Welcome back guys to another Chapter of The Italian Dragon Emperor. Before we start, quick shout-out to Ssj Shadow for his review, pointing out how my OC should be a Devil and how this would allow him to bond with the rest of the ORC. However, Anthony's backstory plays a big part in how he'll bond with everyone else despite still being human. Not to give too much away, but refer back to the last paragraph of the last chapter... that should give you a hint.
As some of my readers already know, I put tiny bits that might seem insignificant at first, but they reveal deeper lore as the fic progresses. EVERYTHING I write down, I place for a reason... just a note to any new readers or readers that have only read this story of mine. Anyway, let's continue! Advance Warning, the middle of this chapter WILL make you hungry... Italian style!
Chapter 2: The Occult Research Club
Male Student #80: There's no way...
Male Student #54: How the hell's Rias with HIM?!
Male Student#25: He had to have paid her... no other explanation.
This was the morning gossip between students as Anthony walked with Rias to campus. What made it awkward was the fact she was holding his hand as she dragged him along; not that Anthony didn't like it, but it was embarrassing. "Mamma mia, e lei si sta divertendo" Anthony muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance. Frankly, he could understand the issue everyone else had. Rias was 2 of the most popular girls in the school, so even the faintest idea of a foreigner being in a relationship raised allot of red flags... a LOT.
That... and Rias clearly LOVED the attention and/or the effect it had on him.
As they entered the large school, Rias stopped and turned back to look at him. He lowered his hand from his face and looked up at her, coming to a full stop himself. "I'll send someone to fetch you after school, we'll met in the club room, sound good?" Rias asked.
"Fetch? Do I look like a chew toy?... GAH! Hey, stop it!" Anthony said, as Rias pinched his cheek and moved it around. "You sure sound like one... see ya later, Anthony" was all Rias said as she winked at him and headed off to her own classroom. Anthony didn't need to turn around the see the jealous stares... he could feel them on his back. Not wanting any trouble, he hurried towards his own class. As soon as he walked in...
POW!
"OW! Fanculo! What was that for?!" Anthony asked, holding his nose. He was punched right in the face by one of the 'Perverted Duo', Matsuda. He was nicknamed the 'bald-headed pervert' while the second, named Motohama, was the 'Calculator'... this reflects his unnatural (and unappealing) ability to automatically know a girls 3 measurements by just looking at them... fully clothed.
"I heard you were walking with Rias... FREAKING RIAS THIS MORNING! How the hell'd you pull that off?" Matsuda demanded.
"Matsuda... why don't we hear him out first?" Motohama compromised, using logic and reason instead of force to figure out the problem.
"Uhh... how about, no?" Anthony said dryly, brushing himself off.
"Don't be like that, asshole! You were rolling in double D's weren't you?!" Matsuda proclaimed, also capturing the attention of the rest of the class.
"Maybe I was... they called me the 'Italian Stallion' back home..." Anthony taunted with a smirk, making both perverts over-dramatize the sentence and fall over groaning. It also made a few girls slightly interested in what the sentence could have meant...
-TIME BREAK-
The end of the day finally arrived, now all Anthony had to do was wait for whomever Rias sent to pick him up... which came in the form of shrieking fangirls over Kiba Yuuto, who was standing in the doorway. As he said hi to his fellow fans, he made his way over to Anthony's desk. "Your Anthony Messuri?" He asked.
"One and only" said Anthony, standing up.
"I'm Kiba Yuuto, I'm here on an errand from Rias Gremory. Mind following me?" Kiba said, kindly. Anthony did just that, and followed Kiba to the ORC building. Once they arrived, Kiba opened a pair of Oak doors to reveal a sparsely lit room. The furniture could be considered antique. In the middle was a low-standing coffee table with two sofas on opposite sides of it and, at the end of the room, was an elegantly designed desk. He looked around to see the only source of light came from the several candles located all around the room. On one of the sofas was the first year mascot, Koneko Toujou, eating a piece of chocolate. She looked over at him, blinked once, and went back to eating.
"Not much of a talker, eh?" Anthony asked aloud, though no one responded. That's when he heard the sound of running water. "Is it just me, or is there a shower here?" He asked.
"Your clothes are on the side, Miss President" came a familiar voice. Anthony looked over and saw Akeno Himejima, the second 'Great Lady'. She wore a Kuoh Academy uniform like everyone else and like Rias, had a figure that drove the male population insane. "Oh, excuse me. Your Anthony Messuri, right? My name's Akeno Himejima, its nice to meet you" she said sweetly, bowing down to Anthony. He immediately noticed her breasts jiggled... allot. What can he say? He's still a guy.
"Sorry about the wait, I didn't get to wash properly this morning" Rias said, coming out of the shower while drying her hair, putting emphasis on the word: properly.
"What can I say, I'm a messy guy" Anthony joked, making Akeno giggle.
"Hmhm, I like him already" she said.
"Anyway, let's get started. As President of the Occult Research Club, it's my honor to welcome you as a new member" said Rias. Back at Anthony's apartment before they left, Rias had explained to him about the club and he was now a new member... whether he liked it or not. It's not like he minded, he promised he'd return the favor of saving his life, so this was just a step in that direction.
"Honor's all... holy shit, is that a chessboard?" Anthony said, becoming excited and headed over the small table that had the board game, the same one Akeno and Rias used the day before.
"You play?" Asked Rias, surprised. She didn't know Anthony was familiar with the game.
"You kidding? Played with my grandfather everyday till his death... haven't seen one since the fire..." he said, picking up the black King and recalling his past, but shrugged it off. "How's about a quick game; you and me, Prez?" Asked Anthony. This lead to the rest of the club look at him as if he was crazy.
"Are you sure?" Asked Kiba.
"Rias is our best player..." said Akeno.
"She'll eat you alive" Koneko said, finally speaking then biting her treat again.
"Oh really?..." Said Anthony, the gears in his head turning. Putting the King down, he went around the table, and sat on the black side. "Alright... show me what'cha got" he said, confidently.
Rias, not wanting to turn down a challenge at her own game, smirked at Anthony and walked over to the chessboard, sitting down on the white side. "Ok... but don't say we didn't warn you" she said.
Anthony smiled right back. "I'll keep that in mind... your move."
-TIME BREAK-
"... Checkmate."
The ORC was stunned. Kiba looked in shock, Akeno had a hand over her lips, and Koneko's chocolate fell out of her open mouth. That's saying nothing about Rias' expression, this has never happened to her before... this boy actually beat her! She frantically looked all over the board for a way out, or at least some kind of counterattack; while Anthony jut leaned back in his chair with his arms behind his neck and legs crossed, a smile plastered on his face.
"Good game, though 30 turns seems kinda short" he said. This was somewhat true, as none of the other ORC member's had EVER gotten this close to wining and ACTUALLY succeeded. Only Akeno had, but that game was 32 turns long... Rias was stronzate at the time of course, but still...
After looking over the board from all angles at least 10 times in the span of 15 seconds, Rias saw no other possible move she could make. Anthony had only left her with a single Pawn, both her Knights and Rooks, but took both her Bishops'. Even if she used her Queen to take out the Knight that threatened her King, she'd still be slammed by a Rook. Moving her King wasn't an option either, as Anthony's Queen was on the other end of the board, just waiting to strike. Even if she destroyed the Knight with her Pawn, that would still leave her wide open to Antony's Bishop.
She was beaten... at her own game...
Recovering, her face hardened with determination. "I went easy on you, rematch" she said.
"Heh, what a coincidence, so was I. I could've ended the game sooner" Anthony stated.
"No you couldn't" Rias said. Anthony smiled and THEN, did something even she couldn't do... he set up the board EXACTLY how it was a few turns ago! How he could remember something like that, the ORC didn't know.
"3 turns ago, I could have easily used my Knight here to take your Queen, leaving you at a severe disadvantage..." he started, then started rearranging again, this time to 5 turns ago. "I also could have just slid my Rook over with a Castling Maneuver, which would have allowed me to strike from behind... OR, my personal preferito..." he said, then moved the pieces one final time, this time about 7 turns ago... or was it 8 turns ago? Rias wasn't sure. "When you fell for my trap by taking my 1st Knight, I had the opportunity to promote my Pawn into another Queen, and smash your King off the map!" He finished, whipping Rias' King with his Pawn/Queen down.
Rias had to admit, this kid was impressive, but he hasn't seen her best tricks yet! "Rematch. Now."
New Game, 26 turns in...
Anthony: (sends Queen 3 spaces ahead of Rias' King) Checkmate.
Rias: (surprised and slightly annoyed) ... best 2 out of 3.
New Game, 24 turns in...
Anthony: (Rias manages to take Anthony's Queen with her Bishop. Anthony is impressed) Hmm, good move... (looks over the board and slides his only remaining Rook 6 spaces away from Rias' King) checkmate.
Rias: (a little more annoyed now, and lowly growls) ... 5 out of 7.
New Game, 20 turns in...
Anthony: (moves his Pawn to promote to Bishop, its now able to strike Rias' King next turn) Check.
Rias: (smiles, thinking Anthony screwed up) Humph, nice try. (Takes the newly promoted Bishop away with her Queen)
Anthony: (simply moves his Knight into range of Rias' King) Scacco Matto.
Rias: (looks at Anthony in confusion, then looks at the board and realizes she's in checkmate again. Her ears start steaming) Best outta 10!
10 New Games later...
Koneko was ordered to keep score on a chalkboard. The current results: Anthony = 6, Rias = 3.
Rias: (is in deep concentration. She goes for her Knight, but hesitates. Changing her mind, she moves a Pawn instead) Your turn!
Anthony: Alright, alright, non mettere le tue mutandine in un mucchio... (is very calm as he thinks. He touches his Queen and holds it for a few seconds before letting go, he decides to use his Knight to take Rias' last Rook) Check aaaaaaaaand, mate.
Rias lost it. She grew a pair of bat-like wings, began getting red-hot with power, and used her magic to set up the board again. "Again. We play again... now" she hissed, stilling keeping her cool, but who knows how long that would last?
Anthony just yawned, not in a mean way, but rather because... "Love too, buuuuuuuut..." he pointed out the window... it was getting dark. They maybe had another hour before nightfall. He started to get up, but that's when Rias' power flared out even more, scaring Anthony a little. If he had any doubts that she was a supernatural being, its all gone now.
"Another game, now!" She ordered. Not wanting to piss the redhead off, Anthony got back in his seat.
"I like your passion, Rias. But, it's just a game, and..." Anthony was saying.
"IT'S NOT JUST A GAME!" She screamed, even now some of the other ORC members got nervous. They've never seen Rias this angry before. Not wanting to make her anymore angry and risk being repeating history with his 'first date', Anthony indulged her.
-TIME BREAK-
Hours passed, it was completely dark out and Anthony and Rias were still playing their 11th game of chess. The other members have already gone home, but Rias ordered Anthony to stay and finish. It's been over 50 turns, WAY over the stalemate limit, but Rias refused to quit, so they kept playing.
"*Yawn*... ok, doll-face, your turn" Anthony yawned, holding his head with his hand. Several seconds passed by and Rias didn't move. "Rias... hey, Rias?" Getting a closer look, Anthony saw she had fallen asleep... the poor thing. He chuckled at the sight, and started standing up. Then he realized... he was alone... with Rias... AGAIN! The rumor mill was sure gonna be flying tomorrow, even more so if anyone saw them leave this clubhouse together!
Deciding to worry about it later, he tapped Rias a few times, but the girl was sound asleep. Anthony had to get home, but he couldn't leave Rias here either. "Aw, buon dolore" he sighed. There was only 2 things he could do; spend the night here in the cold clubhouse or take her back to his place. The former was out of the question and while the latter would probably backfire, it was the right thing to do. He got Rias in his arms and picked her up bridal style.
As he did; she cooed in her sleep, snuggled closer into his chest... and smiled. Anthony blushed and chuckled again, she was acting pretty cute.
-TIME BREAK-
Rias awoke to the smell of something good... hold on, where was she? Last she remembered, she was in the club room playing chess and... crap. She got carried away, taking the game of chess as seriously as a Rating Game. They were basically the same thing, as members of her house would fight an opposing house in the same fashion. Getting up, she recognized Anthony's room, how did she get here? She was still in her academy uniform, so it looked like Anthony didn't change her... the hell? Where did that thought come from?! Shaking it off, she exited the bedroom, the smell getting stronger. Following her nose, she headed downstairs to see something she's never seen in her entire life.
Anthony was on an apron, cooking! That was strange to say the least, usually its the girl who cooks. And that smell... she could practically taste whatever he was making, and it smelled GOOD. "Hmm? Oh! Morning, bella addormentata; sleep well?" Anthony asked, looking up from his cooking.
"I'm uh... fine. What are you doing?" She asked, still not fully taking in what she was seeing.
"A Satanic Ritual, what's it look like I'm doing? We had a rough time yesterday, figured I'd bring you home instead of freezing to death in that God old building... no offense" said Anthony, jokingly. Rias was certainly taken aback by not only Anthony's kindness, but generosity. Not only that, he said that word again, and still didn't show any sign of pain... was he a masochist like Akeno? "So... how you like your sausage?" Anthony asked her.
She was tempted to make a joke about HIS sausage, but held back. He went through all the trouble of bring her sleeping form here and was now making her breakfast. Sure she had servants do it for her, as they were paid too, but a boy... it gave her an odd feeling...
A few minutes later, they both ate together. Anthony made what he called, a "Standard Italian Breakfast": Frittata Florentine's, A Bread Bowl (which was bread in the shape of a bowl with bacon, eggs and herbs in it), and baked sausage. It was different from what she normally ate, but it was fantastic! The mixture of flavors was perfect, it made her want more!
"So everyone in the ORC is a Devil like you, and now I'm one as well?" Asked Anthony. While they ate, Rias took the time to talk to Anthony of what she wanted to say yesterday but couldn't due to... getting sidetracked.
"That's right" she confirmed.
"And that puttana Yuum- er, Raynare; was a Fallen Angel? Aren't Devils and Fallen the same?" Anthony asked, trying to understand as during his time at the church, he was always told Devils ARE Angels the turned away from God.
"Common misconception. While it's true Fallen Angels have... well, fallen. They try to think of any possible way of getting back in Gods grace" explained Rias, wincing a little due to a sudden headache.
"Hey, you ok?" Anthony asked, leaning over and feeling the top of Rias' head. She stiffened at his touch, it felt exactly the same as when he hugged her. Why did she keep feeling this way?
"I'm fine. We Devils' can't mention... *points up* because we'll receive pain" Rias said. Anthony's face showed confusion.
"If that's true, how come I don't feel anything?" He asked, making Rias stop eating, her fork just inches away from her mouth.
"Nothing? You don't feel anything?" Rias asked, putting her utensils down and folding her arms, sort of not believing him.
"No, why?" He asked. Rias and him looked each other, in silence for 5 seconds before she gave him a command.
"Say his name" she ordered. "Ok... God?" Anthony obeyed, not getting what she was doing.
"Again."
"God?"
"Again."
"Jesus Christ?"
"Again."
"Amen?... Seriously, what are you trying to prove?"
This made no sense. Even Akeno, who loved pain, felt like someone was driving a knife through her skull whenever they were in the presence of God, so why wasn't Anthony? It didn't add up. "Anthony, take out your wings" Rias said.
"Da wha?" Asked Anthony.
"Your wings. Out, now" She ordered, unfurling her own wings. Anthony didn't know how, but was willing to try. He focused, flexed his back muscles, but nothing happened. Rias didn't want to, but as a Devil Master, she could force her servants to do whatever she pleased.
"WHOA! WHAT ARE YA DOING?!" Asked Anthony, afraid he did something wrong, holding up his arms in defense. Rias spoke no words, summoning a magic circle, and aimed at Anthony to control him. There was a flash of red light that surrounded Anthony...
...
...
...
Nothing. No wings at all... but something about him changed. On his left arm, was a red device. "Is that a... Sacred Gear?" Rias asked, not believing what she's seeing. Was this why Raynare went after him?
"A what?" The Italian asked, then his eyes widened as he remembered Raynare's words before she flew off: You were just too dangerous to live. Couldn't have your Sacred Gear awaken.
-TIME BREAK-
"So, he's still human?" Asked Kiba. After leaving Anthony's home, Rias dragged Anthony to the club (much to the chagrin of Kuoh students) and called an emergency meeting.
"How's that possible?" Asked Akeno.
"I don't know, I don't know! This has never happened before!" Said Rias, clutching her head, trying to figure out what went wrong. It didn't make sense, once an Evil Piece is put inside a human, they become a Devil, end of story. But for some reason, Anthony had his Evil Piece, yet was still human. Not only that, he had a Sacred Gear, which explained why the Fallen Angels would seemingly target a random human.
"Why not call the manufacturer? Maybe he or she'll know what's wrong?" Anthony suggested.
"I suppose... in any case, with your Sacred Gear now active, those Fallen Angels will want you dead more than ever" sighed Rias, worriedly. Anthony also had a point. She'll consider contacting him the creator of the Evil Pieces later.
"No worries, I think I can handle them now that I know what to expect, Yuuma or whatever her name is just caught me off guard" Anthony assured.
"Don't overestimate yourself, you have no combat experience and..." Rias began.
"No experience? I wiped the floor with 5 guys at once!" Anthony argued.
"Yes, with HUMANS. Not Fallen Angels. Taking them on alone will be seen as a disrespectful action of the Gremory house" said Rias.
"I'm not an idiot, Rias. I'm not the type to charge in without thinking, pretty sure you know that after our game" said Anthony, bringing up their 'chess tournament'.
"I know... I just, don't want you to get hurt" said Rias, sighing.
"Believe me, Rias... I KNOW what it's like to be hurt..." Anthony said. The tone of his voice was captured by Rias, did she hit a nerve? "I'm heading to class, am I dismissed?" He asked, being respectful. Rias nodded and Anthony left.
"I didn't scare him, did I?" Rias asked Akeno, who was next to her.
"I don't think you could if you tried. He DID survive an encounter with a Fallen Angel longer than most humans. Usually, they cower in fear due to their aura" said Akeno.
As Akeno said that, Rias immediately thought back to a few things Anthony had said. That he hasn't played chess after a fire, and that he knew what it was like being hurt... what happened to him? "Koneko, mind contacting Ajuka Beelzebub for me?" Rias asked the young girl, who was eating a biscuit.
"Sure, whatev's" Koneko responded before taking anther bite.
-TIME BREAK-
After classes, Anthony decided to head home early. He was kinda tried, all that stuff from earlier wore him out. As he was walking, he yawned and closed his eyes for a split second, and that's all it took to feel himself crash into something.
"OOF! Owww... I'm such a klutz. OH! I'm so sorry, sir!" Came a female voice.
"Ugh, it's ok. I've been told I got a hard head... here, need help?" Joked Anthony, getting up and holding out his hand to help whoever fell. As she grabbed his hand, Anthony pulled her up.
"Oh, thank you. Your so..." she was saying, but this is when their eyes met. Anthony crashed into a nun, but it wasn't any nun. This nun had VERY familiar blond hair, and innocent eyes that Anthony could never forget. After staring at each other in silence for God knows how long...
"... A... Anthony?..."
"... Asia?..."
Anthony's Italian Dictionary:
1) E Lei Si Sta Divertendo: means "and she's enjoying this"
2) Stronzate: means "bullshitting"
3) Preferito: means "favorite"
4) Scacco Matto: means "checkmate"
5) Non Mettere Le Tue Mutandine In Un Mucchio: means "don't get your panties in a bunch"
6) Buon Dolore: means "good grief"
7) Bella Addormentata: means "Sleeping Beauty"
8) Puttana: means "whore"