"Sona's Chance"
A Highschool DxD fanfiction written by Christopher'Zazel
Chapter 34 "Birds of a Feather"
Scene (Kyoto, Maid Cafe)
"Wait a second, I've heard of you two. The president said both of your names back at the church. She was holding onto a handful of black feathers and claimed you were killed. So, you two survived? Well, about that…" Issei's nervous smile now dissolved into a flat and stoic look.
Azazel looked back at Issei while placing his arms on the teen's shoulder. "Easy there, Mister bad ass." The governor now turns his attention toward Mittelt and Kalawarner while showing a very serious look. "I am sure they have a great explanation for us, don't you? Ladies?"
"Not here, not around the customers!" Mittelt now looked toward the packed restaurant as the booths were almost filled to capacity.
Kalawarner then places an index finger toward her lips as she looks nervous. "Shhh. The kitchen."
Mittelt nods overenthusiastically. "Yes, you two, please follow us to the kitchen, we have a small table for the staff. We can talk over some drinks, okay?"
Azazel looks toward Issei as he shrugs his shoulders. Issei returns a now confused look. Then the two nod as they follow the two fallen dressed as maids, into the back kitchen area.
The taller woman was incredibly beautiful yet her stare suggested danger. Hawk-like facial features along with her piercing yellow eyes, all of this was enhanced by long and thick navy-blue hair. Her hairstyle was nothing too fancy however it left a long blue strand which always seemed to cover one of her eyes. Despite her height, (which was at least six feet and a half), the woman had incredible shape to her body. Her legs, (as they were exposed due to her very high black and white maid's-skirt), were the color of marble and flawless in every aspect. And, as Azazel mentioned earlier, (from what his friends told him), this woman had a chest that could stand toe to toe, or rather, tit to tit, with that of Akeno or Rias.
Meanwhile, the smaller one looked to be around the age of eleven or twelve years. What Issei couldn't fathom was that a little girl like this was associated with something as foul as Raynare. Remembering how those very large and bright blue eyes of hers looked so innocent, it was hard to imagine her throwing a lightspear into your belly.
Trying not to think about it, Issei attempted to push his thoughts toward something more pleasant. Instantly, a fond memory materialized within the brain of the teen. It was Sona and himself, sitting together under the futon, while reading books together back at Yasaka's Castle. Taking a deep breath, Issei continued through the corridor that led to the kitchen area.
Mittelt pointed toward the large table and nervously smiled. "I, I can make you something to drink if you like, Azazel Sama? Erm, would you like something too, Mister?" Mittelt turned her attention from Azazel to now Issei, as her eyes seemed to focus directly into Issei's.
Seeing that childlike face, Issei couldn't help but smile. "Oh, you can call me Issei, kiddo. And, yeah, I am actually craving coffee now."
Azazel and Kalawarner both lift an eyebrow.
Meanwhile, Mittelt stutters for a moment as her nervous smile turns into a warmer one. "K, k, Kiddo? Oh, erm, yeah, you got it, Issei kun, coffee coming right up!" Mittelt then darted over toward the large and silver appliances and began working the espresso machine. She had to stand on a stool which Issei thought was rather cute.
After Azazel and Issei sat down, Kalawarner sat on the opposite side while blankly looking back toward the two males.
Azazel then scratches his stubble under his chin and proceeds to clear his throat. "Alright, so, what happened to the both of you and why are you in hiding?"
Yelling over the espresso machine, Mittelt proceeded to explain. "We were coerced, boss! Kokabiel talked a lot of the lower echelons to bring their subordinates to this meeting, back at that smelly old church in Kuoh town."
Mittelt now had 4 servings of espresso. She placed them on a tray and made her way toward the table. Once she sat down alongside Kalawarner, Mittelt handed out each person's drink.
After the little blond fallen took a sip of her coffee, she continued on. "As you know, boss, we were assigned to Raynare's wing alongside Dohnaseek."
Issei cringes at the mentioned name of Raynare. Kalawarner now shows a hint of concern as her stare is now directly on Issei. Her eyes slowly widened. Azazel also noticed the sudden jerk that the teen had made once he heard 'her' name.
Mittelt waited a moment, noticing that both her partner and her boss were staring at the teenager suddenly. Then she clears her throat. "Ahem, as I was saying, that traitor was completely alright with Kokabeil's plans, actually, both of them, Dohnaseek and Raynare, they both had no issues with the bloody missions they were given."
Issei cringed once again, this time his teeth began to grind as his smile turned into a frown. Kalawarner slowly tilts her head as her attention momentarily turns toward Azazel, (who only shook his head slowly back at the blue haired woman). Understanding what that silent gesture ment, Kalawarner came to the conclusion that Raynare had done something to this child in front of her.
Mittelt noticed it this time. She took another moment while exchanging looks with Azazel, (who simply nodded for her to continue). "Alright, well, those two did some things, along with that freak, Freed and his band of exorcists. Aside from the human's that were killed, there was also this nun."
Issei's eyes widened as he stood from his seat. As his bangs were covering his eyes, Issei spoke very quietly. "You, you were there? You let her do 'that' to Asia? You were there, the whole time?"
Kalawarner slammed both of her hands down onto the table. This grabbed everyone's attention including a distraught Issei.
"What were we supposed to do!? It was only two of us, versus all of them, not to mention, Kokabeil himself! We couldn't even get back to Gregori to report, we were being watched the entire time! Only when we were attacked by a group of devils, did we manage to use a flash bang and escape! We've been in hiding since!" Kalawarner now removes her hands from the table and chugs her espresso in one gulp while showing a very frustrated look.
Issei got a hold of himself and tried to put himself into their shoes. Assuming they were telling the truth in all of this, Issei couldn't imagine himself doing much better. Sure, he would die trying, but that was the kind of person he was. But, in the end, would it have saved Asia? Issei didn't want to admit it, but he didn't think so. Now sitting back down, Issei folded his arms and kept his head down.
Then, he heard a familiar sound. It was the sound of a kid, trying not to cry, but failing spectacularly. Looking up now, the teen noticed the blond one, she had a hand over one of her eyes as she was sniffling.
After a few more sudden breaths, Mittelt looked directly back toward Issei with very watery blue eyes. "We, we, we're sorry, Issei kun. I felt really bad about what Raynare did to that poor child. I wasn't even there when it happened. Dohnaseek had us patrolling the church grounds when she used that stolen machine to capture her precious sacred gear. I know, you probably think we're monsters, don't you?" Mittelt then bursted into tears.
Issei immediately became very flustered. Trying to force a smile, Issei apprehensively reached over the table and slowly began to pat the blond fallen on her head. To him, across this table was just a little kid, who was scared. It reminded him instantly of little Kunou. He then remembered her crying, back when she was kidnapped. Slowly, the forced smile turned into a natural one as the little blond looked back up and toward Issei with those teary and large blue eyes.
Azazel slowly began to smile as he searched his pockets for his pack of cigarettes. Meanwhile, Kalawarner studied this situation with great interest. She continued to watch the interaction between her colleague and this teenager, though she still was begging the question, what did Raynare do to him?
Issei then spoke up as he attempted to choke back a few of his own tears. "It's alright. Mittelt chan, is it? It's fine. You were just scared. I don't blame you. So don't cry anymore, okay, kiddo?"
Mittelt then tilts her head as she sucks back up a blob of snot from her pale nose. She then looks at Azazel. Seeing the reaction between the two, Azazel then puts on his serious face and shakes his head while implying, "no." Mittelt then shrugs as her attitude changes into one that was more childish than before.
"Yeah, erm, kiddo, okay then. Sniff, Sniff… Well, thank you, Issei Kun, for being a nice senpai. Sniff.." Mittelt now reaches for the napkin holder while blowing her nose shortly after.
Azazel then located his pack while looking at both girls while pointing toward them. "Can I smoke in here?"
Kalawarner reaches across the table and snags the pack from Azazel. This surprises the governor as the blue haired angel pulls a cigarette for herself. She then opens the window pane that was above their table next to the wall while proceeding to light her smoke while tossing the pack back toward the governor. She then takes a long drag and blows smoke out of the window. After a moment, she looks back toward Issei, (who was still patting a happier looking Mittelt on her head). As their eyes locked, Kalawarner took another drag and tossed her cigarette out the window. Sitting back down and facing the teenager, the stressed woman took a deep breath.
"What did Raynare do to you?" Kalawarner showed little emotion however her hawk-like stare was very intense.
Issei stopped his patting of Mittelt while his smile completely vanished. "Ra, Raynare? Well, she um…" Trying again, Issei attempted to answer this question with great difficulty. "She, she, um, she…"
Azazel places his hand on Issei's shoulder once again. Once this happens, Issei gets quiet as he lowers his head, allowing his bangs to cover his eyes.
"Would it be easier if I took over from here? After all, it's why I wanted to talk with you." Azazel shows a concerned smile.
Issei doesn't reply, however he slowly nods. Mittelt looks as though she is about to cry again. Seeing the difference in this boy's attitude, the moment her friend asked about Raynare, clearly, something bad had happened to this boy named Issei. Kalawarner continues to keep her eyes on Issei's lowered head while refusing to blink.
"Raynare disguised herself as a highschool student. She then approached the kid while asking him on a date. After the date, she then proceeded to slowly kill him. After a bit of research, I found out that she assumed Issei here had a sacred gear, (a twice-critical to be precise). So, Kokabiel doesn't like human's already, but he really hates humans that have sacred gears. At some point, the gregori vault was raided and a piece of lost technology was stolen, a sacred gear extractor. Raynare, being as weak as she was, thought that she could be of greater value in the war effort, if she were to acquire a specific gear called, "twilight healing." Shortly after killing Issei, she searched for another human by the name of Asia Argento. From there, you two already know the rest."
Issei begins to shiver as both of his arms are now grasping his own head. Mittelt is silently crying as she stares at the broken teen across the table. Kalawarner continues her hawk-like stare toward Issei's hidden face while she maintains a look of calm.
Azazel lights a cigarette as he stands up while giving Issei a single pat on his shoulder before moving closer toward the window. "Kid, I am so sorry she did that to you. She needlessly caused you to suffer both mentally and physically. The fact that she spent all of that time pretending to be a normal human girl, going on a date, going through the motions, only to sadistically leave you to bleed to death. She could've simply taken you out, quickly and painlessly. It was well within her power and training, however, she clearly enjoyed tormenting you, Issei." Azazel took a deep puff.
With his hands now covering his face, Issei's head simply shook from right to left.
Kalawarner begins to show a look of anger. Her face contorts into a slight scowl. Feeling absolutely terrible about the situation, Mittelt reaches across the table for one of Issei's hands. Pulling one of his hands from one side of his face, everyone was able to see a look of pure rage in one of Issei's eyes. As wide as his eyelids would allow, his normally warm and brown color eye was now flickering with bright and glowing colors of emerald.
Mittelt then jumped the moment his eyeball turned toward her, however she did not let go of his hand. Issei was seeing images of Raynare throwing lightspears into the body of Asia in some nightmarish hallucination. However, two bright and blue orbs seem to come into focus and Issei is drawn back into reality. Now looking at a frightened Mittelt, Issei realized she was holding one of his hands.
As his eye color returned to normal, Issei showed a puzzled look. "What happened?"
Well, you guys had a mega chapter last night, so you get a normal one tonight. I hope you are enjoying this, though, tbh, I would like to hear some more feedback. This fiction is a pretty large venture as I plan on making it quite long. Tell me your favorite aspects of what's going on in the story so far. Who are your favorite characters? Anyway, thanks again Overlord, Wargame, Bahamut, and my other discord beta readers! Wanna hang with us? Discord Link: /HqMDB3MK This is Christopher'Zazel, signing out!
