Dance With the Devil
Shake Up Chapter 8
Disclaimer: I own none of the series involved, for if I did there would be a lot less cock-blocking going on.
To answer some reviews:
Hoo boy, that last chapter got some of you talking.
As for which kryptonite, the basic green type. Though now I want to write an omake about the red type. Hmm...
aliesterus: (your name is hard to write, you know?) Again, I'm pretty sure that I'm not going to destroy the galaxy.
Armiture: From what I know about DxD canon, that is true, with the exception of Dragons, which are just masses of energy given flesh and are the only true immortals in the series.
TheB: That will be explained... This chapter!
"Wakey, wakey." Jedah's voice caused Ophis to groan as her eyes opened slowly. In front of her was a blue and purple blur. "It's been almost twelve hours, how long will an immortal being like you keep sleeping, I wonder?"
Ophis opened her mouth to reply but Jedah pushed something into her mouth and massaged her throat, forcing her to swallow it. "There."
"What?" Ophis groaned as she tried to move, only to find that wasn't possible. Her vision fully came back to her as she realized that she was in the center of a large room, her arms held out to the side and upwards, shackles on her wrists, chains extending from them to the ceiling and on her feet, which were spread out wide as well, were similar shackles and chains to the floor. "...Why am I naked?"
Jedah just smirked at her. "You have no need for clothes. And you probably shouldn't think about trying to escape." Jerking a thumb over his shoulder, Ophis could see several small crystals lining the walls. "There's plenty of Dragonice crystals all over this room in the walls, you surely can feel a great amount of discomfort, can't you?"
Ophis grit her teeth, that was true, and her powers seemed to be heavily restricted for some reason.
"The crystals are small enough and far enough away that they won't cause you any true problems..." Jedah chuckled heavily. "But should you get free, however, it will cause you serious pain and suffering."
"What did you give me?" Ophis asked him.
"Just a Dragon suppressant, nothing more." Jedah shrugged as he turned to walk away. "Every day you'll get one, it'll keep your powers restrained and your power at the level of a little girl that you pretend to be right now."
"Sacred Gear... How did you..."
Stopping at the door, Jedah chuckled and looked back at her. "I'm a master of manipulating soul energies. I took half of Morrigan's soul and turned it into Lilith, once I found out about the Sacred Gears, I looked at humans on this world who had one that would be useful to me." Sure, the more powerful Longinus Sacred Gears would ultimately be the most useful, but they were also the ones most heavily watched for, since they had the ability to disrupt the balance of power in the world. "When I found one that had an ability of hypnotic suggestion, that's all I needed."
"Useless..?"
"Ah yes, it is useless most of the time." Jedah conceded to her. "In fact, in its partially awakened state it was actually stripping its owner of his short-term memory. Fool actually thought I was his grandfather." Jedah smirked, that was too easy. "Savage Control, in its base form originally made it so that animals are more likely to come to you and listen unless enraged, and the Balance Breaker form..." Jedah snorted, so many restrictions on this Sacred Gear, it was annoying. "Hypnotic Control of large amounts of animals. Naturally useless for what I want, so I modified it."
"...How?"
"Soul manipulation, my dear Dragon, and Sacred Gears, Irregular or not, are part of people's souls." Jedah grinned as he walked out of the room. "I just changed the properties of the Sacred Gear to affect things other than just animals, nothing more, nothing less." Of course, the Balance Breaker could no longer influence large groups anymore, but no one needed to know that.
As he walked off and closed the door behind him, Ophis slumped, wondering if she'd ever get home now. "...I have an itch on my butt."
(-)
Meanwhile in Hell...
Walking into a large guest room at the Gremory mansion, Akeno sighed as she saw that there was no change in Issei's status. She thought back to what happened a few days ago when Issei obtained his Juggernaut Drive. While it had been absolutely terrifying to behold, the way to get him out of it had been rather hilarious. 'Seriously, singing the Oppai Dragon song and letting him touch Rias's nipples gets him out of it?'
However, what concerned her was that Issei had fallen into a deep slumber and hadn't woken up since that battle. Looking at his bed, she smiled as she saw Rias and Asia sitting next to him, both looking rather disheartened for different reasons. Rias could only sit at the side of the bed and hadn't moved, save when they forced her to get cleaned up or eat. Asia had been even worse off, crying her eyes out after she recovered from being in the Dimensional Gap and blaming herself for what happened.
Looking at the far wall, she wasn't surprised to see Kiba sitting on a chair, slumped over. She knew he didn't have many friends, but he was taking this almost as hard as Asia and Rias were. It wasn't like Akeno didn't care about Issei, she had spent almost as much time in this room as the others, but she didn't know what else to do.
Walking over to Kiba, she sat next to him and gave his shoulder a squeeze. "How are you holding up?" She asked softly. He shook his head and she sighed, knowing that it was weighing on everyone. When the door opened and Gasper, Koneko, Irina and Xenovia walked in, she could see that they were looking just as depressed as everyone else was.
"If only there was something we could do." Irina said softly. "Is there anything we haven't tried yet?"
"Physically he's fine." Xenovia said, remembering what the doctors had said. "The Phoenix Tears fixed him up instantly, but he's still in that coma..."
"Issei..." Koneko whispered and slumped. "Please come back."
"Um..." Gasper poked his fingers together. "I know this is a long-shot, but maybe Issei's got something wrong with him mentally?"
"None of us are psychic nor can any of us read minds." Akeno sighed heavily as she looked at Rias, the girl looked like a mess and wasn't reacting to anything as she sat by Issei's side and watched him.
"No, but, um, we know someone who might be able to help." Suddenly everyone, even Rias, was looking at the blushing blonde boy. "Eeek!"
"Gasper..." Kiba said slowly, trying to calm the boy down. "What do you mean?"
"This morning, I remembered a story I was told when I was younger." Gasper poked his fingers together and blushed more. "I was told succubi are supposed to be able to enter people's minds and give them good dreams."
"What's that got to do with anything?" Xenovia asked him.
"Well, Lilith is a succubus, right? Maybe she can go into his head and see what's wrong with him?"
A red flash of light filled the room and everyone looked to where Rias was supposed to be.
Except that she wasn't there anymore, her spot was vacant.
"Rias..." Akeno said softly, hoping that this worked.
(-)
Meanwhile on Earth...
Lilith yawned as she sat at the table with Mittelt. "So, have fun last night?" She leered while the blonde blushed heavily. "Oh come on, even after all this time you're still blushing like it's your first time?"
"You keep teasing me about liking anal!" Mittelt whined and buried her face on the table. "It's not fair that my butt's really sensitive now."
Lilith giggled as Ranma walked downstairs, his body damp from showering, pants covered his legs while he had no shirt on, just a towel over his neck. "Are you teasing her again?" Ranma asked in exasperation.
"Master, I have no idea what you're talking about." Lilith gave a look of fake innocence. "Oh, I guess that name means more now, doesn't it?"
"Haven't completely mastered the two schools yet." Ranma muttered in annoyance.
"You learned them in under three days, you just need to practice them some more, but your father gave you the title of "Master of Anything Goes" anyway." Mittelt shook her head in amazement. "Seriously, I don't get it, I know you're good, but learning an entire school of martial arts in two days?"
"Two schools." Ranma held up two fingers.
Lilith shrugged at the Fallen Angel. "He's always been a fast learner. I still say that we should get your eyes checked to make sure they can't turn red or something."
"I am not an Uchiha." Ranma rolled his eyes in annoyance. "I actually practice my skills."
Before anyone could say anything more, there was a knocking at the door. The three looked at each other before Ranma went over to the door and opened it. He blinked at who he saw. "Rias, you okay?"
"May I come in?" The redhead asked and Ranma stepped aside as she did so. She looked horrible, bags under her eyes, her skin was looking almost gooey and her hair was lacking its usual luster.
"You look horrible." Mittelt said as she looked at Rias and frowned in concern. "What happened?"
"Issei..." Rias ran up to Lilith, tears falling from her eyes. "Please help Issei!" She yelled as she got onto her knees and bowed to Lilith. "Please! He did something really dangerous, passed out and he hasn't woken up since!"
Ranma and Lilith looked at each other in concern.
(-)
A red flash in the room caught the group's attention, when Rias reappeared with Ranma and Lilith, the tension in the room seemed to deflate a little bit.
"I can't guarantee anything, if he's just in a coma the most I can do is find his mind and go 'hey, wake up' and slap him a couple of times." Lilith muttered as she looked at Issei. "Hmm..." She tilted her head. "Well, no time like the present." Hopping up on the bed, Lilith straddled Issei's chest and put her head against his while her hands were on either side of his head.
"While she does that, any of you skilled in ritual magic?" Ranma asked, getting a raised hand from Gasper. "Good." He pulled out some chalk. "Because the two of us have to hurry."
After Ranma explained and the chairs around the bed were cleared out, the two quickly went to work in drawing up a runic circle around the bed and on the walls.
"What are you doing?" Kiba asked.
"This circle will help Lilith by filtering out ambient magical energy." Ranma replied as he worked on the circle. "It's better if I used woad or blue paint, but I doubt anyone would just let me paint all over everything."
"Plus it amplifies what Lilith is doing, so it should help her out more." Gasper said as he and Ranma finished the circle.
"Now what?" Rias asked as the two stepped away from the circle.
"We wait."
(-)
Walking through the mists, Lilith sighed as everything was gray and dull. "Well, the brain sure isn't working at full capacity right now." Still, she could tell he wasn't brain dead. "So what exactly happened that's keeping you out cold, huh?"
"I told you, didn't I?" A female voice spoke up and Lilith watched as the mists cleared out of the way, revealing Issei, who was on his back and naked, with a dark haired woman who was equally naked and bouncing on top of him. "You're stuck with me, forever and ever."
"R...Raynare... stop..." he whimpered out as she laughed.
"That's it, just give me your everything. You don't need anyone else, do you?"
'Lovely, a freaking...' Lilith's thoughts trailed off as she watched the woman morph and change, becoming more like a shadow than anything else. 'Oh fuck! A Shade?!' She didn't know how Issei had one of those possessing him, but this wasn't good, and from what she could tell it was empowered by at least one curse.
"Now, Issei..." The Shade whispered to him. "Just admit it, none of them are here, none of them care about you. You're all alone, but I'm here for you."
Lilith frowned, dealing with the Shade, she could do that. 'But that wouldn't solve it permanently, would it?'
(-)
"GAH!" More than one person jumped back when a transparent Lilith formed on the bed.
"What?" The transparent Lilith huffed. "Listen, I'll only say this once, but Issei's being attacked from within by a Shade. I'll explain later if you want to know, but it's someone by the name of Raynare."
Rias, Akeno, Asia, Kiba and Koneko's eyes all widened when they heard that name, they thought she was long dead.
"Anyway, long story short, he's being consumed by the Shade, I could kill it, but it might do some serious damage to him. I'd recommend exorcism normally, but with Issei having a Dragon in him, that might not be the best option."
When the transparent Lilith disappeared, Rias looked at Ranma almost pleadingly. "Is there anything we can do?"
Scratching his head, Ranma thought about it. "Touch Lilith's butt with one hand and someone touch her other butt-cheek and then form a circle and focus on Issei and you should be able to get... GWAH!?" Ranma gaped as Rias was already beside Lilith and squeezing her ass with her left hand while Asia was on the other side and squeezing Lilith's other butt-cheek with her right hand. Akeno grabbed Rias's hand and held her hand out where Kiba took it, next to him, Irina took his hand and Xenovia took her hand while Gasper took Xenovia's hand and Koneko took both Gasper and Asia's hands.
"We're all worried about Issei," Rias began.
"So we won't let him fight this alone," Akeno continued.
"He's our friend," Kiba said next.
"Our comrade," Irina smiled.
"I'd never be able to live with myself if I didn't try to help." Xenovia said.
"And Issei taught me to be a man, what kind of man lets his friend face danger alone?" Gasper asked.
"I want him back." Koneko said softly.
"I will never forgive myself if something happens to him." Asia said. "So I want to save him like he's saved me."
The magic circle started to glow brightly and Ranma shook his head in amazement. "Good luck everyone." Really, it shouldn't have worked, the circle had several footprints all over it, but he just shrugged it off. Magic didn't always make sense.
(-)
"Now, Issei, just relax and let me..." Raynare cut off what she was saying as she grabbed Issei and jumped back from a lightning attack that would have blasted her had she remained there. "HOW?! I know that we're inside his head, so none of you should be here!"
Rias said nothing as she gave the Shade that took on Raynare's form a glare so fierce that even the spirit was trembling.
"How dare you?" Akeno asked as her finger crackled with lightning and tears formed in her eyes. "How dare you still hurt him even after all this time?!"
Raynare suddenly grinned as Issei seemed to be absorbed into her body, his head remaining between her breasts, leading to a few of the people looking on in disgust. "How dare I? Ha ha ha! That's rich coming from all of you!" She pointed at Akeno. "You see him as your cute under-class-man, don't you? You love laughing at his misfortune." Akeno's eyes widened and her lightning died down. "And you!" She pointed at Irina. "For someone who's supposedly his childhood friend, you were quick to discard him when you came back and discovered he had become a Devil. Didn't it even occur to you that he may not have had a choice in the matter?" Irina took a step back and Raynare pointed at Kiba. "Don't tell me that you care about him. Even after all this time the only reason you put up with him is because you have to." She laughed at his angry look. "Don't give me that look, you'll give me chills." Raynare then pointed at Koneko. "Haven't you proclaimed that you hate him on more than one occasion? Haven't you hit him over his perversions?" Koneko twitched and Raynare pointed at Xenovia. "You've made your intentions clear. You only care about the fact that he's the Red Dragon Emperor." Looking at Gasper, she snorted. "The only reason you even try to be nice to Issei is because he tried so hard to get you to come out of your shell. Had you known kindness from your family you wouldn't have bothered with him." Gasper stuttered and Raynare looked at Asia. "You're in the same boat! An inexperienced little tart, oh I'm sure that it was the best time of your life, but what do you have to compare it to? Nothing!" She swung her hand to the side. "The only reason you like Issei is because you don't have a choice, you feel guilty that he likes you." With that, she looked down at Rias as Raynare's form had grown into a tall shade, though Issei's head was still visible. "And finally you, princess. You see him as your servant and someone who's convenient to you. Admit it, you wouldn't have cared about him in the slightest if it wasn't for the fact that he has a Sacred Gear. You even offered him sex just to get out of getting married."
"It's true, I did offer my body to him just to get out of getting married." Rias admitted, her arms crossed under her breasts. "But you're wrong about one thing, Raynare."
"Oh? And what's that?"
"He's not just my servant. He's someone who's dear to me!" Rias yelled and blasted the Shade with a powerful blast, causing it to scream as it fell backwards, returning to Raynare as Issei, who was actually dressed, fell out of her and flopped to the floor.
Akeno glared at the Fallen Angel, tears in her eyes. "Maybe I do find his misfortune amusing, but when I was at my most vulnerable, when I opened my heart to him completely, he accepted me, all of me."
"So what?" Raynare yelled as she stood up, only to get blasted by lightning, causing her to scream as she was lifted into the air. Akeno glared before snapping her wrist down and dragging Raynare back towards the group.
Landing on the ground and bouncing and sliding forward, Raynare looked up to see Koneko glaring at her and cracking her knuckles. "I hate perverts, but I like Issei, got it, bitch?" Grabbing Raynare by her hair, she lifted the raven haired spirit up and then headbutted her in the face, breaking her nose with a satisfying crunch and sending the Shade flying.
"You know," Irina's white wings were out as she flew above Raynare, "you shouldn't talk about things you don't know. I was genuinely hurt by the thought of Issei being a Devil and the fact that I might have to fight him. I actually wanted to cry when I found out." A whip of light lashed out and slammed Raynare in the face, sending her tumbling backwards.
"You are right about one thing." Xenovia said as Raynare tumbled to a stop in front of her. "I did want his babies because he was the Red Dragon Emperor. I won't deny it, but I've come to see Issei as Issei and not as the Red Dragon Emperor." Throwing her right foot back, she grinned and kicked Raynare in the head, punting her over to Kiba, who had a sword drawn.
"Issei's my best friend." Kiba glared at Raynare and jumped up, cutting her limbs off and enjoying the screams she gave off. "Even if I get embarrassed by him, I would never abandon him in the slightest."
"And Issei taught me how to be a man!" Gasper yelled at Raynare as he stopped her in mid-air. "So you're wrong! He's my precious friend!"
Asia glared at Raynare. "You... You hurt me, you hurt Issei, you're still hurting Issei. Why? Why can't you just let him live his life in peace? LEAVE MY ISSEI ALONE!"
"You heard all of us, Raynare." Rias said as a concentrated ball of destructive energy was in her right hand. "It's time for you to go for good." Snapping her hand up, she smirked as Raynare's terrified face and scream was the last thing that she saw of the Shade that had taken on the Fallen Angel's form. "And never come back." She whispered before running up to Issei. "Issei! Issei!"
"Ngh..." Issei cracked an eye open. "What... What are you all..."
"Issei!" Rias hugged him tightly. "Come back to us, we all want you back."
"Hey," Lilith's voice spoke up. "I'd LOVE to let you all talk in his mind, but I'm running out of power right now. And if I keep this going any longer I'm going to sex all of you up when we get out of here. No, seriously, I will."
Rias let go of Issei and stepped back as she and the rest all started to disappear. "Come back, Issei."
After everyone was gone, Issei blinked and stood up fully. "What..."
"I was wrong." Issei took a step back as he heard Raynare's voice, but he couldn't see her. "This is all that's left of me, and I don't have long, so, Issei, let me say this. Go forward, forget about me and realize that they love you for you."
"Goodbye, Raynare." Issei closed his eyes as he felt her remains slowly fade away. "I won't see you again."
"Maybe in another life we could have been actual lovers." She whispered.
"No." Issei shook his head as he couldn't feel her anymore. "But, Raynare, even if it was just to trick me, you were the first girl who ever showed me any interest. So long."
(-)
Groaning as white light filled his vision, Issei slowly sat up and looked around blearily. "H..."
"ISSEI!" More than one person yelled at the same time and he found himself being hugged by Rias, Asia, Akeno, Koneko and Xenovia.
"I think if you don't let go he's going to die from a lack of air." Gasper spoke up, getting everyone to jump off of Issei, who was coughing and gasping for air. "Welcome back, Issei."
"Well, this is a lovely sight." Issei said lightly, smiling up at everyone. "And... Thanks, for saving me."
"Hey man, it's cool." Kiba said to him. "You'd do the same for any of us, we'd do the same thing a hundred times over."
Rias nodded, tears in her eyes. "Welcome back."
"Yeah..." Issei smiled and hugged the girls as they got close to him again. "I'm back."
Well, you guys were wanting to know what was going on with Raynare, this was what it was.
And this is basically my version of how season 3 ended after the Juggernaut Drive incident.
Also, if not completely clear, Savage Control works similar to Lelouch's Geass.
We need an Omake! Here's one from me!
Jedah looked at the teen he whose Sacred Gear he had taken. "...How are you alive?! I ripped part of your soul out!"
Shinnosuke blinked at him. "...I forgot."
"...You forgot to die?"
"Yes."
"DEATH DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY!"