Sirzechs stood in the white room filled with medical equipment. He had just looked over Rias, who was asleep. She was simply exhausted and the wounds she had gotten were mostly taken care of by the two Pheonex tears.
Kiba, Gasper and Akeno were the people who had suffered a lot more but they were mostly fine, although some recovery time was expected. They were especially sure to not leave any scars on Akeno.
Koneko was sitting next to Issei's bed, in a chair that was a bit too big for her. Her feet didn't reach the floor, as they dangled a few inches before it.
Issei himself was completely out of it, sleeping and bandaged like a mummy. An IV drip was hydrating him and returning blood to his body. Next to it, was a small golden bottle that was dripping very slowly.
''.. Sir Sirzechs.'' – The nurse with long brow hair, glasses and medical coat was standing near Issei and looking over some of the notes. She hummed and had a rather lazy expression on her face. –'' This is rather beyond my comprehension. Does the Hyoudou boy have any special healing abilities?''
''None that I know off.'' – Sirzechs said, but turned his head to Koneko, who simply nudged her head in a confirmation.
''..I see. I guess I'll go over facts from the beginning. 23 fractures, impaled lungs, smashed organs and completely out burned magic circuits all over his body. His left arm was pretty destroyed. Bones and nerves included.''
''I understand.'' - Sirzechs simply nodded to that while Koneko held an ambigious expression.
''Well, he had lost an incredible amount of blood and he should have been in such a large amount of pain he shouldn't be even alive from it...but I looked over the files you gathered for me..and x-rayed his body once again...this isn't the first time he's been so banged up. ''
Sirzechs nodded and the women suddenly spoke up.
''Ah! Almost forgot. Well, he was healed before us. Did you do it?'' – She asked the two of them.
Koneko wanted to lie...but there was no use for it.
When they both remained quiet, she spoke up. –''I see. Then in the time between he was taken and you found him, he was severly banged up and then he was healed. Healed really, really well. So much in fact, that we didn't really have anything to do for him. Most of his organs were restored and his magic circuits calmed down. The only thing left was to take care of his arm and give him enough pain medication and pheonix tears so the organs can restore fully.''
Sirzechs narrowed his eyes and simply asked. –''..Do you have any idea of who could have healed him?''
The nurse touched her glasses, sensing hostility. –''..None at all. All I know, that said person is rather skilled in Ki manipulation...so most likely a youkai of sorts.''
''Thank you.'' – Sirzechs said curtly and began to walk away.
Koneko frowned...she knew it was Kuroka who had healed Issei. Only she was able of healing prowess on that kind of caliber.
Somewhere far and distant, a man with the strongest demon sword was resting. His mind was a bit jumbled up from what had happened. He kept reliving the hapening of few hours ago. The parts where it went wrong, the parts where Issei Hyoudou had defied everything he knew.
A single man, already damaged and beaten up had stood versus them without a sliver of hesitation. He didn't waver or fear them...if anything, they were the ones afraid. They were the ones who hesitated.
Issei's cold, courageous eyes remained in the back of his mind.
The doors to the dark room he was in opened and let in a bit of light. He raised his eyes.
''Cao Cao.'' – He spoke.
''...What you did was moronic on a level I've never seen before. You lost 4 men today. I'm disappointed. To go behind my back...and to think I assumed you as the smart leader.''
''...I am very sorry.'' – Siegfried responded, still seated, while Cao Cao sat down, facing him. -''..But it was a valid point...that man will grow even stronger. And when that happens...I can't explain why...but I just know it will be trouble. ''
''...I can see why you decided that elimination was a correct path to take...but...I didn't ask you to do it because I could see it ending this way. With him coming out victorious.''
Cao Cao responded and left the room in a silence for quite a while.
''...What is the connection between you two?'' – Siegfried asked, after a while.
''...Saying that there is a connection between us two is kind of wrong. I had a connection to his teacher. We had spared once or twice.''
''..Who was his teacher?''
''..A women. The strongest women I have ever met.'' – Cao Cao stopped for a while, as if trying to remember as much as he could. –''..Our spars were something else. A human women who could match me...was something out of the ordinary. With no sacred gear, with a single knife in her hand she could keep up with me.''
''...'' – Siegfried didn't asked Cao Cao anything, he simply listened.
''Don't misunderstand. I had a lot of respect for her. It was with her that I met Issei Hyoudou. Back then he was...a bit more prideful. He still had the fierce eyes and the stone cold expression, but something has changed ever since her death. Hyoudou has no pride or honor anymore. He's fallen low, like a stray dog. Want to know why you think of him as of someone to eliminate at all costs?'' – Cao Cao asked.
''..He didn't loose the pride he has..he abandoned it for a greater goal.''
''Yes. I don't know what...but the desire to reach something, the spirit...is very strong. He will live, become strong and reach his goal, no matter the sacrifice.''
''..I see.''
Cao Cao nodded. –''..The man wants strength that he didn't have when he needed it the most over anything else...it's a path that has never led to anything beautiful.''
Sirzechs was sitting in his Office when Azazel teleported in, as always.
He looked to both sides, and when he was sure no one was around, he smirked a bit. A bottle of whiskey appeared in his hand.
''Up for a drink?'' – He asked.
Sirzechs simply nodded.
He made two glasses appear from nowhere on Sirzechs desk and poured them a fill. He created ice cubes from thin air and smiled, sliding one of the glasses towards Sirzechs.
''..So. About the kid.'' – He began, as he sat on the opposite side of Sirzechs desk, in a comfortable, leather chair. He opened the single suit button he had closed.
''Let's talk, yes.''
''For what happened. It was most likely Khaos Brigade. Our magicians scanned the area. Most of the field was demolished by the kid. Seems like he kind of snapped, they say...but that is not the point, right?'' – Azazel asked, taking a sip from his glass.
''Yes. Someone healed Issei after the fight. Someone really adept at healing. Someone, who can use senjutsu.'' – Sirzechs said, and kept looking at Azazel's reaction.
''..So Koneko's sister.''
Sirzechs nodded.
''So this means that he is still in contact with her...or maybe not. She could have simply arrived to save him. Without previous knowledge.'' – Azazel responded and scratched his chin.
Sirzechs downed his glass. –''...It's odd. I don't want to feel like a moron who is getting pulled along his nose...but at the same time I don't want to do anything rash...he already feels ostracized enough.''
''..He does?''
''..It's how Rias describes him. He never really hangs out with them. He only trains...and trains. It's as if he's being chased by something...and the only way to cope is to become stronger.''
Azazel chuckled. –''Because that's the truth...as much as I have figured out...he most likely blames himself for the death of his teacher. That left a wound that will never heal. The power he lacked then, he wants to gain it..''
''..That's..sad.'' – Sirzechs said, and pushed his glass at Azazel, who poured himself and Sirzechs a new fill.
''..That's how Issei is. Anyways..what will you do about it?'' – Azazel asked.
''I..will talk to him...but I will set up some other measures.'' –Sirzechs responded and took a sip from his glass. –''..my and Issei's relationship isn't good to begin with.''
''Oya?'' – Azazel widened his eyes. –''..What did you say?''
''...I said that I would kill him if he'd put his hands on Rias.''
Azazel went silent for a while. –''..In what way?''
''..Any way.''
Azazel tried to hold his mouth shut, but then he blurted into laughter. –''Hahaha, do you really think he would fall for Rias?''
''..Maybe. She's a beautiful women.'' – Sirzechs said.
''Indeed...but I think it would take more than that for Issei to fall for a girl.''
They both continued to talk about things, eventually moving on about unrelated things.
Rias stood in Issei's hospital room. Her pawn was covered in bandages and his left arm was in a cast. Around Issei's neck was a brace that held his head in a rather awkward angle as his white hair still held some traces of red.
It was the fourth day after the game. They had won...and it was all because of Issei. It was time for her and her peerage to go to a after celebration party. Her gaze lingered on Issei...and she turned to walk away.
She of course heard everything that happened to him...at least, as much as her brother told her.
Issei was teleported away and attacked by the Khaos Brigade...and he had survived.
''..That's just like you.'' – Rias said, and exited into the corridor.
Issei's eyes opened as soon as she exited. He was faking being asleep because talking with Rias was a bother.
He exhaled heavily. He brought his back up, slowly, wincing his teeth in pain, as he finally got himself in a sitting position.
Everything hurt...the painkillers and pheonix tears didn't heal the nerves that were aggravated by the fighting...together with his trash magic circuits that he overused, it was quite a pain to even move at all.
He waited a bit, and then slowly got out of his bed, creaking and wheezing like an old man.
''..How low..'' – He spoke to himself. It was the evening and he knew not too many people would be around. He was wearing a green yukata with a white sash. He realized that some poor girl had washed his dirty body and changed his clothes.
He sighed again, and with a grunt began to walk to his door.
He opened them with ease, as they were western style, not the Japanese sliding type. He stepped outside of his room as he looked around. The nurses were busy with other things. He slowly moved towards the free-time part of the hospital wing.
Only a single person was reading inside the resting part.
It was painful to move around as much as he did, and thus, he, having taken a book from the rather giant Bookshelf, propped himself down in one of the chairs.
Opposite him, the single man was reading a newspaper. A bit of time passed before the man brought down his newspaper and looked at Issei.
''..Hyoudou.'' – He said, with an energetic voice.
Issei almost choked on air. He hadn't really taken any attention to his surroundings and thus hearing Saiaorg's voice was quite surprising.
''..Yo.'' – He said, lowering the book he had read only about 5 pages from.
Saiaorg's chest bandages were showing trough the v-neck collar that the medical yukata revealed. His chin was bandaged extra thoroughly. On his noise bridge, there was a single band-aid. It was so surreal that it looked like something out of a comedy fighting manga.
''I don't remember beating you up so much..'' – Saiaorg said, with a slight chuckle. He obviously knew what had happened, he was just trying to get the conversation going.
Issei smiled. –''..Your fists are a lot heavier than you give them credit for.''
''..And yet you won...and even then you survived a terrorist ambush. I heard it was a 1vs6..'' – Saiaorg narrowed his eyes a bit, showing raw interested.
''..It was a 1v4. They...took two rookies with them. They didn't even pose a threat, nor did they have any kind of ways to protect themselves from me.''
''..You killed them, right?'' – Saiaorg asked with tone that was rather casual. He wasn't judging Issei.
''Yes.'' – Issei brought his hands together and cracked his bruised knuckle. –''..I kind of can't control myself fully when I get to fight in the state that I was in.''
''I see.'' – Saiaorg smiled a bit, almost seemingly trying to encourage Issei. –''To me it seems like you used the most safe, but cruel way of surviving. It's just normal to take out the weak ones first in a fight, don't you think?''
Issei nodded.
''What did they want?'' – Saiaorg asked, after a slight bit of silence.
Issei smiled a bit. –''..Do you know who I am..truly who I am?''
Saiaorg chuckled a bit at that question. –''..No one truly knows you...but as I know..you were a leader to one of most dangerous mercenary factions in the world.''
Issei looked downwards, at his knuckles, that were bruised and in a tone of blue. –''..I was a leader in name. The true leader ran away and I was chosen out of respect for me...or rather for my teacher. I carried the Bloodhound and Leader position on my back for a some time...I was just a stand-in for the latter though...although I don't know what happened to them now.'' – Issei stopped for a bit.
Of course, he was lying. The Suicide Squad was waiting for him in one of their many safe-houses. It was all an act.
''But I digress..'' – Issei continued. –''..they gave the choice to join them or be killed.''
''You chose the latter..''- Saiaorg smirked at Issei.
He nodded and smiled as well. –''And that's how I am here.''
A bit of silence passed between them.
Issei sighed. –''..Do you not have any anger towards me?''
''None at all.'' – Saiaorg simply stated. –''..I am not angry at people who can beat me...I only get motivated to get stronger.''
''...I'm curious. Of all the things in the world, what do you value above everything else?'' – Saiaorg asked him, his purple eyes almost trying to stare into Issei's soul.
''...strength.'' – Issei spoke as he stared at his fingers, seemingly lost in thoughts. –''..I need strength over anything else.''
Saiaorg sighed. –''..We two know we need the strength...but I don't think you know where the limit lays...where to stop.''
Issei's eyes narrowed as he looked into Saiaorg's. His lips pulled into a creepy smile and his bruised up face, together with the blue circles under his eyes, didn't help to smooth the rather sinister expression.
''..Strength is all I want and need. I want to become stronger. I need to become stronger. I don't care for the way..''
Saiaorg made a che sound with his mouth. –''..It's pretty pathetic, to think of it this way.''
Issei's grimace disappeared as he looked downwards. –''..Maybe so.''
A few minutes past in silence, as Issei read a few pages from the book. It was a simple novel, it was mildly interesting. A story about teenagers growing up...Issei didn't read any action japanese novels...because he had enough novel scenes to his life that he didn't even need to read them.
''..Saiaorg.'' – Issei began. –''..What do you value the most?''
Saiaorg smiled. –''..Loyalty.''
Issei let out a small chuckle. –''..Figures.''
Saiaorg had finished reading the newspaper and got up. He cracked his shoulders and spoke up, one last time. –''..Issei. You like to be under the radar, right?''
He nodded.
''I have bad news for you, haha.~'' – He said, chuckled, and turned to walk away.
Issei was confused for a second, but then picked up the newspaper that Saiaorg was reading earlier.
He looked at the front page.
''JUST WHO IS THE ONLY PAWN OF RIAS GREMORY?''
That headline attacked his sight at first glance. Under the headline, a giant picture of Issei holding up Saiaorg was plastered over the first page.
Issei looked at himself. Almost every single scar of his back and arms was visible. He sighed, understanding that this will attract an ungodly amount of attention he didn't want, nor need.
As he read those words, a blinding pain hit his brain. He clutched his head with the single arm that wasn't in a sling and dropped the newspaper out of his grasp.
He clutched his teeth and waited for the pain to pass. A few seconds passed before the pain, that was like a drill that was trying to pry his brain open, diminished.
''...just wonderful.'' – He said and inhaled deeply, trying to relax his body.
Kiba inhaled deeply. He had just been at the congratulation party of the Saiaorg fight and thus, he was pretty dressed up. His black suit and white shirt were so well fiting and good looking on him that he trully did look like a prince.
His heart was racing. He couldn't imagine a reason for Sirzechs to summon him...but yet, here he was, in front of the doors, just about to knock on them.
His hand almost touched the door, but it suddenly stopped, as the single idea of him being too weak jumped into his mind. He knew how spectacularly he failed in the Saiaorg fight. He didn't even bring down a single person...while Issei brought down Saiaorg himself, alone.
He sighed and his complexion pulled into an angered expression...
Anger, at himself. His weakness.
He exhaled heavily and calmed down. The expression on his face disappeared.
He knocked on the door.
After a brief moment, he heard Sirzechs.
''Come in.''
Kiba opened the doors and entered the Office of the Satan. Sir Sirzechs's Office.
He quickly marched towards Sirzechs's desk, behind which he was siting. Sirzechs was visibly tired as he looked over the document pile on his desk. While Kiba was looking at piles of documents, Sirzechs had looked at him.
Noticing his gaze, Sirzechs spoke. –''..The Satan's job is more paperwork than anything else...very different than I imagined.''
Kiba relaxed slightly at Sirzechs's very casual tone.
''Now then..Kiba.'' – Sirzechs began and motioned for him to sit down on a chair opposite to him. –''..How are you after the fight?''
Kiba clutched at his side, where bandages were tied around his side, under his shirt. The pain was mostly gone, only a scar remained.
''..I am very well. My wounds healed very quickly, sir.'' – Kiba responded, overly polite.
Sirzechs waved his hand. –''Drop the honorifics, Kiba. It's good to hear that. Your defeat was quite demoralizing, correct?''
Kiba looked downwards and simply nodded.
''Don't worry about it. You have grown a lot stronger, it was a simple, unfair advantage.''
''..Yes.'' – He responded, after a while.
''..I want to offer you something. It's a power...that comes with a responsibility.''
''...What do you mean with that?'' – Kiba asked, feeling out of the loop.
''..It's a sword.'' – Sirzechs responded and raised his hand. At his side, out of a different dimension, wrapped in chains and cloth was a sword with a claw-like guard. It gave off a different kind of vibe...similar to a Excalibur. –''..This sword was given as a gift from the heaven's...quite literally. By Micheal, to be more specific. It's name is Ascalon. Saint George, a long time ago, killed a dragon with it.''
It took less than a second for Kiba to realize what was going on. –''..You are giving me a..dragon..slaying sword?''
''Yes.'' – Sirzechs answered, without raising an eyebrow. –''..Don't take it the wrong way. I trust Issei, for what he is and what he said...but he is a wildcard...a wildcard that as a thing can't be trusted on a principle.''
''So you want me to..'' – Kiba began.
''I want you to kill Issei Hyoudou, or rather, Ddraig, when push comes to shove. If he ever dares to harm Rias or any other of you guys. If he steps over the line, you have to be a knight..that can protect.''
The sword was now resting on the table, hidden behind the wrappings.
''..'' – Kiba didn't respond.
''But for that, you have to grow stronger...because you do realize how strong Issei really is now, right?''
Kiba waited a bit..and nodded. He outreached his hand for the desk and took the sword. The sword pulsated in his arm and unwrapped.
The golden glow enveloped the room and Kiba felt a sudden rush of energy enter him.
Sirzechs smiled. –''..Become strong.''
Kiba nodded and made the sword disappear in his own alternative-dimension hiding place.
''..Thank you for the chance, Sirzechs.''
He said, and exited the Office.
Sirzechs sighed and turned back to his paperwork.
A few days had passed. Issei was sitting in the schoolyard. He was wearing a dark colored hoodie that was a size too big, with one of his arms in a cast. That arm was hanging in a sling in front of his chest. He was holding a coffee can in his his other hand. It still held signs of bruises.
The brace around his neck was gone, but his arm still needed some time to heal. Without pheonix tears and healing senjutsu, the arm would have never been usable again...but Issei didn't worry about it...had magic healing not been available to him, he would have died in the first year of his mercenary career.
''..It's bland.'' – He said to himself, as he took another sip of the can. He never did like the Japanese canned coffee much. He was more of a brew-your-own type of a guy.
The bell ringed and the crowd began to move from the schoolyard back into the school...only Issei remained seated, on his bench, looking at the people getting to their classrooms.
He let out a small sigh.
''..Why such a long face?'' – He heard a women's voice behind him.
He turned his head. It was a girl from his class. Her body was a bit on the small side and she was wearing pink-framed glasses.
''..Aiya Karyee, right?'' – Issei asked, trying to remember her name.
''...That's the first time I've heard someone butcher my name so hard.'' – She said and sighed. –''..It's Aika Kiryuu.''
''...Well, that was awkward.'' – Issei sighed and tilted his head back to the front.
The girl sat down on the same bench, next to Issei.
''What do you want?'' – Issei asked, with his gaze still looking over now empty schoolyard.
''..I'm interested.'' – She said and leaned forward in her way of sitting, placing her elbows on her own knees. –''..Just who are you?''
''I am..'' – Issei looked at her and smiled, as Aika Kiryuu touched her glasses with a smirk. –''..A vagabond.''
''Guh-!'' – She made a surprised sound at the answer. –''..What the hell is with that answer? Don't think I'll let you off with that!~''
''..Well, what can I say? I am simply Hyoudou Issei. I was indeed missing from home for some time, but now I am back.''
''..Heehh...Where the hell were you for the last 2 months then?''
''..Abroad.'' – Issei responded. –''I had some business.''
''Together with the Gremory?'' – She smirked.
''..Together with the Occult Club.'' – Issei responded, not surprised at all. Whatever expression she wanted to see from Issei, she didn't see it.
''Hmmm..'' – Kiryuu touched her face and hummed. –''..You're a weird one, aren't you?''
Issei smiled. This situation was rather odd, if anything. –''..Actually you are the odd one here, Aika.''
One of her cheeks blushed a bit. –''..You're rude, using my first name so casually.
''You don't seem to mind.'' – Issei smiled and took a sip from his coffee can.
''Hmhp.'' – She pouted, in a cute way. –''..It still would have been better to ask.''
''How did you even get so interested in me?'' – Issei asked.
''..I see you running past my house almost every morning.'' – She responded, after a while of silence. –''Except for the past two months or so, of course.''
Issei chuckled and leaned back on the bench. He listened to the bird chirping and let the cool wind flow trough his hair...it was getting colder. A lot colder.
Issei suddenly got up. Aika looked surprised.
''..I have to do something.'' – Issei said and then extended right arm, the one that wasn't in a cast, and at the same time, the one that was holding a half-empty coffee can. –''Here.''
She took the can and was confused.
''See you around, Aika.'' – Issei waved and went towards the Old School building, with no real purpose. He simply wanted to be alone because he felt his head beginning to feel strange...and he knew that pain will soon follow.
The day passed with Issei sleeping in the Old School Building. His migraine passed with the sleep.
Issei dropped off his shoes at the doorstep. He went into the kitchen and said ''hey'' to his mom.
She responded happily. Everything seemed normal. His parents were very worried when Issei came back home from the 2 month ''trip abroad'' with a broken arm. They were worried about his health and how it had happened...but they still ignored a few things..like for example - the fact that Kuroka was sitting by the desk in the kitchen and reading.
She was wearing slim black pants and a white tanktop, with her hair tied into a messy bunch at the back of her head.
She raised her eyes and smiled. –''Welcome back~''
''..I'm home.'' – Issei smiled at her. It was still odd. Issei had to repeat. It was STILL odd. His parents didn't mind Kuroka at all..in fact, they were even glamoured that Issei had a girl over. They didn't ask any questions, only treated Kuroka as a family member.
..It was probably the magic...that in the end, made the whole relationship fake, but none of them cared.
''Fake'' things and relationships were a norm for them.
As soon as Issei sat down across from Kuroka, his mother put on food on the table. He smiled at her thanked her.
''My pleasure.'' – She said with a smile and sat down herself.
And thus they ate, the three of them, as they talked about normal things like school, like a normal family would.
Only difference was that their family wasn't normal.
...
After the evening dining, Issei and Kuroka moved upstairs, to his room. Issei was shirtless and siting in the Astana style, with one hand hanging in sling, still in a cast, while the other was on his thigh.
Kuroka was sitting in the same position behind Issei, with her hands on Issei's back.
She was forcing her natural Ki energy into Issei.
Issei's eyes were closed shut as he was clenching his teeth. The energy was hot. Like lava that slowly seeping into his body and flowing trough his veins. He exhaled heavily and used his right arm to wipe his own forehead from the sweat.
''..Hold on.'' – Kuroka said and purred, as her two tails were moving around behind her.
''Mhm.'' – He responded with a simple acknowledgement.
He felt the energy slowly sliding to his left side, as it eventually began to flood into his left arm. The arm that had dead and rotten magic circuits. His own, shitty, birth circuits that had overcharged and blown out form the pressure.
..His own, useless magic circuits.
That was the reason for his lack of success in any magic. His body was flawed. Suddenly his thoughts turned into mush as he felt a sensation that could only be described as hot led carving his arm. It felt like Kuroka was carving a line into his arm.
''..Aghhh..'' – He let out the sound over his lips and the hot led fell back...together with the burning heat coming from Kuroka's arms.
''...Huuuuuuuuuuuu~~'' – She sighed, pulling the syllable extremely long and making the sound very cute.
Issei smiled and let himself fall back.
His head, of course, ended in Kuroka's lap.
''..This is the life.'' - He yawned.
She touched Issei hair with her slender fingers. –''We made good progress. The pain is because I am grafting new magic circuits into your arm...your old ones are too damaged to repair them.''
''..Does that mean they will be stronger than my previous ones?'' – Issei asked, with his voice hinting at some optimism.
Kuroka pulled Issei's head upwards a bit, making his eyes meet Kuroka's from bellow. –''..No. Unfortunately, I think my grafted ones will be about on par with your old ones...sorry.''
Issei raised his right arm touched her cheek from bellow. –''..Don't worry about it.''
Issei dropped his arm back down after a second or two, and closed his eyes as he yawned. –''..I'm tired.''
''You are going to sleep in my lap?'' – Kuroka asked, sheepishly.
''..Yes. And there is nothing you can do stop me.'' – Issei said and moved his head sideways, after sticking out his tongue slightly.
Kuroka chuckled and dropped her back against the floor as well. She looked up at the ceiling. –''..I don't mind.''
She purred and closed her eyes.
yo.
This chapter is basically a half-way point, filler on what happened after the big fight and how Issei is holding up.
next chapter, something interesting will probably happen.
And..I still haven't decided on the path this story will take.
Thank you for reading - leave a review if you enjoyed it, didn't enjoy it, or have something to ask~