Reviews!
Tohka123: Thanks, here's the next!
CreuseryAsmo: Thank you for the information, and I have changed the chapter accordingly.
JustinD: I have an idea who will have the boosted gear, and he will help Akeno. Yes, he did meet Irina in this, and she will see him this arc.
NinjaFang1331: Thank you man!
Xerzo LotCN: I'm maybe thinking of Sona, but it's not confirmed yet. And yes, it was a bad place to end, but I can maybe do something to save that now. And Scotland was amazing!
Darkling41: Just as you asked.
Indominus: No worries, and if you need a hand helping with defending the chapter, PM me and I'll help. And thank you for reviewing anyways!
Zesterios: I know, they're amazing!
Thank you for every review, and for everyone who has stayed with me through this story, and I welcome every new readers!
Anyway, here's the next chapter. ENJOY!
"Talking"
'Thinking'
[Svarkova talking to Issei]
[Svarkova speaking out loud]
Chapter 14
Issei awoke to the feeling of warmth and wetness on his hand. He opened his eyes, and looked down to see Akeno sucking on his fingers.
"A-Akeno, what are you doing?!" He asked, exasperated.
"I talked to Svarkova, and she said you still had too much elemental energy in your body, and wouldn't fully recover until it is all gone, so I thought this was the best method to get rid of it." She smiled, and licked his finger.
Normally this wouldn't be too much of a problem, except she was only wearing a thin, wet dressing gown - she was just out of the shower - that barely covered her massive bust.
He was about to reply, but a surprising moan came out of his mouth, enticing Akeno to continue. She kept going, then his eyes flared involuntarily, and she stopped, with elemental energy surrounding her, and she had a massive blush on her face, her eyes lost in the waves of lust.
"Oh my! There's so much power. Ara ara Ise, you're so strong." She lay on his bare, scarred chest. She felt up his chest and his blush only grew bigger.
Rias came in the room, not happy.
"Fine then Akeno, if you're here, then I'll have to join." She huffed and used a magic circle to remove her clothes. Issei could only sweat drop as he was trapped between a rock and a hard place again.
-Line Break-
"We can't use our club room today as the old school building is being cleaned, so we need to find a new meeting place. Anyone have any ideas?" Asked Rias, everyone had met up in Issei's house to discuss where the meeting should be held.
"We could do it here, I'm not bothered, and I can make some food for everyone as well." Suggested Issei.
"That sounds good Ise, anyone against that?" Rias inquired. Everyone muttered in agreement. "Perfect, we'll meet here later." She finished.
Everyone said their goodbyes, and only Issei and Koneko were left, as she wasn't busy, and Rias made Issei, stay home to recover more, even though he knew he was fine after Akeno's 'treatment'.
"What do you want to do Koneko-chan?" Issei asked the loli.
She thought for a minute. "...Train?" She asked. Issei thought about it, then nodded. He needed to get his body stronger so he could last longer in his Balance Breaker, and even possibly use the Solar Incineration without damaging himself.
They made their way to a clear space in his living room, then focused his energy, then created a small dimension using his magic. He teleported them both to a replica of a gym/dojo.
Koneko looked a bit worried, but Issei rubbed her head to reassure her.
"Don't worry Koneko, if you don't want to use your Senjutsu, you don't have to, but if you do, I'm here to make sure you are safe." He said with calm, caring eyes.
She looked into his deep, brown eyes, then made up her mind. Without speaking, she released her cat ears and tail. Issei couldn't help but widen his eyes. She was really cute.
He took that as his cue, and summoned four shadow clones, using his shadow elemental magic. Issei and Koneko stood back to back, getting ready to fight, then Issei called out. "Go!"
The clones moved all at once, working as an elite team, yet, Koneko and Issei stood still and waited for them to get closer.
"Wait...Wait!...NOW" He shouted, and he and Koneko acted.
Koneko slid on her knees under two clones who had materialized swords, then shot off a burst of life energy, staggering one and dissipating the other. She turned back and let off a powerful hook from her rook strength, then infused it with senjutsu, to remove the clone.
Issei got ready, then shouted.
"Balance Break!" [Balance Break!] {Mode Change, Cataclysmic Thunder!}
His body was covered in a magnificent yellow light, and his fists were covered in crackling lightning.
*Thunder Cannon*
Koneko witnessed what just occurred, and she gasped, amazed.
His fists were engulfed in more of his aura, then pointed at the two clones, who were airborne at that moment, not able to move, then he released his power.
The fists discharged his aura and shot a tremoring blaze of white lightning through the clones, ripping apart their atoms, removing them from existence, and rupturing part of the dimension from the backlash of the attack, pulling them back into the normal world.
Once in the normal world, Issei and Koneko stood in his living room, with Issei panting for air, while Koneko was thoroughly shaken. She had never witnessed something like that before, apart from the rating game. The lightning was amazing, yes, but it was underneath that is what shook her.
It was pure energy, not even one bit tainted or corrupted. No one she knew could do that, not even her sister. The lightning warmed her to her core, and filled her up with energy. The amount of will power required for that ability must have been extraordinary. Crippling, even. But Issei took It easily, and didn't do anything to him, if not make him tired. She saw him in another light now, even more so than before.
"Well, I think that's me for the day." He chuckled sheepishly.
"...How did you do that? It was pure energy, not even a hint of evil." Koneko was still dumbfounded.
He laughed sheepishly, ruffling his hair. "Not sure Koneko-chan, my body just did it for me. Maybe it's because I have accepted my other side. Don't know really" He walked to the kitchen to make food, while Koneko followed him, still feeling the after effects of the ability, wanting to be near him, her soul yearning for him.
-Line Break-
Once everyone had arrived, and the after effects wore off for Koneko, they got started.
"So, to start off this meeting strong, Sirzechs wants us to have a press meeting with the reporters of the Underworld to clear things up, and probably to make sure that you are fully on our side." Rias started.
Issei fidgeted. "Okay, I'll do it, only if I can have you guys there with me." He stated. Rias smiled and held his hand, reassuring him.
She continued about more trivial matters, before it finished.
"Anyone want some snacks?" Issei asked.
"Yea, we'll take some, thanks Issei-kun." Kiba replied, smiling at the boy.
Issei smiled, nodded and went to the kitchen. After he made some food, he came back to the living room to see everyone crowded together looking at something.
He called out. "What are you guys looking at?" He asked, curious.
Rias looked up at him and smiled. "We found a photo book, you were so cute!" She squealed.
He sweat dropped at that, then he realized, he didn't know he had a photo book.
He went to the group, took the book and started looking through the pages. The second he looked at the first photo, he gasped in shock.
It was a photo of him and his parents at a park, enjoying a picnic, looking happy as ever, with Issei only a small child, maybe only 6 or 7 at the time. Then memories came flooding in.
His family loved him. So, so much. He may have not realized it at the time, but they did. His father gave away his name to be with the woman he loved, and gave away his life as a devil so his child could live a normal life.
He shed a silent, happy tear. He hoped, wherever they were now, they were proud of him.
He flicked through the pages and saw more of his family and him, then he came across a picture of Issei and a girl, who he didn't recognize.
"Issei, who is that." Kiba asked sharply, not even using honorifics.
Issei was confused. "Not sure, I can't remember her. Why?"
He pointed to a sword beside her, Issei didn't see that. It was a European sword, double edged with some strange markings. It looked like it could deal some serious damage.
"It's a holy sword, a fragment of Excalibur to be exact." He said with clear venom in his words. Issei was confused with the clear hatred in his words. He had heard of Excalibur before. He read it in a book a while back. It was a legendary sword wielded by King Arthur, he pulled it out of the stone. It was a famous tale, The Sword In The Stone, that only the most worthy could wield.
"I... I think I'm gonna go, thank you for the food Issei-kun." He said with a fake smile. He walked out of the room, and closed the door behind him. Issei looked to Rias, worried.
"Is he okay?" He asked, clearly worried for his friend.
Rias sighed. "Let me tell you a story, Ise."
-Line Break-
"Oh my gosh, that's horrible. Who would do such a thing to kids?" Rias told him of Kiba's backstory and of the Holy Sword Project.
"Once the church found out, the man was exiled, and excommunicated from the church. But he hasn't been found since. The leaders of the Angels have even tried to find him, but he either went into hiding, or has died in secret." She explained.
Issei began thinking again. He wracked his brain to try to remember who the girl was, to try and find some connection to the sword to help Kiba, but those memories are too fuzzy, probably a result of him subconsciously trying to block out the memories of his parents to avoid sadness.
-Line Break-
Issei was in class, paying avid attention as this was his favourite subject, answering every question right, earning the attention of both boys and girls alike, but surprisingly no boys were annoyed or pissed off, only surprised and respectful of the shy boys intelligence.
While he was writing some notes down, he felt a strong aura of Holy energy.
He looked out the window and saw two figures wearing robes and one held a huge object wrapped in bandages. The aura was coming from that. He excused himself to go to the toilet, then went to Rias in the ORC as she had a study period.
"Rias, I think there are some people from the church here." He warned the red head.
"I know Ise, Sona is seeing them now, but apparently they are here to see us." She explained. Issei was confused by this to say the least. "Have a seat now anyway, the others are on their way."
Koneko was the first to arrive, only minutes after Issei arrived. She promptly sat on Issei's lap and offered him a sweet.
"Thanks, Koneko-chan." He took the offering and rubbed her head, earning him a purr.
Akeno was next, then Hannai came after.
Rias was disappointed Kiba didn't come, but she couldn't do anything at this point.
"Okay, now that everyone is present, Sona sent the Church followers here." Rias announced to her Peerage.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence, someone knocked on the door. Rias called for them to enter.
Two females entered, one with long, chestnut hair, the other with blue short hair, with a green fringe. Both in their robes.
"Rias Gremory-san, we have come from the church to discuss something about your territory." The blue haired one said.
"Nice to meet you two, care to introduce yourselves?" Rias asked with a cool tone, brimming with authority.
"I am Xenovia Quarta, and this is-" She started but was interrupted.
"I am Irina Shidou! Nice to meet you Devil-sans!" She announced, cheerily.
Issei was surprised at her mood as she was faced with Devils, her enemies.
"Nice to meet you both, Xenovia and Irina. Now, what business do you have with our territory?" Rias inquired with a suspicious look in her eyes. She had every right to be suspicious, two Church followers entered her territory and wanted something of her, this couldn't be good, thought Issei.
"As you may, or may not, know, three of our Excalibur pieces have been stolen from the church." Xenovia explained.
"Are you implying something?" Rias asked, her eyes narrow.
"No, we already know who stole them, it was Kokabiel of the Grigori." Xenovia dropped that bombshell.
Everyone was shocked. When a Cadre class Fallen Angel has stolen some of the Churches best weapons, nothing good can happen, especially since Holy weapons affect Devils the most.
"So, what are you asked of us?" Rias easily composed herself.
"We ask you to stay out of it." Xenovia bluntly put.
This pissed Rias off. "So, first you come into my territory without permission, then you ask me something like that, letting two strangers conduct something in my town without my knowledge?" She asked.
Issei sat beside Rias on the sofa and held her hand, rubbing it to calm her down, which worked.
Irina caught this gesture.
"We ask you simply because it is in your best intentions to get rid of the Excalibur's as well as the Fallen. We just don't want to risk you working together." Xenovia stated, with a judging eye.
Now this pissed Issei off. They just disrespected his lover and suspected her for something she didn't do. His eyes narrow and he let out a small amount of his aura, tightening his hand a little, not enough to hurt Rias, but enough to make her notice.
Xenovia felt his aura and assumed that was all of his power, thinking he was weak.
"I would advise you to keep your servants on a leash, he doesn't know what he's dealing with." Xenovia remarked with a cocky smirk on her face.
Issei was now beyond pissed, first they disrespected his lover, then him? Not gonna happen.
He stood up slowly, then released about a third of his aura directed at the two, sending them to their knees, gasping for breath.
"Want to repeat that?" Issei asked. Rias grabbed his hand and lightly pulled him back to the sofa, rubbing his hand to calm him down this time. He looked at his lover, and saw that she wanted him to stop, so he relented his aura without hesitation, always listening to what Rias has to say.
The Exorcists managed to catch their breath and stood on shaky legs, looking at the teen like he was a monster, before Irina grunted.
"Looks like he's just a pet for his master, not daring to oppose her. Look at him Xenovia, he stopped the second she told him too. He's weak, maybe not physically, but mentally." Irina laughed, thinking she had the moral high ground.
The peerage looked at Issei, worried for what he would do to them, but Rias? She just had a pissed off look on her face.
Issei looked at the two, with a dark look on his face, and his eyes devoid of emotion. "Weak?" He mumbled, Xenovia instantly was worried, but Irina thought she had won.
"Huh..." He looked to Rias, and she just nodded. "...I'll show you weak."
Irina was confused, before a searing pain was shot through her abdomen and she was shot out of the window, flying into a tree.
Xenovia looked to where her partner was, only to see Issei beside the smashed windoe, and Irina on the other side. She was about to reach for her weapon before Issei grabbed her by her throat and lifted her off the ground. He looked into her eyes with pure fury, before he dropped her.
"My fight isn't with you. Don't step in." He warned as he jumped out the window. She was left clutching her throat on the ground, gasping for air once again.
"W-What... is he?" She was astounded.
"My Pawn... And lover. And you pissed him off." Rias stated.
-Line Break-
Irina coughed up blood as she pulled herself away from the tree that had her outline engraved. She had made a big mistake.
Issei walked up to her, and Akeno set up a barrier so the School pupils couldn't see what was happening in the field.
[Hey, Exorcist.] Irina heard a voice emanate from somewhere, but she couldn't place it. [You just made a big mistake. You pissed off my host and disrespected his master. Prepare to pay for your digressions.]
"Balance Break"[Balance Break!] {Mode Change, Raging Fire Opposer!}
Issei was covered in his Balance Breaker form and wielded his sword. He approached the stunned exorcist with a dark look on his face.
"Time to end this. Ise!" Rias sighed, not wanting it to go on further. With one word from Rias, Issei stopped dead in his tracks. He looked at Irina one last time, before canceling his Balance Breaker, reverting back to his normal self, his eyes still shifting colours, ready in case she tried anything funny.
Irina took a released a breath she didn't know she was holding. He was truly a force to be reckoned with. A monster, nearly. She knew some high-level exorcists that wouldn't be able to handle him, maybe not even Griselda.
Xenovia looked on in horror, she couldn't even move from the shock, never mind stop this 'thing' from terrorizing her partner.
[You're lucky my partners master is forgiving, otherwise, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now.] Svarkova snarled, wanting to make this child pay for her misdeeds.
Issei walked up to Rias, who interlocked her hands with his. "Hannai, please heal this sister, the Church wouldn't be happy if we sent them an injured follower back." Rias asked, not taking her eyes of Irina, who was breathing heavily.
-Line Break-
Once Irina had recovered and sent promptly on their way, the group went to the Underworld, via a magic circle to talk to the Maou's. Everyone was there but Kiba, who was still in the dark. Once the light had died down from the teleportation, they were in the throne room of the five great Maou. They all bowed, but Issei's was more restrained, because of his body state.
"Good evening, Rias-san and peerage, I'm sorry to call you in so formally, but we have matters to discuss." Sirzechs started, as he was the leader of sorts for the Maou.
"It is not a problem, Onii-san." Rias accepted. "These are the new members of my peerage, Hannai Ugiteri, and Issei Hyoudou, which I'm sure all of you know about." Rias said sheepishly, as Issei ran his hand through his hair in embarrassment.
"Yes, that is what we've called you here to discuss." Sirzechs said. "Issei Hyoudou, please step forward."
Issei did as he was told, and bowed once more, still restrained. "No need for that, my friend, but we would like to talk to you about your battle with Raiser Phenex of the Pheonix clan." Sirzechs introduced.
"Yes, your highness. Ask as many questions as you like." He said, earning a smile from his aunt.
"We have word that you have a Sacred Gear. An immensely powerful one at that. Deity's Annihilation." Sirzechs said.
"Yes, Sirzechs-sama, I do." Issei announced honestly.
"Is the Elemental Dragon on our side?" Sirzechs questioned.
Issei opened his mouth, but before he could speak, [Yes, Sirzechs, I am on your side. I am sorry for the devastation I have caused your faction, but I have changed and now would like to help Ise. Nothing more, nothing less. His life has shown me you can forgive. His happiness is now my happiness.] Svarkova spoke from the heart.
Sirzechs was quite amazed by her reaction, but was pleased with the answer. "And you, Issei, what are your plans in this life? Become a High-class Devil? Become Maou?" He asked, curiously.
"I simply wish to serve Rias for as long as I can. She means everything to me. She saved my life, and she helped me overcome my fears. I owe her my life, and I shall serve her till the end if she wishes." Issei looked to Rias, who nodded, understanding what he wanted to say next. "And we are now lovers." He finished, silencing the whole room, then a laugh was heard, hearty and filled with joy.
"That's incredible! AHAHAHAHA! Two relatives of the Maou, dating! I called it!" He laughed even more. Not mockingly, only because he said earlier that they could be dating.
Rias and Issei had really red faces, and so did Sirzechs, but he had a smile on his face, so they took it as good news. Nao had a vibrant smile on her face. She was happy Issei could find love after his parents' deaths.
"Well, now that was concluded, I think this meeting formally over." Sirzechs stood and clapped his hands together. "It was nice to meet you, Issei and Hannai. I hope you two can find happiness in my sisters' peerage." With that, they bowed and Rias teleported them out.
-Line Break-
Kiba was walking in the rain, trying to search for priest who could give him some answers about the Holy Sword, but no luck so far. No priest had seen a Holy Sword in years, if at all.
He was about to give up, when he heard some shouting and then quiet. He went to where the sound came from, and discovered a dead priest on the ground.
In front of him was an all too familiar figure. One he never wanted to see again.
But they were carrying something. Something terrifying. A massive sword wrapped in Holy Light.
"An Excalibur fragment." Kiba whispered.
"Heheheheh! Hello, shitty Devil!"
Chapter end!
Right... I know. Kinda went off radar for a while... Well, what can I say? School's getting harder to manage, plus things outside of school. Anyways, I'm sorry. And my thanks are out to the people who will still read this story. You make these chapters worth it.
Anyways, follow, favourite, all that good stuff. Don't be afraid to leave ideas in the comments, everything helps!
See you in the next one.
