"Sona's Chance"
A Highschool DxD fanfiction written by Christopher'Zazel
Chapter 23 "Aftermath"
Scene (Azazel's Hotel Room, Kyoto)
Lint looks around the room as she now begins to close her eyes. Purple flames jet out from both of her shoulders, (two of them exactly, both shaped like crosses). As Azazel and Serafall both lift eyebrows at the same time, these jets of flame completely devour both of the bodies of the hooded figures, leaving only ash behind. Before another action could take place, the dimly colored and violet aura that lingered around the entire area, began to dissipate. This meant that the barrier was now beginning to lift and disappear. Once this happened, the broken door and all of the other collateral damage was completely restored to its original and intact form.
Lint then opens her red eyes as she begins to bow to both Serafall, (who is still laying on Issei's chest), and the Governor. "I apologize for the trouble earlier. Again, as I explained earlier, I was working as a double agent for Heaven's Faction, specifically for Lord Michael himself. However, the two stray-exorcists that I was assigned to, well, they got track of this Hyoudou Issei. He was spotted earlier when my "team" approached the north end area of the Five-Star district. Once it was confirmed that he was indeed a devil, the other two thought it would be a good idea to follow him here. Afterwards, the plan was to dispatch the two of you. Regardless of how it might've looked, I wasn't going to go as far as to kill an innocent human, let alone risking a war by killing a devil. So, my thoughts were to find out if this devil was strong enough to kill the exorcists, if not, then I would've stepped in, either way, their fate was sealed the moment they chose to act."
Azazel smiles as he searches his yakata for his package of cigarettes. "Well, thanks for cleaning up the place. I can only imagine the invoice after everything happened, haha. Lint Sellzen, you don't need to explain. Remember, we are all on the same page right? In the end, it's about getting the three biblical factions to make peace once and for all." Azazel then turns over toward a sadly happy Serafall. She has a depressing smile however she continues to lay peacefully on her boyfriend's sleeping chest. Continuing, Azazel clears his throat. "Isn't that right, Mao Serafall Leviathan?"
Moving her blue eyes from Lint to Azazel, the little Serafall, (wearing her magical girl costume), smiles just a bit brighter while nodding into Issei's chest. "Uh huh, that's right. I want a safer world for my So-tan. It's time that we all settle our differences." Serafall then looks up to Issei's sleeping face and nods. "Isn't that right? My cute little Issei kun?"
Azazel looks at Lint and she returns the stare. Then the two look back at the couple for a moment before tilting their heads at the same time. Azazel was about to say something, that was until someone barged into the hotel room door.
"What happened?! I was playing Street Fighter downstairs and then I felt this power! Albeon kept screaming at me, something about "the red one, the red one", so I know it involves that Hyoudou kid…and I had a really high score with Vega and it was ruined and….wait…" Vali now stopped moving while he stared at the strange scene that lay in front of him. Now joining in with Azazel and Lint, Vali begins to tilt his head.
After another moment, Vali asks a question. "Hey, Azazel, isn't that Serafall Leviathan?"
Lighting a cigarette, Azazel simply nods. "Yep."
Vali now nods as his confusion deepens. "So, let me get this straight, Serafall Leviathan is lying on that Hyoudou kid?"
Taking a deep puff, Azazel nods once again. "Yep."
Vali tilts his head the other way. "I don't understand. No, this does not add up. What is going on here? I must be going crazy.
Lint then speaks up. "Yep."
Vali turns around. Seeing this strange girl with red eyes, the equally white-colored haired man points at her with an accusing scowl. "And who the hell is this?"
Scene (Kuoh Academy)
"Relax girl, you got this, remember what Grayfia said, there's no ghosts, it's all in my head. Besides, after I am through with hell week, I'll get to see my Issei again! That's right, just think about him! Wait, why am I talking to myself?" Rias, who was currently working the large polishing machine as she proceeded down one of the many of the academy's large hallways, the Gremory heiress noticed a pungent and foul odor.
Turning off the polishing machine, Rias begins to notice that the smell is coming from one of the bathrooms that she cleaned earlier. Getting a very bad feeling, the redhead pulls back both of her sleeves. "Ima devil! I am certainly not afraid of some ghost, if anything, it should be afraid of me!"
Feeling confident yet still internally frightened, Rias began to approach the bathrooms with a forced grin. Kicking the girls bathroom door open, Rias wanted to show who was in charge, just in case there really was a ghost. "Oi! Name is Rias Gremory! You might've heard of me! I don't care how scary you think you are because I am a devil. That's right, don't mess with me, bitch!" Rias then flinches while waiting for any sounds or replies.
After a few moments, Rias's grin returns. Then she slowly walks toward the stalls to investigate this awful smell. Sure enough, something was in each toilet bowl. What looked to be a mixture of rotting eggs, pieces of dead fish parts and a plethora of other unpleasant things, were overflowing out from each stall. It looked as though these items were forcefully flushed which led to a back up. Half of the bathroom was now flooded by this mixture of god-awful muck.
And if that wasn't bad enough, Rias heard a noise from behind her. It was that same deep and unearthly voice.
"Riasssss oh Riassss…hahahahaha…"
The switch princess had her entire red head of hair fly upward as she darted from the bathroom. Running as quickly as her legs could carry her, Rias searched for Grayfia while hysterically crying.
"GRAYFIA! The Ghost is real! It trashed the bathroom! This is unacceptable!"
"Riaaaasssss…..Riassssssss….."
"AHHHHHH!" Rias is in full panic mode. "I hate this, I hate this so much!"
Scene (Yasaka Castle)
As the front doors open, a frowning Serafall comes walking in with a passed out Issei over her shoulder. Yasaka and Kunou were waiting at the door, both with very worried look on their faces. Moments ago, the fox queen received a telecommunication message that let her know Serafall would be back with Issei from his contract duties. What she didn't know was that Issei was going to arrive at her home a second time while being unconscious.
Yasaka then snaps her fingers as two of her masked guards arrive. As they bow toward their queen while awaiting orders, Yasaka speaks in a voice that carries much authority behind it. "Take this child down to the baths, I'll be down momentarily."
Serafall allows the two guards to carefully take hold of the teen by both of his arms. After she watches him being taken away, the Mao has her smile return. "Thank you, ladies. Hello Yasaka chan and little Kunou. Phew, that was a night. I think I taught myself a few new dance moves that I might incorporate in my upcoming Milky Spiral series! Yay me!"
Yasaka now begins to smile as does her daughter. Placing her sleeve over her mouth, the fox queen speaks. "Ara ara, well, now that you've done your part, I suppose I'll do mine."
Serafall then loses her smile while looking back toward Yasaka. "He attacked the Governor of the Fallen Angels, mind you, he was provoked by other circumstances. He thought he was fighting that Raynare person. I had to pull him back. I was thoroughly worried for him, Yasaka chan." Serafall's large and blue eyes began to tear up.
Seeing this, Yasaka approaches Serafall and proceeds to give her a hug. "Ara ara, don't worry Sera chan, all will be well. You came to the right place after all. I can help."
Serafall begins to nod rapidly in Yasaka's shoulder. "It would devastate my So tan if something happened to him. No, no, I want Issei to be happy. He said that he sees me as a woman, Yasaka chan, not some super devil like everyone else. He sees me as his Milky Chan and nothing else. He's a good, good boy."
"Alright, alright, there there, I know, I know. It's all going to be fine. You just let me handle this part. For now, how about you go with Kunou and get something warm to drink, you'll feel much better." Yasaka now slowly released her friend while reaching for her daughter's hand and putting it in Serafall's. "Kunou, please tend to our very important Sera chan?"
Nodding, the little fox girl leads a whimpering but smiling Serafall further into the home. Yasaka then thinks deeply as she is left alone in the walkway at the entrance. "Perhaps I need to dig deeper tonight. Very well, can't be helped I suppose, ara ara."
Scene (Issei's Mind)
We see a repeat of a specific point in Issei's past. First, we flash toward a cafe. There, we see a questionably dressed Issei Hyoudou sitting across from Yuma Amano. Both are enjoying the desert-drinks. Each of them had smiles on their faces as each seemed truly happy. We flash again, this time we see Issei handing Yuma a purple bracelet. Again, the two seem very happy. The final flash is Issei, laying on the ground in a pool of his own blood. He is in pain. It hurts. It hurts so much. And there she is, mocking him as he slowly dies. Black wings. Black feathers. Black.
Scene (Yasaka Castle)
Issei's eyes open suddenly. Tears were pouring from his eyes. Wiping his face, he noticed his hands were soaked with water. Breathing deeply in and out, the teen had no idea where he was. Barely able to comprehend his surroundings, Issie was only able to feel the sensation of being both wet and warm. Then the sounds of a bamboo shoot style fountain making a "LOP" sound, got the teens attention as steam seemed to overwhelm the entire room.
Then as Issei got a better look as his eyes adjusted, a person came into the room and through the steam. Not only did the teen find himself sitting very comfortably in a large and hot tub, but none other than Yasaka of Kyoto was slowly dipping her bare foot into the water, just across from him. She was wearing nothing but a bath towel as her hair was held up by yet another towel. She was also wearing her signature crescent moon smile.
"Ara ara, good evening, Issei kun. Would you mind telling me if you think the water is too hot?" Yasaka was now slightly blushing as Issei was completely gobsmacked. Before he knew it, Yasaka unraveled her towel as she slowly stepped into the hot tub. Issei was seeing everything as his eyes were now practically bulging from his sockets. "Partner, I can now die peacefully knowing that I have seen heaven."
Once in the large tub, Yasaka chooses to continue to shuffle her way through the deep water and make her way toward Issei's location. Once touching shoulders, Yasaka lays back.
"Aww, yes, I think you may be right, this water isn't too hot at all. Oh this feels wonderful on my back, it really is the best way to relieve stress, both physical and spiritual, hot baths that is. Mmmm, yes indeed…" Yasaka was now closing her eyes as she looked to be enjoying the relaxation of the baths.
Issei just stayed where he was, frozen in the hot water. Not knowing what was happening, the teen tried to recollect his last moments before blacking out. Then, Issei's eyes left Yasaka's amazing body as a memory came to him. He was now staring off into the steam as his face began to show a slight scowl.
"That client of mine. He turned into, into…" Issei now had a look of sheer horror as this thought began to fester rather quickly.
Yasaka opens one eye. She then begins to frown a bit. "I apologize for this Issei, but I cannot allow you to go 'there' any more."
Hearing this, Issei's thoughts are now interrupted as his attention is back on Yasaka. He still maintains his worried scowl. "What?"
Yasaka then begins to hum in a very soft voice. Now closing her one eye, she grows a sad smile and continues to hum. It was a tune that Issei knew but didn't know. One fact was certain however, this simple action caused something to happen. Another memory flashed quickly into the teens head. It was that grassy field from his dream the night before. As Yasaka continued to hum her tune, she then opened her one eye once more, while focusing on Issei's reaction.
Issei had thoughts of a great and yellow beast. It destroyed the cause of his pain that evening. But it was hazy, Issei couldn't get a good look at it. For him, it was just a shapeless blur of yellow. Aside from the blue fire it emitted, everything else about it remains a complete mystery, that was until Yasaka's song was heard. Though there were no words, the melody was clear, it sounded as if the musical notes themselves were created by nature herself.
Issei's eyes widened in realization. "It was you!"
Yasaka now opens her other eye and turns her head while looking deeply into Issei's watery, warm and brown eyes. "I won't let her hurt you anymore, Issei kun."
Instantly, Issei begins to cry out loud as Yasaka goes in for the embrace. As Issei cries in Yasaka's arms, the fox queen continues to hum her song.
Wipe away those tears, it's okay. If you think reading this makes your feelerz tingle, imagine having to write it. Now, as we wipe our faces off, I would like to thank all of you who commented in the reviews section. That was very inspiring for me and because of that, you got another chapter this evening. I would very much like you to continue with these reviews. Even something as simple as "Next Chapter Please", is good enough. I just want to know that you all are enjoying this as I write it. Okay, enough blabbering. Discord, yes, I have one. Wanna join? Link: /yhjCdEYr
