"Sona's Chance"

A Highschool DxD fanfiction written by Christopher'Zazel

Chapter 29 "Asuma Hayasaka"

Scene (Yasaka Castle, Sona and Issei's guest room)

We can see the couple, both sitting on the mat floor with a futon over their legs. On either side of them, a few books could be seen. Meanwhile, both teens were quietly looking through the books that were in their hands. Sona's book was titled, "Youkai of Ancient Japan, Volume Six". As she continued to skim through the pages while nodding to herself, Issei was reading "The Story of Kuzunoha, The Fox's Wedding."

Issei then rubs the back of his head while looking confused. "You know, maybe we should ask your sister? I mean, aren't the two of them friends or something?"

Sona pinches the bridge of her nose in frustration. "Baka! Serafall is clearly in on all of this! Besides, I doubt she would even know. The moment I asked her, "why Yasaka of Kyoto chose you to be her hus..hus..husband…", no, absolutely not!"

Still rubbing his head, Issei thinks for a moment and comes up with an idea. "What if I just asked Yasaka? I mean, maybe it has something to do with, I dunno, dragons or something? Wait, let's ask D'draig!"

Sona tilts her head and then looks down at Issei's arm. Adjusting her glasses, Sona speaks her mind. "D'draig has been pretty quiet as of late, hasn't he?"

Issei thinks for a moment then he smiles. "Naa, he's just lazy, right, partner?"

There was no reply, which prompted Issei to start shaking his arm into the air. "Oi, D'drag, wake up!"

Sona begins to speculate. "Perhaps Yasaka's spell did something."

Issei rolls his eyes. "Look, I know that you're upset with her right now, but you can't just blame her for everything. I am sure it's nothing, think about it, I did an overbooster recently, so D'draig is probably just, I dunno, sleeping. It's fine."

Sona puffs her cheeks out. "I am not simply blaming her for everything, Issei!"

Placing his hand now on Sona's head, Issei slowly gives the Sitri Heiress headpats. "Don't worry, no matter what, I really care about you, so don't be too upset." Issei then smiles brightley.

Looking back at her boyfriend with glossy violet eyes, Sona simply takes a deep breath. "Whatever." Then, the slightest half smile could be seen which was quickly corrected back into her stoic frown.

"Alright, tell you what, how about we.." Issei was cut off by the sounds of knocking.

"Issei kun, are you decent? I'm coming in." Serafall slid the rice-paper door open and walked into the room. Seeing both Sona and Issei under the futon made the Mao want to join them, however, she was here for Yasaka this time.

Sona blankly stares toward her sister. "Rude much? What do you want, Serafall?" The Sitri Heiress now rolls her eyes.

Serafall proceeds to walk toward the couple while showing a slight smile. She then crouches down and looks deeply into Sona's eyes. "You and I are gonna have a talk, sister." Serafall then turns her attention to Issei. "And you are going to meet with Yasaka san." Serafall then turns her attention at the open door. "Kunou, come and collect Issei for your mother, please?"

Instantly, the little fox princess came running in. She was wearing her usual red and white kimono and she had a flustered blush to her face. Once she came to Issei's side of the mat, she reached for his arm and began to pull. "Let's go, papa-kun, mom isn't the most patient of women!"

Sona's face contorts to a grimace. "What did you just call Issei?"

Kunou sticks out her tongue toward Sona and continues to tug at Issei's arm. "Let's go, hurry! Before the scary lady has a chance to act."

Sona grinds her teeth. "Well then, you can forget about the deal we had earlier!"

Kunou raises her other hand and shows off her pinky. "Nope, no take backs! I did one favor for you and because of that, payment is due!"

Before Sona could react, Serafall tackles her sister into a hug. "Aww, don't be so stingy! If you made a deal with a fox, you must hold your end of the bargain! Besides, your Issei will be just fine, Yasaka chan just wants to talk, that's all."

Deciding that this was the time, Issei stood to his feet and began to walk out of the room as Kunou led the way. Turning his head to get one eye back on Sona, (as she was being relentlessly hugged by Serafall), Issei smiled. "Remember what I told you earlier today, alright?"

Sona stops struggling for a moment while looking back toward Issei. She then apprehensively nods while puffing her cheeks out.

Scene (Yasaka's Chambers)

"My lady, Hyoudou Issei has been brought to your doors by the princess." A female guard, wearing a ceramic fox mask, was bowing toward Yasaka.

Nodding, Yasaka makes her way toward a large shrine of some sort. She then shows a sad smile. "Please, show him in. Also, make sure Kunou goes to bed."

"Yes, as you say, Lady Yasaka." The masked guard leaves the room.

Shortly after, Yasaka begins to light multiple incense sticks while placing them beside a picture frame. Interestingly enough, from a distance, this photo looked as though he could've been Issei's older brother. Long hair with very piercing eyes, the man in the photograph had a very solemn smile. Yasaka proceeded to pull a pair of large prayer beads from her Kimono. She then begins a mantra as a small tear falls to the floor.

Yasaka quickly wipes her face the moment she hears Issei enter the room. Turning from the shrine, her golden eyes stare toward the bewildered teen.

Again, scratching the back of his head, Issei smiles nervously. "Good evening, Yasaka sama, erm Yasaka, hehe."

Showing her trademark crescent shaped smile, Yasaka makes a slight bow while pointing toward a mat which was placed in front of the shrine. "Good evening, Issei. Please, sit down. We must talk."

Nodding, Issei felt a bit reluctant as Yasaka's voice sounded different. Unlike her usual kind and polite voice, this time, there was true emotion behind it. It was the sound of a girl, speaking to you, right after she finished crying. Now sitting down, Issei showed a look of worry.

"Are you alright, Yasaka? Did something happen?" The teen tilts his head.

Yasaka shakes her head. "Yes, something indeed happened. And no, at the moment, I am not alright. I won't be until you hear the story of Asuma Hayasaka. Will you listen?"

Issei nods as he looks past the fox queen and toward the shrine. The incense took over the room as the odor was that of sage and frankincense. Noticing a picture, Issei assumed this was who Yasaka was speaking of.

Yasaka slowly makes her way toward the mat and sits across from Issei. "It is the story of my daughter's father. It is the story of a tragic man, tortured by his own inner demons. Only to find such a demon to help sooth his soul for a time."

Yasaka then lays one of her tails, gently into Issei's hand. Still looking directly into the fox queen's eyes, Issei begins to close his fingers and grasp lightly on her fox tail. At first, Issei felt incredible heat coming from this soft appendage, only to feel his eyelids become extremely heavy. Then, darkness.

Scene (Feudal Japan, The Meiji era)

We see the man from the photograph. He is wearing a white and sky blue yakata. On his sash are a pair of Katana swords, one of which is longer than the second. He has a deep scowl as he stares down a group of individuals, all dressed in different styles of samurai armor.

Then the man known as Hayasaka spoke in a deep and direct tone. "Shinu kakugoda rōnin!" He then pulls both of his Katana's out from their sheiths. The longer Daito blade was in his right hand as the Shoto blade was in his left. Meanwhile, the other six samurai also pull out their swords.

The leader of the group pulls his mask over his helmet and speaks. "Shinsenkumi ni hairu koto de, anata wa jibun jishin to anata no kazoku no meiyo o kizutsukemashita! Sonotame ni, watashitachi wa anata ni shi o teikyō shimasu!"

After words were exchanged, a bloody battle ensued. One by one, each of the armored Samurai were slaughtered as the one known as Hayasaka seemed to dance with both of his blades in the evening snow. Once the last man was killed, the samurai in blue and white simply swung both of his blades into the air which caused a cross shaped blood imprint on the white snow below his feet.

Instantly, the man falls to his knees while staring at the carnage that was left behind. He had memories of the past, flooding into his broken soul, as if it were boiling hot water. Memories of his wife and two daughters. How they died while he was on a campaign, fighting for some lord at some point, he couldn't remember anymore. But he did know that it wasn't by the means of another person, no, this was disease. Not even able to see the bodies of his family, Hayasaka arrived from his battle, far after the funeral rights were observed. Because of this, because he had nothing, he wandered. Left in a world where the ways of the ancient samurai were coming to a close only to make way for more westernization. Oh how he hoped that his suffering could be relieved by dispatching the enemies of the state, but he was thoroughly and utterly mistaken. It was true, in battle, he felt nothing and at least nothing was better than suffering. But, just like a bandaid, battle was only a temporary bit of relief. Once the fighting was done, the memories would come back, like carrions coming to poke at exposed flesh. It hurt, so very much.

Deciding that he has had enough, deciding that losing count of all the people he has killed in the past and up until now, deciding that he just wanted to see his wife again, his girls, he knew what must be done. Standing from his position, he aimlessly began to wander deeper into the forests of Kyoto. His Daito Katana dragged against the grassy ground as he slowly lingered forward, covered in his enemies blood. With thoughts of intense sadness, he continued to waddle past the trees and bushes until he found a small stream of water.

Choosing this to be the place for his "beautiful death", Hayasaka proceeded to wash both of his swords with the spring water from this stream. Now sitting down on a patch of grass, the man undid his Yakata and lowered the robe from his shoulder, exposing his bare chest and abdomen. Placing his larger sheathed Katana leaned against his shoulder, he then unsheathed his smaller blade while looking closely at it. He watched as the moonlight danced against the japanese steel while he prayed silently.

Then out loud, Hayasaka declared. "Aisuru tsuma, aisuru musume-tachi, ryōte o hirogete watashi o kangei shite kudasai!"

Preparing to plunge this blade into his own stomach, the broken samurai made one final scream before…

Instantly, something had held his hand. Looking up, the weary warrior began to shake uncontrollably. To the Samurai, he was looking directly at what he perceived to be a god. Attempting to free his hand, Hayasaka found it impossible as his entire body was now unable to move.

Shouting at the creature that was preventing him from leaving this terrible world, the samurai declares. "Kitsune akuma! Anata ni teikyō suru mono wa nani mo nainode, watashi o barabarani shite oite kudasai! Watashi kara te o hanashite kudasai!"

Yasaka was standing over the samurai. Wearing her usual golden Kimono, the fox queen had one of her hands clamped tightly around the man's wrist. Eventually the shoto fell from his hand as the Samurai lost almost all strength within his own body.

Showing a sad frown, Yasaka then crouches down and looks over this shinsengumi. Now looking directly into his eyes as the man scowls back at her, Yasaka shows a warm smile. "Anata no tamashī o iyashimasu. Watashi to kite. Anata o niwa ni tsurete ikimashou. Anata ga yasunde iru ma, watashi ga hana ni iro o nuru no o mite kudasai. Watashi wa anata o kizutsukemasen, ningen. Otetsudai sa sete kudasai."

After hearing these words permeating with his own soul, the samurai fell into a peaceful sleep. Meanwhile, Yasaka laid the weary soldier onto her lap while she combed through his long hair with her fingers. "Ara ara, shhhhhh…."

(Scene Yasaka's Chambers)

Issei opens his watery eyes. Coming back to reality, the teen was staring directly into Yasaka's golden and equally watery eyes. "What was that? Wait, that guy, he is Kunou's father? How is that possible? I don't pretend to be a historian, but I am pretty sure the shinsengumi were way back in the meiji era." Issei then felt something akin to Sona praising him for his historical accuracy.

Yasaka nods. "He lived for a very long time, Issei. Up until nine years ago actually."

Issei thinks for a moment. Nine years? Wait, how old is the fox princess then? She looked to be about eight or nine years of age. "So, you kept him alive I am guessing?" Issei then showed a very serious frown as he continued to look toward Yasaka.

Yasaka nods. "Yes, I used my power to keep him from aging or dying. I did this to help heal his soul. I took him into my home. We spent a great deal of time together. In fact, for a time, he was very happy. I was very happy. However, he still had deep seeded regret and in the end, he begged for me to release him." Yasaka immediately breaks down.

Issei jumps from his side and immediately pulls Yasaka's head into his arms and hugs her tightly. "Shhh, it's alright. I am sure he loved you very much."

Yasaka nods in the teen's chest. "Yes, he did love me, so much. In fact, he couldn't stand the idea of me being alone. He loved me so badly that he gifted me Kunou, right before he went to sleep forever. Oh yes, Issei, he loved me and I him." Yasaka's eyes burst with tears as Issei could feel them soaking into his shirt.

Nodding, Issei was also crying. "It's okay, it's okay. Damn, it's alright." The teen had no idea what to do or say in this situation, but one thing did make more sense now. When Kunou called him "papa-kun" just recently, Issei's eyes widened in understanding.

Yasaka then spoke as she pried herself from the boy's chest. "Issei, I am sorry for putting you on the proverbial spot without explaining beforehand, but I felt that I needed to act."

Issei scoffs playfully while smiling. "Don't apologize for a damned thing, Yasaka. I don't regret anything."

Yasaka smiles while sniffling a bit. "Well, to be honest, that makes me very happy to hear. Though, there is something I wanted to tell you since we are here, in the presence of my Asuma Hayasaka."

Issei then looks back toward the shrine and nods slowly. "You can tell me anything, Yasaka."

Blushing at those words, Yasaka continues. "Asuma is a distant relative, an ancestor of yours, Issei Hyoudou. Don't you see, not only did he provide me with a child, he also found you. I truly believe he brought you here, to Kyoto, to find me."

Issei looks deeply at the photograph. He couldn't argue, the guy looked like he could easily be his older brother. As strange as it sounded, Issei wasn't going to argue with a creature that can literally see through the very fabric of time and space.

Thinking about how Sona is going to freak out, Issei cracks a small smile while taking hold of Yasaka's hands in his own. Looking back at Issei, Yasaka tilts her head confusingly.

"Well, let me at least tell you what I think. First off, yes, I do." Issei then winked which caused Yasaka to get a bit flustered. "Second, Kunou deserves a good father. I can't promise that I am experienced in such things, but I can promise that I will spoil her as if she was my own."

Yasaka's eyes widen as her blush continues to intensify. Issei didn't notice this as he was now looking off into the distance while thinking seriously. "Though, I guess technically, she is blood related, so I guess in a way, she is my own?"

Before Issei could come to his own conclusions, Issei's mouth was invaded by Yasaka's tongue.

Alright, suck up them boogers and stop crying lol. Did you like this chapter? Did you get plenty of tingles? Well, more is coming soon. Thanks to my discordies for beta'ing. Overlord Sturm, Wargame Sama, Dark Imperator, thanks dudes for reading before I posted. Wanna join my discord? Fine, I guess, here's the link. /Wn7ujvzZ