He stared, from below. Sand - dirty brown, wet, and dyed with blood was being thrown on him, from above. He was in a glass coffin, 6 feet under. Kuroka, with an emotionless expression, kept pouring sand over him.
The cluttered, black and white, checkered clouds above him flowed and flowed, becoming faster and faster, covering the full-moon that was in the sky. He wanted to move his body, but it didn't respond. He wanted to tell her - ''I am here, I am alive. Please, don't bury me.''
However, his body was gone. The muscle he had created over the last 5 years had disappeared, along with his skin, nerves, and organs. Only bones had remained. His left hand was missing.
Suddenly, more dirt fell on his glass casket. From the other side, Koneko too, was throwing dirt on top of him.
Then, he saw his teacher. Then, Rias Gremory. He remained frozen, a skeleton, using a single eye to look up, as the sand began to climb the side of his coffin. Then, he saw Kiba. He too, began to throw sand from above...and then, only then, did he notice Maria.
She was staring down on him, with a wide smirk, her arms crossed atop of her petite chest, her Zero Army coat scattering white flowers in the wind, throwing them all around.
Sand slowly filled on the top of his casket, taking away the light, leaving him in the dark.
The scene shifted, and now he was sitting in an old chair, covered in blood. His blood...His body had changed back into a 14 year old's. Little muscle, only covered in scars and blood. His hair, white and wild, went over both of his eyes.
The checkered floor, walls and ceiling simply extended to infinity, but a few feet from him, to the front, the same glass casket was open, and he saw his own skeleton inside.
Maria was sitting on the skeleton, completely naked. Her face, that had blushed red, pulled into a satisfying grin, she was grinding against the skeleton's leg bones. She licked her lips, and planted a deep kiss on the rotten teeth that his own skeleton held. She broke off his right arm, and began to hug it, moving it along her chest, and then over her neck, beginning to suck on the skeleton's fingers...only rotten pieces of his skin held them together, barely.
After a while, she stopped the obscene display of debauchery. Maybe she had grown bored of it, and threw the arm away, right to Issei's legs, as it scattered into pieces.
She pulled out the only eye Issei's skeleton still had, and licked it like a piece of candy...then putting it into her mouth.
''...This is really mucky, Issei-chan.''
He simply shook his body, trying to get the chains off.
She got up, lightly jumping out of the casket, still bare naked.
''...It's like a marshmallow...only more sticky, and a lot wetter.'' - She said, sticking her hand into her own mouth, pulling out a string of half-white, half red liquid.
Issei closed his eyes, not wanting for the closing-in Maria to touch him. But that didn't stop her. Nothing ever did stop her from getting what she wanted, after all.
She was a woman like that. She took everything she wanted, without regret. The same way she took everything Issei had from the beginning.
When he felt her cold skin touch, as she sat down on his lap, his eyes widened. Her slender arms wrapped around his neck, touching his narrow shoulders. Her naked skin glistened, as Issei kept staring at her. She licked his neck and bit into the side of his neck, making him gasp in surprise. His own blood flowed out, spilling down his neck and collarbone.
She raised up, propping her knees on top of Issei's thighs. Her long, soft straw-yellow hair fell over his face and shoulders, enveloping him in her infatuating odor.
''Now, now, Issei-chan...I have only given you pain...but I can give you pleasure as well. Would you like that?''
She asked, glancing down into his eyes, literally looking down on him. He wanted to shake her off, he wanted to scream and shout at her, but his mouth moved, without his control.
''I simply don't want to feel pain.''
She smirked, showing off her perfect teeth, that were red with his blood, together with her shinny lips. Her oval, shinny eyes sparkled at the thought of violating the small Issei like that...and Issei felt his own blood, as she had began to kiss him.
As it was his first kiss, it felt good. Her tongue was slippery, wet and soft. The inside of her mouth wasn't as cold as her skin.
After a while, she released him, leaning back, and inhaling, with a chuckle. -''I took your first kiss, didn't I?''
Issei slouched, not answering.
''Aw, don't get sad.'' - She said, ruffling his hair. -''I'll give you more pleasure, before the pain.''
Her slender hand slid down his chest, going for his pants, and he shut his eyes close.
No, I don't want to see this again.
No, I don't want to feel this again.
No, I don't want to experience this again.
When he opened them, he was standing in a field of red flowers, flowing in the wind. Graves spanned endlessly, to all sides. He turned around, looking into every direction, but the graves didn't stop. He was covered in blood, from head to toe.
Horns had sprouted from his forehead, reaching up for the checkered sky.
His single eye widened, and he stepped back...only to trip, and fall right onto a spear, impaling right through his heart.
His lone eye flickered open, as he grasped for air. He touched his face with the metallic hand, the slightly cold metal getting him awake faster.
Kuroka was asleep, wrapped in their blanket. He got up, grabbing his black pants and going straight for the bathroom.
[Partner, you need to know something.]
He heard Ddraig's voice in his head, commanding his attention.
''What?''
[There has been some changes inside you...I think it's something about the Longinus spear, or your feelings. Possibly both.]
''...Is that why I can't sleep and been having nightmares for the past weeks?''
Ddraig hesitated, as Issei entered the bathroom. The large porcelain sink sat under the giant mirror. He lowered his glance, not looking at his own reflection, as he let the water run, washing his face.
''...Answer me, Ddraig.''
[No. The nightmares is all you, partner. Your mind.]
He glanced up, and his single eye widened. The eyepatch had fallen off, so he stared back at the blank, black hole in his face...and the horns, sprouting out of his forehead. Straight, long, sharp and red.
Issei raised his right arm slowly, touching the forehead...and exhaling in relief. They were not there...only the mirror showed it. He blinked a few times, his vision going blurry...and suddenly, his face was covered in blood.
He stared at himself for a full minute, before the left side of his face twisted into a smirk.
Issei chuckled, and the next second, the whole room erupted in a very loud crack, as Issei slammed his metalic arm against the mirror, shattering it into a million pieces. The wall behind it threw a spider-web like pattern into all directions.
The small, cracked pieces that remained on the wall still reflected the blood-covered, two-horn having Issei Hyoudou.
Issei scoffed, smirking once again. He splashes more water on his face, letting it drip down his chest and neck...his whole body was on fire...not only his left arm. He felt a hot sensation just under his nose...after touching it, he understood it was blood, flowing from his nose.
He simply lowered his head, leaning against the sink, letting it flow. The droplets of blood became slower and slower. It wouldn't take too long for it to stop, probably.
''...You alright?''
He heard Kuroka ask from behind him...he hadn't notice her coming closer. Was he getting that dull? His vision had become trash, so his hearing, or ''instinct'' could be going out as well. He wouldn't be surprised, in any case.
''Yes. I can't sleep, though.'' - He answered, using the flowing water to rinse his face from the blood. The white porcelain was stained in blood.
''You do know I can smell blood very easily, Issei?'' - She asked, unamused. Her eyes narrowed, as her glance traced over Issei's face, as he turned around.
A line of blood, coming from his nostrils slid down again, over his lips, down his chin. He looked even more like a delinquent, with the blood, than ever. He shrugged, scratching the backside of his own head. Her eyes wandered, going over Issei's chest, looking at his scars...and only then noticing the dogtags hanging around on top of his chest.
''You took them?'' - Kuroka asked, glancing downwards, at his feet. His bare feet, his crooked, scarred toes were red, against the cold porcelain floor.
He nodded, as she walked over to him, healing the bloody nose, and wiping off the blood with her palm.
She shrugged, turning around.
''Kuroka...we need to talk.'' - Issei said, disturbing the silence.
She flipped around...nodding.
They both went back into ''their'' room, as she sat down on a table, while Issei sat down on the edge of his bed. He found his black eyepatch, with the zero on it, and put over his missing eye.
''...Do you feel angry at me?'' - Issei asked, glancing at her...she was dressed in the same, skin-tight black clothes as usual.
''No.'' - She answered, widening her opal eyes. -''Why would you think that?''
''...I don't understand emotion that well, you know me.'' - Issei answered, chuckling. -''Just that recently, it feels like there is a barrier between us. Ever since the day I betrayed Gremory, but now, even more. Is it because of your sister?''
Kuroka looked around, pondering. -''Maybe it's because of my sister a bit, yes...but I don't blame you for that. I'm angry at myself, more than anything. You lost your goddamn arm because of me!''
She shouted, making Issei flinch.
''Look at that piece of metal in your arm's stead...How can you be so calm about this? You didn't blame me. You didn't scream at me. You weren't angry, at all. You didn't even give me an angry glance or a scoff...you simply gave your arm up, without a care for it.''
''It doesn't matter. My arm, for your life, isn't much to give.'' - Issei answered, looking to the side, avoiding Kuroka's glance.
''That's what I'm talking about. I didn't listen to you, and that is why I was almost killed. Because of that, YOUR ARM GOT CUT OFF!'' - Kuroka shouted, standing up, and walking towards Issei, who was still sitting on the edge of the bed.
She grabbed the metallic arm, and raised it up. -''WHY WON'T YOU BE ANGRY?''
''...Right. I'm a monster, a demon. When I get mad, people die, their families weep...''
Issei began to speak, his voice gruff and quiet, as he stood up.
''And then I kill the families, just for good measure. Because I - am evil...so of course, it's odd. Because you didn't listen to me, the ''boss'', the ''leader'', I had to loose my arm.''
The metallic arm, that Kuroka held up in the air, unlatched itself from her grasp, and touched her left shoulder. Issei's other arm went on her right shoulder, as they stood face to face, in the room, facing each-other.
''It makes sense. You expect me to be angry, because I am a man, who is defined by anger.''
Both of his arms gently pressed against Kuroka's neck, as he wrapped them around...in a choke-hold. A simple, two arm choke.
Her eyes went wide, as Issei gently smiled.
''If I began to wring these two hands, would you feel better? Would my anger make you relieved?''
Issei could feel Kuroka's heart beat in her chest, as the blood flowed through her jugular veins.
He released her neck, taking her hand, and putting up, on his own chest. -''You see, if you wanted to kill me, I would allow you to. Right now, you could simply expel Ki and I would fall over, dead on my knees. If it's you - I'd allow it.''
She ripped her arm off his chest, while he stepped back, smiling. -''...I certainly wouldn't feel better, if I put my anger out on you. It would only make things worse, and I would hate myself even more.''
Kuroka remained standing, bewildered. Issei turned around, lowering his head.
After a few seconds, she wrapped her hands around Issei from behind. -''...Sorry. I though more about my feelings, than yours.''
Issei smiled, slightly. -''Don't apologize. I did a lot of wrong to you, too. For one, I didn't give you that redecorated house. Or that bathroom, you so, so wanted.''
Kuroka's pokerface pulled into a relief, as she sighed and smiled. -''I can forgive that much, with no problems.''
They stood, avoiding each other's glances for a while, before Issei chuckled. -''I'll go now, I have some things to do.''
She stepped closer, wrapping her hand around Issei's shoulder, and pulling him by scalp, as she planted a kiss on his cheek.
He sighed lightly, and began to dress himself.
As Issei walked, he noticed that morale was at all time high. His soldiers were training together, sparring, talking and laughing. Like a family.
He took a pack of cigarettes from one of the soldiers, and lighted one of them, inhaling. This one was lighter on the lungs. Or maybe he was already used to it.
It didn't matter to him, either way, as he walked trailing smoke along the way, trying to find Vali.
After a while, he did. Vali was sitting in one of the make-shift tents on the north side of the small town, his legs pressed up on the side of a table. He was playing chess with Arthur, seemingly pretty deep into the game.
Bikou was sleeping on a small cloud, made by his magic skills, Issei had to assume. Yano was there, too. She was leaning against the wolf-like creature that Arthur was controlling.
He found it odd, as he stared at the creature. He had used one of it's brother's teeth to kill their creator. Now, he was looking at Issei, with a neutral expression.
Arthur's sister was sitting in the corner, reading a book. Issei had met her previously, after having exchanged a few words. She didn't seem too happy about being here, but Issei wasn't surprised.
She glanced at him, before hiding behind her giant wizard's hat.
''You look pretty horrible, Hyoudou.'' - Vali stated, looking at him, and then returning to his game of chess.
''I'm not that bad.'' - He answered, hitting off the ash from his cigaret.
''Want to play, when I defeat Arthur?'' - He asked, with a small smirk, as he moved his piece in a flash, hitting off one of Arhur's pieces.
''I can't play chess.'' - Issei answered, inhaling more smoke.
''Huh?'' - Vali and Arthur looked at him, dumbfounded.
''I'm a simple soldier. I can play some cards though.'' - Issei responded with a sigh. -''I have never been good at mind-games like these.''
''...Makes sense.'' - Vali answered, before raising his hand. -''No offence, though.''
''None taken.'' - Issei responded, and turned around. -''I'll be outside, I need to have a talk with you.''
Issei exited, throwing down the butt of the cigarette, before taking out another one.
''You reek, Issei.''
He heard a voice, coming from the side.
The short girl was standing next to him, and he looked at her cute face. She smiled, rolling her sleeves up. She was wearing the Zero Army coat, the same one that Issei was.
Even for him, the arm length was too long, but for her...it looked like a long-coat. Under it, she was wearing simple, tight jeans, colorful sneakers and a t-shirt with some anime character Issei had never seen. It was a bit too big on her.
Her hair was short, as her bangs went sharply to the sides, uncovering her face completely. He looked into her oval, wide eyes. It seemed like there was a spark of somekind in them.
''You're that fan of mine, right?'' - He asked, cracking a small smirk.
''Yes.'' - She said, replying with a smile. -''Yano!''
Suddenly, she was standing face-to-face with Issei. Her eyes met Issei's straight on...she was floating.
She touched his head, for a few seconds holding the arm, before Issei stepped backwards, pushing her away.
''Don't touch me!'' - He shouted, his only eye going wide. He had no idea what had happened in those few seconds that he was totally out of.
''Sorry, I just wanted to see what's going inside of your mind.''
He grasped at his head, asking. -''What?''
''You know, I'm not called ''DreamTaker'' for nothing. I wanted to see your goals...but I couldn't. That's my sacred gear. I can see into other people's minds.''
Issei stared at her, as she spoke more.
''Don't believe me? Ok, I'll tell you what I saw~!'' - She said, with a cute voice. -''A young boy, sitting in a dark room...
As she said that, Issei felt like he had swallowed a rock.
''...The walls and the floor were checkered black and white. The boy's hair was brown, and he was being overlooked by a full moon. It was like he was sitting in a box. The scene changed, and now I simply saw a woman with red hair and you, standing in a field of dead bodies, covered in blood.''
''...Anything more?'' - Issei asked, after he regained his composure.
''Nothing. Your mind is like a steel cage after that.''
''...Don't do that to me again. I'll only warn you once.'' - Issei stated, with a scowl.
''Don't get mad!'' - She sulked. -''I was only curious.''
Issei sighed again, but Vali came out of the tent. -''Get lost, chibi. Real men need to talk.''
She showed him her tongue, and stormed inside of the large tent.
Issei began to walk, as Vali followed next to him.
''Is something wrong?''
''Kind of. Ddraig told me something changed inside of me. With the balance breaker, too.''
[That's not good.] - He heard Albion.
''Can you use your balance breaker?''
''...I'm not sure.'' - Issei stopped, and spoke to Ddraig. -''Just for a bit.''
[Balance Breaker!]
Nothing happened, as Issei remained standing, his jaw twitching to one side, in anger.
[It's stuck, partner.]
''What the fuck do you mean?''
[Hard to explain, but the gear is stuck. You feelings, together with the spear have morphed the gear. It changes with the wielder.]
''For how long?'' - he asked, but knew the answer before hand.
[That's...probably up to you.]
The dragon had said that, and Issei remained standing, staring at his own feet. Did this mean he was unsure of his destiny? Of what he did, of what he had decided to do? Would his mind betray him, just before the final act?
''This could be a good thing, you know.'' - Vali said, noticing his angry expression. -''You can come out stronger. The spear is at fault, I'm guessing.''
[Yes, probably. This is the first time I have taken in another Longinus inside of my soul.]
Ddraig spoke, with his gruff voice. He was tired, obviously...even though Issei had not done any fighting recently.
''Are you alright yourself, Ddraig?'' - Issei asked, pondering.
[If you, with your human body can carry on, I will too. Don't worry about me, I'm just a weapon.]
Issei stood for a while, before nodding.
''I too, am a weapon.''
[Ddraig, would meditation not help your wielder?]
The booming voice of Albion asked, as Vali widened his eyes. -''Makes sense...if it is your mind, and not the fault of the gear, then it will be solved. That simple.''
Issei looked at the ground, and then threw a narrow glance, smiling creepily at Vali. -''If it's my mind, It's never going to be that simple. I can't meditate anymore anyways, the voices are too loud.''
''The method is a bit different. I have done it...to silence the voices of the past gear dwellers.''
Issei smirked. -''You've become ever stronger now?''
He nodded, not saying a word more.
''I see. I will try...just be ready to come and beat my ass back into consciousness, if I began to rampage.''
Vali chuckled a bit, but became completely silent, when he understood that Issei was in no way or shape joking. He was dead serious, and began to walk away, after a small wave, trailing smoke behind himself.
The allayway was splattered by blood, three dead bodies splayed against the walls. The nimble, small statue'd girl blocked a sword with her small knife, kicked the attacker in the knee and completely shattered his chest with a single punch.
He dropped down, dead.
The last person was obviously holding back, as if afraid.
She narrowed her eyes, releasing Ki from her legs, and teleporting right behind the man.
Suddenly, she was flung into the wall to the side, her hearing begining to buzz. In old reflex, she jumped upwards, the wall getting punched through a second later.
She flipped around midair, catching on to the wall, using Ki. She remained hanging, glancing at the person, clad in black. He had hid his skills before.
''For what purpose?'' - She asked, releasing her hand off the wall, and landing a few feet away from the man.
A line of Ki blasted towards him, but he was already flipping over the blast, his leg switching downwards, as she blocked it, crosing her arms on top of her head, as she slid back from the force.
As the man dashed closer, Koneko flipped the knife in her hand around, and swiped it at the man's throat, who did something she never expected.
Her wrist was caught, bent towards her, as her knee was kicked, and she lost her balance. Her eyes narrowed, as she moved her leg forwards, open-palm striking the man in the knee.
He fell down to one knee as well, his eyes wide as dinner plates, before he leaned back, as Koneko's straight palm drove through his black coat. As he flipped back, and used his arms to flip back to his feet.
''Who the fuck are you?'' - He shouted, his face not muffled by the dark clothes. His black hair was short and spiky. His blue eyes stared into Koneko's...and her mouth went agape, when she noticed the half-hidden zero, on his chest, where the ripped tank-top couldn't hide it anymore.
She didn't respond, as her body moved on it's own, her knife going for his throat, but that was parried with his hand to the side, as she pushed back the man's kick, her going forwards before he could even raise his leg. She swung her arm down, but the man raised his arm from below, locking their elbows, as he swung it to the left side, as he punched over their crossed arms, but Koneko simply caught that odd swing, as their remained standing, their arms crossed, staring at each-other.
''Where did you learn to fight like that?'' - She asked, narrow eyed.
''I could ask you the same.'' - The man responded through his teeth.
''If you fight for ''Ddraig'', then why were you with Khaos Brigade?'' - She asked, breaking the man's wrist.
His eyes went narrow, but he didn't flinch, nor did he cry out in pain.
''You know boss?'' - He asked, but then his eyes widened, realizing. -''Your hair is red, but you are that little girl...of Gremory.''
Hearing that, she was about to completely snap off the man's wrist, but he headbutted her, and jumped away, running along the wall, and then teleporting forwards.
Koneko grasped her bleeding noise, and healed it, sighing, but her eyes went wide, as she spun around, raising her hand, ready to strike with magic.
''...I can explain about that guy, if you'd let me.'' - The man said, raising his arms.
She stared at him for a few seconds, before answering. -''How do I know you're not here to take me back?''
''...Can't you take an old man's word for it?''
She lowered her hand, asking. -''You weren't lying, about knowing that guy, right, Azazel?''
''Of course not. I don't know who specifically he is, but I do know what he is.'' - He said, smiling. -''Let's go somewhere...more suitable for talking.''
She shook her head.
''...I see.'' - Azazel sighed, leaning against one of the walls. -''Then I will explain it here. Khaos Brigade attacked recently, but the Great Power Trinity put out information that Zero Army was also at fault, right?''
She kept watching him closely, with her piercing eyes. Trying to judge, if he was lying or not.
''Well, we didn't lie. Hyoudou defeated one of the giant shadow monsters, and fought Cao Cao.''
''Did he win?'' - She asked, unsure.
''He lost his arm in the process, but he did win, yes.'' - Azazel said, uncaring for it. -''He turned the fight's flank around by using soldiers, that were under his command, as a trojan horse. A bunch of Khaos Brigade soldiers were actually undercover, and working for Hyoudou.''
''So that guy, was one of them, too?'' - She asked, looking at the bodies behind her.
''Probably one of the few left, to spy on them. I think it's believable to think that he already knows about you by now.'' - Azazel said, locking eyes with her. -''What will you do now?''
Her eyebrows furrowed, as she spoke, in a cold tone. Much too cold, for a girl that looked like her. -''I don't care anymore, about his side of things. I will hunt him down, and kill him, for all that he is done. The fact that I was close to him, the fact that he taught me basically everything I know about fighting...It doesn't change anything.''
''Good to hear that.'' - Azazel responded, smirking.-''Traitors must die. Especially ones that lie, break their promises, and betray trust.''
''The way you speak...what exactly was your relationship with him?'' - Koneko implored, stepping closer.
''I...have no idea, honestly. I thought of him as a friend. He did some things for me, and I did some things for him. Of course, all I did was say some small lies...but still, I too, betrayed the 3 faction trust...for that, I am a partner in crime with you, Stray Devil Koneko.''
''...I see. You revealed this to gain my trust.'' - Koneko spoke. -''Yet, you still hide things from me.''
''Good catch, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Hyoudou killed Saji, also.''
''...How did that happen?'' - Koneko asked, frowning.
''He died a hero's death. He remained back, so Sona, her peerage, and even Saiaorg could fall back.''
''Was it necessary, for him to remain back?'' - Koneko asked, not looking at Azazel.
''Apparently Hyoudou went after them, so I think the answer is yes.'' - Azazel responded, with a hint of...sadness to his voice.
Koneko didn't answer to that, but instead decided to change the subject entirely.
''If you specifically tracked me down, there must be a good reason.''
He gave a small chuckle. -''Of course. I offer you information...if you will give me some in exchange, too. There are chunks of information I need. More specifically - about his teacher...and your sister.''
Her expression turned sour at the mention of Kuroka, but she was intrigued in something else. -''Why do you need to know about Margit?''
''...Now, thinking back on it, everything Issei did struck me kind of...off. It wasn't really anything major, but just the reasons, for why he did things.'' - Azazel answered, puzzling Koneko.-''I mean, he trained you because of Kuroka, right? He killed Kokabiel because of me. Why did he kill Raynare and the church members? Why did he fight Saiaorg that hard, when he had no reason to? He...just acted, really.''
''Well, he did ''act'', so you are correct.'' - Koneko answered, but showed a scowl. -''I really don't want to talk about him that much.''
Azazel looked at her, serious. -''But you will talk, right?''
''Yes, but not here.'' - She glanced back at the bodies, one more time.
''I understand.'' - Azazel raised his arm. -''Let's go.''
When her fingers touched Azazel's, they both disappeared from the alleyway, that was located on the far side of the underground.
His statue moved in front of the moon, as he stood tall, staring at it. At it, in all it's full, round glory. His black clothes, and his hair swayed in the cold, night air.
''Isn't it odd, that this full moon always haunts me?'' - Issei asked, not turning around to face Kuroka, behind him.
''Selection bias, probably.'' - Kuroka responded, sitting with her legs crossed. -''A lot of bad things have happened on days with no moon at all, too.''
He smiled, dropping down on his knees, sitting in the regular seiza style. His arms landed on his thighs, and he closed his lone eye, as he was enveloped in darkness.
[Kuroka.]
Her eyes went wide, as it was the first time Ddraig himself had acknowledged her.
''Yes?''
[I must warn you about what we are going to do. This can backfire horribly.]
She understood that, but she wasn't sure what to expect. -''What should I do, exactly?''
[If he starts to move on his own, shake, spasm...just pin him down. If it goes further than that, Vali will either divide him into unconsciousness...and he will never be able to boost again, or we will be killed...]
''No pressure, though.'' - Kuroka snarled, sarcastically.
She inhaled deeply, focusing her Ki, just to be ready to act. With her ability, she could help, too.
Meanwhile, Issei was drowning inside of a sea of darkness. Floating, easy, easy. The dark, deep recess of his own spinal fluid, brain mush. This was...his sanctuary. Every time he came close to dying, every time he had hit his head, got unconscious...all of his life experiences led to this place.
This will too, in the future, be the last place he will probably see, in the end. He will pass through, sink down, and never resurface.
But this wasn't the time for that.
His eye flickered open, as he washed ashore. It was a cold, unfamiliar place. The wind roared through the field of bones of his fallen enemies, friends, by-standers, innocents and guilty ones.
Issei got himself up, the metallic arm making loud noises against the bone covered ground. He inhaled, just feeling the very familiar stench of burning hair and skin.
''Ddraig?''
He asked, but that only echoed towards the never ending sight of the rotting bones, that spanned endlessly, into every direction.
Checkered, black and white clouds spanned endlessly, the full moon shone perfectly through it, as if laughing at Issei.
As he looked around, only the desolate wasteland of bones met his glance. As he didn't know what to do, he stepped forwards.
With a sound of shedding, giant, sharp and triangular rocks sprouted from the ground, creating a long row of them.
After a second glance, he noticed that they were not sharp rocks. Instead, they were sharp, giant and red horns, that sprouted from the ground, reaching for the moon. But well, he wasn't there to back down.
With every step that he took, more horns sprouted, and the bones under his boots cracked and crumbled into dust. He was used to the sound of breaking bone, so it didn't really affect him.
Suddenly, after a single blink of his eyes, he was standing, face to face, with a woman. An unknown woman, one he hadn't seen before, in all of his lifetime.
''Issei Hyoudou...you finally came.''
''Who are you?''
''...I am one of the previous wielders of Ddraig.'' - She said, slightly bowing. -''The strongest woman, to be honest.''
''Elsha, was it?''
She nodded, without saying a word. Her slim body was clad in a red, long dress, accenting her hips. Her narrow eyes held dark, inhospitable reflections.
''I know you like to read, right?'' - She asked, raising her hand.
''Mhm.''
''Then, have you read the Divine Comedy?'' - She asked, lowering her hand, hiding it behind her back.
Issei almost stammered at such a question. -''That barely comprehensible, old book?''
She scowled, unamused. -''Yes. I found it quite interesting, to be honest. I first read it in high-school. Everyone hated it, except for me. I fell in love, then.''
''I wouldn't know about high-school. I barely have a 7 grade education.''
''Oh, that's right. How cruel of me.''
''Get to to the point.'' - Issei waved her off, keeping his ice-cold facade.
''Dante...was led through the 9 circles of hell...do you know, in which one you would lie in?''
Issei pondered, staring straight at the woman. -''I don't fucking remember the damn circles...''
''Basically all of them. You abandoned god, for that there is the first circle. Lust, greed, wrath, violence, blasphemy...you sinner.''
''Didn't you forget the final circle? Hell itself, as it was for those who betrayed?'' - Issei asked her, making a smile blossom on her face.
''I though you said you'd forgat.''
''Your pretentious words made me recall the stupid thing. I hated it, too. It was too thick, hard to digest, and to understand. A truly shitty book.''
She rubbed her temples, sighing. -''Of course, I should have known that a barbarian like you, would never understand the lessons it taught. Well, one of them was very simple - ''Accept the consequences of your moral vision, Hyoudou Issei.''
"You have the light that shows you right from wrong,
and your Free Will, which, though it may grow faint
in its first struggles with the heavens, can still
surmount all obstacles if nurtured well.
You are free subjects of a greater power,
a nobler nature that creates your mind…
So, if the world today has gone astray,
the cause lies in yourselves and only there!"
''Every man knows right from wrong...you have taken moral, right and wrong in your hands. You yourself became the judge, the jury and the executioner. You, yourself, became the monster of those days. When I look at you, I don't see a man, I see a devil. I see the horns sprouting from your head.''
She exhaled, looking upwards at the dinner-plate like moon, looking down at the two of them. At the silent Issei, who was trying to understand.
''Truly, ''right'' and ''wrong'' exists. Evil, and good, too. It isn't just gray. You are evil, and you are ''wrong''. The power, that you wish to gain in this journey, you will never receive. You are a sinner.''
He lowered his head, hiding his face from her. After a few seconds, his body began to convulse, as if he was trying to
...hold himself back from laughing.
''HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!'' - Issei shouted at the sky, holding his stomach. -''This is really great! You, some old, dead bitch, stubbornly clutching to something, in this sacred gear. What do you want me to do? Fall on my knees, and repent? To who? You?''
He raised his fist, and clutched it hard, so much, that it began to tremble. -''This, this is the only thing in my life that I have needed. This solves all of my problems. This is how I talk, this is how eat, this is how breathe. With this fist, I take and devour.''
He stopped, as he cracked his fingers. After a few seconds, he clutched his head. -''...Now that I think of it, wasn't the true lesson in Divine Comedy that no matter the punishment, at the end of the day, a man will live as he chooses?''
She let out a pathetic chuckle, shaking her head. She knew, very damn well, that Issei Hyoudou wasn't a man, whose convicted fluttered. It was molded out of his own skin, blood and bone. Unbreakable. -''Admit it, you lost it. Your fists, they were never good enough for anybody. You tried, true. You chose how to live, but you never were able to control it.''
''...In Dante's mind...man was the one who controlled his own destiny...I too, like to think like that. I am responsible for my own fate, from the beginning to the end.''
''Should I laugh, now? How can you say this, in the state you are in? You spent your short life fighting with stolen strength and fake bravery, for agendas that were forced upon you! YOU HAVE NO CONTROL WHATSOEVER! HOW COULD YOU WISH TO CONTROL DDRAIG HIMSELF? INSOLENT BRAT!''
Issei spun around, raising his guard against the third person, that had appeared, but it wasn't needed. How long had the man been there, Issei had no idea. It was a tall, muscular man, covered in scars and scrapes. He spoke up. -''No need to scream, dear Elsha. I respect Hyoudou. Atleast, for what he stands. I don't really think Divine Comedy suits him. In my opponion, Tarot cards fit him better. Fools Journey. It starts like this, you know.''
''What do you mean?'' - Issei stared him down...realizing that this man was probably the strongest wielder of all time. Belzard. The one that Ddraig told him about, what now seemed like a long time ago.
''Well, the Fool is thrown into the world as a newborn. Everything happens spontaneous.''
''...Like the birth of me.''
Belzard nodded. -''Then, the Fool understands the great balancing force of the world, the High Priestess and the Magician.
Maria and the world.
''And in no time at all, the fool finds a woman, who he holds dear - a mother. One, that leads and teaches the fool. The Empress. ''
...Margit.
''And with a mother, there comes a father. Did you have a ''father''? A person, who was strict, that taught you the rules?''
''Of course. I still have my father.''
Maria.
''And the fool grows, finally extending further, and there, the Hierophant comes into the picture. The education, the system of belief...''
''The world.''
He smirked. -''That fits, too. With world, comes love. Sexuality.''
Kuroka.
He paused, for a few seconds. -''By now, the Fool has grown into an adult. Will-power, strenght and control. Those are his achievments in the world. His is the assured confidence of youth. The Chariot.''
''That sounds way too nice.'' - Issei chuckled.
''With being an adult, comes responsibilities. ''Strenght.'' Comes. Who is ''strenght?'' It's you, isn't it?''
He nodded.
''After Strength, comes the age-old question - why? The Hermit, who ponders. Who wants answers. In time, you sought for a guide, right? For a teacher?''
''I didn't seek for it. I had one...from the very beginning. The mother, the Empress.''
''The hermit understands, and the Wheel of Fortune follows. He sees the world, for all the beauty and intricacy it has...and there, on the edge, he takes responsibility for his actions. Did you?''
''Yes. On that day, on the windy mountain, in the middle of Africa...as I overlooked the burning village. I took responsibility and quit the normal world. I was a mercenary. A soldier. I was a killer.''
''The Fool became Justice...but life isn't as easy. Do you know what comes after Justice?
The Hanged Man.
''It's simple. The world becomes way too hard to control. Impossible weight pushes down on the Fool, cutting off his breath...so all he can do is give it up. He lets go. He looses control.'' - Belzard smiled, raising his hand towards Issei. -''The Fool feels suspended in a timeless moment. In truth, his world has been turned upside-down.''
Yes, the day the chopper was shot down, the Suicide Squad killed off, except for him, and his teacher.
''I never moved past this stage.'' - Issei spoke, smirking with his teeth, while his eyes remained cold, and unreflective. ''Mother'' died, and left the fool all alone in the world. With no one to guide, in which direction he should go, of course, he was lost.
''On the contrary, I think it's very hard to track what happened to The Fool after The Hanged Man. To you. You think you remained there. You, the Fool, were never reborn, so you can't be the Judgement. You can't be the Sun, nor the Moon. You could be the Tower...but Devil is inside of you, too. Who do you want to be, in all honesty?''
''World.'' - He answered, without hesitation. His memory escaped him, but he had heard about Fool's journey before.
''I see. I can understand why you would chose so.'' - Belzard spoke, nodding his head. - ''Well, I think you are Death. The Fool is trying to transition...but there are barriers to break...us, being one of them.''
Belzard placed his hand on Issei's shoulder. -''I understand, and I would give you all of this, all of everything, if only I could. But everyone else, they refuse. And you, the Fool, the Hanged Man, the Death...will have to take it yourself.''
''I understand.'' - Issei backed away, smiling at Belzard. -''Thank you...Belzard. As a one warrior, to another...you don't understand how much that meant to me. I will give you your last fight. One, that you will never forget, wherever you go.''
He nodded, and charged Issei. His single eye focused, and his single punch blasted Belzard away. Bodies, began to rise from the crumbled, rotten bones. The past wielders, Belzard, Elsha...their bodies began to wrap in red dust...as the Balance Breaker grew around their bodies and bones. A single punch of Issei's annihilated a bunch of the past wielders. A single kick did the same. These monsters of the past, with their empty eyes were nothing but husks, for Issei to trample over. He dodged a barrage of magic attacks, as his pointer finger and his thumb dug deep into Elsha's eyes. With a grunt, he pulled his hand into a fist, destroying her head, letting her body drop into the bones, and get consumed into the earth.
His raised his metallic arm, letting a bunch of the old monsters grasp at it, before flinging them away.
His eye widened, as he moved into a fighting position, blocking Belzard's attack. The surrounding monsters shattered from the sheer pressure alone, throwing their lifeless corpses everywhere, back into the ground of bones. Belzard went on the offensive, hitting, punching, kicking at Issei, who sighed.
THE STRONGEST BOOSTED GEAR WIELDER WAS WEAK.
He caught his arm, dislocating it with an easy flick of his wrist. The whole Balance Breaker gauntlet shattered. He brought his fist down upon Belzard's face, breaking half of the helmet. He didn't observe his face, as he spun around, kicking him into the ground of bones. As he flew over it, he took a few of the monsters with him.
They tried to swarm Issei, but his fists and legs shattered them into piles of blood and red dust.
Belzard gathered his power, boosting a few times, recovering. He dashed at Issei, who without his armor simply scowled, standing up straight, raising his right palm towards his left shoulder. As Belzard was a few feet away, he swiped his arm to the side, keeping his palm straight.
Belzard's body flew past him, while his head flew into the air.
His leg slammed into the ground, the shock wave throwing the monsters away...but there was no need. Seemingly, they lost the will to fight with Belzard and Elsha passing from this world.
The empty, desolate kingdom of bones returned to silence...but Issei didn't feel stronger.
[...There's something left, partner. Turn around.]
He heard his partner, for the first time in this world, and he obliged.
A familiar wind hit his face, same to the sun, that had replaced the moon. In front of him, spanned the mountain, on which's summit he had lost something that made him human. No, he had thrown that away. He, probably, already knew who awaited at the top, as he began to run up it.
It didn't take long, for Issei to be once again, overlooking the burning fields.
''Has the Fool, in his journey, learned anything?'' - She asked, her long hair fluttering in the afternoon sun.
''...That world hurts, mother.''
The red-haired Empress looked at him, smiling. Her glance was still as fiery as it had been, before that helicopter crash. -''We need to talk. You need to face that pain, once again, for you to come out a stronger a man.''
''Hmh.'' - He nodded, listening to what Margit had to say.
"Lost are we, and are only so far punished,
That without hope we live on in desire."
Writer's notes.
...holy shit I'm pretentious trash.
A long chapter, for a long wait. Got caught up on Fallout, and books.
Anyways, I have no idea what the fuck came over me at the end of this chapter, but...well, it is what it is. Don't worry if you didn't quite understand it all, neither did I, probably. Issei Hyoudou goes deep down, inside of the Boosted Gear, to understand it, and himself.
He's delusional as fuck, still, though.
Anonymous TG fan bro : Gilgamesh took the name Gilgamesh because of the epic, because he found it cool. His power being similar is just my cheeky way of referencing to him. In no way, or shape is my Gil connected to Fate Gil.
Dark Characters...need to have a small spark. If they are only dark, no one is going to like them. You have to have balance, and I think I kind of have it down.
About writing...you know, is an odd place. Even I can seem like a decent writer, if compared to the stuff that gets posted on here on a regular basis. Just proper spelling makes you the top 20%. But it is an echo chamber that can easily make you arrogant. I picked up a Murakami novel recently, plowing through it in a single day. Now that is writing. Amazing stuff, truly, a writer. I might be called a ''fanfic writer''...but not a regular writer. What I do here...it's just imitation.
Nevertheless, thank you, for the kind words, I eagerly await your response to the end part of this chapter. You liked this kind of stuff, right?
Maria is a lot stronger than Margit. A lot a lot. a loooooot.
A different Guest, who can't sympathize with Issei - Congratulations, you are a the first person to question this. Issei is evil and twised, why should you symphatize with him? Just because he is the main character? haha~
Thank you for reading! Please leave a review with you thoughts. Till next time, friends.