''You.''
''How did you fool yourself into thinking you would be loved, when you're so ugly?''
''You.''
(I knew I was made of poison.)
No, it was that woman who was poison itself.
''How long will you deny that, which you are? Delusional boy,
Boy, who is afraid of mirrors.''
His nostrils twitched, feeling the scent of burning flesh. He reminisced of the burning sensation...that he had felt on his body. The world was enveloped in a red glow, same as a helicopter's dashboard, when it was showing that something was wrong with the engines.
His ears registered the sound of the propeller whirling, that was off. Slow spins, not the usual, fast twitching. He almost lost his balance, but realized he was still standing on the ground, motionless.
''...Not yet.'' - Margit spoke, glancing over at him with a somber expression. He wasn't used to that kind of expression, from her. Her beautiful face usually held those blood-red eyes in a confident, cold way, making her exterior look unapproachable. Alas, it was like that.
Issei Hyoudou was the only man granted closeness to the Bloodhound.
''We...where will we begin?'' - Issei asked, glancing at her with his only eye.
''At the end. As always.'' - Margit responded, smirking, and with that smirk, returned her usual, fierce glance. -''It suits us.''
He couldn't deny that, he thought.
The scene shifted. He wasn't ''standing''' anymore. He had morphed into an ''observer'', with no body to speak of.
The Zero Army used helicopters for most things that involved other humans. Teleporting in wasn't an option, if it was a small military force, or arms trade.
And so it was, that the almost 16 year old Issei Hyoudou was sitting above the landing rails of a helicopter, on the hull floor, where the doors were suppose to be, but they had been opened. His dark, military camo pants were fluttering in the wind, their ends stuffed into his boots.
His scarred shoulders and arms were covered by a military jacket, too big for him. The sleeves had been too short for Margit, so he was wearing it. His dogtags were hugged by the black tank-top he was wearing underneath.
His arms resting in his lap, he simply observed the view, as he leaned against the hull side. Small islands came and went by, as they simply kept flying over the vast body of water.
Behind him, a bunch of soldiers sat, inside of the chopper. Some were speaking, most smoking. Their camouflaged clothes, body armor, weapons at an arms reach and the hardened scowls made them look like true soldiers. Warriors, of the current era.
Issei heard a crackle in his in-ear headphone, and the low-pitched voice of the pilot soon followed.
[We're closing in on the location. I'll drop you off, circle around until you're done and we'll be back before the sun sets.]
Issei remained sitting down, staring vacantly at the sight of greenish scenery. Another helicopter came into view, as Issei stared at it.
Margit latched onto the side of the hull, glancing over him, looking out at the chopper to the side.
Issei glanced upwards, noticing her eyes, down-turned eyebrows, her lips slightly parted.
The scene froze, and Issei found himself standing in the middle of the chopper. He looked at himself, and then at the Margit, that was standing behind the young him, and then at the other Margit, who was glancing out of the chopper.
''This...was the last place of peace, wasn't it?''
Issei nodded, glancing outside, at the other chopper. -''But this place, too, did collapse.''
''Everything does.'' - Margit answered, smirking. -''If it comes to us.''
''That's true.'' - Issei responded, smiling back at her. -''You know, I was the most happiest at this moment, right here. Before what's about to come.''
''Were you really? Are you sure?'' - She asked, staring at him through her eyebrows.
''...Yes.'' - Issei dodged her glance, just to be sure. -''Because I was with you.''
Margit remained standing, and the scene continued.
The other helicopter's doors opened, and that Margit pulled the young Issei by his collar. A man, holding a rocket launcher was kneeling in the hull of the enemy chopper.
From it, a rocket shot out, coming straight for their helicopter.
[HOLD ON!]
The helicopter dived to the side, narrowly dodging the rocket. Margit held Issei by the back of his collar, him barely able to remain in the chopper, as it shook.
However, in that moment, another rocket was already traveling towards their helicopter.
Issei was on his feet, being pulled backwards by Margit. The rocket closed in, as one of the Suicide Squad soldiers tried to get the door to close in time, leaping in front of them two.
The soldier exploded, dying the chopper, and them two red, as they were thrown backwards.
Issei's head banged against the inside of the hull, and the sound cut away, being replaced by a constant, high-pitched scream of despair in his ears.
His vision went black, white, fuzzy. He could only flail his arms around in front of him, as he felt shrapnel in his body. The sharp sting of smoke hit his nostrils, and he felt the helicopter spin around itself, barely being able to stay in air. His vision had black spots, and he had trouble keeping them open, the warm blood stinging his eyes. He understood, that he was laying against the other side of the hull, opposite of the open doors. The sky kept spinning to the side, as he noticed the clouds turn checkered. Everything inside was dyed by red color, from the dashboard.
He also did see, one of the soldiers being thrown out of the chopper, as it spun around. The few others, who were concious, were trying to hold on.
After a small moment of trying to gather his bearings, of trying not to scream as hard as he could, he looked to his right side, noticing Margit, with her unreflecting eyes. She wasn't as covered with blood, since the soldier and Issei had taken the brunt of the blast.
She recovered, trying to pull herself up...and Issei used his right arm, to gather most of his strength, pulling her in his own embrace. His vision only registered her mouth agape, her eyes unreflecting, but wide open.
He didn't hear what she screamed at him, as everything violently shook, and the world went completely black, and the high-pitched screaming in his ears cut off completely.
After a while, it all came back.
The screaming, that is. His body was completely exhausted, not listening, but soon he understand that it wasn't making any sense. He wasn't tired, he hadn't been training, he hadn't been fighting...so why was he so tired?
He raised his head, the loud-pitched, continuous scream continued inside of his ears, not letting any sounds of the world get in. He felt ever-so slight pain as he raised his head, as it had been stuck to the metal behind him - the dry blood had acted like glue.
Something was wrong, he had thought then. It had been the first time, in the short time between Maria kidnapping him and that exact moment, where the world had went checkered.
Time froze, as Margit spoke. -''The checkers...it is because of Maria's torture?''
The scene flashed a few times, as the background changed for the oval chamber of pain and suffering...for him. That chamber was happiness and lust for Maria, of course.
''As she tortured me, used me as a simple plaything, she often left me weeping in pain, and my muscle wouldn't work properly after such amounts of pain, so I remained with my head downcast, staring at the floor. The floor was checkered...for some fucking reason. White, black and red. My blood, of course.''
Issei spoke, sitting on the top of the chopper's wreckage, his hands clutched together, his fingers interlaced, cracking at the slightest movement.
Wretched, rotting bones.
''So that's why you never played Chess with me.'' - Margit spoke, sitting next to him, on that piece of wreckage.
''I wouldn't be any good at it, anyways.'' - He chuckled, nervously. -''I'm dumb, and you are smart.''
The scene began to play again, as that Issei raised himself slowly, his body not listening. Anyone else wouldn't move at all...any other person would have stayed unconscious, maybe even fallen into a coma, but Issei Hyoudou knew pain.
And he was desperate. So, he mustered everything in his body to stand up. His unreflecting, dull eyes tracked the burning field, finding Margit, and he stepped out of the burning wreckage. As he walked over the burning ground, he leaned down, reaching for a rifle and coughed up blood. His ribs had probably been broken. His ankle was barely supporting his weight, too.
But he didn't care. All he could see was Margit, and the Suicide Squad members, dying all around, their blood spurting into the air. His legs began to move faster, as he raised the rifle, killing some two or three soldiers to Margit's side.
She was standing behind a large boulder , in the middle of the vacant field, using it as a cover. He found it weird, that the boulder was checkered black and white, like an oddly-shaped Chess board.
He dashed forwards, limping, leaping behind cover, next to Margit, who leaned down, resting her back against it.
Her gaze met Issei's, as she began to speak, her blood plastered mouth moving. Issei simply remained staring at her, not hearing a thing, the screaming in his ears simply continued.
He felt as if underwater. The bullets that ricocheted around them sounded like raindrops hitting water, while he down deep, diving.
Margit shook his shoulder, but he simply raised his arm, barely being able to show the ''I'm fine'' in sign language.
She closed her eyes, inhaled deeply and they both raised out of cover, shooting at the soldiers, helping the few Suicide Squad that were left...and it went on for a while.
Issei scavenged some ammo from his dead teammates, as he clutched to consciousness, shooting the oncoming hordes of enemies, in the checkered field. As it spanned on, the more everything turned checkered. The enemies camouflages, the trees, the rustling leaves, the gun in his hands...
The time froze, and the pair sitting on the wreckage of the helicopter spoke up.
''...You were really desperate.'' - Margit spoke, looking at their past. -''You're barely conscious.''
''I had one thing in this world. One, single thing, and that thing was you. The only shining star in the darkness of the void.'' - Issei said, chuckling and looking down at his fingers. -''I didn't want to lose you.''
The scene jumped forwards, and Issei was out of ammo, and Margit was too. Both covered in blood, both gasping for air...
The enemy soldiers, knowing that, dashed at them, to take them out non-lethally. Margit's kicks and punches killed a few the attackers, but she was overwhelmed, and Issei was too.
Two soldiers grabbed his elbows, and kicked out his legs, dropping him to the knees.
His vision went static, and the high-pitched screaming in his ears didn't stop. His heart, didn't stop. It began to beat harder. Harder, faster, stronger than before. He raised his head, seeing Margit get punched in the stomach repeatedly.
And that was the breaking point. The marbles scattered, everything went black and white, checkered, and the person called Issei Hyoudou roared at the world.
His voice overpowered anything else, as the low pitch scream sounded more like a dragon breaking out of it's chains than a human being.
The two man who were holding had their arms completely shatter, as Issei raised up. His body twisted upwards, dashing towards Margit.
The man who was previously punching Margit stepped forwards, but got his eyes gouged out by Issei, before he broke his neck, letting the limp body fall the ground.
The other man released Margit, but he too received a blow to his solar plexus, dying on the spot.
Margit barely remained standing, as Issei lunged at another group of the soldiers, trying to kill as many as he could, before that power would turn him into ash...but his punch was deflected, and he was kicked away, into Margit, as they both fell down.
The strength cut off, together with his breath, as he struggled, but did see how Margit lost her will to fight, passing out top of him.
And so he observed the man with the short, red hair. He cracked his finger, and Issei grabbed Marigt with one hand, trying to pull her away, as he shuffled himself back...but the scene cut off, as he was hit in the back of his head with a riffle by one of the other soldiers.
''You floated in that brain ooze, for a long while, right?'' - Margit asked, still sitting on the wreckage.
''Right.'' - Issei looked at his arms, having released the clutches of his own palms. -''My hearing screamed for three days. That's why I thought you didn't scream. The screaming in my ears went away in the third day, and I heard you. It was like waking up from a nightmare, only to find yourself in hell.''
Margit jumped off the wreckage, and stepped in front of Issei, her expression going completely dead serious. She grabbed Issei's knees, and moved them open like two doors, stepping between his legs. She looked at him from below, meeting his single eye.
''But that wasn't the only think you lied about.'' - She said, with a cold tone. -''You told people you didn't cry, scream or shout the whole time. That you were strong, that you locked away the pain, that you didn't allow them to break you.''
''Huh? What are you talking about?'' - Issei asked, bewildered, trying to dodge her glance.
''Stop trying to lock out the memories. Stop!'' - She grabbed his head with both arms, forcing him to look into her own eyes. -''YOU WERE WEAK THEN!''
The world shattered like a punched mirror. The scene shifted, and now he was looking down on a pathetic kid. A dark room, badly lit. It stank of blood and filth.
The kid was laying on the floor, on his side, clutching his head with his scarred arms. His bloody knees pulled to his stomach, he was lying there, sobbing. His hair was dark red, and more dark blood was pooling beneath his head. His fingers were dislocated, and the skin around his fingers and toes were shedding. His nails were pealed off, forming dark blue and red, disgusting ulcers in their steads. He was shaking in fear, in despair. A completely pathetic sight, a completely pathetic kid.
''Please, no more. No more...please...spare me...'' - he pleaded, his voice shaking. -''I don't want to feel any more pain...I've had enough...please, please, please, please.''
His voice, barely audible, like a bug. His whole statue, dirty, like a smashed maggot in his own blood, trembled.
''I'm hungry...''
He repeated those words like a broken cassette player, over and over again, as Issei observed.
Since that pathetic kid was him.
''You weren't strong. You cried from the first day of the torture. You pleaded, you shouted, you begged...like a little kid, like the first time.''
Issei stepped back, but tripped, falling to his knees. Grasping his head, in manner that reminisced of the kid in front of him, he began to tremble.
''...I don't get it. Why...why did I delude myself into thinking I was strong then?''
''Your strength...it wasn't there. Not back then.'' - Margit knelt in front of him, speaking softly. -''But now - you're the strongest. To save yourself from complete death of your spirit, you had to delude yourself. If not, you'd have never gotten revenge. You would have never broken out. You would have died then, right and there. You had to protect your self, the Issei you thought you were.''
''...Then why...'' - Issei raised his head, facing Margit. -''WHY DID YOU SHOW ME THIS THEN!?''
Margit smiled, softly. -''Because you had to face everything, for real. Enough delusions, enough lies. You were not strong enough before, but that has changed. You are feared, you are strong.''
Margit shuffled forwards, wrapping her hands around Issei's trembling body.
Instantly, he calmed down.
His mind wandered away, to what now seemed like forever ago. Her slender, but toned arms made him recall one of those cold, dark nights.
Where she had held him, as they both slept by the ice cold ocean, at the furthest side of the tectonic plate, just by Canada. They had to wait for a ship, but there had been some problems, so they had to stay the night. Their clothes drenched from a previous escape through a lake...Margit had held him, by a fire as their clothes had dried out. Her warm embrace...His only eye flickered again, as he came back to that crumbling place, where she was embracing him once again.
''I am telling you this...You are strong. Don't ever forget it, son.''
Issei embraced her back, pressing his body against hers as hard as he could. No matter if she wasn't real, because she felt real. She felt just as real as she had in the past.
''See you soon.'' - She said, smiling, and releasing the embrace. Her palm drove through his hair, ruffling it, just like the old days.
The world went white, and both of them scattered into nothingness, pealing away like a burning movie tape.
After a small while, the world's sounds came back.
''He's back, isn't he?'' - He heard the voice of Vali, just before opening his eyes.
''I'm back.'' - Issei spoke up, opening his eyes, but they opened way too wide, when he noticed Ophis, staring blankly at him, from a few feet away, sitting in the same way he was.
''...Most curious.'' - She said, not breaking eye contact.
Issei tilted his head to the side, listening to her.
''You made a major change in the sacred gear. You unlocked it.''
[She's right. You won't go mad now, if you boost too much.]
Issei let out a sigh of relief, as he let the cold air wash over his statue, him getting up. -''Is it like a Juggernaut Drive?''
[Kind off, a bit different. You'll see, when the time to use it comes.]
Issei tilted his head to the side, noticing that Vali was also there. He simply nodded, and began to walk away, understanding that everything was fine, and his help wasn't needed.
Kuroka glanced at him, question marks in her eyes.
He remained mute, not saying anything. That journey was for him, and him alone. No one else, not even Kuroka.
As if understanding, her gaze switched to the side, and the ''question marks'' changed into ''disappointment''.
Ophis pulled on his sleeve, making him look down at her doll-like face. Empty of emotions, her gaze simply stared into his soul. -''My snakes, they have taken quite a liking to you. That's good. However, I do wish to inquire about something.''
''What?''
''Your debt to me. I saved your life, and gave you this strength.''
Issei remained standing, his clothes and hair fluttering in the cold wind. She was right. This person, right in front of him, was Ophis, the Infinite Dragon God. If she was at full power, she could kill him with a single glance. But she wasn't.
''Would getting you back to full power be a sufficient enough exchange?''
She stared for a moment, before nodding her head exactly one time, her eyes still wide.
''Then I promise exactly that. I will get your power back.'' - He raised his hand towards her.
She was frozen, glancing at his hand, unsure for a moment, before she raised her hand, and put it into Issei's. He wrapped his fingers around her small, slender palm and shook it.
Her hand was very soft and smooth, but cold. Kind of like Maria's, he noted.
After his hand was already in his pocket, Ophis' hand remained in the air for a second, before she lowered it too.
''...What was the purpose of that?'' - She inquired, with the same, cold, wide eyes.
''It is a gesture between two people, that is based on mutual trust. I just now, because we shook our hands, have promised to fulfill that, what I said.'' - Issei answered, looking at her.
She tilted her head. -''But why, can you not break the promise now, after shaking hands?''
''I can.'' - Issei chuckled slightly. -''But it is a symbol of pride, conviction, substance and self in the human world. Although some people do think that breaking promises create bad luck.''
''I see.'' - She said, glancing downwards.
Issei walked over to Kuroka, who was still sitting on the ground. Her glance focused on a single point, and Issei disrupted her thoughts.
''...I had a long, good conversation with myself. No worries now, we need to strike.''
''We'll begin to plan, gather the soldiers and tell to get ready. How long? A week, or two?''
Issei shook his head. -''The day after tomorrow. At night.''
Her eyes widened, and she simply let out a small chuckle. - ''Now is not the time to joke around...you're not kidding.''
In a single swift motion she jumped upright, standing eye-to-eye with Issei.
''No, I'm not. We are close, and the info is shabby at worst. We need to move fast and now, before any of the parameters change.''
She grabbed his scalp. -''Or is it because of your body? Are you afraid you won't make it that long?''
Her cold eyes reflected Issei's narrow, cold stare. -''I will make it that long. Don't worry.''
She released his hair, resting her head on his shoulder, and sighing lightly. -''I just don't know what to do. I'm a simple cat, don't you know?''
Issei planted a kiss on her forehead, and lingered next to her, for a few silent seconds.
''Do what you need to.'' - She stated, placing her slender arm on his chest. He nodded, looked at Ophis, who had turned around, staring at something in the distance. He cracked his neck, and walked off.
She remained standing in the dark field, her clothes fluttering in the wind. -''All I can do when I'm sad is meow.''
She raised her head, staring at the wide, white circle in the sky.
''Meow.''
Koneko was more, or less, confused. She was sitting in a large sofa. Extremely large. Uncomfortably large. A bit to her right, sat Azazel and comfortably chatted with a vampire lord.
The girl,that had introduced herself as Elmenhilde Galnstein, that was sitting next to him kept staring at her, making her uncomfortable. Her perfect, porcelain doll-like features, and those blood-red eyes didn't make it any less uncomfortable. Her perfection probably made it even more unbearable.
Koneko's head was leaned down, as she threw quick glances at her, from time to time. Any time that Koneko looked at her, she was glancing straight at her, without failure.
She wanted to ask her, if something was bothering her, in a condescending tone, but didn't, realizing that was exactly what Issei, no, Hyoudou, would have done.
''So, what you are saying that Khaos Brigade still has Ophis?'' - The Lord Vampire asked, his blood-red eyes narrowing.
''Yes, but at the same time, no. The thing looks like Ophis. The thing has the power of Ophis, but isn't the real Ophis. It's a fake, made from her power.'' - Azazel answered, crossing his legs.
''Does this impact us, in any way?''
''I don't think so. After all, I'm simply saying that Khaos Brigade is a threat, but it shouldn't be the biggest threat.''
''...They already have infiltrated the Tepes household, how can they not be a threat?'' - The man asked, his voice timbre lowering. -''Are you stupid, fallen angel?''
Azazel cracked his neck, glaring back at the man. -''Most of you vampires are little out of touch. Khaos Brigade have Tepes, sure, but have they done anything to you, until now? They care for the girl, not you. Do you not know who your true enemy is?''
The man seemed taken aback for a moment, so the doll-like girl answered, in a oddly cold, but princess-like tone. -''This ''Bloodhound'' person, was it not? I did hear stories of other vampire settlements being attacked by him.''
She said it in such a uncaring way that Koneko upturned her eyebrows, but kept quiet, because Azazel already had began to talk.
''Yes. He, and his army have wiped out many Vampire settlements. However, the problem stands that Khaos Brigade took over Tepes...and if my intuition is correct, they will strike too. And with him, we can't know for sure, what kind of a scale the attack will be.''
The man rubbed his chin, looking Azazel in his eyes. This time, the expression wasn't angry...but reflected regret, perhaps. -''Your words only make it more important, and to do so quicker...we need to save the Tepes girl, if that Grail falls into the hands of the enemy, unspeakable, horrible things will fall over the world. Not only the human, the whole world, it will crumble. You can be sure of that. The number 1 Sacred Gear has that kind of a power.''
''We are short-handed...very short handed, in these last few weeks, a lot of bad things happened, from the combined effort of Zero Army and Khaos Brigade.'' - Azazel spoke, sighing lightly. -''But as far as help goes, I will see to it that the Power Trinity knows of the situation.''
The man grasped at his face for a second, before looking to the ground, and beginning to speak. -''...You have to understand how humiliating it is, to ask for help from outsiders. But we have no choice.''
The man stood up, and bowed. -''Please, there has to be something more you can do.''
Azazel stood up, and placed his arm on his shoulder, as he stood up straight. -''Please, no need for such humility. I will see to it, personally, that the two strongest families will not die out, nor will your territory be taken over.''
The man nodded, but the doll-like girl spoke up. -''Will the Gremory family arrive?''
Azazel looked at Koneko, and answered. -''No. Due to unfortunate circumstances, nor she, nor her family will be able to come and help.''
''...That's very rude of them. Last I heard of it, this ''Bloodhound'' person was in her peerage, in fact.''
Koneko stared at her with a cold glance, but nothing came of it, since Azazel smirked, his expression turning...sinister. -''Trust me, the most ''damage'' was done to her, and her alone. The path of carnage did start there. She is the one, who is the most unfortunate one.''
''...Fair enough.'' - Elmenhilde answered, her doll-like eyes crossing over to Koneko, after that small pause. -''Last inquiry then, who is she, exactly?''
''She's my bodyguard.'' - Azazel answered, without batting an eye.
''I see.'' - She answered, and Koneko got up, getting ready to leave.
The vampire-lord whispered something into Elmenhilde's ear, as her doll-like features scrunched up, expressing displeasure. She stood there, blank, for a few seconds, before addressing Koneko and Azazel at the same time.
''Thank you...for the help, Azazel.''
It was obvious how hard it was, for her to swallow her pride.
Azazel nodded, raising his hand. -''No need, I am just doing what's in the best of everyone's interest.''
''I trust it you know your way around?'' - She asked, throwing forced politeness.
''Yes, yes, no worries about us. I assume we will discuss this matter further tomorrow?'' - He asked, with a gentle smile.
''Of course. But please, do make haste.''
''Utmost urgency, I promise.'' - He said, before he, and Koneko left the room. They weren't facing a fancy, large room filled with overpriced ornaments anymore, but an equally giant hallway, filled with expensive, middle-age paintings of various sizes.
Koneko let out a long sigh, and Azazel ruffled his own hair, sighing as well. -''What a boring bunch of losers.''
She smirked a bit, before speaking. -''What is our plan now?''
''We return to our rooms. Rest, while I will contact Sirzechs and Michael, and try to gather help soon. We are going to need some strong firepower though, if Hyoudou attacks...ahh...'' - He sighed, together with a moan of annoyance. -''This is such a bother, I'll have to pull Tobio out of his current mission...so he can help.''
Koneko didn't respond, remaining at her side. She was unsure about this ''Tobio'' person. Could she even face her sister? Not to mention her mentor?
She shook her head, removing those thoughts. They would only serve as a complete distraction, nothing more.
The sun was rising outside. A bit more than half a day, and he would attack.
However, Maria was perplexed by this turn of events. Issei was sitting down, drinking coffee in her ''room''. It was delicious, to say the least. Out of this world, even. It warmed him up inside, as if he had swallowed a sun.
Exactly opposite, of the woman that had made it.
Issei had changed his clothes. Now, only a deep-black, textureless turtleneck covered his upper body, while black, form-fitting pants covered his lower body, together with his usual, black boots. His metallic arm blended in with the dark material.
Maria looked at him, as she made herself coffee.
''Issei.'' - she spoke, making him raise his head.
His white hair, that had fallen to the side of the eyepatch shook a bit, as his lone eye met Maria's. It was dull, like always...but it felt darker. His pupil...was sharp. She couldn't really put a finger on what exactly was different.
''You've changed.''
He glanced at her for a second, before looking down at the coffee cup in his right hand. -''Me? No, never.''
''You're being humble again. You did change, somehow inside, did you not?'' - she took the brewed coffee, and went over to the sofa, in which Issei was sitting in. Instead of planting herself down on it, she sat on the coffee table, right in front of Issei, looking into his face.
She took a sip of the coffee, savoring the taste, before opening her mouth. -''So, you want to attack at night, is that correct?''
''Yes. We have enough information to pin-point everything, right?''
She looked to the side. -''Pretty much. However, I do not like to go in on such low amounts of it. There are a lot of variables at play here, Issei-chan. Too many players, too many possible outcomes. You might not know basic arithmetics, but you should know, that the more players are on the field, the more outcomes.''
''It doesn't matter, does it? You're a control freak, Maria. I do things differently.'' - Issei answered, taking a sip of the hot coffee. -''Since, you put me in charge...everyone follows my orders, not yours, right?''
She smirked, tilting her head down, amused. -''That's very bold of you, Issei-chan. Seems like whatever it was, that happened in your cute little noggin, it gave you some confidence.''
Issei lips upturned a small bit, as he drank a bit more from the cup in his hand.
''Anyways, of course. In theory, you are the leader, and I am just some girl, who is your assistant. Do you think the soldiers think we have hot, mindless sex all the time you're over here, huh?''
Her lips curled, as she leaned forwards, her decollete uncovering her small breasts. Issei closed his eye, smiling. -''They might. But that is besides the point. So, will you give them the order, then?''
She nodded, sighing playfully. -''Not like I can deny you, king.''
''King?'' - Issei smiled, amused.
''Kakaka, ''king'' doesn't fit you. Never have, never will.'' - She answered, leaning back, not looking at anything in particular. -''Although I do wonder, if your visit to the Boosted Gear has something to do with why you are in such a rush. Is time...valuable for you?''
''Did Mengele not tell you anything?'' - Issei asked, slightly confused. -''Of course, I'm racing against the clock.''
She got up, having finished her cup of coffe. Issei looked at her back, at her long sweater, that covered her thighs. She wasn't wearing any pants.
''Maria. Will you ever tell me the reason of me?''
She froze, before turning around, still with an empty cup in her hand. -''Huh?~ You're special. That's it.''
Issei lowered his head. -''You're strong. Stronger than me. Stronger that most people. Why did you need me?''
She smirked, raising the empty cup above her head. -''Because I needed a queen to stand next to me, in the desolate wasteland that is to come.''
''...Or maybe, you wanted to see, if you could create another one, like yourself.''
Maria's small smile disappeared,as she narrowed her eyes. Issei raised his metallic arm, deflecting the cup, as it was flung by Maria. It shattered against a wall.
''My dear lost one.'' - Maria spoke, calming down. -''Please don't talk like I'm some kind of a beast, that I would create someone ''like myself''. It's rude.''
Before Issei could answer, the doors were opened in a rush, and Gilgamesh and one of his soldiers walked in.
''Did I not warn you, to not disturb me?'' - Maria spoke, her eyes becoming narrow slits.
''It's important.''
Issei stared at the man. His shirt was ripped, the Zero Army tattoo clear in view. His hair was messed up from sweat, and his breathing was labored.
''You're Elijah, one of the last Trojans, right?'' - Maria asked, straight to the point.
He nodded, looking at Issei. -''Boss, my patrol with the Khaos Brigade was attacked, and wiped out, by a small girl, with red hair.''
That had caught his attention. -''I am about 90% sure that it was the girl from Gremory peerage.''
''Gremory?'' - He asked, confused.
''No, the little one. With the white hair, before.'' - He answered, inhaling deeply. -''She fought like you. I barely got away.''
''...That doesn't make sense.'' - Issei answered, touching his face with the metallic arm.
''It does...'' - Maria answered, raising her arm. -''Dismissed. Get some rest, soldier.''
He looked at Issei, who nodded to that, and he exited the room. Gilgamesh leaned against the door frame, as Issei looked at Maria. -''Explain.''
''I heard it a bit ago. Koneko Toujou went rogue not too long ago. So, she's chasing after us, huh...''
Issei buried his face in both of his hands, contemplating the situation. Still hidden, he asked. -''This doesn't change anything, right?''
''No. As long as she remains in underworld, she doesn't matter.'' - Maria answered, sighing again. -''However, the question remains in your hands. Can she impact you?''
Issei's stared at her through his eyebrows, before a smirk appeared on his face. Wretched, ugly grin, down-turned eyebrows, narrow smile. -''No, she can't.''
''Beautiful.'' - She said, smiling.
Issei stood up, beginning to walk away. -''Everything is done here?''
''Yes.'' - Maria answered, not looking at him.
He passed Gilgamesh, who remained standing against the door frame. He left the room. Maria turned towards Gilgamesh, her gaze narrowing.
''He's planning something. I can feel it.'' - Maria raised her hand towards him, gesturing. -''Come over here.''
He listened, his tall statue walking across the room, towards her. He stopped a step away from her, looming over her short statue.
''Kneel.''
He did. Now Maria was looking down at him.
''Do you know something?'' - She asked, touching his chin.
''Not a thing. However, he spent a lot of time with Kuroka's sister. Don't trust anything he has to say about her. He is cruel, but he couldn't do that to Kuroka. Not a chance.''
''Of course. Issei is weak. However, I'm uneasy. This game, we are playing, is going high-stakes. Keep a careful eye over him. Don't let him do anything suspicious. Be a knight, to the fake king...''
''As you wish...Marie.''
''Remember where your loyalties lay, Gil.'' - She said, yanking the gold chain around his neck, so he would stand up.
He placed his hand on his chest, smirking. -''Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye...if I was ever to betray you...king.''
She placed her arm on his chest, feeling his heartbeat. -''Now go. You have work to do.''
He nodded, and exited the room. Maria dropped down on the sofa, crossing her legs, and looked at the ceiling.
''...That was mean of him...I'm cute.''
Issei's shoulder rested against the large window, as he sat on the window-sill, comfortably reading a book. It has had been a long while since the last time. For a long time, it seemed, he was only doing only things that involved fighting, gaining strenght, or scheming.
To be healthy, you needed to take a break from time to time. At least, Margit used to say that. Her favorite past-time, after fighting was to read. That was how he had started to read. He had thought about it, in the times he had spent in isolation.
Like back then, when he and Margit had split up in a forest, and he had to survive for a while, alone. It wasn't easy, but the hardest part was isolation.
''If you want to be alone, make sure you love yourself.''
Those words, he never forgot. They were true. When he was alone, sitting by a fire in the forest of never-ending rain, there was nothing else to think about but himself. About what he had become, about what he was doing, really. And the reason, for why he loved books.
He liked to loose himself in the books, the characters, the world, the setting. Even he, through books, could live out being a hero.
He judged every single action he had, in that time of being alone. A few days later he met up with Margit, of course, but had the nights been any longer, he probably wouldn't be sitting there, reading that book.
''The Metamorphosis'', by Kafka himself. It felt bitter, to find this book in particular, in the house he was staying in. He had read it before, Margit had the complete, unabridged edition. Back then, he always thought himself in the role of George Samsa, the trader who turned into a creepy, ugly, monstrous bug over night.
Wasn't that ironic? How Issei had turned into a monster too, only not overnight. It took a few more.
Samsa, of course tried to become normal, to adjust to the situation, but all he was, was a burden to his family. They were repelled, horrified, and disgusted by his nature and looks, of what he had become.
Back then, and even know, he was sure that his parents would be sick and appalled of him, if they truly knew, all that he had done.
He had finished the book, and placed it down on the window sill, glancing outside. The atmosphere was high-strung. People loading guns, checking their gear, cleaning their swords, checking their slim armors, some were sparring with each-other, some were resting, trying to get some sleep. They had all been alerted.
Gilgamesh was sitting on the edge of a broken fountain, overlooking the soldiers. He shot a glance at Issei, who simply nodded at him.
He jumped off the high windowsill, his expression darkening. He cracked his knuckle with his robotic arm, speaking to no one in particular.
''Your parent failed in raising you.''
An old man sat in a stolen throne, drinking wine from a stolen chalice. His silver hair fell over his back, taken in an elegant pony-tail. He swirled the last, small amount of wine that was left, and drank it empty. He smiled, looking at the ceiling. It was covered in exquisite, Renaissance time painting of a small boy and his mother. He poured another glass of wine, and continued to read a book, that was placed on the throne's armrest.
That didn't last for long, though. He heard a knock on the door, and a person in white clothes entered, his face covered by a hood. -''Sir Lucifer, we have confirmed that Azazel has been spotted in Romania.''
He got up, nodding. -''Anything more?''
''Nothing.''
''When you have lived this far, you can feel the anticipation in your bones...'' - He answered, waving for the man to go away. He bowed, and exited the way he had entered.
Rizevim's steps echoed as he walked through the massive castle. His gait became slower, once a hallway with blood tracks came into view. The trail led into a room with the doors half-open.
As he came closer, he could hear a sound of cracking and buzzing. Loud, disgusting cracking and a low-pitched sound of buzzing. He opened them, his expression not changing at the sight.
A man clad in black and white, and covered in blood sat a top of a pile of dead bodies. Their ears were sharp, and their lifeless eyes were red...so, obviously vampires. His hair was a dirty mix of white and brown, had grown way too long. His face half covered by a hood, and the other half was his hair, as he was looking down, at his own hands.
They were disfigured, ugly. His nails weren't there, only showing a blue and black mix where they should be. The fingers themselves were black and blue too, but also crippled, didn't bend correctly and were all misshapen and crooked. As he bent them, they made a cracking sound.
His feet were bare, resting on the bloody ground. His whole body was covered by a odd cloak that had a black and white stripe pattern, and it was being kept in place by a chest armor, and straps around his arms and legs.
''I'm pretty sure it will start soon.'' - Rizevim spoke up.
He stopped, freezing, as if only then noticing someone else was in the room with him. He raised his head, his wide open, bloodshot eyes focusing on Rizevim. The skin on his face was bloody, and something was moving, crawling under his skin, around his face and neck, and in his long, messy hair.
Bees.
The look of a madman clouded his previously gentle and handsome features.
''Are you ready to fight, Shalba?''
The expression morphed into a deranged smile, uncovering his bloody teeth. His voice came out distraught, loud and nervous.
''The sooner the better...my bees are starving.''
He twitched, going back to cracking his fingers.
Outside of the room, a small girl, with Obsidian eyes stood emotionless. Rizevim walked closer, leaning down at her. -''Is anything wrong?''
''I, ran out of sweets.''
Rizevim smiled. -''Of course. Come, we have a lot more.''
***
I had a dream where the sky fell down.
The bloodstains won't come out, no matter how many times I pour warm water on them, they won't come out.
Only words begin to dissolve everything, and get stuck in the drain.
And you become unable to forgive yourself, unforgiving.
I had a dream.
A failure of a God
She laughed and squeezed my throat.
It's always like this.
Only people dull to pain hurt me
She truly loved me,
Only she didn't know how to love.
What a stupid God.
My nerves grow strangely and pierce through my skin.
All at once they sing out.
Far away, someone laughs. Soon, it's not even my voice any more.
My brain becomes transparent, and there's nothing I can't see.
On knowing the things you didn't know, you die.
I had a dream where the sky fell.
A checkerboard sky.
Squashed by it, I died.
Yes, I wished for that.
-Ishida Sui.
***
Author's notes.
Welcome back. Happy holidays, and what not~ My present to you, dear readers. This is most likely the last chapter of this year. It's been a long time, since I've began writing this. Anyways...I hope you liked it.
Anonymous TG bro - Well, thank you. Honestly, I couldn't do an open ending, that would be way too cruel. I'm not that big of a monster, jeez, haha~. It's ending soon, yeah. About Kuroka...I'm having a damn hard time with this, honestly. I'm tearing in different directions every fortnight, fighting myself before sleep, just trying to figure out the last details. You know, I never expected to get THIS far into the story. When I started, I had an idea on how I will end it...but I never, ever thought I'd actually write this far into it. Over 200k words. That's like, what...more than the last Harry Potter book...holy hell. Anyways, Maria fucked him. Literally and figuratively, yeah. Hope you liked this chapter~.
Please leave a review if you liked, or didn't like the chapter~