"You…!" Raynare growled, seeing the object of her hatred. Kokabiel cast his uninterested gaze on her for a second before it returned to Issei, the corners of his lips curling up as the human made no effort to move.
"So, you said you'd kill me, right?" Issei finally said, one hand on a hip as he observed his nails in a mocking manner. Kokabiel's half smile disappeared in an instant as it was replaced with a deep frown that Issei paid no attention to. Kokabiel raised a single hand in the air, summoned a spear of light and tossed at the human in front of him, said spear shattering mid-flight as Issei sighed. "So we're doing this the hard way, then. No matter. Because you're in the process of betraying Azazel, it shouldn't matter if I kill you." Kokabiel's eyes widened as Issei took a single step forward.
"How do you know that?" Issei grinned as he lunged forward and pulled his fist back.
"I know a lot of things." Issei responded, ignoring Kokabiel's question in its entirety. Issei released his fist, watched as Kokabiel disappeared in a flurry of wind and pouted, retracting his fist from an imaginary stomach with a small groan of disappointment.
"So do I." Issei twisted his body to the side and whistled as Kokabiel's fist, an appendage that was almost invisible to the naked eye, flew past his face. Issei spun around with his arm outstretched, not expecting his backhand punch to connect with Kokabiel's face. As bone connected with flesh, though, Issei rose an eyebrow. All of a sudden Issei's world was tipped upside down as he flew through the air in an arc before an elbow connected with his stomach, sending him flying into the floor at breakneck speeds.
Issei coughed up blood as he hit the floor, bouncing once, before another elbow collided with his stomach, sending him through the floor beneath him and into the middle of his living room. Issei rolled to his side, dodging a pointed hand that was aimed at his throat, before he scrambled to his feet, blood dripping from the corners of his mouth. Issei pulled his fists close to his face in a boxing stance. "You're pretty good, Kokabiel." Issei called out to the Fallen Angel, the Angel of the Stars glancing at the human as he clicked his tongue.
"And so are you, human. Although, you are not good enough. Surrender and I will spare you. If you wish to continue, I will murder you as my subordinates take Raynare away from this place." Issei used his sleeve to wipe the blood off of his face, a dark grin soon consuming his features.
"Bring it on. I'll kill you before your friends get here." Kokabiel rose an eyebrow.
"Oh? A challenge?" Issei took a single deep breath before he dug his heels into the hard ground, his face hardening moments later.
"Let's go." In an instant, Kokabiel disappeared once more and reappeared behind Issei, both of his hands clasped together above Issei's head. Kokabiel, with as much force as he could muster, lowered his two hands, expecting his attack to crush the skull of the puny human that stood in front of him, unmoving, but when his attack met nothing but air, it was Kokabiel's turn to receive an attack to the head.
Issei's fists smashed against Kokabiel's head as the Fallen Angel tried to lunge forward to dodge the attack, but because his body was too slow he was forced to tank the hit. As soon as Issei's attack hit, Kokabiel spun around and launched a fist at Issei's face, the human leaning back to dodge the strike as soon as he saw it. Issei sent a straight jab at Kokabiel's face in return, the Fallen Angel jumping back twice to create some distance between the two, crushing a coffee table in the process.
Issei greedily panted for air, "Man, even if I do have the ability to make this body super strong and fast, I can't force it to have good cardio." He muttered to himself, watching Kokabiel as closely as he could.
"Hmm, is something wrong, human?" Kokabiel asked, observing the human's body. While Kokabiel was able to discern that he had an unbelievably large amount of mana, his body was weak. The only reason the human was able to hurt him was because of the magic that constantly reinforced his body, making it faster and stronger than Kokabiel's.
"Nothing…yet." Issei said grimly. He wasn't looking forward to his future after his fight. With his extremely bad cardio, he was most likely going to die.
Issei ducked under a punch as Kokabiel appeared in front of him, Issei's hand forming into a fist as he jumped up. Kokabiel tilted his head back and dodged the attack, a grin spreading across his face. "It was nice playing with you, boy." Kokabiel muttered.
The wall crumbled under Issei's back as he was sent flying through it, plaster exploding everywhere as the air in his lungs escaped his body. Issei smashed through a fence, collided with the outside wall of his neighbour's house and bounced off of it, slowly soaring through the air and towards the dirt ground.
All of a sudden, Kokabiel was floating above Issei, a spear of light in his hand as he pulled his arm back. "This is the end!"
There was a small explosion of dust as Kokabiel's attack connected with something. Because the two of them were fighting faster than the eye could see, the Fallen Angel couldn't see if he had hit the human. But it was a guaranteed hit. With no way to dodge or move, Issei was certainly dead.
Kokabiel stood in the midst of the dust cloud, his hands folded against his chest as he huffed, "That human should have surrendered when he had the chance." The dust cloud slowly settled.
Hunched over, panting as blood streamed down his face from a wound on his head, Issei stood in the middle of a small crater. He gave a shaky thumbs up, fell onto one knee and quickly used a hand to support himself. "You almost had me, Kokabiel. It's a good thing I have a few tricks up my sleeve!" Kokabiel quietly growled.
"What's this? You should have died." Issei grinned and chuckled, slowly finding the strength to stand on his two feet.
"Apparently not." Kokabiel rushed over to Issei and produced two light spears, one in each hand, and raised them into the air.
"But you will die now, human!" Issei glanced up at the light spears and sighed as they descended upon his head, both weapons shattering upon impact as if they were nothing but a window pane.
"Try again, Kokabiel." Another spear exploded, followed by another and then a third. Kokabiel growled and grabbed Issei by the head, lifting him up into the air.
"Just die already." Issei would have shaken his head if he had the freedom to do so.
"Sorry but I can't die. Not yet, at least. I have a world to destroy and a future to change!" Kokabiel sharpened his eyes.
"Destroy the world?" Issei chuckled and cast his gaze upon Kokabiel as if he was nothing but a small joke.
"Yeah, totally. Like I'm strong enough to destroy the world." Kokabiel threw Issei at the ground and watched as he casually bounced off of it as if he was a ball. Issei turned his body in the air, landed on his feet with a small grin and bowed. "If you're stupid enough to believe that, then I think you should leave, Kokabiel. Unless you want to discuss astrology, that is."
"Hah, you're nothing but a fool. By now, Raynare is no longer in your home. My subordinates have already taken her away from here!" Issei sighed.
"Do I have to raid the Grigori now?" Kokabiel turned away from Issei.
"If you care for Raynare, I suggest you do." Issei watched as Kokabiel disappeared in a flash, dust being kicked up from a strong gale that he had left behind. The human stared at the setting sun as he sighed. "Next time I won't graciously spare you." A voice reached Issei's ears as he observed his healing wounds.
"Man, to think I got all sentimental and emotional a couple of minutes ago…and it was all a waste…it didn't even make sense! Whoever's making me do this stuff is pretty bad at their job…" Issei's words trailed off as he stared at the gaping hole in his wall, his mouth wide open as he struggled to form any words.
"My parents will surely kill me.
"Cherry Trap, I require your assistance!" Rias' eyebrow twitched as she dropped her cup of tea, the porcelain smashing on the hard floor. Rias did not want to see Issei at all. After their earlier conversation and the embarrassment that she had suffered, it was normal for an elegant being such as herself to feel irritated at the sight of such a horrendous human that could make anyone do unspeakable things. Rias still forced herself to smile with eyes that were clamped shut. If she didn't have her eyes hidden, she would surely glare at the object of her annoyance so much so that they would suddenly catch fire and transform into a pile of ash.
"Y-yes, Issei?" Issei jumped onto the couch opposite Rias with a deep frown.
"I may have unintentionally made a hole in the wall…and the roof…at my home" Rias deadpanned. Was the human in front of her serious? Did he really make a hole in the roof and wall of his house of his home? He was surely joking but if his frown was anything to go by, Rias was able to see that Issei was telling the truth. It didn't matter, though. The Devil had no intention of helping him.
"I can't help you, Issei." Issei pouted. His hopes and dreams were instantly shattered. The one person that could help had denied his request and it was all because of a little bullying that had occurred earlier in the day. Issei inwardly winced.
"I guess every action does have a consequence." He muttered to himself. Rias nod in agreement as she folded her arms under her bust with one leg crossed over the other.
"I would have to agree with you there, Issei." Despite the fact that Issei had been denied, it didn't mean he wouldn't beg and grovel until he got what he wanted. He didn't have any pride or sense of shame that was stopping him from getting on his hands and knees with his head hanging low, even if there was porcelain all over the floor that would cut his skin. He thought that pride was for the arrogant and that was shame was for the idiotic, so as he took a deep breath and prepared himself to shout for what he wanted like a true Japanese man, he realised that nothing was going to stop him. His mind and spirit were invincible.
"RIAS GREMORY! I BEG OF YOU TO HELP ME FIX THE HOLE IN MY ROOF AND WALL!" Rias would later say that she saw the window panes shake in place as Issei screamed. The Devil hurriedly covered her ears with her hands. "I WILL DO ANYTHING IN RETURN FOR THIS FAVOR!" Even though Rias was covering her ears with her hands, the screams were loud enough to penetrate the physical mass that was blocking the sound waves that would surely deafen the Devil. Her hands offered very little protection at this point, so Rias dropped them down to her side with a groan of annoyance.
"Did you mean it when you said you'd do anything if I helped you?" Issei looked up at Rias from his position on the floor and nod his head so fast it could have snapped his neck. Rias hummed in thought and raised a hand to her chin, contemplating on what she would have Issei do. Should she tell him to stop calling her by that humiliating nickname? Maybe he would become a Devil in Rias' peerage. He would be a great asset, after all, as he was stronger than her Knight and Rook combined. In fact, Rias thought that Issei would be able to defeat her Knight, Rook and Queen with all three fighting as one.
"Yes!" Rias grinned as she looked down at Issei. In return for humiliating her earlier on in the day, she would force him to suffer a fate worse than what she had suffered! Rias slipped one of her shoes off of her feet and pulled her sock off, wiggling her toes in the air as a devilish grin spread across her face.
"If you lick my foot, I might help you."
"Sorry, no can do!" Issei called out as he opened the door to the clubroom. Rias held a hand out as she scrambled to her feet, rushing over to the human. The Devil fell to her knees, grabbed the human's trousers with an iron grip and let fake tears stream down her face.
"I-I'm sorry! I won't make you lick my feet! I realised that it's a perverted thing to say and do, so I'm sorry! Please don't bully me anymore!"
"Sorry, no can do." Issei said as he stuck his leg out to the side, shaking it around in the air as he tried to get Rias to let go of him. He sighed, realising that she wouldn't let go and awkwardly limped over to the couch, the Devil sliding along the floor as she kicked her legs around as if she was having a tantrum. "Get up." Issei said as he looked down at the Devil who was in a pitiful state.
"Nooo! I don't want to!" Issei crouched and grabbed the wrist of the Devil, tightening his grip. Shortly after, with a whimper of pain and more tears, Rias forced herself to let go of Issei, holding each wrist in the air.
"Oi, Cherry Trap, are you still a baby?" Rias discontinued her tantrum and pushed herself to her feet. She coughed into a hand, sat on the couch that was behind her and folded her arms, acting as if nothing had happened. That was what she wanted, anyway. Rias didn't want anyone to know what had just transpired. It was embarrassing and would ruin her reputation, but if she knew the human as well as she thought she did, he'd most certainly spread rumours of her disgraceful behaviour if she did not help him. By unintentionally having a tantrum, Rias had given Issei some material to use as blackmail.
"S-sorry about that. I lost my composure for a second." Issei shot Rias a look of disapproval as Rias had turned into a child for several minutes, not a single second. Even though Issei was taking Rias' words to heart and did not think of them as nothing more than an excuse and a simple saying for the time frame in which all hell had broken loose, Issei couldn't help but feel disappointed. Was this all the fun he would find in this conversation?
"That was more than a second, you know." Issei responded with a shallow exhale as he stared at the Devil's red cheeks.
"Right. Anyway, I'm still not going to help you, Issei. This was your own fault." Rias' words left Issei with no choice. Because he was intending on hiding the fact that there were Fallen Angels in Rias' territory, namely Kokabiel and his friends, he had to hide the truth. But, now that he was left no choice, he had to tell Rias about everything that had happened because he wanted his wall and roof to be fixed.
"You leave me with no choice, Rias." Rias rose an eyebrow, not understanding what Issei was trying to say.
"What do you mean?"
"What do you know about Kokabiel, the Angel of the Stars?" Issei stared into Rias' anxious blue-green orbs and waited for her response. The Devil, however, had many thoughts rushing through her mind at speeds that were incomprehensible. Was the second most powerful Fallen Angel in her territory? If he was, what was he doing there? Was he planning on kidnapping her or killing her? Did he want to start another war? "Rias? Are you okay?" Issei said after a minute of silence, knowing why the girl in front of him was not responding.
If someone had come to the conclusion that an extremely powerful being was currently living on their land, anyone would be shocked. "He's here, isn't he?" Issei nod once with a grim smile. The truth that he was trying to withhold had finally been revealed and there was nothing he could do about it. Rather, there was nothing he could do to withhold it. It was an important piece of information that Rias needed to know because of the danger of the entity that was involved.
"Unfortunately, he is. That's why I have a hole in my roof and wall. He wanted to take Raynare away, even though she hates him now, and I refused. So we fought." Rias recoiled from the shock. In her mind, there was no way Issei, a human who, using her knowledge about him, had barely managed to defeat a Fallen Angel of the lowest rank, would be able to fight toe-to-toe with Kokabiel, an entity that is just as powerful as her brother.
"You managed to ward him off?" Issei snorted in response to Rias' words. He didn't make Kokabiel run away. Kokabiel missed his finishing attack because of a little hat trick that Issei used, one that involved wind magic, the ground and plenty of skill. Suddenly creating a burst of wind to pivot your body was harder than it sounded and Issei's flawless execution of the trick was a testimony to his real skill.
"Not really. He ran away because I dodged his finishing skill. That, and he was stalling for time." Rias ran a hand through her hair. She was anxious and stressed. No, she was more than anxious and stressed. She feared for her life and she didn't know what she would do about it. Should she call for her brother's aid? No, it would take too long for reinforcements to arrive. Anything could happen between now and then, so would it be best if Rias and her peerage, as well as Issei, raided the place that Kokabiel was staying at?
"Issei, what do we do?" Rias muttered, hoping that the immensely strong human that sat in front of her could help her. She needed guidance. She can't ask her brother because he would freak out and possibly start a war. She couldn't get help from her parents because of the same reasons. Sona Sitri, her friend and fellow Devil, wouldn't help because most members in her peerage were inexperienced or weren't powerful enough. There was no one that could help her. On the one hand, she didn't want to start a war, but on the other, she wanted help from a powerful being.
Issei spoke," I say we engage in a skirmish. It's our best option right now." Rias nod once, approving Issei's words because she wholeheartedly agreed with the human. But two questions popped into Rias' mind. When would they strike and where would they fight? They didn't know where Kokabiel was staying; he could be in the Underworld for all they knew, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. If Kokabiel was in the Underworld, everything was fine for Rias. The potential crisis had been averted. But, if he was in the human world, where was he?
"But we don't know where he is." Rias responded. Issei held a hand to his chin and hummed in thought. If they wanted to find Kokabiel, they could rely on Koneko and her senjutsu, even if the nekomata didn't want to actively use it because of her past. It wouldn't be a good idea to suggest it, anyway, as Issei is supposed to have no knowledge of that power. Not yet, anyway.
"We…does anyone in the peerage have a sensing or tracking ability?" Rias frowned. The only person was Koneko, but without using her senjutsu her sensing ability was rather weak.
"We have Koneko but…she won't use her power." Issei pursed his lips. There was nothing they could do, then. If Koneko wouldn't use her power, they wouldn't be able to find Kokabiel because it would take too long to scour the whole city and its surroundings. There was one place he could be, though, but Issei highly doubted that Kokabiel would be there.
"The abandoned church on the hill…he might be there because of a group of his subordinates that were hiding under the building."
"When do we strike?" Rias asked, hoping that Kokabiel wasn't there. As much as she hated to admit it, she didn't want to die so soon, even if she had to fulfil her duty as the lord of her territory.
"Tonight. Gather your forces. I'll be a scout." Rias nod once as both the human and herself slowly made their way into a standing position. "I must go, then. If I don't find Kokabiel or any Fallen Angel there, I'll give you a call. Oh, can I have your phone number if that's the case?" Issei dug into a pocket and pulled his cell phone. Despite the high speeds and strength that was displayed during his fight with Kokabiel, his phone was surprisingly fine.
"Ah, right!" Rias procured her phone from a pocket in her skirt.
"Before I go, I have one request." Rias tilted her head to the side as Issei copied her contact information onto his phone, appropriately naming Rias' contact file as Cherry Trap.
"What is it?" Issei grinned.
"Fix the holes in my house."
No bonus reel today. Maybe next chapter? I couldn't think of anything I could use for a bonus reel. Nothing that would be funny, at least. Anyway, how do you like these speedy chapters? I had a sudden burst of motivation and inspiration to write this, so don't expect these to come out every day.
I tried something new for the second half of the chapter. Does everyone like it? Can I please get some feedback on it because I want to know if it actively makes my writing and the story better?
See you next time!