Chapter 4.
Seeing as I couldn't get everything that I wanted in the last chapter, I decided to release this one with it. Enjoy.
Warning: contains some nudity.
Disclaimer: I don't own Darksiders or Highschool DxD.
"WAKE UP OR I WILL KILL YOU… WAKE UP OR YOU WILL BE CUT INTO PIECES!" Death was instantly on his feet, Harvester in the form of two scythes in his hands, as the alarm clock in Issei's bedroom went off. After glancing around the bedroom and assured that no one was going to attack him, Death returned Harvester to the size of a pocket knife and slipped the shape shifting weapon into his pocket. Sighing in frustration, Death turned to leave, until he heard Issei awaken noisily.
"Why am I naked?" The boy yelled, as Death turned to face him. "Rider-san! Why the fuck are you here? What-?" Issei was then cut off by the sound of Rias stirring on the bed.
"R-Rias-senpai?" Issei stammered, as he looked at the girl with lecherous eyes, whilst blood started to dribble from his nose.
That's strange… Death thought to himself. I was unaware that seeing a naked Devil could cause a human of the opposite gender to shed blood from their nose… Perhaps I need to look further into human society; the council might need to know about this. As he pondered, Issei was frantically trying to compose himself, with no success. Death and Issei then heard footsteps stomping outside.
"Ise! Wake-up! It's already time for school!" A female voice yelled. Instantly, Issei panicked, grabbing a sheet and running to the stirring Rias, whilst Death silently dashed to the opposite wall, on the side of the door's hinges.
"Honey, is Ise still in his room?" A male voice asked, as Issei was still panicking.
"Dear, his shoes are in the entrance so he came home." The female voice answered, her tone making it obvious that she was annoyed. "Staying at a friend's house very late! And on top of that he is late for school! That, I won't forgive!" Death then heard loud footsteps stomping up a staircase, heading for their direction.
"Wait! I'm already awake! I will get up now!" Issei yelled, in a desperate attempt to keep the voice – undoubtedly Issei's mother – from seeing the boy with a naked female.
"I won't forgive you anymore! We need a small talk about this!" His mother yelled back angrily, as Rias finally woke.
"Unnnn… Is it morning?" The crimson haired Devil asked, as she began to sit up, whilst Issei desperately tried – and failed – to cover her bare chest before his mother entered. Instantly, the door slammed open, colliding with the Pale Horseman's face with a thud and causing him to grunt from the impact. After a moment, Issei's mother then looked behind the door to see Death, in the disguise of a tall, thin, pale, strong-featured young man with red eyes. Any normal human would have been unnerved, but Issei's mother just looked at Death coldly, before stiffly turning to the naked Issei and Rias.
"Good morning." Rias said pleasantly, as Issei's mother looked at them, her facial expression blank.
"GET READY QUICKLY…" She told him mechanically, before stomping downstairs, after slowly closing the door.
In three… Two… One… Death thought, as he waited for the inevitable panic attack.
"De-de-de! Deaaaaaaaaaaaaar!" Issei's mother screamed like she had just seen a murder.
"What happened honey?" The male voice asked. "You look like you just saw a ghost? Was Ise masturbating in the morning again?"
"Se-se-se!" Isse's mother stammered. "Sexxxxxxxxxx! Ise did! With a foreigner!"
"Honey! Honey, what happened!?" The male voice – Issei's father – asked, now worried.
"With a foreigner! Ise did!" His mother answered; her voice a strangled yell. "And there was a strange foreign man in the room with them! With red eyes! Evil, red eyes!"
"Honey!? Honey!? Honey, calm down! Honeeeeeey!" Issei's father yelled; now also sounding panicked, as Death buried his face in his hands.
If Strife hears of this, I'll never hear the end of it! The Pale Horseman thought bitterly, as Issei was struggling to avoid staring at Rias' still naked body.
"Your family is quite lively in the morning" Rias commented to Issei, who was now looking embarrassed by what had just occurred. Rias then proceeded to get up and search for her clothes, glancing at Death as she searched.
"Good morning, Carnificis-san." She greeted the Pale Horseman, who merely nodded in response, as he headed to the window.
"Se-senpai!" Issei said, as he finally looked away, getting Rias' attention.
"What is it?" Rias asked politely, whilst fully aware of the lecherous boy's embarrassment.
"I could see your breasts and stuff!" Issei stammered, as he tried to staunch the blood trickling from his nose.
"If you want to see them, then go ahead." Rias told the lecherous boy, causing Issei's bleeding to intensify. Death buried his face in his right hand, as Rias started getting dressed.
"Is your stomach alright?" Rias then asked the boy, causing a look of confusion to pass along his face, as he checked his stomach.
"You were stabbed yesterday." Rias explained, causing Issei's eyes to widen in surprise and fear. "By the way, the incident from yesterday wasn't a dream."
"I was sure that I was wounded…" Issei muttered to himself.
"I healed it." Rias explained calmly. "It was critical but thanks to your tough body, it was healable with my power in a night. We were hugging while naked, and I shared some of my magic power to you because you were in a weak state. I was able to do it, because we are from the same clan." At this, Issei's eyes widened and his face took on an expression that was a mixture of shock, lechery and frustration.
"It's alright, because I'm still a virgin." Rias said, as if she was reassuring him. Issei's expression became one of relief, whilst Death raised an eyebrow.
Isn't that kind of information supposed to be personal? He silently wondered, as he shook his head in the manner of a man who was weary of the world.
"Don't make such a weird face." Rias told Issei, as she crawled back on the bed – still clad in only her underwear – and patted Issei's cheek, causing him to blush. "This world is surrounded by many mysterious things that you don't know."
You have no idea, child… Death thought, as he continued to observe the neighborhood through the window.
"My name is Rias Gremory." The crimson haired devil told Issei, causing Death to look up. "And I am a devil. I am also your master. Nice to meet you Hyoudou Issei-kun. Can I call you, Ise?" She said this with a sweet smile on her face that caused the Pale Horseman to suspect that he was dealing with someone who was almost as skilled as he in manipulating people. Almost.
"A-and Rider-san?" Issei asked. "Is he a devil too?" At this, Death chuckled darkly, as he turned to Issei.
"Hyoudou, I am something so horrible; so unholy, that even demons look like creatures of the utmost purity compared to my kind." Death told the lecherous boy, causing him to look slightly fearful.
"W-what is that?" Issei asked.
"You'll find out soon enough." Death told him. "Now, hurry up and get ready. The sooner you deal with your parents, the sooner I can get out of this place."
Five minutes later, Death, Issei and Rias were seated around the dining room table with Issei's parents; both of whom had cold expressions on their faces.
"Itadakimasu-wa." All of them – save Death, who remained silent – spoke, as they began eating.
"These are very delicious, mother." Rias said, to Issei's mother.
"Ummm. Thank you…" The boy's mother replied, her expression still cold.
"Ise, it's the meal that your mother made. Eat it." Rias told Issei.
"Umm, okay." Issei answered. Hurriedly, the lecherous boy started wolfing his meal down.
"Don't eat it like that." Rias told him. "Eat slowly so you can taste the food. This is the precious food that your mother made for us." Nodding, Issei slowed down, before looking at Death, who hadn't touched his meal.
"Why isn't Rider-san eating?" Issei asked. Death turned to him.
"I don't eat." The Pale Horseman answered him coldly. "I don't drink. I don't sleep." At this, Issei's parents looked at Death strangely, whilst Rias wiped Issei's mouth with her handkerchief.
"Umm, Ise..." Issei's father began, his voice trembling. "From where did this lady and this young man come from?" Death thought for a moment, before Rias answered.
"Oh my, I apologize for not introducing myself. I made a shame to the House of Gremory. Please let me introduce myself. Mother and Father, my name is Rias Gremory. I attend the same Academy as Issei-kun, pleased to make your acquaintance." Rias explained elegantly, whilst smiling. "As for Carnificis-san, he is a part of my school club."
"Is that so?" Issei's father commented; returning the crimson haired Devil's smile. "That's amazing. Hahaha. Are you from a foreign country? Your Japanese sounds natural."
"Yes, that's because I have been living in Japan for a long time due to my father's work." Rias explained smoothly. Death noticed that – although Issei's father seemed convinced – his mother looked skeptical.
"Is Rias… san correct?" The woman asked of Issei, whilst trying to avoid eye contact with Death.
"Yes Mother." Rias answered politely.
"What kind of relationship do you have with Ise?" The lecher's mother asked pointedly.
He's a pervert and she's his master. Death thought, as he imagined just how the boy's mother would react. And – if they are threats to the balance – dead meat…
"We are just a senpai and kouhai who are quite close to each other, mother." Rias lies through her teeth with the expertise of a master manipulator. Death almost ruined the facade by laughing, but he managed to remain silent.
"That's a lie!" Issei's mother snapped, clearly not believing it. "Be-be-be… Because! On the bed!"
"Ise said he has nightmares, so I was just sleeping with him." Rias answered smoothly.
"Just sleeping together!?" Issei's mother practically yelled. "Both of you were naked! And what about him!?" She then points to Death. "Why was he in Ise's room!?"
"Nowadays, people sleep naked when they sleep together." Rias answered.
"Is that so?" Issei's mother muttered. "So people sleep naked lately." Death instantly knew that something wasn't right, as the woman now had a hollow look in her eyes.
"I'm sorry…" Rias whispered to Issei. "It looked like it would become troublesome, so I used my power."
This one must be damn courageous to manipulate a human in front of me… Death thought, almost respecting her for her courage. But it's only more of a reason for me to execute her.
"But that still doesn't explain you." Issei's mother instantly snapped out of her trance. "Why were you in the same room? Issei has never mentioned you!"
"That would be due to me not being a part of the 'perverted trio' of Kuoh Academy." Death answered coldly. "As for why I was in his room: he was uncharacteristically kind enough to offer me a place to stay for the night, seeing as it was dark and my home was too far away for me to reach safely."
"Since when does our good-for-nothing son do something for a total stranger?" Issei's father muttered.
"Of course, it might have been because he wanted me to introduce him to my sister." Death pointed out reasonably.
"You know, that makes a lot of sense." Issei's mother nodded. "Our perverted son would do that."
A short time later, Death found himself walking a few feet behind Rias and Issei, who was carrying the crimson haired Devil's schoolbag, whilst the other students began hurling abuse at the two males.
"Why is someone like him…?" One girl commented about Issei.
"Why is someone vulgar like him next to Rias Onee-sama...?" Another girl asked.
"Why is Rider-san with them?" A third girl asked. "I thought he didn't like girls."
"From what I've heard, he doesn't like anyone." A forth girl answered, as the three walked into the school.
"I will send someone to you afterwards." Rias told Issei and Death, as the lecherous boy handed her bag to its owner. "I'll see you after school." Rias then walked off. Death sighed as he and Issei walked to their classroom; he was in a bad mood due to the awkward breakfast conversation with Issei's parents, in addition to being unable to vent his frustrations at the Fallen Angel, aside from a pot shot at his wing. Before Death could do anything, Matsuda and Motohama ran at Issei and Matsuda hit him over the head.
"Give me an explanation!" Matsuda yelled, clearly upset about something. "Until yesterday we were the 'Unpopular Alliance' comrades!" Death knew what was about to happen but still decided to wait nearby, hoping that Issei being beaten to a pulp would lighten his mood.
"Ise, first of all tell us what happened after we went home yesterday." Motohama requested, as he adjusted his glasses. Issei merely laughed.
"Guys, have you ever seen real tits before?" Issei asked, with an evil grin on his face.
"What?" Matsuda and Motohama yelled simultaneously.
Here we go… Death thought, as he buried his face in his right hand.
"How is this possible?" Motohama hissed.
"Oh, Rider-san has seen them too, haven't you Rider-san?" Issei commented. Instantly, Matsuda and Motohama glared at Death, who merely raised an eyebrow, whilst trying not to laugh at their expressions.
"Why?" Matsuda roared. "Why does Rider-san get to see real boobs, when he doesn't even like girls?"
"The state of the world is all wrong." Motohama hissed, as his left thumb and index finger gripped the lens of his glasses, an expression of anger on his face. Death glanced around, to see several students staring at them, most with expressions of shock or disgust on their faces.
"Who would want to show their naked body to Rider-senpai?" A first-year girl asked.
"Be fair, Rider-san does have a nice body." A third-year girl responded. "If a little pale and thin."
"Yeah, but the whole 'arrogant loner' thing isn't very endearing." A second-year girl said. "Plus his eyes make him look evil."
"I'm surprised that he's hanging around with the perverted trio." The second-year said. "Didn't he say that he had standards?"
"I am right here, can no one see me?" Death growled rhetorically, as he glared at the students. "Get lost, you little rats!" Instantly, the crowd dispersed, as Death released some of his aura, causing people to instinctively want to flee.
"That guy…" A second-year girl whispered to another. "It's like he shouldn't exist. He's like something that never should have been born."
She's right. Death thought, as he walked to his classroom. The Nephilim should never have been created… Once inside, he braced himself for the day's lessons.
Nearly two hours later, Death was sitting in a shadowy corner of the school, watching the other students as they walked past. Suddenly, a third-year was standing in front of him.
"Rider Carnificis-kohai?" The girl asked imperiously. Death nodded.
"Was there something you wanted?" The Pale Horseman asked.
"Can you come with me?" The girl asked. Shrugging, Death stood up and followed the girl into the woods near the old school building.
"Why did you want me to follow you out here?" Death asked, after a few minutes of walking. The girl stopped and turned to the Pale Horseman, a cold smile on her face.
"You hurt one of our club members." She hissed. "We want revenge." At this, Death laughed, a cold, strangled bark that had a passing resemblance to a death rattle.
"You honestly think you could defeat me?" He barked; amused, as almost the entire kendo club surrounded him. "You just made the biggest mistake of your lives." Every girl present snarled at Death's remark and ran at the Pale Horseman, brandishing wooden swords, but Death was already moving. As one girl swung her sword at his head, he rolled to the side, before kicking the legs out from under another, who was about to bring her sword crashing down on his head. With a bored expression on his face, Death swiftly darted between the girls, dealing powerful – but non-lethal – strikes that incapacitated each one, until only the girl that had led him to the woods remained standing. Lifting his hand to his mouth as he partially turned his back to her, Death mock-yawned out of boredom; intentionally driving the girl mad with rage. Shrieking in fury, the third-year girl charged at the Pale Horseman in a futile attempt to kill him, but Death merely sidestepped and kicked her in the leg, just behind the knee; and sent her stumbling, before wrapping his right arm around her throat.
"I thought that you idiots would've learned your lesson from yesterday, but it appears I was incorrect." Death remarked, as he tightened his hold around the girl's throat.
"W-what are you going to do?" The girl asked; a trace of fear in her voice.
"Set an example." Death answered; his voice a low growl, as he tightened his grip even more for a brief moment, causing the girl to lose consciousness. Sighing, Death let the girl slide to the ground in a heap before walking back to the main schoolhouse.
The next couple of hours or so passed uneventfully for the Pale Horseman, who – after venting against nearly the entire kendo club – was now bored once again. However, he was in for an unpleasant surprise when – as the English class was five minutes from finishing – someone knocked on the classroom door. Sighing, the teacher stood up from his desk and opened the door, revealing a second-year girl with blue hair and eyes.
"I am sorry to interrupt your lesson Sensei, but the student council would like to speak with Rider Carnificis-san." The girl told the teacher, causing Death to suddenly become completely alert. "I was told he would be in this class."
"Of course." The English teacher nodded. "Rider-san! The student council would like a word."
"Very well." Death replied, as he stood up and exited the class, following the blue-haired girl.
First the so-called 'Occult Research club', then the kendo club… Death thought, frustrated that he was making little headway with subtlety. And now the student council wants to have a piece of me. There had better be a damned good reason for this!
"Is something wrong, Rider-san?" The blue-haired girl asked politely. Death shook his head slightly.
"No." He responded. "How is it that you know my name?"
"I heard rumors about you." She answered.
"What kind of rumors?" Death asked, unsure of whether or not he truly wanted to know the answer.
"Mainly that you seem to intimidate everyone you encounter." She answered politely. "Whether it's from your general appearance; or simply through brute force."
"Yet you seem unconcerned, despite my already… Dubious reputation." Death commented, and was almost surprised to see that girl didn't smile.
"Are you trying to intimidate me?" She asked pointedly, to Death's dry amusement.
"No, merely trying to get your name and find out why the student council wants to see me." He answered.
"My name is Yura Tsubasa." She stated. "And it would be better if I let the council president answer." Death nodded, as the two stopped before a door with a sign above it that had 'Student Council' written on it.
Abandon hope, all ye who enter here. Death thought to himself sardonically, remembering a quote from an old human poem, as Tsubasa opened the door; revealing a shadowy room with a desk in the center. Despite the lack of light, Death could see multiple female students and one male student, their faces obscured in the shadows. One in particular caught the Pale Horseman's attention; a bespectacled third-year girl with short, black hair seated behind the desk.
"You must be Rider-Carnificis-san." She stated; her tone and expression cold. Any normal individual would have been intimidated, but Death was by no means ordinary.
"If I must be, I must be." Death replied nonchalantly, causing the seated third-year to give him a cold look that he found amusing.
"Do you know who I am?" The third-year asked; her tone neutral.
"The president of the student council, if I had to guess." Death responded, already aware of the answer. The third-year nodded.
"My name is Shitori Souna." She introduced herself. "Do you know why I called you here?"
"It wouldn't be for my good looks, would it?" Death asked; deliberately provoking Souna, who maintained her composure. The same couldn't be said for the blond second-year boy standing behind her.
"Hey, show some respect to our Council President!" The boy snapped, glaring at the Pale Horseman. Aside from raising an eyebrow, Death ignored him.
"I summoned you here because of an incident that occurred earlier today." Souna told Death, whose jaw clenched with anger.
Compose yourself! The Pale Horseman told himself. You still need information! And it is far easier to interrogate someone when no one knows you're there!
"Is this about the kendo club?" Death asked shrewdly. Souna nodded.
"Nearly the entirety of the kendo club was found unconscious in the woods near the old schoolhouse." Souna said.
"Your point is?" Death asked impatiently.
"My point, Rider-san; is that you were seen attacking the kendo club." Souna answered, her tone becoming even colder.
"They attacked me." Death countered; struggling to control his anger. "With wooden swords, I might add. They should be grateful that I let them live." At this, Souna's cold mask slipped for a second; and Death saw her expression briefly become one of anger.
"Rider-san, I take my role as council president very seriously." Souna told the Pale Horseman. "As such, I will not allow anyone to harm this school, or those who attend here."
She's just as devoted to her duty as War is to his. Death thought.
"Tell that to the kendo club." Death growled. "They need to be… Reminded."
"I have also heard that you have been less than respectful to one of the teachers." Souna continued; ignoring the Pale Horseman.
"When he proves that he deserves my respect, he shall have it." Death growled softly. "Besides, it wasn't my fault that Dust relieved himself in his coffee."
"Be that as it may, pets are not permitted here." Souna told him coldly. "You are expected to be here on Saturday for your detention at 10:00." Death nodded silently. "Dismissed." Death turned to leave, but paused briefly.
"A word of caution, Shitori." Death spoke coldly, glancing at her over his shoulder, followed by a cold look in the direction of the only boy in the room. "Keep a tighter leash on your subordinates; my self-restraint is limited."
"I'll keep that in mind." Souna responded coldly. Nodding, Death turned and exited the room.
Damn it, I still didn't get to where I wanted to. Oh well, I guess that's something to look forward to. As always, I appreciate your reviews and I hope you enjoyed reading this so far.