The running water cleansed Issei's sweaty skin. It was morning, but Issei's skin had been sweaty – from late night training. He simply had been too tired to take a shower after it.
He leaned against the wall with his hands, leaving the mirror between them. Issei's brown eye met his own as he looked into it. He had changed a bit over the course of being home. His hair had grown longer and slightly wilder - now it reached to his eyes.
He had grown slightly more thick – the food at home was delicious and calorie filled – he ate slightly more than he needed to become more muscular. A little bit of weight for his short frame was always welcome.
The door behind him slid open. He knew it wasn't Kuroka. He moved slightly to the side as he used the reflection of the mirror to see who it was.
Two almond shaped eyes met his. It was a girl with straw yellow hair. They were let out to flow freely so they simply covered her breasts...but other than that, she was naked.
''..Maria.''
''Good morning, Issei-chan.'' – she spoke, as she elegantly stepped closer to him. Issei span around, looking at her from above. He had grown a few inches ever since joining the Zero Army, seeing how he was now about a head's length taller than Maria. She stopped a feet from him and touched his chest with a single finger.
''You've become more muscular.'' – She stated as the hot water flowed over her frame –''Although you have been more muscular before. ''
''I have?'' – Issei asked with a slightly detached tone.
''Yes. Before Margit-chan died, back when you, her and Slade trained like maniacs.''
For a moment, melancholia and the fragments of memories hit him. Things like swimming unbelievably stupid distances like 30 miles and climbing cliffs with one hand tied behind their back flashed trough his mind. He blinked and then spoke.
''..Why are you here?''
She poked the area of Issei's heart. –''Don't be so mean to me. As an apology, wash my hair.''
''Huh?'' – Issei simply spat the word out without thinking.
''My. Hair.'' – She pointed with her other finger at her head –''Wash it.''
''What the hell am I doing with my life?'' – he sighed, as he reached for the shampoo. He squeezed the bottle and let the thick liquid in his palm as Maria span around in a cute manner.
Issei slowly lowered his palms on the top of her head.
Soft.
The first thought that popped into his head was that as he slowly brushed his fingers trough her hair. Even though they looked like straws, they were incredibly soft.
''So, anyways.'' – She spoke, a bit of ridicule in her tone. ''Listen very carefully.''
''Yeah, yeah, I am.'' – Issei grumbled as he scratched her head harder.
She let out a sigh.''There has been a lot of activity in the shadows. People buy places, weapons, food, transports, poisons and drugs. I've dug some stuff up and the name that came up is Khaos Brigade.''
Issei brushed her hair further down.
''It's a giant organization. More and stronger members than ours. Well, for now. But the reason why I'm saying is this – they will most likely move soon...and they have Cao Cao.''
Issei's arms froze.
''..What is their purpose?'' – Issei asked with a detached voice.
''I don't know. But they are arming. Recruiting everyone who is evil. Devils, Fallen Angels, and descendants of Heroes.''
Issei's started to move again.
Maria chuckled. ''You aren't stressed? Worried? Anxious? Nothing at all?''
''I am. '' – Issei said, with a low voice. –''But that just means I'll have to defeat a hero.''
''It does.'' – Maria spoke with a hard to read expression. She raised her palms and drove her slender fingers trough her own hair.
Her fingers met Issei's and he yanked his hands backwards. On reflex, fear or anger, that remained to be known.
''Heh. '' – She let out a long sigh. – ''I guess some things still don't change.''
Maria span around again, meeting Issei's narrow eyes with her wide ones. Her lips curled into a smile. ''Listen. Don't speak. Train and grown stronger. We have a long journey ahead, Issei.'' – She started to turn around, but stopped.
''Ara, I almost forgot.'' – She hit her head playfully. –''How is your health?''
Issei smirked. ''I'm good.'' – He raised his fists and cracked a bone. ''My strength is back 5fold, my bone structure is now as it should be and my heartbeat is now regular.''
''Good. I'll cross this part of the plan a success.'' – She nodded. –''But now, if you'd excuse me, I have to go. See you soon, Issei-chan~''- Issei looked at her back as she tilted her head back, revealing her scar, previously covered by her silky flowing hair.
She disappeared.
Issei stepped backwards. His muscular back hit the mirror behind him and he slid down it, falling into a sitting position.
He outstretched one of his legs and looked upwards, letting the hot water hit his face as he closed his eyes.
Touching her hands made Issei remember. He had thought he was over her torture, but as it turns out, he wasn't.
Rias Gremory was a smart individual, and it wasn't just her pride or arrogance. The things she wanted and didn't get were in small amounts. One of them being Koneko and her mental block of her powers.
She of course wanted to lift it, to help Koneko, to get rid of her fears and to make her stronger, but it didn't mater how much she talked with her, pleaded, explained, it didn't matter.
Koneko never talked about it. She was emotionless most of the time.
Things changed after Issei's arrival and him befriending and training her...but with change she never, in her entire life would have expected change like this.
She simply blinked her wide eyes in bewilderment – Issei and Koneko stood in front of her desk. Koneko had her white ears and twin white tails out.
'''..Can you tell this to me once again..?'' – She spoke, looking upwards at them trough her writing glasses. She didn't need them, but she felt like they helped her think.
''Basically, I talked about it with Issei..and turns out he knew my sister.'' – She spoke. –''He explained a lot of things. I understood a lot of things, but that doesn't matter I've forgiven her. Issei explained that she didn't go berserk because of her power. So basically, it means I can use it..and I will. I will grow stronger.''
''..I see.'' – She spoke, her hand covering her mouth. –''I don't really trust Issei about some things of his past, so I'll ask you. You didn't meet her, you sister, right?''
''Of course not, Buchou.'' She said as she touched her nose for a second. A second too long for Issei to not catch it, but for Rias – it was a meaningless gesture.
He smirked ever so slightly, Margit's words rebounding in his head.
''Remember Issei. You can tell a lot about people from simply observing them. Lying is the easiest – they don't look you in the eyes, they touch their neck, their nose, they cover their mouths. Well, although in our business, people look a lot more scared when we question them.''
Moonlight.
Moonlight was shinning over the 3 individuals backs. Koneko, Issei and Kuroka were training near a lake. Koneko didn't know where they were, but it was obvious they were not in Japan.
She was sitting with her legs crossed resting from training with her older sister as she watched her and Issei spar. She did know that Issei was rather skilled in hand-to-hand combat but she didn't realize how far his skill went...and how skilled her sister had become.
Issei span around, falling to one knee as a high kick swooshed over his head. Kuroka's kick. As her leg landed she span forwards, raising her other leg, only this time lower.
Issei caught the leg with both hands and jumped into the air over it. He landed a few meters to the front, using his arms he flipped midair and landed on his feet.
His arm raised in reflex as it met Kuroka's foot and blocked it. He stepped backwards, dodging an incoming fist from her. Issei smirked and jumped forwards, as he knocked away a low coming fist with his palm and flailed his elbow to the front.
Kuroka leaned downwards as the blow rushed over head but then she stepped backwards in pain – A naked foot was crashed against her side – Issei had used his elbow as an distraction and span around with the momentum.
She dodged another blow backflipping backwards and charged Issei. As he tried to predict where will the blow come from Kuroka simply dashed faster and jumped against his chest – to Issei's surprise, she stepped another step higher and then forced her leg upwards to hit issei's face as she did another backflip kicking away from Issei.
..But of course she missed – Issei had leaned his head backwards and thus, she missed.
''Good, good.'' – Issei smirked, as he looked at her. She was dressed in tight shorts and a sports bra while Issei was simply wearing shorts, shirtless. Both of them were with bare feet.
''Don't go easy on me, loverboy, nyaa~'' – She said, in her teasing voice as she jumped towards Issei who simply cartwheeled backwards and as Kuroka was closing in he stopped and kicked at her, his knee raised high.
Raised her hand to hit it away as Issei didn't lower his knee – he kicked at her again, this time lower. She caught the kick and leaned in to punch Issei, but he simply jumped upwards, pulling his leg out of her grasp...and he made a mistake.
Or so she thought. Kuroka dashed towards Issei's landing place with a grin. As Issei landed he simply watched the fist coming towards face. He didn't move backwards as Kuroka predicted but he caught her arm by the wrist.
He pulled her forward while keeping his foot in her way so she would trip. As she tripped Issei grabbed her other hand and put them together above her head. Her wrists were pretty narrow so he could hold both of her hands with a single one.
Koneko raised her head in disbelief. Her mouth opened wide as she spoke. –''N-No way..''
SMACK
Issei slapped Kuroka's ass.
SMACK
Again.
''Nyaa~'' – Kuroka meowed.
''You pervert.'' – Koneko stated as she jumped at Issei who let go of Kuroka and jumped away.
He rubbed the backside of his head with a droopy smile. ''Sorry, sorry.''
Kuroka pouted as Koneko spoke. ''Why didn't you resist?''
She showed her little sister an promiscuous smile. ''Maybe..because I didn't mind?''
This time Koneko pouted, as the tree of them sat down in the sand in a triangle.
Kuroka was showing off a curly smile, Issei showed of an droopy one while Koneko simply held a pokerface, but something seemed off.
''Is something wrong?'' – Issei asked.
Koneko looked at the ground, but then nodded. ''I just can't get the concentration down as I need.''
Issei smiled at her. ''Is that it? You have been at this for 2 weeks and you have made progress. Healing ki manipulation is hard to do, you know.''
She sighed at the answer.
''My teacher once spoke of it like this – a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. I don't remember who she quoted though.'' – He chuckled.
''..Lao Tzu. '' – Kuroka added.
''Yeah, him.''
Koneko rolled her eyes at Issei.
''..She said that to me here, actually. Back when I was mad for not being able to use magic.''
Koneko jerked at that sentence. –''So you really can't use it?''
Issei smiled with his eyebrows arched. ''As I said, I'm talentless in everything except taking a beating.''
Koneko decided to move the conversation from the obviously pain inducing way it was heading. ''Where are we, anyways?''
''By a lake, miles away from civilization, somewhere near the Canadian borders.'' – Issei responded.
Koneko's eyes widened.
''This place holds a special meaning to us, nyaa. '' – Kuroka spoke. –''Me, Issei, Margit and Slade trained here a lot.''
''I see.'' Koneko responded with a slight smile. She knew who Slade was – Issei had told about him, but she didn't understand the single fact - was he alive, or was he dead.
Her sister and Issei looked at each other for a second.
Kuroka got up and raised her finger to point at the lake. ''Can you see the other side of it, Shirone-nyaa?''
Koneko squinted, but still could barely see it in the far far distance. – ''..Barely.''
Kuroka's eyes narrowed. –''Issei, Slade and Margit have swum to the other side.''
''Huh?'' – Koneko couldn't help but raise her voice.
''And many times.''
The 4 similar, almost the same hazel eyes landed on Issei. He clutched his chest, almost as if someone had hit him.
''H-Hey! S-S-Shut up! We thought it was a good idea back then!''
After a brief while of silence, the three of them fell into a laugh together. It was then that Issei understood the fact that he hadn't laughed honestly, and trully like that in a long, long time.
3 weeks passed since then as the whole peerage was gathered in the club-room of the Occult Club.
Trough the window a big, white circular ball was floating between the clouds. The full moon. Issei sighed, knowing he wouldn't be sleeping peacefully tonight.
''Now then.'' – Rias spoke up. ''We will be going and getting you an familiar, Issei.''
''Me?'' – He asked.
''Koneko here has one.'' – Rias nodded to Koneko who raised her hands in front of her and a familiar jumped out of thin air. It was a cute white cat.
Issei smirked. –''Fitting.''
''..Shut up.'' – She frowned at him.
''Anyways, the familiar master is in the familiar monster forest at a full moon so we should go. '' – Rias spoke as Akeno began to chant a teleport circle.
''If he is there at a full moon, why didn't we go in the 2 last ones?'' – Issei implored.
''This first time I simply decided to skip, the second time Sona stole our spot.'' – She exhaled in an overly dramatic way.''
With that they teleported away.
They appeared in a forest. A particularly scary looking forest. Issei narrowed his eyes.
''GET DAZE!''
As someone shouted that at the group, a knife was chucked at him. After a second he was laying on the ground face down.
''Issei!'' – Rias exclaimed.
''Hey! Not my fault! He scared me.'' – Issei rebutted, after all, he couldn't control his impulses.
''I'M FINE!''- The guy Issei chucked a knife at jumped up in a flash. –'' My name is Satooji of Madara Town! I'm a devil in training, aiming to become the Familiar Master!''
''I'm sorry Satooji, I brought the boy I spoke of.'' – Rias said in a court manner.
''It's fine, It's fine.'' – Satooji responded while waving his hand. ''He seems quite..wild.''
''Nice to meet you, I'm Issei.'' – He spoke.
''Good.''- He nodded. –''Well then, shall we start?''
''Yes.'' – This time Rias nodded. –''Let's go, he will help us with finding an familiar.''
They began to move, as Satooji spoke. –''What kind of an familiar would you like?''
''Something canine.'' – Issei turned to face Koneko. – ''A cat would be fine too.''
She lunged at his side with a fist, but Issei blocked.
''Baka.''
''OKKAAYY, A FAMILIAR WIL L BE GET!'' – Satooji screamed in broken english as they moved trough the woods.
After a while Issei stopped when he heard the brush to his side rustle.
In that second, a blur of white fur jumped on him. As his back hit the dirt, he felt the things teeth sunk into his right arm – the one that was being held as a block in front of his face.
His battlemode kicked into overdrive as he kicked the beast on him, throwing him off.
''Issei, are you alright?'' – Rias exclaimed as she tried to get closer, but Satooji stopped the peerage.
''Be quit now and observe.'' – He smiled –''Looks like Issei found an familiar.''
''But he attacked him!''- Akeno rebutted.
''Just watch.''
Issei got back on his feet and looked at the beast in front of him. It was a wolf with white fur and red gloving eyes...well, with one red eye – the other had 3 stripes over it, most likely another wolf had scratched it out.
''..Is it an polar wolf, Satooji?'' – Issei asked.
''No, it isn't.'' – He spoke. –''Devil forests don't have polar anything. This one is most likely an albino. A RARE GET!''
Issei lowered his center of gravity. – ''I see. Mind if I take this one?''
''Not at all. Go at it, kid!''
The wolf roared at him, showing off his canine teeth in a way that was familiar to Issei. He smirked.
They began to move in a circle, eyeing each other. Issei brought up his hands, not even flinching at the bite marks.
The wolf jumped at Issei who slid under his jaw and grabbed him by the neck and flipped him over, effectively ending up on top of him.
Issei bit into his ear as it felt like a natural thing to do. The wolf quieted down and stopped moving.
Issei let go of him and got up. The wolfs one red orb-like eye met Issei's eyes.
''Hey, Satooji. The scar, is it a new one?'' – Issei asked, as he got a closer look at the wolf.
''..It doesn't look like it. I'd say he is being chased by a group of wolves. Most likely because of him being an albino.''
Of course, wolfs move in packs and they dislike the weak ones. Well, at least albinos should be the weak ones. They usually are born blind and die soon after..but not this one.
The wolf suddenly arched his back and started to growl. The peerage jerked, except Issei and Koneko, who's ears twitched.
''Something is wrong..'' – Satooji stated, as many pairs of glowing eyes appeared trough the bushes. There were many black wolves surrounding them. The wolves started to cricle the group, but as one of the wolfs jumped at Issei, the white wolf stopped him mid air, as his jaws sunk into the wolfs neck.
CRUNCH.
With a whimper, the attacking wolf fell down, lifeless. The wolfs white fur was covered by blood as he roared at the circling wolves and raised his head, letting out a howl at the moon.
The howl echoed trough the forest, as the circling wolves, one by one ran away.
Issei dropped to one knee and touched the wolf's head. Slowly, but surely he patted him. He was a bit smaller than a normal wolf, so he looked more like an overgrown dog.
''Are you fine with him?'' – Satooji asked.
Issei understood that he was weaker than the normal wolfs, but he liked the fact that he was different...and with white fur.
''Wait, Issei!''- Koneko ran up to Issei and touched his bleeding arm. She closed her eyes and her tail and ears appeared. Issei's arm glowed in a yellow glow and the bite marks disappeared.
''Thank you, Koneko.''- He said to her with a smile -''Let's go.''
As he said that, Issei and Akeno nodded to him, but Kiba and Koneko smiled.
''Yoooshhh!'' – Satooji showed a wide grin and they began to move backwards. Issei looked downwards at the wolf, who simply followed him, his body center low, most likely because he was being aware of the surroundings.
As they stopped at the entrence of the forest, they began the ritual of obtaining and familiar.
''I, Issei Hyoudou ask of you to become my familiar and to answer my callings.'' – Issei was standing right next to the wolf, who was inside the middle of the magic circle. Akeno was standing on the outside, helping Issei with the magic – after all, he was bad at it.
The magic circle slowly dissipated, and the wolf walked up to Issei and rubbed his head against Issei's leg.
''How are you going to call him?''
''..Echo would be good.''
''Echo?'' – Rias asked.
''Yeah, Echo. '' – Issei looked down on the wolf. –''Are you okay with Echo?''
The wolf barked in approval.
Issei walked to his house trough the night. He had teleported to the clubhouse, together with the peerage and said his goodbyes. Koneko had stayed behind to report her progress.
Issei pulled the front door's lever downwards and opened it and simply walked, not being silent or anything of the kind. His parents didn't wake up.
''..This is suspicious.'' – He sighed as he opened his room's door.
Seducing hazel eyes met his, as he noticed Kuroka in her usual yukata sitting on the window sill.
''Yo.'' – Issei raised his hand in a friendly gesture.
''Welcome back, nyaa~'' – Kuroka responded with a smile.
''..Listen, Kuroka.'' – Issei spoke, as he walked forward to the window. –''Did you put a spell on my parents?''
The smile disappeared. –''I did.''
''I see.'' – Issei showed her a sad smirk.
''I had to.'' – Kuroka touched Issei's cheek with her palm. '' You do realize that when parents get their son back, they get really overprotective?''
''..I see.'' Issei looked her in the eyes. –''Thank you.''
Kuroka smiled and brought her face closer to Issei's. Their lips touched and their tongues entangled.
A few moments later Kuroka pulled back with a purr. –''What was the meeting about?''
''Ah, I almost forgot. I got a familiar.'' – Issei stated, and snapped his fingers.
From thin air Echo appeared in Issei's room. For a second he looked at Kuroka while showing his teeth, but a second later he walked over to Kuroka and let her pet him.
''I like him.'' – He stated with a meow.
''He doesn't mind a cat?''
''He isn't a dog, dummy~. ''- Kuroka chuckled.
''Anyways, want to take a walk?'' – Issei asked her.
''Don't you want to get some sleep?''
''Nope.'' – He whistled –''Not tonight.''
''..I see.'' Kuroka turned to Echo.''What's your name, big boy~~?''
''Echo.'' –Issei responded as he too went over and petted the wolfs head.
''C'mon, lets go, Echo.'' – Kuroka spoke and simply jumped out of his room's window.
Echo looked back at Issei and followed Kuroka.
''..It's gonna be a long night.'' – Issei sighed, as he jumped out the window, following the other two.
yo. I'm quite late, am I not?
Well, anyways, the chapter is done, sorry for the lateness.
I know a wolf is overdone and cliche, but sorry, I had to.
WOLVES ARE COOL, I WILL FIGHT YOU.
(and yes, they do bark.)
And I wanted to ask you guys - am I improving in my writing?
I have lost motivation in these last few weeks...but as long as people are willing to read, I'll get my shit together and finish it. I dislike leaving something unfinished.
The Naruto fanfic I've started, a new chapter is half-done currently. I decided to change some things. Ouroboros is will be rewritten after I finish broken wings...but that will be far, far into the future. Sorry, if anyone actually likes it.