His shoes squeaked, as he pushed through the masses of people along the way. In a hurry, his schoolbag barely hanging on his right shoulder. Running through these people only made his suspicion even clearer - he was pretty sure that his class was the only one to have the first period this early.
With an extra loud squeak, he stopped by the sideways sliding doors, standing a bit away from them, trying to gather his appearance and to get his breath back. He wasn't a runner after all. As he drove his brown hair to the side with one hand, he stuffed the one end of his white shirt back into his slacks. As he looked down, he sighed. He hated those ill fitting slacks. His legs were simply too skinny.
As his breathing had calmed down somewhat, he pushed the doors to the side, opening them. His entrance was met by some 30 odd looks his way. He threw an uncomfortable smile at them.
''Excuse me. May I sit down?''
''You know what? Not this time, Hyoudou.'' - The teacher answered, holding chalk in one hand, and a folded book in the other. Her glance narrowed, her eyebrows upturning. He simply stood still, in front of the now closed doors. -''Remind me, how many times have you missed first period this month?''
''4 times, miss Margit.'' - He answered, looking straight at the red haired teacher.
''Oh, only 4 times. That's fine then, understandable!'' - She answered, sarcastically. -''Which excuse you're going to use this time?''
''You know, highschool life is hard! We need to sleep to grow! We have to do a lot of homework, we need to socialize, and there are after school clubs and...''
''C'mon, don't make me laugh. You don't do your homework, and you don't do after school activities. Actually, I'm pretty sure you don't do any activities. Ever.''
The class began to laugh, as Issei scratched his head. Well, she wasn't wrong, so he simply grinned.
''Alright, you've kept this class for too long. Go sit down, but if you miss just one more time, I will make you see me after class.''
''I mean, if it's you, I wouldn't really mind...'' - He said, smiling at her, as he sat down at his seat, near the window. The class erupted in laughter, as he dodged a chalk piece hurled at him.
She sighed softly, taking an another piece of chalk, and continuing to write the physics formula on the blackboard. She spoke, explaining it in layman terms at first, making sure Issei and some of the others got it, before moving on and explaining it further. After a while though, Issei noticed that his pen wasn't really writing anything. And that he was dozing off, lightly. It was the fault of the damn soft rain sound of the outside, making him sleepy - gently tapping against the window in a regular rhythm.
He looked at the window, noticing it was raining red. The window, all covered red, and the streets - drowning in red water. Buildings, half submerged. The sky was the ground, the ground was the sky. Big, fat and dark clouds rolling around buildings.
''Right.'' - He said, loudly, to himself, turning his glance back at the class. The other kids were just skeletons, leaning over their desks, their notebooks perished. His loafers were wet, the red water pooling to his ankles.
Margit stood in the front, stopped in motion like a statue.
He looked down at the water. He noticed a beaded necklace around his neck, and from it, hung an oval piece of metal. Dogtags of Issei Hyoudou. He closed his eyes, as his eyesight had become fuzzy. When he opened them, a raindrop fell from his eye, towards the red water. In that raindrop, he saw himself, sitting in the classroom, surrounded by other students.
Another raindrop fell, and he saw himself as an successful businessman in that one. Another one where he was a vagabond, traveling the world. Another reflected him as a mountain climber. Numerous raindrops fell from his eyes, showing every possibility his life could have held - the great, the good, and average, and even the bad ones. Those raindrops were his tears, as he was crying, clutching his hands together, exasperated.
There, from his eyes, his youth fell, with his tears, washing away any possibility of normal life. Of course, it was understandable. He closed his eyes shut, trying to keep the possibilities of escaping, but they just ran past his eyelids, sliding down his face.
After a while of sobbing in silence, he opened his eyes. He was sitting in a birdcage, in an old, stained chair. Chains hanged off it, rusted, perished. The red, checkered floor was cracked, destroying the pattern. The previous branch like bars of the cage were now broken, bent, rusted, shattered - not serving their purpose, not anymore. Issei got up, slowly moving.
He walked over the useless bars, stepping outside.
Somehow, he walked. Holding to perished bones, latching onto rotting handrails, he climbed. A staircase, a tower, of bones, of bodies. Blood raised, and he ran.
Reality unraveled, not the world.
His left arm rotted, as he watched the city's skyline from the stairway made out of the people he had killed. The city was drowning and collapsing. Distant buildings made out of pulsating lumps of flesh were burning, falling, collapsing on each other, rotting away. Other buildings, made out of carcasses of bones were exploding, falling over, unable to support their own weight. The sky was cracked, the birds running away.
He climbed, and climbed, but it wasn't enough to reach the top. Where was he climbing, anyways? He didn't know, but he had to climb because he didn't want to drown in the raising, red water.
He slipped, falling.
His face hit the water, him struggling to get up. His rotten arm didn't help that much, as he turned to his back, laying there, waiting for the water to submerge him.
After a few seconds, he noticed a rope of intestines hanging from the sky. From between the dark clouds. He grabbed it, ripping, pulling violently, trying to get himself up with both hands and legs, trying to avoid the water.
He didn't care that they were the intestines of his loved ones, he just kept ripping and pulling. They made odd, ugly sounds. Some tore off, as he tried to remain hanging, pathetically.
In the end, he made it, up in the clouds.
Only those clouds were the ground.
And there, in the middle of a birdcage, sat he, himself. Black dress shoes and pants, and a white shirt. Both eyes, both arms. It was him, again. A rotten crow with antlers was picking at some innards behind him, before freezing up, for a second. After a glance, the bird returned to his doing.
''For who was it, in the end?''
''For me. I wanted it. I had to do it. This despair, this tragedy...It was written for me alone.''
''LIAR!''
Issei's legs gave out, him falling to his knees, in front of himself. That Issei looked down at him, with narrow eyes.
''Alright. I have no choice in the matter. I never did. But, I do have to do it. No one else can do it, so I shall.''
''And what if no one does it? You don't want to do it, right?''
''I don't. But I will.'' - Issei smiled, sitting on his knees.
''Why?''
''That's just life. You have to do things you don't want to. You have to suffer to live. You can keep your regret, you can retain your anger. I'm sorry, but we will die here. Every single thing we did in life has led us to this place.''
That Issei got up, beginning to speak.
''This place is collapsing. Your mind, that is. I'm sure you looked around and you noticed it all. However, I'm pleased.''
Issei looked up, confused.
''You have accepted it. The regret, the pain, the anger. You understood, that not everything can be put back together, that not every story has a true ending, a true solution. Some anger can't be sated. Some regret can't be erased...but if you are fine with it all.''
That Issei fell to his knees, wrapping his arms around the real Issei. He was crying soundlessly.
''Then I'm fine with it.''
Bringing him close, they remained like that, as the world fell around them. Even up there, the red water was seeping through, starting to submerge them.
''And if you are convicted to die...I will not hinder your selfless suicide.''
The real Issei tried to hug that Issei back, but he was gone. Disappeared, torn away, combined back with him. That Issei was fine with what the real Issei was doing, so the split inside the mind had collapsed.
He was at peace.
The world collapsed around him, the water seeping over his head, mixing everything together. Memories, feelings, thoughts. Everything became nothing, and nothing became everything. But all the same - that everything mattered, but didn't matter at all.
However, he knew that he had rested enough, and had to reemerge from the water. He had to fight the current.
When that white light enveloped the air around them, it took them by surprise. It tore a hole in the sky, scattering the dark clouds away, and after that, the rising sun glared through it. Even rain was stopped. In a few seconds, the scenery had changed. Darkness subsided, leaving only the raising sun.
Sirzechs' men had been hunting down both - Zero Army and Khaos Brigade, although they had been given the order to focus on Zero Army. To their surprise, their numbers were a lot scarcer than they had expected. They killed a lot more of Khaos Brigade. Those of Zero Army did put up a fight though.
''It's been quite messy sir.'' - A devil spoke, his coat splattered with dry blood. - ''We've killed some 130 men that weren't Khaos Brigade. Dark clothes, a bit of red here and there. Khaos Brigade's numbers have been cut down a lot as well - even before we arrived.''
''Good. Wipe them out completely.''
''Of course. They can't run, since you put up the barrier. We'll be done very soon.''
Sirzechs sighed, looking around. Dead bodies surrounded him. Khaos Brigade, Zero Army, Vampires. Their killed forms laid dead the same way, without a difference.
''I'm pretty sure Vali ran away.'' - Azazel spoke, scratching the backside of his head. The man that had reported to Sirzechs stepped away.
''You didn't help him?''
''Of course not.'' - Azazel spoke, scoffing. -''He killed an dragon...and someone else with silver hair...When will you go for Hyoudou? You know where he is, just as well I.''
''I'm waiting. When his force will be destroyed, then I'll go.''
''...I'm going right now. I can't find Koneko, I'm pretty sure she's there. In the castle.''
Sirzechs' eyes met Azazel's, pausing for a moment.
''Let's go.''
His body raised from the ground, like a wounded hound. Before his mind could come back together, he was already standing on both feet, a rusted spear sticking out of his stomach.
He remained there for a little while, before his bearings came back.
''Can you hear me, Ddraig?''
[Barely, partner.]
''How much can you give me, still?''
[I'll give you everything.]
That dragon's voice now distant, echoed.
''Sorry for always relaying on you.''
[Don't mention it. If we're going down, we'll do it together.]
His gruff voice had a hint of regret to it. Issei looked around, his one eye completely dull. The brown color from it had washed away.
''I can't see.'' - Issei grasped at his face, trying to touch his eye, but fell back down. His statue, crumbled, he remained on the ground. That single movement was too much. -''...It's a blur of colors...besides, there's a blind spot right in the middle of my vision...shit.''
His voice was going as well, having become weak and quiet.
[The light burned your eyes out, and besides, you're still bleeding.]
His only arm clutched at his side, driving over his torn black clothes, trying to find the wound. There were a few - mostly, his right side and the spear.
''Could I use the scale mail armor to block the bleeding just for a bit?''
He asked, knowing well that he was dying soon.
[30 won't make it much longer. I can try to give you some kind of an armor.]
Something in his mind was collapsing. He heard what Ddraig had said, but he didn't really understand it.
''Can you?''
[...Yes. Pull the spear out.]
He got up again, slowly. After taking a deep breath, his arm landed on the spear, and he clutched his fist. It was...scorched. Rusted. Useless now.
In a simple gesture, the spear went flying away. With a dull, echoing sound it landed somewhere before him. His vision couldn't tell. In that moment, he felt the armor wrap around him - a gentle embrace. A foreign embrace. After a few seconds of touching it, he realized. It was barely a scale mail armor. It felt more like chain mail. It was missing pieces, the helmet wasn't there.
But it was enough. He wasn't bleeding anymore...on the outside at least.
''...No time to think unnecessary things...if I go now, I might just make it.''
He stepped forwards, hearing a crunching noise. He leaned down, barely, his fingers tracing the thing he stepped on. Gentle skin was now just rotting bones. Soft hair was gone. He was touching the half shattered skull of Maria. He didn't react, raising himself up.
His footsteps heavy, his gait unsteady - he found the remains of the circular stairway leading to the topside. Leaning against the outside wall of the stairway, he climbed.
[Amazing grace, how sweet the sound...]
Only part of the staircase had remained, the other, or rather the middle, had collapsed into the ground, right where Issei had landed before. He fell over numerous times, just getting up and pulling himself along, trying to surface, finally.
[...that saved a wretch like me...]
He couldn't tell how much time it had taken, but he could tell it was getting worse. His vision was fading. The colors that had been before, were subsiding, disappearing and the blind spot was growing in size. He fell to his knees, when the stairs had ended, puking blood at the same time. He couldn't tell the color of it, but he was sure it was dark.
He raised his head, tracing after a sound he was hearing. It was distant, far away, as if he was underwater, in a different world.
''Boss...happened...to you?''
He probably heard that. Suddenly, he was being pulled up by his armpits. As soon as his feet hit the ground, he killed the man on his right side, by cutting his throat with the sharp gauntlet's fingers.
He turned around, pushing his claw-like arm through the other one's intestines.
He heard a scream, not being able to comprehend what was asked, so he simply spoke down at his own soldier, as he was collapsing.
''Repentance.''
The man slipped out of grasp, falling, with a quiet, to Issei's ears, thud. He looked around, barely understanding where he was...only the silhouette of the cross, where the hanged man had been, made him realize where he was.
[...I once was lost, but now I'm found...]
He ran forwards, clutching his side. He had to get over that obstacle, that last wall, to reach for the sunlight above. With unseeing eyes, with one hand, he climbed towards the shattered ground above, trying to reach to entrance way of the castle.
[...that was grace that taught my heart to fear...]
It was a struggle. He couldn't breathe properly. He was puking even more now, but that pain only strengthened his resolve. It didn't matter that everything else faded from his brain, that his organs had shut down. He carried on.
[...and grace my fears relieved...]
When he finally climbed out, sitting on the edge of the crater he had created before, he took a deep breath...or tried, rather. A coughing fit didn't allow deep breaths, so he took solace in small, sharp breaths.
He was tired.
Never in his life had he been so tired.
[...It's probably because your devil's pieces are completely dead.]
He heard the distant voice of Ddraig. It made sense, he thought, that the pieces had been destroyed. He had quiet being a devil. The will of God had made him human again.
[...how precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed...]
He raised himself up, turning around.
Only to find a fuzzy silhouette of someone standing there, just before the doors of the castle. He could see red shine, in his fading vision. A small statue...
''I killed your sister.''
He spoke, looking down at her. He couldn't see her reaction.
''...''
''Aren't you going to kill me?''
She remained standing, staring down Issei. Even if her killing intent was out of this world, even if the whole world hated him...he couldn't feel the intent, not anymore. He couldn't know her reaction, if she didn't speak.
He stumbled over to her, raising his arm, and touching her neck.
''I see. You can't do it.''
He released her neck, walking past her.
[...through many dangers toils and snares I have already come...]
Stepping outside, he was blinded, even more. The blind spot in his vision became larger, taking up most of his eyesight. He inhaled deeply, trying to suppress his need to cough, but failed. He stepped forwards, limping down the small stairs. The previous silence had been switched to sound a bit ago. He heard it around him, but no one had attacked. He simply assumed that he was surrounded by Sirzechs' men.
[...his grace hath brought me safe this far...]
He walked further, for a small while, until a voice snapped him out of his sinking thoughts.
''Don't move, Hyoudou.''
He stopped, standing tall against the voice of Sirzechs Lucifer, the current devil. He couldn't see anything anymore. A rainbow of colors mixed against the burned out background. His vision truly was gone. He was blind.
[...and grace will lead me home...]
''My, you look...horrendous.''
Another voice, this time more relaxed. Azazel, he was sure.
''Where's the Grail?'' - Sirzechs asked.
He barely heard them. Just barely. He looked in their direction, keeping a mean glare. -''Its inside of me. I ripped it out of that girl's chest.''
[...when this flesh and heart shall fail and mortal life shall cease...]
Sirzechs moved, or at least he thought he heard the movement of his armor.
''What happened to Maria?'' - Azazel asked, his voice as angry and demanding as Sirzechs'.
''I killed her, too. She wanted to take the throne, but I didn't allow her to betray me like that. The crown is mine.''
His voice came out distorted, to his own ears.
''What are you insinuating? That you were behind this all?''
''Of course. Who else?''
[...I shall posses within the veil, a life of joy and peace...]
''...Why?'' - Sirzechs asked, his voice loud. - ''You could have thrown it all away, if it was you, on your own.''
''...How did someone so stupid become the Satan?'' - Issei laughed, but broke into a cough. -''Why would I throw it away? I'm quite close to getting what I want.''
Sirzechs and Azazel remained standing, not speaking.
''...My plan was to awaken Trihexia. Alone.'' - he chuckled. -''Although that seems hard now.''
''Awakening Trihexia would only bring sorrow to the world. It would be destroyed. Are you telling us that it was your will all along, not Maria's?'' - Azazel asked, his voice...exasperated.
Issei smirked. -''Exactly. I hate this world. The hate I feel for it can only be rivaled by Trihexia...all it has done is take and take from me. It robbed me of everything...I was the child born of this cruel world.''
''Nothing can save your blackened heart.'' - Sirzechs' spoke, his voice straining. Issei was sure that his arms were straining, that he was staring down Issei through his eyebrows. He couldn't imagine what Azazel looked like.
''You're right. I'm angry. Always. My anger can't be satisfied...my anger against the world can only be destroyed, if the world is destroyed. It was me who did all of this. I orchestrated everything. ''
''Then what about Maria?'' - Azazel asked again.
''What about her? She wasn't anyone that matters. She awakened my hatred...nothing more.''
''...I see. Well, we did come here with a single reason in mind, after all. To kill you.''
''But can you?'' - Issei asked, smirking, his bloodied teeth sharp.
''What do you mean with that?'' - Azazel inquired.
''I'm immortal, can't you see?'' - Issei chuckled. -''No one has ever killed me until now. No matter the odds, I can always turn it around.''
[...the earth shall soon dissolve like snow...]
''...Height of hubris. Hasn't that always been your downfall?''
''No, incompetence has always been my downfall.'' - He answered. -''But it's different now. I have already won. You can't do anything to change the outcome. No matter what happens.''
[...the sun forbear to shine...]
There was a shout that Issei didn't register. He simply didn't understand the loud scream.
Red scales, glimmering in the early sun, shattered from his body. A slender arm pushed into his back, through his heart, and out the other side. His heart mangled and torn, stopped beating. Hardly any blood splattered...since his stomach was full of it.
[...but God who called me here below...]
He didn't turn his head back to see who it was, because he knew it already.
[...will be forever mine.]
Koneko pulled her arm out, letting Issei fall over, not even clutching at his wound. His back hit the ground, his body unmoving. His white, unseeing eye turned up to the sun. She knealt by him, looking at his scarred face.
The freedom I etched today will be forever mine.
He didn't say anything. His only eye opened, he took his last few scarce breaths. With narrow, cold eyes she remained staring for the last few seconds of his life.
''He's dead.'' - she spoke, standing up and stepping over his corpse. Sirzechs and Azazel looked at her bloody arm, before Sirzechs nodded.
''How is the situation inside the castle?'' - he asked, stepping closer to the dead body in front.
''I killed the few who were hiding inside the castle. It's done.''
He looked at her, closing his eyes for a second.
''Indeed...it's done.''
Devils and fallen angels surrounded them, all having been a part of the spectacle. Sirzechs turned to face them head on, speaking loudly.
''It's done. The war is over. Dismissed for now...but remember, the underground will need a lot to rebuild!''
Azazel called a few of the fallen angels, telling them look around for vampire survivors...although he was sure none were left. Koneko glanced at the two leaders, as they remained in the shattered landscape.
''I need to get back...the news of this all ending will travel fast. I need to make a public statement about this all.'' - he said, sighing. -''But before that, Koneko, what will you do?''
She looked away, letting the gentle wind rustle her red hair. -''I'll travel. Look around. I don't know.''
''You're welcome to come back any time. You going rouge is overpowered by the achievement of killing Issei Hyoudou, the sole perpetrator of all of this.''
''What?'' - She asked, turning back. -''I'm getting full responsibility?''
''Of course. You're going to be a hero once you get back to the underworld...so take your time.'' - He said, and ruffled her hair with his large hand, for a few seconds.
Turning around, he spoke up. -''Azazel, I trust you'll take care of everything?''
''Of course.''
He nodded, disappearing into thin air. Azazel called in even more of his fallen angels, telling them what to do - to identify the bodies, to put them in a single place, etc. After that, he looked at the body of Issei. He leaned down, searching him over. He threw something to Koneko and she caught the item - bloodied dogtags. Of course, Issei's.
''...Your sister.'' - Azazel began.
''Dead. Everyone that was related to him is dead, except for me.''
They remained in the silence for a while, before Azazel spoke up again.
''That reminds me, where did his parents go?'' - he asked, standing up. -''When he went rogue we checked, but everything was empty. They never came back.''
She didn't face him. -''...I wouldn't be surprised if he killed them too. To keep everything quiet.''
Azazel nodded.
''What will you do with the body then?''
''I'll get rid of it.''
''Do you mind if we buried him?''
''You have anywhere in particular?''
Koneko paused, before answering. -''Yes.''
She sat at the edge of the water there, looking at the setting sun. The gentle waves of the water created a slow melody, making her sleepy. It hit the fronts of her feet, making her feel the rather cold water. The day was over. Issei Hyoudou was no more. Zero Army was no more. Wiped out of this existence. Khaos Brigade was gone too. Some were on the run, but the leaders were all taken out. The longinus spear, the holy grail and the boosted gear had now returned to the circle of life.
Issei Hyoudou and Kuroka laid dead by the white flowers.
She didn't move when Azazel had arrived, only threw him an unsure glance.
''Nothing to worry about. Everything is settled. You're a hero.''
''I don't feel like one.''
''That's understandable. You need time. Hell, we all do.''
''Things will never be the same again.''
Azazel gave her a sad smile, before looking at the setting sun. -''Have you thought about the repercussions of his actions?''
''He is the villain now.''
''Indeed. History books will written from today on out to include his name. And you will be in those books too - as the one who stopped him.'' - He knelt next to her, placing his arm on her shoulder. -''However, that isn't the only thing. I'm afraid for the next inheritor of the Boosted Gear...he will be cursed to receive it.''
''...You think it's gonna be like that?''
''Yes. If history has proven something, then it is that people hold grudges. Think of all those who are now without their loved ones because of him, and him alone?''
She sighed. Azazel understood that he had messed up.
''...My condolences for your loss.'' - he got up, taking his arm off, and disappearing into the darkness.
When she was left alone, she noticed the tears running down her face, landing on the sea shore sand. Gentle, small tears. But it was alright, because the seawater washed them away. She didn't want to move from that single spot.