" " - Talking

' ' - Thinking

' ' - Talking mentally

" " - Telepathically talking to someone

[ ] - Draig/Albion talking out loud

[ ] - Abraxas talking out loud

"[ ]" - Talking mentally

Highschool DxD is, any form, not mine. They are owned by the author and the only things that I own are my OC's and some plots.

[Hey, wake up.]

Opening his eyes, Takeshi looked around to see a dark space. He started to panic, thinking that he was already dead when he remembered hearing the voice of Abraxas, which made him sigh in relief. Looking around, he tried to see some kind of a figure. When he found none, he sighed and decided to call out.

"Abraxas! Where are you?"

He then felt a shake on the place he stood. Looking around once more, he saw a tall figure with big horns walking towards him. He started to walk towards the figure and when they were both near each other, the place started to light up. He felt the place heat up and he figured out that some kind of torches have lit up around them. Feeling a pair of eyes at him, he looked up to meet a pair of red eyes.

[Good, you're awake.] Abraxas said while crossing his arm.

"Where are we?" Takeshi asked as he looked around the place they were in.

[We are in your mindscape.] Abraxas replied.

"Why are we here?" Takeshi asked while also crossing his arm.

[Remember when you got stabbed by the cane of that... monkey?] Abraxas asked.

"Of course. That thing almost went out of my back." He replied.

[Well, at the end of the cane, there is a note. I guess it's for you since why would they do that? Unless, the human world became more shittier when I was asleep.] Abraxas said while handing Takeshi a note. Grabbing the note, he unfolded it and started reading its contents.

"Sorry for stabbing you just to give this message. We didn't want to give out that you're in contact with us that's why we thought this is the best option. Meet us on the usual place and make sure you're not being followed or anything. Oh, and try to think of an excuse on why would you be away for a few days or weeks. - Vali"

Sighing, Takeshi folded the note and placed it inside his pocket. He scratched the back of his head while Abraxas is staring at him. Getting a bit uncomfortable, he cleared his throat before looking at Abraxas.

"What are you doing?"

[Staring at you.]

"Why?"

[Looking at the things I needed to focus on you. Since I'll be training you to my powers, there are certain body parts that needed to be more firmer than the other. So far, you're really in great shape. But, we'll be training your lower body more.]

"Oh."

[We can start now if you want, since we're starting with you mental training.]

"Yeah, sure. We can start now."

[Well then, I hope you're prepared for what's about to come.] Abraxas said with a sinister tone, making Takeshi think if it is really a good idea, agreeing to train now.

A few hours later...

Falling down the floor, Takeshi pants while Abraxas stood over him. Folding his arms, he stared at Takeshi with an impatient look. His impatience getting the best of him made him walk towards Takeshi, grab his arm, and pull him up.

[Come on! Is that the best you can do? I'm quite disappointed.] He said mockingly, making Takeshi angry.

"I *pant* am *pant* not weak!" He exclaimed. Hearing what he said made Abraxas grin.

[I didn't said anything about you weak, you said that yourself. Wait, if that is what you said, then that means its true. AHAHAHAHA!] He mocked more, making Takeshi furious.

"I AM NOT WEAK!" He shouted, not noticing that he let out a ball of dark purple flame towards Abraxas. Seeing this made his eyes widen and he quickly rolled to the left to dodge the ball of flame. Hitting the wall behind him, the ball of flame quickly engulfed the whole wall. Sighing, Abraxas repaired the wall and looked at Takeshi, who was holding onto his knees and panting much more than a while ago.

[Hmm, seems like your emotions are the key to the power inside you.] He observed.

[Well, seeing that you are exhausted, I guess we'll stop training today. Try to practice making the ball of flame in thin air, that would require a lot of concentration since it wouldn't appear out of your hand, it would just appear. Anyways, you also have somewhere else to go today, right?] He added, mentioning the paper that was handed to him... nicely.

"Yeah... I guess so." Takeshi replied as he stood up straight.

[Good luck out there.] Abraxas said before Takeshi was engulfed in darkness, going back to the real world. As he disappeared, Abraxas sighed and made a chair out of thin air and sat on it.

[Am I doing the right thing? Is this what you thought it would be? Please, give me a sign that this is the thing that you asked of me, Valeriana.] He whispered to himself.

At the conscious world...

Opening his eyes, he quickly looked around to see he was in a white room. Thinking that it might be a hospital in the underworld, he sat up. Noticing the lack of people in his room made him think that it is the perfect moment to get out. Seeing a note and pen by the bedside table, he quickly scribbled some excuse that he had made up a while ago, and folded it. Placing it at the table, he quickly made a magic circle and disappeared, going to their meeting place.

Just as the magic circle disappeared, the door to his room opened and revealed Azazel along with the Gremorys and the ORC. As they saw that the bed is missing a person, they quickly called for security. Noticing something was on top of the pillow, Azazel walked towards it and grabbed it, he unfolded it and read its contents. After reading, he sighed and sat at the bed. Everyone noticed this and they stopped what they are doing.

"So? What does the letter says?" Issei asked, when he noticed that no one would speak up.

"Going to the mountains as the goblins informed me they found some strange rock, will check it out. Will be back after a few days or weeks by now. Was all it says." Azazel said. Almost everyone sighed at the info they got.

'Still careless as ever.' Akeno thought as a small smile formed in her lips.

At the north side of the park...

Appearing at their meeting place, he looked around to see... no one. Sighing that he arrived early, he walked towards a bench nearby and decided to catch even a bit of sleep while waiting for them. Crossing his arms, he let sleep take over him

Slowly opening his eyes, he felt something heavy by his lap. As his sight cleared up, he saw a mop of something black and as he inhaled, he smelled a hint of vanilla in the air. Knowing that it was hair, he observed more and saw that on both ends of the hair, he saw a pair of black cat ears. Now knowing who it was, his eyes widened a bit where no one would notice it, unless they're really observing him.

"Kuroko-san, please get off me." He said, after he got out of his shock.

"Nyaaaaa~ I don't want to, Takeshi-kun." She said seductively.

"Kuroka, stop teasing him. You know that it won't work." He heard someone said as Takeshi looked up and saw Vali. Hearing that made Kuroka pout but got off with a hop.

"I'm not done with you yet, nya~" She said while placing her pointer finger below his chin and raising his head up, looking deep in his eyes. Because of that action, he felt a chill run down his spine, and it was not the good kind.

After their mini "staring contest", Kuroka looked away and proceeded to walk towards Vali. As the space between them became big, he sighed in relief. Standing up, he saw Vali, Kuroka and Bikou, who are both in a heated argument. He then saw Vali walking towards him.

"Are they always like that?" Takeshi asked, making Vali nod.

"Almost every second. Probably because of their natures. Monkey and cat don't really mix well." Vali replied.

"Why did you call me here?"

"We're going on some cave that my scouts said are filled with something that we may be interested with. Probably it was something that we can use to strengthen our weapons and armor." Vali explained. Hearing that made Takeshi perk up.

"So, are we going now?" He asked, a bit more excited now, making the corner of Vali's mouth rise a bit.

"Yeah, we will." He said and called for Kuroka and Bikou, who are still arguing. Hearing that they were called made them stop and walked closer to them. At the sight of Takeshi, Bikou jogged towards him and grinned a bit.

"Sorry for stabbing you last night." He said, making Takeshi nod in acknowledgement.

"It's okay. Vali already stated that in the letter." He replied, making Bikou's grin wider.

Kuroka prepared a magic circle for them and they all gathered inside it. As they vanished, the park was silent as if no one was there.

At the entrance of the cave...

Appearing, they quickly scanned the surroundings, making sure that there are no monsters or enemies around. As they were sure that there would be no one that is going to attack them, they went inside the cave with caution. While walking, Kuroka and Bikou were at the front while Takeshi and Vali were behind.

"Something's not right with this cave." Takeshi said silently.

"Well, if it holds something valuable to us, then I guess it would be dangerous." Vali replied.

"It's not the typical strange, Vali. Something is really strange here."

Vali didn't replied at that and just went on walking. Knowing that he wouldn't get a reply, Takeshi massaged his temple a bit and followed the trio. If Vali was honest, he would say that the cave really does not feel right. Something is stirring inside this cave and Vali can feel it. Because of this, his battle maniac side went to the surface and just went on walking.

Everyone can feel that there is something strange within that cave, even the ever-usual bickering of Bikou and Kuroka were silenced because of the strange feeling. Kuroka slowed down, until she is beside Vali.

"Are you sure about this, nya? There's something really strange here." Kuroka asked in a serious tone. Hearing her rare serious tone, Vali looked at her.

"I'm not sure but we have come so far, might as well keep going." He replied. Knowing that nothing will change his mind, Kuroka looked at him with a skeptical look and quickened her pace, catching up to Bikou.

As they were walking, they met a path that leads to four directions. Bikou, Kuroka and Takeshi looked at Vali as he was the leader of the group. Vali, seeing this, sighed and thought of the best thing to do.

"Even though something's really not right here, I guess the best action is for us to go on each paths." He said. Kuroka was about to retort but she was beat down by Takeshi.

"I agree. Even though that the best action is to stick together, we should separate to fasten the discovery of that... thing that we're looking for."

Hearing his explanation, everyone agreed, albeit reluctantly. Vali went first and chose the path at the middle left. Bikou went next and chose the path at the far right. Kuroka went after Bikou and chose the far left, leaving Takeshi to choose the middle right.

While walking, Takeshi felt the strange feeling fade, making him sigh in relief. While walking further, he heard whispers, making him look back. Seeing none, he proceed to walk but with a tensed posture. Still walking, the whispers got louder and louder as he went further. He tried silencing the whispers by placing senjutsu on his ear, but it didn't worked. He tried closing his ear with his hands but the whispers were still there, as if it was inside his mind. Thinking that the whispers would end if he got to the end, he started to run. The whispers turned to shouts as he kept running. Trying to tune out the shouts, he closed his eyes as the shouts started to hurt him.

Because of closing his eyes while running, he tripped on a rock, making him fall face first on the ground. As he stood up and opened his eyes, his eyes widened when he saw he was surrounded with kids that were slashed, stabbed, decapitated, or missing some limbs. Seeing a little girl with a missing arm made his mind click as he remembered the girl from his mission when he lost control of his bloodlust and killed everyone in that building in cold blood.

"You killed us..." The little girl said. Takeshi's eyes filled with fear as he heard her say that.

"I-I..." He stuttered but no words left his mouth.

"You killed us!" The little girl said once more but much louder, making some kids nod in agreement.

"You murderer!"

"A cold-blooded killer!"

"Hands tainted with innocent blood!"

"You should just die!"

Other kids joined in and shouted some more vile words. Takeshi fell and curled in a ball, closing his ears with his hands.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" He murmured.

As if hearing him, all the shouting stopped, the chanting stopped, everything stopped. Noticing this, he slowly uncurled and sat up, seeing that every kid that he had killed at that mission is looking at him with a blank look on their faces. As he saw the little girl that made him remember where they are from, he slowly crawled towards her and stopped in front of her. He saw that even though her face is blank, her jaw is clenched. His eyes started to water as the guilt that he buried deep within his heart started to resurface once more.

"You think your sorry would bring us back?" She asked silently. She looked at him with a glare. Seeing the hateful stare in the eyes of the young girl, the tears started to fall from his eyes.

"No..." He answered truthfully, tears kept falling down his eyes.

"I... took all of your futures that would... surely bring you happiness." He added. The little girl looked surprise at what he said and what he is showing.

As the little girl was about to say something, a hand was roughly placed on his shoulder, making him look up. As he saw the figure, his eyes widened as a fist landed on his jaw, sending him to the wall. The force of the punch made him dizzy. As he is still in daze, he was lifted from his position and was thrown to the other side of the cave.

"You couldn't even protect them!" The thing that threw him yelled. Takeshi slowly sat up and saw the rage and pain-filled eyes of Barakiel.

"I-I'm sorry!" He yelled while crying.

"That would't bring back Shuri and Akeno you piece of shit!" Barakiel howled and kicked Takeshi at the gut.

"You were supposed to protect them! Where were you when they were in harm's way?!" Barakiel added.

"I was... traini-" He was cut off by a kick on his face.

"Couldn't you sense them?! I know you fucking can because I did!" Barakiel yelled and grabbed Takeshi at the throat.

"You should just die! You useless piece of shit!" He threw him to the other side of the cave.

"Kill yourself!" Barakiel shouted. Hearing that made the other kids join in.

"You monster!"

"You're no use on this place!"

"Monster are not allowed here!"

"I would still have my daughter love me if it wasn't for you!"

"We would have great futures!"

"It should be you who is dead!"

"She would still be alive if you were there!"

"You should be burned in hell!"

"Your soul should be ripped to pieces!"

As the hurtful words kept coming, Takeshi just curled into a ball and held himself tightly, trying as hard as he can to tune out the voices. He knew he can't but he still kept trying, holding on to the last bit of sanity left inside him and thinking of the person he would come back to: Akeno.

"I'm sorry." He kept mumbling as he heard the spiteful words pertaining to him. Feeling himself like he's falling down on a deep hole, trying as hard not to fall but he knew there would only be a few more hours until he get tired and let himself fall.

A/N: So, here is chapter 10! I don't know if this is okay as a dark chapter but I guess I just thought of something happening to me right now. If you have any questions or you don't get something in this chapter, feel free to leave a review or send a pm, I'll quickly clear that up for you. So, I'm not so sure but I'm guessing that I would post another chapter by next week or next month. So... I'll see you guys on the next chapter! Ciao - Frost