Issei silently walked through his house, not making a sound, as he was used to doing. He opened his room's door and put down the bag.
He stripped to his underwear and got into his bed, and of course, stretched all over it were the mischievous Nekomata.
He touched her arm, and the next thing he knew he was flipped around and pinned to the bed, with Kuroka on top of him. She slid her slender fingers over Issei's six-pack abs and then upwards going over his chest. While doing it, she was arching her back inwards and bringing her chest closer to Issei.
She brought her head closer to his neck and licked all the way up to his ear, which she nibbled. Her bare breasts rubbed over Issei's chest.
''I missed you, Issei-nya~.'' – She whispered in his ear. He touched her neck and brought her face away from his ear, just to bite into her collar bone. She moaned, and brought her forehead to Issei's.
Her hazel eyes shone in the dusk lighting of the room. She looked straight into Issei's light brown eyes. Instead of the mischievous look in Kuroka's eyes, there was worry.
Issei kissed her. Kuroka raised her head.
''What's wrong?'' – He asked.
''You seem, distracted. Or is it worried?'' – She asked, with the cat manners completely gone.
He could have lied to her. He could have shrugged it off completely, but he didn't.
Because it was Kuroka. The one that kept him sane.
''..I killed again. I shouldn't have, it was a simple game,I didn't need to do it. Killing doesn't disturb me, but killing when it could be avoided kinda depresses me.'' – Kuroka brought her head to his chest. Issei stroked her soft, silky black hair. –''Or the maybe the fact that I can't stop myself disturbs me.''
Kuroka purred. He suddenly felt a hot, but an calming feeling flowing trough his body. – ''I'll use my senjutsu to calm you down and restore your from fatigue, Issei-nya.''
There was a silence for a while, but then she spoke , softly.
''You might not realize it, but killing is for grownups. If we could go back, we would, wouldn't we? But we aren't kids anymore. And we can't go back. So please, don't be sad about killing, don't regret it. Remember their faces, their names, and honor those who deserve honor.''
Issei chuckled. – ''What happened to you while I was gone? – They stayed like that, in silence for a while. –''But thank you. Without you, I would have probably lost my sight on the target along the way. And if it's for my target, I will even stand knee deep in blood for it.''
Kuroka purred. –''We will, Issei-nya, not only you. You are not alone.''
She snuggled closer to Issei. He just held a stupid grin and fell into a deep slumber.
About two months passed with Issei training Koneko almost every day. Every once a while Kiba trained with them.
Rias and Akeno went about their business, they both only talked with Issei's on a need-to-know basis. Not that Issei disliked it, it was actually the opposite – less time he had wear that stupid smile on his face.
Kuroka on the other hand, when she wasn't sleeping or meditating, she read books. Issei couldn't keep up with Kuroka and so she always bugged Issei to buy more. Well, that solved it self out, when Issei came home one day and noticed a stack of brand new books, Kuroka had ''borrowed'' from a bookshop.
Issei cringed inside a little, because, if Margit was alive, she would have slapped him so hard his right ear would have went to the other side of his head.
Stealing books is a sin.
And Kuroka wanted a date with Issei, like normal people would.
And ''normal'' would be a first for them. The way the met, the way they interacted and the way they bonded was abnormal.
They met in an terrorist groups headquarters, they interacted by talking about missions and eating together, and the way they bonded? It was the times when Issei pushed her down so she doesn't take a bullet or a blast from a grenade. It was those times when she healed Issei's bullet wounds, the cuts or burns from the battlefield, which was always unfair. It was those times, when Issei's eyes wandered and he couldn't concentrate.
And it was back then, when Margit died. Issei changed back then. He took dangerous , solo missions and always returned bullet ridden or with broken bones.
It was then, when Kuroka snapped him out of it, snapped him out of the suicidal path he was going down. She, with her soft words, her understanding what it means to lose someone so close, someone who taught you everything you know.
And she did all of that, when she too, missed Margit. They had become friends, to everyones surprise.
He loved all of her, but he had yet to say it out load. There was this strange, eerie feeling of ''something will happen'' if they spoke those 3 words out load.
It was anything but normal.
Issei stood in front of a giant mansion. He knocked on the expensive looking door, and as the door opened, he threw on his fake smile.
''Good evening, I am a devil of Gre-'' – His voice cut off as he noticed a tall man in a yukata. His eyes shone bright purple and he had golden bangs. He held a grin. He was leaning on the side of his door, arms crossed on his chest.
Issei threw on an expression with a droopy smile. He raised his hand – ''Ara, Yo Azazel. What can I do for a governor of the Fallen Angels on this nice evening?''
''Ain't you polite, brat.''- Azazel scoffed. –''Come in.''
They walked trough the hallway in silence. They stopped in a giant living room. Azazel sat down in a couch, and raised his hand to point at an coach across from his, with a table between them.
Issei noded and sat down. Azazel conjured a bottle of brown colored liquor and two glasses with ice in them.
''..I read that God could turn water into wine, but I didn't expect for you to be able create whiskey. You ought to teach me that one sometime.'' – Issei winced – ''Unless you don't plan on me leaving this place.''
He poured a glass for himself and a glass for Issei. –''So you noticed. But well, do not worry, I will act after talking, I'm not a degenerate like some of you.''
Issei scorned at the words chosen by Azazel. Azazel took a sip from the whiskey glass and nodded to Issei, that it is safe to drink it.
''You do know that I'm still a child, and that I can't drink, right?''
Azazel didn't spare the amused look on his face before answering – ''If you are a child, then I am a saint.''
''..I guess you are right.'' – Issei answered and brought the glass to his lips. The ice cold drink lit up Issei's throat like fire, but he didn't wince. He had spent far too long in the liqueur cabinet of Margit's room after her death. The scorched, wooden taste brought back nostalgia, which he pushed to the back of his skull.
He put down the glass, empty and asked. –''So then, what shall we talk about, Azazel?''
''How about we start about why you killed my underlings.''
''..You mean Raynare and her gang?''
Azazel gave nothing but a silent nod.
''She was out to kill me. Your pathetic gang of weaklings were also traitors.''
Azazel was pretty adept at hiding his emotions when he needed to. His eyebrows fluttered only slightly, Issei barely managed to pick that up.
''..So, on who's orders were they on?''
''From what I understood, it was Kokabiel.''
He scuffed.
Issei raised his eyebrow. –''Any idea why he would betray you?''
''The man wants war. He believes that we fallen angel are superior to other races, that we are stronger and he wants to prove it. ''
A comfortable silence filled the room as Azazel refilled their glasses.
''The world would be a better place without people who want wars to happen.''
''Didn't know the mighty Ddraig is a pacifist. Wouldn't the business be better at a time of war?''
Issei raised his eyebrows. –''I'm a mercenary; you can even call me a terrorist, but don't think I'm heartless. I don't like seeing innocent people die.''
''I guess agreeing on this is a start.'' -He chuckled and raised his glass. Issei, understanding what Azazel wanted to do, raised his. The glasses met with a clinging sound and they both emptied them in a single swoop.
''So tell, me your thoughts, what should I do? Should I kill him on spot? Should I imprison him?''
Issei leaned back on the leather chair and looked at the painting hanging on the wall opposite of him. –''Hell if I know. I wasn't paid to think. I was paid to kill, kidnap or protect.''
He rolled his eyes. – ''Alright, think of it like this. You want to start a war with the devils. Who do you attack to do so?''
''Someone who holds high attention of the Satan, but isn't powerful.'' – Issei's grinned, understanding the train of thought that Azazel used. – ''So basically, the Gremory.''
''Yeah. He will be coming for a visit.'' – His eyes narrowed –''So let me ask you this. You, and your team of soldiers, what is your goal?''
Issei looked Azazel straight into eyes. – ''I can't tell you that.''
He scoffed. –''..Alright, then tell me this, your goal, will it benefit my race? Or will it bring pain to it?''
Issei smiled. –''Fallen Angels are not involved in my plans. They will not be touched, if I am not touched first. On that, I can give you my word. Plus, if you keep quiet about this, if we can get an agreement on this, I could do a favor or two for you. You know, as a sign of good intentions.''
Azazel smiled. He got up from the couch and Issei did the same. They shook hands.
''Deal. I'll consider your favor invalid after you take out Kokabiel. I will send someone to scrape him off the ground, if there is anything to scrape, that is.''
The hands released and a droopy smile rose to Issei's face. –''You are all right, Azazel.''
''Same to you, brat. Want to drink our sorrows away 'till morning?'' – He, in an over-exaggerated way, conjured a few more bottles of whiskey that floated in air.
''What do we have to lose?''
''A couple thousand brain cells and our motor function.''
''..Just pour me the damn thing.''
Issei woke up with a ringing headache and he felt like shit. He tried to understand where he was and why he was wearing an expensive looking suit. He staggered to the window and pulled the blinds apart, almost ripping them out of the sockets.
A skyline of skyscrapers and casino's LED signs appeared. He obviously was in a hotel. Where, only?
Suddenly, a shirtless Azazel kicked out his door, with a girl in both on both of sides.
''Where the fuck... are we?'' – Issei said, as he rubbed his head.
''Vegas, my soul brother!'' – Azazel exclaimed, as he grabbed one of the girls breasts.
''Vegas? As in Las Vegas, Nevada?''
''The very same!'' – Azazel pulled both girls in the bed and started to undress them. The girls didn't mind Issei. –''Man, I love Vegas!'' – He said, as he started to motorboat on of the girls.
''Get a room you old fuck!''- He exclaimed. –''And don't steal lines off Elvis Presley!''
''This..is my .. room!'' –He stopped motorboating the girl –''And besides, how the hell do you think I got the girls, if not impersonating Presley?''
''God fucking dammit, Azazel.''
''You didn't say that yesterday when you – ''
''NO, SHUT UP! I don't want to know what I did. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, got that?''
He scoffed, as Issei half-joged out of the room.
Issei staggered into his house, as he noticed a particular smell. He had changed his clothes and taken a shower, so the only thing that was left from the adventure trip was the dark circles under his eyes and the ringing headache.
His staggering steps became almost silent as he peaked into the living room. Two girls with white, church cloaks sat on the sofa in the living room, talking to Issei's mother.
He stepped inside, revealing himself.
''I-Ise-kun?'' – A girl, with a particularly cute voice, stuttered as she said Issei's name.
He froze the moment he heard it. He couldn't recognize the voice, but certainly, he had heard it before.
''Ara, Issei, welcome home, I was starting to get worried, you took so long.'' – His mother spoke.
He threw on the usual droopy smile –''You don't have to worry about me, ya know.''
She frowned. –''After what happened, I should worry more. Anyways, this is Shidou Irina-chan and her friend, um?''
''Xenovia.'' – The girl apathetically spoke. Her eyes were showing killing intent.
Issei searched his mind for the name ''Shidou Irina'' and found a boy that looked like her that he played with as a child. So, he was a girl, Issei thought.
''..Yo Irina-chan. You look a lot more girly now.''
''This is Issei Hyoudou? He looks nothing like the pictures.'' – Xenovia calmly said.
Issei narrowed his eyes in droopy way so he now just looked aloof. Irina kept looking at Issei with wide eyes.
''Ise-kun, what happened to you?'' – She sounded concerned.
''Some things happened, I decided to change my haircut and what not.''
Xenovia showed a shit-eating grin. – ''A lot has changed since you two met, huh?''
''Issei was missing for 3 years, actually. He came back home not too long ago.'' – His mother spoke, unneedly.
The room became silent. It was the uncomfortable type of silence.
''What do you mean, missing?'' – Irina exclaimed. –''How? Where?''
Issei's mother narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms below her chest. –''I dislike to pry, but I need to know something too, Issei.''
He sat down in the cube chair and brought his hands to his face. His mother and the 2 guests looked at him with a serious expression.
''I was kidnapped on my way back from school 3 years ago. I was shipped across the globe with many other children. It was a child trafficking business.''
Issei's mother couldn't even speak and just shook, sitting there.
''N-no way…'' – Irina spoke, with a trembling voice.
A wide shit eating grin appeared on Xenovia's face.
''I ended up somewhere in Arabia or something like that. The ones who took us treated us pretty badly, they didn't feed us properly and beat us. Some of the weaker ones died.''
Issei's mother started to cry. With every tear running over her face, Issei wanted to stop lying, but he had no choice, he had to make it believable and he had to make it so they never question him again.
''..But that all changed when a mercenary group saved us about a year after my kidnapping. I spent the next two training and waiting for my chance to come back home. It came recently.'' –He smiled, softly. –''So don't cry, mother.''
''..I see.'' – She said, wiping tears with her sleeve. Issei awkwardly got up and hugged her.
He let her go and turned to the girls. –''Let's go on a walk, Irina-san, Xenovia.''
''Ah, alright, Ise-kun''
Issei walked out of the room with the girls in tow. It was the middle of the day and the sun was shining right into their faces. They stopped in a park. The park was full of life, and every once in a while people looked back at the two weirdly dresses girls.
Issei turned around and moved both of his hands behind his back.
''Is there are reason why we came so far, Ise-kun?''
The soft, droopy smile disappeared from his face. –''I just wanted to take a little precaution in case your friend over there tries to take my head off with that sword of hers.''
''..So you noticed, devil-kun. Not too shabby, I guess.'' – She said, with a shit eating grin on her face.
''Arrogance won't get you far. Well, at least you won't try to do anything while here, in a place filled with people, right, saint-san?''
''Nee, don't fight.'' – Irina pouted, in an overly cute manner. –''You had a reason for becoming a devil, right?''
''I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, or something like that.''
Irina wanted to ask about a hundred questions to Issei, but she couldn't decide what to say. It was that kind of look in his face, that made her want to ask him -Are you really Issei Hyoudou?
The girls train of though was interrupted when she noticed a red-haired girl coming up on them from behind.
''I guess she wants to talk to you.'' – Issei himself showed a shit eating grin to Xenovia before becoming completely silent.
They sat in the old school building. Rias was on the coach and the church girls were sitting on the couch opposite of her. In this short time, it had started to rain heavily.
'''Well then, shall we start?'' – Rias spoke, in an elegant manner.
''We can, yes. Recently the Holy-swords Excaliburs that were kept by the Catholic Church Headquarter Vatican, Protestant Church, and Eastern Orthodox Church were stolen." –Irina spoke.
Three holy swords were stolen, two are in this room, and one was lost in the war. That means only one of them is with the church.
''And what does that incident have to do with us?''
''Those swords were brought here.'' – Irina sighed –''We sent assassins and priests but all of them were killed.
Rias's smiled as the crossed her legs. –''What do you expect from us?''
That shit-eating grin on Xenovia's face. –''For you to not involve. To do nothing. To not interfere. At least, don't help them.''
''Insolent. Do you really think we would help the fallen angels?''
''I don't know, devils are slimy and untrustworthy, aren't they?''
As killing intent spiked in the room, Issei spoke.
''Do you know who is behind the stealing of the swords?''
''Yes, we do, Ise-kun. It's Kokabiel, a high ranking fallen angel.''
''And you plan on taking him down yourselves?''
Xenovia scoffed. –''Yes, we are. Are you saying we can't do that?''
Issei didn't answer, he just showed a droopy smile.
In that second, Xenovia was mid-jump as the wrapping around her giant sword disappeared. Issei just scoffed and stepped aside from the swipe of the sword and backhanded her so hard, that when she fell she broke a table in two.
As she lay there, unconscious, the room was filled with an eerie silence.
''What?'' – Issei asked with a wide shit-eating grin. –''She started it. You all say that, right? Well, whatever, I'll be in touch in case you guys need help, well, if you can stop acting like children.''
Issei casually strolled outside of the room. There, was Kiba, his arm was bleeding and he was drenched in rainwater.
His eyes narrow, filled with killing intent. He recognized that look in his eyes. Where? It was in his eyes, for a long time.
''..Oh Issei, just who I needed to see.'' – He was unable to concentrate and he was obviously in pain. –''Got a moment?'' – He spoke in harsh, cold tone, with a hint of ridicule.
Issei noded and they disappeared In a flash of red light.
Issei found himself in a room. It was a normal, maybe a bit more clean than most, teenager's room. Well, if you exclude the sword that was wrapped in numerous wraps, and the half dead white haired priest tied up on his floor. The very same priest Issei had met in the old church.
''Quite a fuckin' party you have here, Kiba.'' – Issei spoke, as he scratched behind his head with a droopy smile.
''This priest wielded an Excalibur sword. You do know of them, right?''
''Hey…you….shitty…dev-'' –The weeping of voice of the priest was stopped, as Kiba kicked him in the ribs. He started to cough up blood, as he tried to move.
''Ya know, I would be lying, if I said I expected my day to go like this.'' - Issei chukcled.
Everything was turning for the worse.
Yo, It is I, the great master of ''I can't write sad dialog for shit'', Blueprints.
How have you been? Has life been treating you well?
For me, I have been lazying around. Well, that and I wrote a fanfic by the name of ''Brothers of a Sword'' for Naruto, where Itachi and Naruto are born the same year and are like brothers. Well, anyways, if you have an interest in Naruto, might as well check it out.
Well, if I exclude the shameless advertising, I would like to speak about two things..
1. Yes, Kiba defeated Freed. Why not? He had more training with Issei. Freed is an arrogant little shit, and I'm going to enjoy torturing him next chapter. *whistles innocently*
2. Issei is more damaged than you'd think, but he isn't the ''All humanity must perish while I twirl my mustache'' damaged.
Until next time, my dear readers, and if you have anything at all you want to say or ask, please leave a review. Ya know, reviews are like fuel to me, I might work faster.