Chapter 2
Hello again. It's been nearly two weeks since I started writing this fan fiction and I still don't know what to put in these author's notes. Anyway, thanks to everyone who's reviewed, followed or added the first chapter to their favorites, your support means a lot. I've also noticed that some readers are wondering about how I'll be combining the two universes, if I told you what I had planned, it'd be a 'spoiler'. One more thing: I should warn the readers that there will be violence in this chapter, and there will undoubtedly be more later on, in addition to nudity (I'm sure you know whom) and some coarse language. Thanks to dragonsong2795 for proofreading.
Disclaimer: I don't own Darksiders or Highschool DxD.
Death was furious, he had followed Dust to an abandoned church; yet once he had entered, he had only found damaged objects lying around, despite a three hour search. Giving the bird a look of anger, the Pale Horseman stalked back outside, before silently calling Despair. Instantly, the phantom horse was at his side. Death hauled himself to his mount's back, before silently directing the horse back to the abandoned building where Vulgrim's serpent hole was located. After thirty minutes of riding, the Pale Horseman had arrived outside the front door. Leaping to the ground, he dismissed Despair, who vanished in the manner of his kind. Still in a foul mood, Death threw the door open, the frame impacting on the wall with a loud bang; before walking to the back room. Once he neared the serpent hole, Vulgrim rose from it, holding Death's Kuoh Academy disguise and a condescending look on his face.
"Horseman, you really should learn to take care of your things." Lectured the demon, as he handed the disguise to the Pale Horseman, who took it with a swift grab.
"Don't lecture me, Vulgrim." Cautioned Death. "Or you might just find that you're also a threat to the balance." The demon smiled in a sinister manner.
"I was merely trying to save you the expense of… Replacing your disguise." Responded Vulgrim.
"Let me guess… You want payment for returning this?" Guessed Death, raising the disguise briefly, but Vulgrim shook his head.
"Not this time." Answered the demon. "But you really should take better care of your things."
"Duly noted." Growled Death. "Now, I have need of your… Services."
"What are you implying, Horseman?" Asked Vulgrim with a shrewd smile, which vanished as Death put one hand on Harvester's handle.
"Don't test me, merchant." Growled Death in a low voice that would make almost any being pale in fear, but Vulgrim merely inclined his head.
"My deepest apologies." Said the demon. "Now, what would you ask of this humble merchant?"
"I need access to Kuoh Academy's student records." Answered Death. "And any information available on one 'Yuma Amano'." At this, Vulgrim frowned.
"Are you intentionally trying to waste my time?" Asked the demon, Death rolled his eyes.
"Can you do it, or not?" Asked the Horseman, Vulgrim nodded.
"It will be quite… Expensive." Cautioned the demon, Rolling his eyes, Death paid the merchant a considerable sum.
"I will have the username and password for one of the teachers by morning." Stated the demon, "As for this girl you mentioned… Well, according to the Third Kingdom's records: she doesn't exist."
"Impossible…" Muttered Death, Vulgrim nodded eagerly.
"Exactly, you have seen her yourself." Stated Vulgrim, "Therefore, she must surely exist, yet the humans have no records of her."
"Obviously 'Yuma Amano' was a false identity." Muttered Death.
"Much like 'Carnificis Rider' for yourself." Agreed Vulgrim shrewdly, "Unfortunately, I have little other information on the girl, other than that she recently became involved with one 'Hyoudou', first name: 'Issei'."
"The Hyoudou boy is dead." Death informed him. "Hence, why I want you to find out who the girl really is."
"A pity." Sighed Vulgrim, "You could have asked him for information about her. Do you know who killed him?" Death nodded.
"The girl." He answered. Vulgrim looked at him strangely. "With a light spear."
"Then she is an Angel?" The demon asked.
"A fallen one." Death Clarified. "Can you get me any new information?"
"Of course, Horseman." Vulgrim answered. "Just give me some time." Death nodded, as Vulgrim descended through the serpent hole, leaving the Pale Horseman to wait.
Once the sun rose, Vulgrim ascended from the serpent hole, as Death was donning his disguise.
"Very fetching." The merchant complimented, as he hovered over to the Horseman.
"Do you have what I need?" Death asked.
"Of course." Answered Vulgrim, as he passed Death a small sheet of paper with a username and password, followed by instructions on how to access the student records. Nodding, Death walked towards the exit, Dust perched on his shoulder.
"Be good, Horseman." Chuckled Vulgrim as Death went outside. Rolling his eyes, Death braced himself for another day of enduring teenagers, with Harvester in his pocket and Redemption in his schoolbag. After five minutes of walking, Death had arrived outside the gates of Kuoh Academy. Ignoring the stares of the other students, he walked into the schoolhouse and stopped just outside the locked computer suite door, checking that no one was around to witness what happened next. The Pale Horseman turned to Dust.
"Keep an eye out." He told the bird. Dust squawked and flew off, as Death drew Harvester from his pocket, the scythe the size of a pocket knife. Dexterously, Death inserted the tiny blade – now in the form of a key designed for the door – into the lock and opened the door. Pocketing the scythe, Death walked into the quiet computer suite; a room about the size of the classroom he was in yesterday, with several long desks arranged in rows, each with multiple computers spaced at intervals;. Silently, he closed the door behind him, casting the room back into darkness, and sat at a computer on the far end of the room, facing towards the door. He turned on the computer and waited for it to reach the login screen, when he inserted the username and password written on the sheet of paper. Suddenly, Death saw a flash of several third year students approaching the suite through his mind link with Dust, chatting with each other. Swiftly, he turned the monitor off and dived under the table, as the girls walked past. After a moment, the Pale Horseman crawled out from under the table, cursing the fact that he had to do such a thing; and sat back in the chair. After turning the monitor back on, he followed the instructions Vulgrim had considerately written on the sheet, until he was at the student database. Smiling slightly, Death typed 'Hyoudou Issei' into the search bar. Death quickly scanned the information presented, but the only thing that was out of the ordinary was the unusual claims of sexual harassment: various comments, bringing explicit content to school, and – this made Death bury his face into his right hand – peeping into the girls' change rooms. Having seen enough, Death searched 'Occult Research club', resulting in multiple names. Death first clicked on 'Himejima Akeno', and found that – aside from her mother being a shrine priestess and a profile photo – there was no additional data on her.
Interesting… Death thought when he saw this. Perhaps she was working with Amano, if that's even her name… But it looks like she is human, or at least part human. Unable to find any further information, he clicked the back button and clicked on 'Kiba Yuto'. Again, Death found only a profile photo, but no background information, or even any records of misbehavior.
Either this one is unusually well behaved, or he's the same as Yuma: not a part of the Third Kingdom. Death thought. The lack of even the most basic information must either be a conspiracy or cover up… Either way, I should probably investigate. Next, he brought up the file of 'Toujou Koneko', and – unsurprisingly – found only a profile photo.
This is definitely not a coincidence. Death thought. Perhaps I should accept Akeno's invitation; it could give me some answers, at least. Sighing, he was about to click on the last member of the Occult Research club, when Dust sent him a warning that there was a teacher coming. Swiftly, Death deactivated the computer, whilst looking for an escape route.
"Distract him." Death told the bird. Instantly, Dust dive-bombed the teacher and relieved himself in his coffee, to his master's astonishment. If Death had less self-control, he would've laughed, as the teacher swore and stomped back to the staff room, growling about 'Rider's bloody bird'. Capitalizing, Death silently snuck out from the computer suite and made his way to the classroom, Dust following him.
When Death walked back into the classroom, he almost stopped dead and gawped: for Issei was at his desk, perfectly alive, if looking tired.
"Impossible…" Muttered Death, as he made his way to his own desk, Dust now perched on his shoulder; wondering if Issei remembered their last encounter, as the rest of the 'perverted trio' entered the class and Matsuda pulled Issei into a headlock.
"Hey there, soul mate!" He yelled, along with something else that Death deliberately tuned out.
"Matsuda!" Issei yelled, as he slammed the bald boy's head into his desk. "Why do you always talk so loudly!?" Death glanced in Issei's direction.
He's definitely alive. Thought the Pale Horseman, But how?
"Guys…" Said Motohama, the bespectacled member of the 'perverted trio', as he slid his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "The wind was quite strong this morning. Thanks to that I was able to get a good view of the girls' panties."
"Oh, Motohama." Issei muttered, acknowledging the other's presence.
"I got some nice stuff." Matsuda said, while he poured explicit DVDs and posters from his bag. Instantly, the girls in the class started hissing insults at the three, as Motohama began ogling one of the posters. Death intentionally didn't look; he had no intention of finding out what they were looking at.
"Silence! This is our entertainment! Girls and kids shouldn't look and keep away! Or else I will rape all of you in my imagination!" Yelled Matsuda, causing Death to sigh.
Why did I have to be sent? He thought, ignoring the perverted trio's conversation.
"Matsuda! Let's have an AV marathon! Prepare five boxes of tissues!" Issei called, interrupting Death's thoughts. "Motohama! To combat hunger, go and buy some snacks!" Death looked up and saw the three had lecherous expressions on their faces.
"Hey, Rider-san! Want to join?" Issei asked. Instantly, the girls began hissing insults at Death, who had raised an eyebrow at the perverted trio.
"No thanks." He muttered. "I have standards." This caused the three to create an uproar.
"What the hell is wrong with this guy?" Matsuda yelled.
"He has Himejima-senpai hit on him; one of the two 'onee-samas', and he turns her down!" Cried Issei, tears visibly running down the faces of the three. At this, the girls look at Death in astonishment.
"Himejima-senpai… with that guy? No way!" One girl yelled.
"Such beauty… with that creepy trash?" Scoffed another, one of the girls that Death recognized as a part of the Kendo club. Death instantly and visibly shook with rage; whilst doing his utmost not to draw Harvester and gut her like he would any other being who had insulted him. Menacingly, he turned to the girl, who looked back at him.
"If you insult me again, it will be the last thing you ever do." He growled, as the girl's face visibly paled under his unnatural glare. Quietly, Death turned back to his bag and began removing his stationery, sighing in frustration. As he turned back to his things, the girl looked at him with an expression of absolute horror and turned to another of the girls.
"He… When he looked at me…" She gasped; her voice barely more than a whisper, as the girl she was talking to put a hand on her shoulder. "His eyes… It was like… Like I was looking into the face of Death!"
This one's brighter than I thought. Thought Death, as the girl's friend wrapped her arms around her. Suddenly, there was a commotion at the window.
"S-Senpai is here!" One of the girls called.
"Senpai!" Exclaimed another girl as several members of the class rushed to the windows to get a better look. Even Death went to the window in interest, albeit for different reasons. Standing behind the perverted trio – all of whom had identical lecherous expressions on their faces – Death looked down, to see a young woman with a buxom figure and long crimson hair that shone in the sunlight.
So that's Rias Gremory… Thought Death. The president of the Occult Research club… She must either be unusually courageous or unusually stupid to have the audacity to summon me. Wait, no one knows who I am… Yet… Death's thoughts trailed off as Rias glanced up at the class; Death saw Issei visibly stiffen under her gaze.
He fears her… What did he do to anger her, I wonder? Thought Death, half curious, half smug; as Rias walked into the schoolhouse. As the teacher entered, the class quickly went back to their seats; Death keeping a close eye on Issei, the boy having piqued his curiosity.
In time, the lesson ended and Death packed his things and headed for the kendo club room, with a murderous look on his face that unnerved everyone who looked at him, his fingers curled like hooks as he held his hands by his sides.
"Whoa! Rider-san looks pissed!" One first year boy whispered.
"I don't envy whoever annoyed him!" His friend replied, as the Pale Horseman stalked along the corridor. Without breaking stride, Death kicked the club room door open with a loud bang, startling all the girls present. Instantly, Death found the one who had referred to him as 'creepy trash' and pointed at her.
"You, apologize or duel." The Pale Horseman growled softly. "Your choice." At this, the entire kendo club broke into laughter.
"Rider Carnificis-san, isn't it?" One of the girls asked, a third year. Death nodded.
"Do you even know how to use one of these?" She asked, gesturing to the wooden sword she was holding. Death shrugged.
"Not my preferred weapon, but I can." He answered. "The question is: does she have the courage to face me?" He gestured to the girl, who swallowed nervously, before defiantly facing him.
"Put on some gear." She told him, as if he was her inferior.
"I won't need it." He replied coldly. At this, the girls smiled cruelly, believing that he was going to be severely hurt.
"Fine." The girl shrugged, as she retrieved a spare wooden sword and tossed it to Death, who caught it in one hand and assumed a defensive pose.
"Ready?" The Third-Year who had doubted his martial prowess called. Both combatants strangely weren't wearing any form of protective gear.
"Begin!" The Third-Year announced. Instantly, the girl who had insulted Death charged at him, brandishing her sword. Smirking, Death rolled out of the way with ease, smiling smugly at her.
"Is that all you've got?" He taunted, deliberately goading her. Growling, the girl charged at him again, only this time, Death blocked the attack – aimed for the left of his head – and spun under her, his left foot lashed out and tripped the girl as his back was turned to her, before he swung his wooden sword in a horizontal arc to his left as he faced the girl again, before colliding with her torso hard enough to cause a resounding crack, as his weapon hit the girl's rib cage, and the girl fell to the floor with a scream of pain; all within the space of a second. Menacingly, Death pointed the tip of his wooden blade – now with a large crack running along it – at the prone girl's throat.
"Do you yield?" He asked. The girl nodded and whimpered.
"Get her to wherever it is you take the injured." Death muttered, as he tossed the ruined weapon away, walking to the door. One of the girls crouched beside the fallen girl.
"Hey!" The Third-Year yelled. Sighing, Death turned back to the girls.
"What?" He growled, on the verge of losing his temper.
"What you did was cruel and dishonorable." She growled.
She must be the club president. Death thought wearily. Figures.
"If she wanted an honorable fight, she should've faced my brother." Death growled coldly. "But she chose to fight me. And compared to what I've done to others who have insulted me, she got off lightly."
"You almost broke her ribs!" Exclaimed the girl crouching beside the Pale Horseman's defeated foe. "How can that be considered as 'getting off lightly'?"
"Anyone else would be dead." Death growled coldly. "Besides, this should teach her a lesson about not insulting others. Myself especially." He paused for a moment. "Oh, and tell the others this: next time someone thinks they can get away with crossing me, they face a real blade."
Turning away, the Pale Horseman left the club room, the girl still whimpering in pain, when he saw a familiar young woman standing before him.
"You again?" Death muttered, as he rolled his eyes in frustration. "What do you want this time?"
"My, my." Akeno giggled. "Didn't get all of that anger out of your system? Or do you just have a sadistic streak?" Death buried his face in his right hand and rubbed his eyes in frustration.
"Would you rather I resume on you?" Death growled, losing his already limited patience and pointing at her in a threatening manner. Akeno giggled again, with genuine amusement.
"Rider-san, if you wanted to engage in some S&M activities, all you had to do was ask." Akeno giggled, who now had a disturbing smile on her face.
"I have no interest in those kinds of activities." Muttered Death, who raised an eyebrow as Akeno's expression changed to one of disappointment, causing the Pale Horseman to sigh.
I can imagine Strife's expression right now. Death thought bitterly. That bastard would pay to see me squirming like this. Sighing he turned to the girl.
"Okay, senpai." Death growled, spitting the title as if it were an insult. "To what do I owe this… displeasure?" Akeno giggled again.
"President wishes to meet you." She answered. "She asked me to bring you to the club room."
"And why couldn't she come and see me herself?" Asked Death. "Oh wait; I think I get it now… Never mind…" Akeno giggled.
"Will you accept our invitation?" Akeno asked. Death sighed.
I am going to regret this. He thought.
"Fine, I'll go and meet your… Club president." The Pale Horseman sighed, to Akeno's delight. "But it doesn't mean I'm going to join." Akeno giggled again, causing Death to growl in anger.
"And will you stop giggling at me?" he snarled. Akeno ignored him and wrapped her right arm around his left, before death pulled away.
"What did I say about what I do to people who touch me?" he reminded her.
"My, my. You better not talk to the club president like that." Akeno cautioned while still giggling. "She might get… Upset." At this Death had to stop himself from bellowing with cold laughter.
I am the most dangerous entity in creation, save the Creator himself! Death thought. What chance would your precious club president have? Silently, Death gestured for Akeno to lead on. Smiling, she began walking towards the entrance, the Pale Horseman silently stalking behind her, to the fury of many of the students.
"Why?" cried one boy. "Why did Himejima-sama go and pick him? Why not a guy who actually has some interest in her?"
"What does Himejima-senpai see in that creep?" Asked one first year girl, who subsequently received a venomous look from the Pale Horseman. "That stare is… Like… Like looking into the eyes of the Reaper…"
That's because I am the Reaper! Thought Death, as Akeno led him outside. After another minute of walking, they arrived outside the old schoolhouse. Akeno opened the door and led Death inside, led him upstairs and into a classroom with a sign which read 'Occult Research Club' on the door. The Pale Horseman saw a spacious room with two sofas opposite a small table in one corner, and a strange, circular symbol carved into the floor in the centre. A young woman was sitting on the sofa facing towards the window; both it and she were cast into shadow.
"President, may I introduce to you Rider Carnificis-san." Akeno said. "The kohai you requested. Rider-san – may I call you Carnificis? – this is Gremory Rias-sama, the president of the Occult research club." Death nodded.
This one… has power. He thought, as the woman stood up, revealing her distinctive crimson hair and buxom figure.
"Nice to meet you, Rider Carnificis-san." Rias said. "May I call you Carnificis?"
"You're going to call me whatever you feel like, so why ask me?" Death shrugged. Rias and Akeno giggled.
"My, my." Akeno said. "I can see why you wanted to meet him, president." At this, Death raised an eyebrow.
"Care to explain?" he prompted. Rias gave Akeno an annoyed look before turning to the Pale Horseman.
"My vice-president is getting a little ahead of herself." Rias explained.
Her vice-president? Death thought. She sent her right-hand woman to bring me here?
"And why – pray tell – did you send your vice-president to harass me?" Death asked pointedly. "When you could've easily come and spoken to me, yourself." Rias looked at him coldly.
"I had other priorities." She explained stiffly. "Not that it's any of your business."
"Actually, it kind of is." Countered Death smugly, deciding to reveal his true identity.
"My, my. Aren't you a rude one?" Giggled Akeno, as a sadistic smile began playing across her face.
"Who do you think you are?" Rias hissed. "You have no idea what you're dealing with!" At this, a pair of bat-like wings unfurled from Rias' back. Death shrugged.
"I do now." Responded Death, nonchalantly. "And last time I checked, Horseman trumped demon." Suddenly, Akeno began backing away after seeing the cold, murderous look in his eyes, utterly devoid of pity. If what she suspected was true, then her president had just angered one of the most dangerous beings in existence.
"President…" She began, but was cut off by Rias.
"You? A Horseman?" she scoffed. "You're just a rude, little brat, Carnificis! If that's even your name." Instantly, a red and black sphere of energy materialized in her right hand as an unnatural wind started blowing. Suddenly, Rias threw the sphere of destruction at Death, but the Horseman dodged effortlessly.
"President, I think he's telling the truth!" Akeno insisted.
"So, you even managed to fool my queen." Rias hissed, who was now angry.
"It's no lie." Death said. "I am the Pale Horseman." Swiftly, he pulled off his disguise, revealing his true form, his face covered by his executioner's mask and Harvester in the form of two scythes at his waist. Rias' mouth opened in shock and Akeno's face had an expression of fear.
"There's a reason why all fear the Reaper." Growled Death, as he drew Harvester, crouched low and holding the twin scythes in reverse grips. "And you're about to find out why." Rias conjured two more spheres of destruction and threw them at the Pale Horseman, who used his 'teleport slash' power to dodge the attack, whilst simultaneously striking at the crimson-haired devil, Harvester's blades barely missing her as she desperately backed away; but Death was nowhere near being finished. Advancing menacingly on her, he formed Harvester into a single scythe and raised the blade over his head. Desperately, Rias kicked out at him, but the Pale Horseman swung Harvester, the blade cutting deeply into the devil's right calf muscle and causing a scream of pain. Suddenly, Akeno fired a burst of lightning at him, but Death effortlessly dodged, before throwing Harvester, which spun like a saw blade as it barely missed the black haired sadist, carving deep gashes into the wall before returning to Death's hand and splitting into two scythes. Turning, Death faced Rias, who was now up on her feet again, her slashed calf bleeding profusely and flinching whenever she put her weight on her leg. Breathing heavily, she conjured another sphere of destruction in her right hand; but before she could move to attack, Death lunged at her and buried one of Harvester's blades into her right shoulder. Rias screamed in pain as the scythe bit deep and Death pinned her to the sofa, her head lowered and the sphere of destruction fading.
"President!" cried Akeno in horror, as blood started to trickle from the fresh wound, staining Rias' uniform and the back of the chair. Death leaned over the pinned devil, his eyes glaring at her from under his mask. Slowly, Rias raised her head, her expression one of absolute horror, and looked into the Pale Horseman's eyes.
"Why?" She asked weakly, as tears began to well in her eyes from the pain.
"The Charred Council decreed that none from the White City or the Dark Kingdom shall set foot upon the world of Man until the End-War." Death answered coldly. "You and your 'queen' have no right to be on this world."
"Charred Council?" Akeno asked. "Who are the Charred Council?" Death's eyes widened slightly; it had never occurred to him that there were beings – other than humans – who hadn't heard of the Charred Council.
"The Charred Council is the entity responsible for maintaining the balance." Death answered impatiently, as he raised the other half of Harvester to Rias' throat.
"Wait! Don't kill her!" Akeno pleaded, who ran to Rias' side.
"She – and you – is a threat to the balance." Stated Death "I was ordered to remove such threats… Permanently."
Why am I explaining myself to them? He thought. I am Death! The Pale Horseman! I don't need to explain myself to anyone!
"If you want to kill Rias, you'll have to kill me, too!" Akeno declared. Death shrugged.
"That can be arranged." He responded coldly. "In fact, you're to be killed, too."
"No!" Akeno cried. "Don't kill her!" Death turned to face Akeno and Prepared to throw the other half of Harvester at the girl.
"Leave her be." Rias gasped. Death turned to the girl. "You have no right to kill her…"
"I have every right!" Death snapped. "I serve the balance!"
"What gives your Charred Council the right to order you to execute us?" Akeno asked, as she unsuccessfully tried to shield Rias' body with her own. Death paused at this.
She has a point, what did give them the right to order their executions? Death thought. The Creator? Or themselves?
"What has Rias ever done to hurt you, or anyone else?" Akeno asked, her eyes also full of tears. Rias remained silent, save for her gasps of pain.
"Humanity must not be affected by the interference of others!" Growled Death, as Harvester's blade lightly touched Rias' throat.
"What do you mean by 'interference'?" Rias gasped.
"Any attempt to subjugate humanity." Death answered bluntly.
"And you think we're trying to enslave them?" Rias laughed painfully. "All we do is make deals with humans that are mutually beneficial. The Fallen Angels are the ones who try to control them."
"What kind of deals?" Death asked, curious; but unsure whether he really wanted to hear the answer.
"In exchange for a proportionate amount of power, we grant a client's desires." Rias explained. "Within reason, of course." This caused Death to think. He recalled making a very similar deal a very long time ago.
Oh, damn it! He thought to himself. I am definitely going to regret this. Standing, he pulled Harvester from Rias' shoulder and sheathed the weapon, before retrieving a health potion from his person.
"Here" He muttered, passing the green potion to Rias. "Drink. It'll heal your wounds." Gratefully, Rias drank the potion, her wounds closing and the blood clotting more with each mouthful.
"Why?" Akeno asked, not unreasonably. "When barely a minute ago you were going to kill us both." Death thought about this.
"I have my reasons." He answered. "However, you're going to have some explaining to do, and you're going to help me in return." He directed this at Rias.
"Very well, but it'll have to wait until tomorrow." She answered.
"Fine." Death replied. "But you're also not going to reveal what I really am to anyone unless I say so. Agreed?" Rias looked at him curiously.
"Agreed." She said. "But no more trying to hurt me or my servants." Death nodded.
Servants? He thought. Oh, great! More of them!
Okay, I know that having Death stay his hand and not execute Rias and Akeno is a little out of character for him, but his reasons will be explained in the next chapter. Again, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. As always, I appreciate reviews and suggestions.