do you know?"
"Jack the Ripper is a genius, he won't be caught that easily. We'll deal with this another time, just call them back." Ryusei said. He got out of bed and stretched his arms. Rias and Asia got a clear look at his tattoo.
"Has the poison left your system?" Asia asked.
"The poison was neutralized after I passed out," Ryusei explained. "One of the twin dragons, Akiva, neutralized the poison and showed me these visions. He made me realize that what I was doing, this crusade I've started, I shouldn't be doing it alone."
"Ryusei-Kun…" Asia smiled. "Buchou-San, if the others come back, tell them we're going home. I think Ryusei-Kun's been away from home for too long now anyways."
…
On the outskirts of town, two mysterious figures approached the city of Kuoh. They were both dressed in white robes with blue stripes, and the insignia of the church on their chests. Hoods covered their faces, yet one of the figures carried a large cross like object on their back.
"Did you sense that, Irina?" The one holding the cross asked. "A massive surge of magic. Something's happened."
"We should hurry." Irina looked up to the sky, as the wind blew off her hood. Her long, chestnut hair blew back against the wind. Although they were tied into tails, they blew back with a gentle grace. Her violet eyes fixed on the coming city horizon, and she couldn't help but smile. It's been almost ten years since she's come back. She wondered how things have changed, how people have changed? When she heard that her childhood friend had died on a cruise ship accident, she wanted to rush back and comfort his brother, but her devotion to the church prevented her from doing so. Now, she could finally pay her friend a visit.
The Hyoudou brothers were her best friends. She remembered spending every second of every day with them. They were what made her childhood fun and exciting. And, as embarrassing as it was, she had a crush on one of them. Hyoudou Ryusei. She remembered he was a scared and shy little kid who would cry over every little thing. Yet underneath all of that bravado, he had the kindest soul she had ever seen. On top of all of that, he had the greatest mind she had ever seen. He was smart, but smarter than anyone his age or older. It broke her heart to part from the two of them, and it shattered what remained when she found out that Ryusei was dead. The least she could do was pay him a visit at the cemetery when she was in town.
"Nostalgic?" Xenovia asked.
Irina smiled. "Yeah. It's been a decade since I've set in foot in this town."
"Don't get side tracked, Irina," Xenova reminded her. "We're here to retrieve the Excalibur piece. You mustn't-"
"Yes, I know." She smiled. Her partner was always the serious type, never stopping to enjoy life.
Together, the two stopped and looked down at the city. Speechless wasn't the right word. Horrified, Irina covered her mouth. "W-What happened here?"
There were about a dozen smoke screens rising towards the sky from the borders of the city. She could hear sirens going off, and fire engines. "What's happened?"
"Come," Xenovia rushed down the slope of the hill. "We must find out what's happened."
"Right!" Irina covered her face with the hood, and followed her partner into the city. Hang on Issei-Kun, I'm coming.
Author's Note - I am so sorry for the late updates everyone. I've been busting my ass preparing for NaNoWriMo in a few days so I haven't really had time to write this. I will upload the next chapter in a few days so don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you guys. I may have rushed this chapter, so please feel free to review and tell me what you think. Jack will be a major antagonist in the story, but I won't focus solely on him. Thanks for reading everyone :)