"Sona's Chance"
A Highschool DxD fanfiction written by Christopher'Zazel
Chapter 9 "Rias's Reaming"
Scene (Kuoh Academy, School Roof)
We see two silhouettes embracing one another. It's as if time stood still for that moment. Aside from the sounds of the wind and Issei's occasional whimpering, all was silent. Sona was allowing Issei to release his feelings onto her as she listened closely at his heartbeat while her head lay against his chest. Meanwhile, unknown to the two, Serafall was floating in the sky, about thirty feet above them, watching the scene play out. Again, she was wearing her magical girl uniform but this time, two black devil wings were exposed from her back. She had a very warm smile as she watched the two hold one another while in their own personal little world. "That a girl, my little So Chan."
Scene (ORC)
"Rias Gremory! So, let me make sure I heard everything correctly. Your best friend, Sona, is allegedly a slut. Issei is an unfaithful pervert. Issei is also accused of sleeping with Serafall. Issei is also going to be traded from your peerage. Hmm, did I happen to miss anything?" Sirzechs was absolutely livid as he stood in front of Rias's desk. Rias, (who was now sitting back down), had a look of intense panic while at the same time, a look of sheer despair.
Deciding to own up to it, Rias grits her teeth and replies to her very angry brother. "Oni sama, yes, I've said all of those things and I can't even begin to explain as to why I said them. And to make matters even worse, it's actually what I said to Issei, yesterday, when he confessed to me. That was the start of all of this. It's all my fault and I take full responsibility. I don't blame Issei for wanting to run away. I'm a monster, Oni Sama." Rias then completely breaks down into a crying fit.
Akeno, (even though she is still upset with her), can't help but reach over and hug her sobbing king. Asia and Koneko both remain silent but feel for their king. Kiba just wants to be out of this room. He would rather be training or doing homework, rather than have to suffer this melodrama, in his opinion. Grayfia stood next to her husband as she took the time to read everyone in the room. Deciding that coming up with a punishment or two will have to wait, (at least until some kind of resolution can be found, especially when it involves Rias's estranged fiance), the queen-maid was attempting to come up with ideas in which to mend the relationship before it became any more volatile.
Sirzechs was at a loss for words. He wasn't expecting Rias to own up to her mistakes so easily. This was a good sign thought the Mao. However, Rias did use her authority in a cruel way out of sheer spite, even though she was the reason for this entire ordeal from the get go. This cannot go unchecked or unpunished. But, like his wife, Sirzechs was trying to think in constructive ways rather than just petty vengeful justice.
"Hello everyone! Sorry I'm late but I was just making sure that our red dragon emperor was in good hands." Serafall appeared in the room suddenly via teleportation circle. She had a very happy demeanor toward her body language. "Oh, don't worry Sirzechs kun, Grayfia Chan, Ria Tan and all of you, Issei is just fine. Though he was crying for a while, not to mention those four-letter words…" Serafall thought for a moment, trying to mouth the obscenities Issei was using earlier but then got back on track. "But yes, Sona is keeping an eye on him."
Sirzechs and Grayfia seem to relax a bit, hearing Serafall's news. It's the same reaction with the peerage as well. Rias leans back in her chair a bit while not knowing what will happen in the near future.
Serafall then begins to pace the room as she begins to twirl her magical girl scepter in the air. "Ria-tan, you've been a naughty little girl. Boo, not very nice, no, not at all. But, it's okay. After all, you are still growing, just like Issei. Maybe you two will grow to be closer. Or, maybe…"
Rias interrupts while tears are jetting from her eyes. "You don't understand, Sera chan, I didn't mean to, I was just scared. I didn't want him to know, to know about 'that', not until graduation at least. So, when he asked to go, "steady", I panicked." Serafall made her way across the desk and then stood directly next to Rias. She then put an arm over Rias's shoulder. This made the Gremory devil cry even harder as she wrapped her arms around Serafall. The Leviathan Mao then looked over toward Sirzechs. Both nodded to one another very seriously.
Serafall then pulled back from Rias as she bent down to her eye level. Still smiling, Serafall spoke very softly. "Ria Tan, tomorrow is the start of Golden Week. So, consider it your punishment as I will be taking Issei for the entirety of the holiday."
Rias then nodded as she knew she deserved far worse. Serafall then pats Rias on her head. Rias starts to cry again as she continues to get head pats.
Scene (Roof Top)
On the far side stone bench, we now see Sona sitting. Issei, on the other hand, was laying on the same bench with his head in Sona's lap.
Scene (10 minutes ago)
As the two continued their embrace, Sona proceeded to push her chin upward and look toward Issei's face. Feeling the sensation, Issei then looked down, only to meet Sona's violet stare.
Looking very seriously at the broken red dragon emperor, Issei Hyoudou, Sona frowns while speaking in a very soft tone. "Issei, I know what Rias said to you. But, that's not all. Last night, I spoke with D'draig."
Issei nods as he continues to stare deeply. Sona then takes a large gulp.
"Well, you were talking in your sleep. And, well, let's sit down for this, okay?"
Both teens proceed to sit down together at the far side bench, (the same bench they had lunch on together earlier that day). Adjusting her glasses, Sona then clears her throat.
"I don't want you to think that I was snooping into your personal business, Hyoudou, because I really wasn't."
Issei nods. "It's alright. To be honest with you, I really don't think anyone has really tried, you know, to want to even spend the time to want to know about me, you know, inside and stuff. It's kinda lame when I say it outloud though."
Sona shakes her head rapidly, strongly disagreeing with Issei's last statement. "No, Issei, that is not "lame" at all!"
Seeing this sudden reaction from the "ice queen" of Kuoh Academy, Issei thought to himself again, "My first name again, she keeps using it. What the hell is even going on right now?"
Sona then continues after she catches her breath from her last statement. "I know about Raynare, Issei."
Issei didn't react like Sona thought he would as he just shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah, the bitch is dead, what about it?"
Sona looked very carefully at Issei's gestures. Sure enough, only the slightest hint of shaking could be seen. Then then continued. "I also know what she did to you. More so, how she made you feel."
Issei began to tense up. "Wha, what are you talking about? Like I said, the bitch is fucking dead!" Issei then put a hand over his own mouth, surprised by his own outburst.
Sona shakes her head again. "Not to you she isn't. She is still alive and well. Right there." Sona now points toward Issei's heart.
Issei doesn't move. His facial features don't change. In fact, he doesn't even make a sound. One would assume the teen was just indifferent to everything around him at this point, however his twin rivers of tears proved otherwise.
Sona continues as she takes hold of one of Issei's hands. "You say that nobody has taken the time to understand you, Hyoudou. Well, that may be true up until now. I think you are much more than you appear to be. I also think that you should've been the one to kill Raynare, not Rias."
Issei's eyes widened as he attempted to speak, but alas, he was only able to produce incoherent mumbles mixed along with the sounds of anguish, in a cacophony of chaos. "RaynAAAAHHHHGGGMMM!"
Sona places an index finger on Issei's lips which causes the distraught teen to go silent suddenly. The Sitri Heiress is now showing a loving and almost maternal smile. This was something that Issei didn't think was possible. She was so beautiful right now, even in his rage, his sadness, his longing, Sona Sitri was the most beautiful thing in front of him as far as he was concerned.
She then very quietly speaks once again. "I want you to know something very important. It's something my mother told me when I was young. I don't remember the full poem but it goes a little something like this. "The greatest thing, you will ever learn. Is to love and be loved, in return." The lines go on, but these are the ones I find great wisdom in. After hearing this, can I ask you a serious question?"
Issei nods as the tears continue to flow.
Using her free hand, Sona takes a handkerchief and starts to wipe at the teens watery face. "Do you think Rias loves you? I mean, I know you love her, it's obvious, I mean, how could you not? She is perfect in every way. So, I suppose what I am trying to say is, do you think someone like her could return your affection in the same and devout way you would offer yours?"
After that, the two went quiet. As they sit together on the bench, Sona, (all of the sudden), raises her free arm and places a hand on Issei's head. "Lay down, Hyoudou, on my lap. Arguing is completely out of the question." Sona had a very serious and demanding tone as Issei felt pressure toward the top of his head as the Sitri Heiress started to push down. Moving his legs up on the bench, Issei complies with Sona's order without question. Feeling his hair being run through by Sona's fingers, the teen couldn't help but enjoy this bit of peace. For now, all was right and it was good. Sona then begins to hum some random tune as the Sunset finishes. Again, surprised, Issei found the tone very soothing as his watery eyes began to close.
Scene (ORC)
"With that, Rias, you will be responsible for making this school shine like it never has before! Starting tomorrow and throughout the entirety of Golden Week, you will take over as the school's Janitor! You will do this without the use of any magic nor will you be allowed the aid of your peerage. Prove yourself and regain your lost honor with this penance! Make me proud, Sister!" Sirzechs was now smiling warmly as he relayed Rias's punishment.
Grayfia then stepped forward. "Sirzechs sama, I will assist Rias sama with her duties as a task master."
Sirzechs grins a bit while nodding. "Yes, that sounds logical."
Rias, (who looked very nervous with the news of her punishment), simply nodded while frowning. "Very well, Oni Sama, I will do this. But, well, what about Issei!?"
Serafall then intervened. "Ria tan, I have a little vacation sort-of-thing planned out for my So tan and Issei Kun. But don't worry about a thing, as I assure you, they won't be simply sitting around. I have a small mission lined up for my sister's peerage and I want Issei to join them."
Grayfia tilts her head and responds in all seriousness. "If Issei is separated from Rias, what happens if Issei needs a promotion? I don't know the extent of this mission you are sending them on, however, if it involves combat, Issei will be at a disadvantage."
Sirzechs, along with Rias and the peerage nod in agreement.
Serafall skips over toward Grayfia while pulling a piece of jewelry from her magical girl costume pocket. She then presents an average looking gold ring. It has a single and smooth round and red stone in the setting. Serafall then winks.
"I got it from Ajuka earlier today. He said that my So tan can use it in case Issei needs a promotion. It's supposed to last for exactly one week. But, boo, Issei has eight pawn pieces, so Ajuka said it might not last as long. But, it's better than nothing, right?"
Everyone in the room was both fascinated and worried. Then, Rias stood from her chair.
She then looked at Serafall with a pouting face. "Sera chan, where are you sending my Issei to?"
Serafall smiles and nods. "Like I said, it's kind of a vacation, but not really. But to answer your question, I am sending them to Kyoto!"
Hot damn, I did it again, two chapters in one day. Some of you are a bit worried in the reviews that these are coming out too quickly, but I assure you, I have literally been dreaming about what's going to happen. Seriously, last night I had the dream about Sona and Issei on the school roof, no shit. So, yeah, had to write it as it's fresh. Anywhoo, I hope you love what's going on, looks like most of you are, so that's good. So, I had some help today, as always, Overlord Sturm was a major player along with my other discordies. Speaking of, as usual, if you like what I do and want more.. Discord Link: /wsJpYmqd
