Hello, this is Higher Magnitude. I've been reading fanfics for a long time and got a little spark to finally write something myself. I like the DxD universe as it's one of the only series that combine all kinds of religions/mythologies. That gives you so much freedom to write whatever you want. I've watched the 2 first seasons of this show so I don't have the complete picture of it but while thinking of ideas I did do some research for specific characters.

I'm going with a more western based writing style meaning no okaa-san, obaa-san, nee-san etc etc. Just don't think it's a good idea when I'm not from Japan myself and don't really know where, when and how those honorifics are meant to be used. English second language btw so there might be some errors.

Hope you enjoy!

ISSEI POV

Carrying this mattress up the stairs makes me realize how easy I had it as a child. I got everything I wanted and needed by just opening my mouth. Every request got accepted and then some. Food and clothes within an arm's reach without a care. Oh how I miss those days but then again, life waits for no one. Adult life is all I dreamt about as a kid so we've gone full circle. Wonder what my kid self would think about me now. Probably that 17 isn't an adult yet. Well sure you would be right by law but I can cheat in my mind. Take that, kid me.

"Now, which key was it?" I mumble to myself while fumbling with the mattress. Three set of stairs had conquered my breath as I took a second to set the mattress against the wall. Deep breaths followed, not just because I had finished a small workout, but I was going to set foot inside my new home for the first time.

* click * The key defeated the lock and I waited a few suspenseful seconds as the door took its sweet time to open completely. My eyes got to feast on a whole lot of nothing as the hallway was entirely empty. Brown hardwood floor and white walls will welcome me home for the foreseeable future. Even though my grandma's friend was waiting in front of the apartment in his van, I felt alone, disturbingly so.

"Anybody home?" I joked which only made my eyes tear up in sadness instead of laughter, as I started reminiscing about my parents and their habits. While they are fresh in my mind, their presence isn't as my grandma is my only family member left in Kuoh.

Dad dying when I was just 10 was the biggest shock possible. To this day it is still hard to process as a fact. He wasn't often late from work, so when he was it always raised some eyebrows. As a 10-year-old I never even imagined anything could happen to him. Dad was like superman to me so how could anything bad happen to him.

The police said he was caught up in a car accident while he was walking down the street but I don't buy it. How can your limbs be ripped off by a car? I don't think that's possible, so to me it isn't a closed case. While I want to figure this being an adult thing out, there's nothing I want to figure out more than my father's fate.

Dad wasn't the only one caught up in this "car accident". The car who allegedly hit him was owned by a woman named Cleria Belial. She was a well known person in the city, but that's all I know about her. Her body was never found so she was pronounced missing, now presumed dead. Maybe finding more information about her would help but I doubt it. As far as I know dad had never made any contact with her.

I never got to see dad's body which was probably for the best. My mom did, though. She was never the same after. Just hours after the police coming to inform us of dad's death and her confirming it was him, she was on a train on the way to Kyoto to her parents' place. That left me in Kuoh with just my grandmother, from dad's side of the family.

I still have a good relationship with my mother. She's since gotten remarried and even got a baby, my little sister Akiko. They live in Kyoto and I visit them twice a year. We also have video calls every now and then to update each other about our lives. Akiko will start kindergarten next year which is great.

I would never say this to mom but if I had a chance to bring back dad in exchange of my sister never existing, I would take that deal. That's not a nice thing to say but I'm feeling emotional right now. I'm sure that opinion will change once I go visit them again. It always does. I should probably call them ton-

"You okay kid?" * THUD * I drop my mattress in a flash as I hear my grandma's friend's voice behind my back.

"Uhhh, yeah I'm good sorry I got lost in my thoughts for a bit." I reply as I try to collect my thoughts and return from my mind to the present.

"I tried to get your attention with the horn but I didn't see you anywhere. Figured I'd come to check if you were actually still here." He said with a smile. "Don't worry, I remember my first time moving away from home. It is a huge culture shock and takes plenty of time to get used to." He continued with an understanding wink.

"Yeah I definately realized that, thanks for checking up on me" I said with a small bow.

"Alright, let's go get the rest of your stuff. I promised Sachiko that we would be done before dark." He finished before calling the elevator to the floor. "The mattress was the only thing that didn't fit in the elevator, right?" He asked me.

"Yup." I said with emphasizing the p as I started to remember the battle against the stairs again.

"The boxes shouldn't take too long then, let's go" He said with an encouraging nod while going inside the elevator.

BREAK

After eating some quick ramen, I had some time to continue thinking. It's around 7 pm now after I finished moving in and said my goodbyes to my helper around an hour ago. I still have many things I need to buy but at least I can now live in this flat.

Money isn't an issue as my grandma pays me well for working in her bakery. Also I have plenty of money which I got from dad's passing that I haven't even touched yet. Grandma gave me 3 days off to move and ease in so I'm grateful to her for that. I've lived with her ever since my mom left for Kyoto. I would consider Grandma to be the closest family member I have right now. Her son dying so suddenly gave her pain that I can't even imagine. When I was younger we visited her often as her husband, also my granddad, had passed away before I was born. After what happened, she must have felt so alone. I'm glad that I could somewhat soften that pain when I moved in.

I know that my mom wants me to call her after i got done moving in but I'll leave that for tomorrow. I still have enough time to visit dad's grave today. I've been busy with work and now moving in that I haven't been there for 2 weeks. I should definately buy some new candles.

While Christianity is not a huge religion in Japan, it has been apart of my family for a long time. According to grandma, the Hyoudou's lost their faith in the Shinto gods after the bombs dropped. She said that why should we believe in them after they couldn't protect us from the bombs. Ever since then my family has felt that Christianity is their choice of belief. According to grandma, God has protected us because there have been no more bombs.

I'm happy that she feels safe but I have a hard time trusting any religion. Dad died and I'm supposed to believe gods have our best wishes in mind. To me it seems like we are more like playthings for them to do as they please. They think of the cruelest things and send those upon us to see how they play out. I want to be the holder of my own destiny and for that to happen I have faith in no one but myself.

I'm not surprised if something supernatural exists, though. Too many things have happened in this world for me not to think that. Some of the atrocities I have read about can't have been committed by something mortal. At least that's what I choose to believe. Maybe I think too highly of humans. I just value the supernatural less, I suppose. Sounds more like their level.

"Thinking about all these things when I'm going to be at the church in a few minutes. Hopefully God doesn't strike me down for these thoughts." I snicker at myself for the connection.

"Anyways, the sun is almost out. I'll see you soon dad."

BREAK

Over the last couple years the church has stayed the same. Can't say the same for the surroundings though. The grass around the paths has grown to knee high levels. The gates haven't been renovated and the paint has started to fall off at some spots. There are leaves all over the property. Branches from overhead trees have invaded the gravel paths between the gravestones.

I can't help but feel a little upset about this. While I do not hold those Christian values as close to my heart as my family, this area could use some love. The church building is huge and magnificent and behind it is a beautiful landscape highlighted by treelined hills. Especially now that the sunset is shedding light on those said hills. Shame that the local groundskeeper has decided to take a long vacation.

Finally I arrive to dad's resting place which reads:

In loving memory of

Gorou Hyoudou

16/7/1965 - 22/7/2005

"Hey dad, I finally got done moving to my own place. How cool is that? I bet you would've liked to see that. Grandma didn't though. She was really trying to make me stay but I think she also knows that it's time for me to spread my wings." I chuckle at my joke. Nobody else did.

"Heh, got that one? What about you Big G? Anyways I was surprised by the feeling of walking inside that house. Made me feel a bit empty, you know? It's hard to imagine living alone let alone doing it. I've never been living literally alone before." I take a deep breath.

"Mom is doing good too, Akiko is going to start kindergarten in a week which is a big change. Mom's going to go back to work now though, I bet that's going to take a bit getting used to. She sends her best wishes by the way." I say with some liquid rolling down my cheek. You know the one but don't mention it.

"I'm not going to say I'm scared of the future, but I would lie if I said I wasn't anxious. It's time for me to grow up like Irina used to say. I remember the first time I came here to talk to you, she was helping me get through it. Hope she's safe wherever she is." I mention while thinking of younger days. Irina used to be one of my best friends, maybe even the best, while I was a kid. She used to spend a lot of time here, now that I think about it.

"Anyways, It's time for me to go back to my new home, it's dark now. I bought you one of those candles mom used to have. Maybe it will bring some good luck to both of us. I still haven't given up, you know. I'll settle in first and then start thinking it through. We'll figure it out, I promise." I finish with conviction and take the candle out from my pocket.

"For good luck." I light the candle and set it on the ground in front of the grave.

"Sigh" I stay and watch the grave for a few minutes. "See you, dad."

"It's getting really dark now." I notice and check my watch. "It's nearly 9 pm."

With the darkness taking over the sky the church almost has this mystical look to it. The white paint contrasts the darkness like it's a battle of good versus evil. The evil looks to be winning though, if you include the conditions of the surroundings.

While I'm approaching my bike, I hear someone say:

"Who are you?"

A/N: Well there you go. First time writing a fic for me so would enjoy feedback a lot. Don't really have a schedule in terms of updating but it will happen at some point. Reviews and comments of course help a long way and give a bigger boost to write more. Any feedback is welcome!

Also do you think I should include any characters in the list even though they haven't appeared yet. Feel like that's spoiling but not sure what to do there.