CHAPTER 5: The Rescue Part 1
The sunset was almost over as the sky was turning from a bright orange to a dark blue and purple evening haze. As the sky was changing, Issei Hyoudou was running back towards his house where both Asia and Rias were getting the dinner party ready in celebration of Issei's victory against, Riser Phenex. However, the party will likely be changed for another day. With every breath he exhaled, he ran as fast as he possibly could to tell the princess of Gremory something absolutely urgent. Originally, Issei was supposed to go to the nearby convenience store to pick up a bottle of olive oil for a dish Rias was preparing, but due to his instincts, he had no choice but to turn back and tell the others what happened. How was he going to explain Rias that a kid he barely knows is going to get himself killed by a fallen angel. How was he going to explain the mysterious connection between him and Richie? He remembers the last time him and his comrades went inside the fallen angels' church. Rias was strongly against it, but believed in Issei and his sacred get that they would become victorious in the end. This time, it was different. He has to convince Rias and Asia to go the church to rescue Richie before it's too late. Issei finally arrived at his home. Attempting to unlock the door with a very fast pace, he successfully opens the door, bursting through. The burst can be heard from inside the first story of the house, where Asia and Rias were busy in the kitchen making dessert. They both see Issei panting very heavily behind an open door.
"Issei, you're back so soon?" Asia said.
"That was very fast for getting olive oil." Rias said.
"I...don't...have it." He panted bending down with heavy breaths. "We need…to get...Koneko, Kiba, and Akeno, fast!"
"Is everything alright?" Asia questioned pacing toward Issei.
"Issei, what's the matter?" Rias also questioned following Asia.
"I have to tell you two something. Something you guys wanna know."
"Why? What is it? Just tell us what's wrong?"
"Here, drink some water." said Asia giving Issei a glass of water.
"Thank You." Issei accepted taking big gulps of water while clearing his throat to talk. The three sat down next to each other on the sofa.
"Now Issei, what was that you wanted us to know about? What's the trouble?"
"Okay, what I'm about to tell you two could be a bit weird, but i'll start from the beginning. Here I go." He starts. "Earlier today, I was at the arcade, as usual, playing Dance Fever Ultimax, when this guy shows up. I assumed he was chilling around at the arcade when he saw me playing the machine."
"Did he try to threaten you in any way?" Rias assumes.
"Actually, no. We got off on a good start. He seemed like a cool guy. I asked him if he wanted to join me as a player two. Before you know it, we're hitting it off pretty well."
"So that, was it? You two were just dancing?" said Asia.
"Yeah, b-but I'm not done yet. See after the game, we took pictures of our high score to show off Matsuda and Motohama. He took mine and I took his. When that happened, I saw this." He told the two pulling out his phone showing the picture of Richie with his front right fist where a green dot was spotted on his hand.
"Hey, wait a sec. That boy. I've seen him before." Asia pointed.
"You have?" Issei said
"Uh-huh. He was the one that helped me with my groceries earlier today."
"So you're not the only one that met him? Asia, did you happen to sense anything from him. Something from within him since you two first met?"
"Does he have a name?" Rias speaks.
"No, not at all. He seemed like a very nice boy. When I met him, he was lost so I helped him find his way into town. He told me that he wasn't from around here. If I remember exactly, I think he told me his name was Richie. Why do you ask, Issei?"
"Before he left, we traded each other's contacts. We became friends until we shook hands. When that happened, I swear, in my mind, I was seeing a weird vision."
"A vision of what?" Rias questions.
"It's as if I saw a vision of another dragon from within that looked almost like Ddraig." he says looking at his left hand where Ddraig resides.
"That does sound odd. Issei, are you for certain that's what you saw?" Rias asks.
"Prez, the moment I last saw him I couldn't get the image of that dark blue dragon out of my head. My body felt so different than it did before. With at any moment today my hand would tense up every time I think about that. The thought of that was all over me. I was positive that I sensed something inside him and so did Ddraig."
"So what you're trying to say is…" Asia says.
"I might've met someone that has a sacred gear. Call me crazy but, I might believe that boy has a sacred gear that's somewhat the same as me."
Rias and Asia were baffled to hear what Issei said in his last sentence. A sacred gear that was almost the same as Issei. The wonders were wrapped around the two pondering girls on how a potential sacred gear, or so having hypothetically, a boosted gear could be inside a boy like Richie if Issei was right about him having the same powers as him. Issei then begins to speak once more about Richie thereby finishing his story.
"Another sacred gear user?" Rias wonders.
"But, this is where it gets real. Richie told me that he had no place to go for today. I almost insisted he might want to crash at my place but he told me he was gonna go stay at a shelter or a church for the night." He gulps.
It was within that moment when Issei said church, Rias' eyes widen up a bit. She may know where Issei is getting at with this story. The same goes for Asia having the same feeling.
"While I was out getting the olive oil, I saw Richie walking down the street with this girl, saying that she's his "girlfriend". This girl he introduced me to knew who I was. That's when my devil's instinct started to kick in. Something wasn't right. It was then on I knew that Richie's so called "girlfriend "has almost the same sense of power as Yum..err...Raynare."
"Oh no." Asia gasped in a sacred state.
"That is quite a story you've told us, Issei. But I must ask, how can you be so sure that boy has a sacred gear. Where's your proof to support that claim?"
"I was hoping you might say that. The proof is all here in this picture." Issei shows Rias the photo of Richie at the arcade. "Look at this photo I took of Richie. Notice this green dot on his right hand.
"Issei, that could be anything."
"That's what I thought it was at first. It could've been the phone's fault or the arcade's lighting, but it wasn't. When Richie left with that chick, I took 3 separate photos of my left hand where my sacred gear is in." He says searching for the photos. "Take a look."
Issei gives Rias his cell phone. She scrolls through the photos side by side to Issei's left head having the exact same green dot. One shot was in a normal distance, the next was at a much more further distance, and the last photo was in a much closer view. All three shots have the exact same dot. Rias was surprised to see it right in front of her eyes. She then gives the cell phone to Asia.
"Asia, you better look at this." She tells her.
Asia receives Issei cell phone from Rias to get a better, yet closer look at the three photos. She scrolls side by side, seeing the three photos. It was clear to her that they were all exact matches.
"It's a match. This is incredible. I never seen anything like that." she says before giving Issei back his cell phone.
"I know and there's only one way we have to do."
"You don't mean?" she gasps
"Yes Asia, we have to get to that church and save Richie before it's too late."
"Issei, I'm sorry, but I simply just can't allow it." Rias declines.
"What?! Why not?! The photos, my senses going nuts, c'mon prez work with me here. There's something about that boy and his power that's a possible part me. I just know it!"
"Listen. You're jumping way ahead of yourself here! I simply will not allow, under any circumstances, for you or any of my comrades to fall into enemy territory under that type of operation!"
"Rias." Asia mummered.
"I'm sorry Issei, but my answer is no."
"So what, you're saying we're not that strong enough for this rescue?"
"That's enough, Issei! You're on thin ice as it is!" the crimson princess exclaimed.
"Look at me! I was able to take down Riser, who was not only powerful than I was, but was able to regenerate at will with every blow and was practically immortal! Sacrificing what I had to not only beat him but to save you as well." he said looking at his left arm remembering how he gave up his left arm to save Rias from Riser Phenex. "I've been getting stronger than I was before. Not just me, but Koneko, Akeno, Kiba, and even Asia are getting better as we speak. Talking to you in a tone like this seems very disrespectful of you and I do apologize for that, but this is serious. I never felt like this before until now. I know I'm rushing it, but I wanna know this connection. Things have probably changed since rescuing Asia back then from those fallen angel douches, but we gotta try to something to save him. Please." Issei begs.
Rias turns toward around to Issei standing him face to face. Issei shuts his eyes hard thinking she might knock some sense out of him by slapping him or knocking him on his head, but instead, she cups her hand on his right cheek.
"Issei, I know how much you want to save him, but just going in head first without a plan is just completely dangerous. Even for us devils."
"I understand, but we can't just sit around and do nothing! For the first time, I found out something that could be a part of me as the keeper of the Red Dragon Emperor, knowing that someone with the same would have his life at stake." Issei looked down.
Rias and Asia looked at Issei, seeing the emotion that has brought upon with made them feel down as well.
"Oh Issei." Asia whispered.
Rias then attempts to speak with a quiet, yet deep breath and immediately let out a strong sigh.
"As much as I do not condone this in the mere slightest, and if what you're saying is believable Issei, then okay. We'll try to save your friend as best as we can."
"Really? You mean it?"
"Yes. However, there's one more thing I would like mention."
"Yeah. What is it?"
"Just remember that this is your idea. IF AND ONLY IF anything in relation to this mission happens in one immediate fatality or mishap with any of us, there will be dire consequences. Do you understand?" Rias told Issei in a stern yet very serious look on her face making sure that Issei understood every word that she has said.
"Y-yes ma'am." Issei gulped.
"Good. I'll round up Akeno and the others so we can get ready. So much for our celebration." Rias sighed to herself in disappointed.
Issei looked behind Rias as she walked down towards the kitchen having a disappointed expression on her face. Issei too was also disappointed. He, Asia, and the rest of the gang were looking forward to the celebration of beating someone that was practically immortal, being it was a shame that it has to be postponed. Issei turned toward Asia with the same disappointed look Rias has, but disappointment wasn't the only expression she had. She also expressed fear. Being a former devout member of the fallen angel church plus having her twilight healing taken away from Raynare costed her life. She never wanted to be put through that kind of hell like that again. Issei began to sit next to Asia in an attempt to comfort her.
"Asia, you okay?" Issei spoke.
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just that...everything was going so great until now." she said "I was looking forward to celebrating with all of us together since you defeated Riser. I don't blame you at all for this but, going back to that church once more…I..." she said once more with tears coming down her face.
"Listen, what happened at that church is all in the past. Raynare is gone and she can't hurt us anymore. Right now, I need you to be strong on this. I need you to be strong for us. We need you for this rescue."
"Issei, I don't know about this. Even if it is a rescue mission, I'm still a bit frightened about this." She said shedding another tear.
"How bout' this? Should anything happen to you, I'll protect you by any means. I'll stand by your side no matter what. I won't let anything or anyone hurt you again. I promise." Issei encouraged her while wiping her tears. "So whaddya say?"
"I say...If it really means this much that to you, then i'll come with you." She confirms.
"You will? Thanks, Asia. I knew I could count on you for this" he responds with a hug.
Asia's eyes widen as she was surprised by the hug Issei gave her. This hug was however different. Issei gave a deep yet tight hug to Asia. Knowing her she would do anything to make Issei happy. Asia then smiled, wrapping her arms around the shoulders of the Red Dragon Emperor in a caring embrace.
"Whatever they've done to you Richie, hopefully you're still alive back there. We're gonna get you out. Just hope there's still time left." Issei thought to himself while still hugging Asia.
MEANWHILE AT THE CHURCH
"Uhhhh…where...what's going on?"
"I'm gonna check on Uncle with what he's got so far. Right now, I want you stay here and guard our little subject." Alexavier told his sister. "Should anything goes wrong, signal me with your watch."
"Gotcha" she replies.
"Those...those voices. My...body. Feels so numb."
Alexavier walks into the left corridor of the church where his Uncle resides inside in preparation for their upcoming plan. Alexandria, on the other hand stands guard in front of a helpless Richie, whose two arms are tied up by chain onto a glowing black and green cross. His ankles are also tied up together by chain, thus making him unable to move combined with the drug that was in his system. He starts to open his eyes. His vision starts to be of a blur, but then it starts to become more clear to give him a good sight to see what's going on. Finally, he wakes up looking both ways beside him to see chains binding his arms and legs. He starts to freak out for a bit, wondering why this is happening.
"Oh goody, you're awake." Spoke Alexandria
"Alexandria. What...What the hell is all this?!" Richie question.
"Funny you should ask that. The plan is all going accordingly, just like I wanted it to be."
"Plan? Wait, what plan?"
"Oh, you don't remember? Probably when I stomped on your pretty little face after our little date ended on such short notice." She teased.
"What do want from me? Why am I all tied up? Answer me that!"
"Simple!" She shouted as she spread her wings out from her back, flying upwards to a bounded Richie. "Your sacred gear sweetheart. What better treat than any other but for I, a fallen angel like me, to extract the sacred gear of the Indigo Dragon Empress from a useless, pathetic, little weakling of a free-spirited human like yourself." She devilishly smiled.
"S-Shut up!" He shook his head. "And here I thought I trusted you, but you're a monster! A thief! A-And a deceiver!"
"Why thank you, love. I did not notice that."
"You know what I mean! But let me ask you one thing, how do you know I have the Indigo Dragon Empress in me? Why do you want my sacred gear or whatever?
"Two reasons. Number one, sensing sacred gears is in my blood. It runs in the family." she says while filing her nails. "Being a niece and a daughter of the Sellzen family has its benefits. That date we had was nothing more than a pure fisage. Reeling you into my uncle's church like a helpless fish out of water to become our big catch of the day, and BOY what a catch I've made!" she laughs maniacally.
Richie's head was facing downward. His eyes were closed with tears falling from his face. The heart shattering feeling of being used by someone he liked turned his world upside down. His teeth were clenching as he continued to cry. Drop by drop, landing on the altar in front of him.
"Oh, I almost forgot to answer your second question. Why, oh why, do I want your precious sacred gear so desperately bad? Haha! The Indigo Dragon Empress is the missing piece to our success. With the Welsh Dragon amulet and the mighty sword in our clutches, we are one step closer to ushering in a new era in this world. Angels, Devils, humans, and any other creatures in this pathetic little planet will bow for mercy at the feat of the fallen angels in a new breed of total domination! And we will destroy those who would dare try to stand in our way." She says clenching her fist in front of her face.
"Hold on, amulet...sword? Fallen angels? It was you! You and your brother were ones that broke into Aeris' tomb and stole everything!"
"Finally! Took you long enough. But, we didn't take everything. There was a shield we were supposed to snag, but my idiot brother somehow disturbed the spirit of Empress. The crypt was collapsing the moment we tried to get our hands on it. So, we just left it behind and took the two that we need."
"You...You're not gonna get away with this!" He shouted out of anger. "Not a chance in hell your plan is gonna work. I hope and pray your plan effin' backfires after what you did to me."
"I believe I already have gotten away with it, my dear Richie. It was nice getting to know you a lot. I really did enjoy our little rendezvous. Too bad it had to end like this. I'll make this easier for you, I'll make the extraction process less painful by giving you this one last kiss."
Alexandria flies towards to Richie. Her face moves in closer unto his until she plants a big kiss on the lips. The young male teen's eyes widen as Alexandria's were closed. Seconds later, Alexandria's tongue enters into Richie's, swirling with a deep passion of saliva, but unlike any french kiss, hers contained a knockout spell, which will eventually make him fall asleep, while numbing his mind from any pain during the ritual. His pupils turned into a solid brown as if he was in a hypnotic daze until his eyes were closed and his head dangled downward. A long line of saliva trailed off each other's lips as soon as the kiss broke up.
"Sweet dreams, boyfriend." she laughs after before sitting back down in the front row of the pew.
BACK AT THE HYOUDOU HOUSEHOLD
"Alright, Akeno, Kiba, and Koneko should all be on there way right now." Rias told Asia and Issei.
*Ding Dong*
"That must be them." she says as she goes toward the front door.
"That was fast." Asia spoke.
"That's the power of devil's teleportation for you." Issei tells her.
Rias opens the front door to reveal three devils waiting to enter. The first had a busty figure with purple exotic eyes, a black ponytail for a hairstyle with a yellow ribbon for fashion, and wore the exact same uniform that every female had at Kuoh Academy. The second had blonde hair and grey eyes. He too wore same black stripe boys uniform as Issei, however what stands out is his short, black necktie. Lastly, there was a short female that had snow white hair with yellow eyes. Like the rest of the girls at Kuoh Academy, she wore her standard uniform, however she wore a hair clip that resembled a cute face of a black cat as her accessory.
"Sorry, we're late." Akeno smiled.
"We came as soon as we got your call." Kiba said.
"What it do?" Koneko responded.
"Excellent, you're all right on time. Everyone gather round." Rias ordered. All members of her peerage stood standing, assembling into one group while Rias stood in front telling them the emergency. "Now then, I called you guys here on an important matter on our hands. Issei will tell you more on the details. Issei?"
"Uh, y-yes ma'am. Okay, here's going on." Issei begins to explains about the situation right now in relation to Richie and the fallen angel fiasco. The rest of the peerage were a bit surprised about Issei story. The connection between him and Richie, his visions, and a guarantee that someone's life is at stake over his sacred gear.
"That some story you told us, Issei. Are you sure that what you are saying is true?" Kiba told him.
"I swear to you Kiba, I know what I sensed.
"How long has this been going on?" Akeno asks.
"Just recently this afternoon. He was just some ordinary guy I met at the arcade until we shook hands and that's how it all happened" he responded.
Akeno asks another question. "What did he look like?"
"Well, he was almost the same size as me. He had brown skin with freckles, brown eyes, OH and his hair was black in a style of a mullet."
"A-And he also had a blue shirt with a black jacket over it." Asia added.
"Did you happen to know anything else about him?" Kiba also added. "Does he go to our school?"
"Actually, he told me he was a foreign exchange student. But I forget where's he from."
"California." Asia interjected.
Issei responded "What was that?"
"He told me he was taking care some sort of business while he was here, but he was never in any program."
"That's weird. Are you sure? He told me he was."
"I'm certain."
"Sounds like to me he's hiding something" Kiba said.
"Anyway, if we don't stop that chick from taking his sacred gear, he's gonna die the same way Asia did back then. Devil or not, I refuse to let anyone get their sacred gear stolen or even getting killed. I'm not sure about Freed or his new follower, but I can tell you this, we fought him once and freed Asia from him. I can be very certain that we can do the same thing to Richie. So, I am asking each and every one of you right now to help me. If we work together, I'm sure we can take down Freed and his goons as stronger as we were before!" Issei exclaimed with his boosted gear appeared and extending in his left arm to give team Gremory a hand stack.
"Mighty words of encouragement from the red dragon emperor. Anything to help you out in this rescue, I'm in!" Kiba said with his right on top of Issei's.
"Your cute speech really touched me. I thought I was about to cry. I say let's do it to bring your little friend back. It's been awhile since I had battle. Akeno jumped in with her right hand on top his Kiba's.
"I despise you as a pervert for everything you stand for, then again, this is a serious matter we're dealing with. Why not?" Koneko said with hand on top to join in. "Just out of the way, I'm only doing this because I have nothing better to do tonight."
"Okay, fine." discouraged Issei as he sees another hand joining in the stack. He gasped to know it was Rias, with her determined smile and impressed satisfaction of the way Issei handled it.
"I'm in too. Issei, I stand by your words with great passion. I maybe the princess of gremory and king of this peerage, but that certainly does not mean I'm going to stand around idly by and watch all my servants get massacred by the fallen angel's church. I'll do whatever, and however I can in battle to help rescue your number one priority. No one should ever go through, what one of my servants had before."
"Thanks, Prez." Issei nodded as he and the rest of the group turn toward a nervous Asia Argento, who was the only one not joined in. "Asia?"
"Well...I…"
"Remember, what I said earlier. I'm not gonna let anyone hurt you or anyone else. Not while I'm around."
Asia remembered what Issei said beforehand. She took a big gulp, and smiled with a nod as a response with both her hand being placed on top of the stack. "Let's do it!"
"Alright, now let's go get what we came for. Akeno, would you mind making the jump?"
"I'd be honored to ma'am." Akeno bowed as the whole group gathered around each other to get ready to be teleported to the Church where Asia was once captured and now where Richie currently resides. Akeno puts her hands together below to summon a giant, red, teleportation circle. The circle swirled underneath the group's feet as it shined from beneath the floor. Access was granted with purple flames shooting from the edge of the magic circle.
"I'm gonna get to the bottom of this and somehow get some answers. Just hang in there Richie. Let's hope you're alright." Issei thought before the entire magic circle transported them to the nearby church in a bright, flaming flash.
Guys, thank you so much for reading this chapter. I'm back to doing fanfictions now. It's pretty much a good way to kill time and something to do over the summer. I've been lacking on this for a while because I was working on another fanfic for Cardifght! Vanguard, which I'll be working on soon as well. I have plenty of notes gathered and sorted since last year and I will have it in written format very soon during the Summer. Just keep it locked, the story gets a bit more interesting.