He was standing. Standing in the middle of the room, looking around he saw colored art styled glass windows, a bell above and the benches lined up together on both sides, it was a church.

Wait… why was he in a church again….?

He.. He was… helping someone right…? He remembers coming into a church where everyone was… Akeno…. The redhead… Katase… so why couldn't he remember what had happened?

Drip.

Something had dropped on his face. Raising his hand to his face, Itsuki swiped the liquid and looked down at it… it was dark red and it was warm… very warm… it was blood… why was there blood raining down from the ceiling… He looked up and his eyes widened in shock at what he saw.

Up above him, there was a body hanging from the ceiling. They were impaled from their head… there was a hook in their mouth they're body severed in half only hanging lifelessly as blood running down their corpses, there were multiple bodies all around… hanging from the ceiling.

Itsuki took a step back and turned around before becoming shocked once more as it was the same on the ground. Bodies all over the place, with blood running down their eyes, stabbed with red crystals impaling them or the inside of their chest busted open as if something exploded from the inside.

He couldn't focus… he couldn't stay calm… his mind started panicking as everything around felt dizzy, his looked down at both of hands were now soaked in blood. It wasn't his it was everyone else… he started panting, his breathing was becoming erratic and his mind was being overwhelmed with the smell of death all around him and he was… he was…

He felt something touch his hands. He saw another pair of hands over his, they were soft and warm… looking up he saw a shadow figure in front of him. It was a woman, she was wearing a black veil and a black dress that covered everything and showed but her arms and a portion of her breasts. Itsuki wanted to say something anything but he couldn't as he was still in the state of shock and what had just happened. The woman in black lips curled into a sad smile as she gently raised her hand to his cheek and use her thumb to wipe off the blood.

Itsuki should feel afraid of this woman but he didn't, he didn't feel fear from her almost as if he had no reason to be scared of her, other than himself of course.

'Poor boy.' she whispered gently. 'Having to be rejected at a young age and having to kill….. we really are the same.…' She let go of him and started walking away towards the center as Itsuki snapped out of it and wanted to ask who she was, to his surprise she stopped and looked back at him.

'We'll meet each other again soon.… I'll find you after all…."

His vision faded as the world around him was covered in nothing but darkness.

'I always find you.'

Itsuki jolted upwards as he just woke up from another dream of his that was a little more cryptic than the last one. He looked around and saw three mirrors, windows to his left and the door to his right, he was in the bathroom.

'That's right I came in here after experiencing a headache.' Itsuki recalled as he vividly remembered what had happened. It's been a few weeks after his interaction with Akeno and Katase. Both of them wanting to know more about him and in the latter's words hangout. Katase was helpful and friendly towards him, she spent time to get to know him, introducing him to her best friend Murayama, the sport Kendo and even had lunch with him. Akeno was who she was, a big sister. She had always looked for him after school to help on his homework with his subjects Advanced English and Chemistry since he always had trouble with those two classes and had made sure he was eating.

The last one was his fault since he kind of told her that he only ate at least twice a day or sometimes just once whenever he really needed it, so the latter decided to make sure he was eating.

Honestly, it felt a bit nice that he actually had two friends. However, a part of him was still filled with doubt that it would last and he was only living in an illusion. He couldn't help, being neglected and picked on at a young age gave him these habits. He needed to get back to class so his teacher doesn't panic or send someone else out to look for him.

It's also been a month since his weird dream where he encountered the shadow figure of himself. And now he was having more of the dreams during the day too but each was worse than the last.

As he exited the bathroom, he slowly made his way back to class while holding his head still feeling a bit nauseous and used the rails to help himself. He was unaware of a certain redhead that was watching him.

Rias Gremory who was the president of the ORC had been watching the boy for some time now ever since Akeno had interest in him. At first, she thought it was nothing more than a normal boy or she thought he had some power or something within them but he didn't. Only he was normal and that he had insomnia, looking through his files he was also depicted as a troublemaker for starting fights and hurting other kids but watching him for the past two weeks she could tell that they files were far wrong and that someone had just put him in that position to make it sound like he was a troublemaker.

And watching his movements now, she sees that he isn't the one causes trouble but becomes involved in them due to someone's else actions. She also notices that he was having a hard time walking and sees him clutching his head as if he was in pain. She decided to make herself present and greet him.

"Excuse me." She called out earning his attention. "Are you okay, it looks like you're having a hard time walking?"

Itsuki gazed at her for a bit, realizing that this was the girl that Akeno had talked about being her best friend and said she would introduce to him when he was ready or felt comfortable… well so much for that plan.

"I'm fine… you don't need to worry just have a small headache that's all." He waved off not wanting to waste her time and continued walking only to let out a groan when the pain in his head started expanding and caused him to stop.

"Doesn't look like it's small." Rias muttered as she walked in front of him, bending over with her hands on her knees. "Do you need a minute? I can take you to the nurse's office?" She offered.

Itsuki was tempted to say no but his head hurt a lot and he could feel his ears ringing, wait did that mean he was about to pass out… that's not good. Before he could though, he felt something or someone gently grab his hand and something wrap around his shoulder. He looked up and saw a kind smile from the redhead.

"I'm taking you to the nurse, so let me help you." She said softly as he just nodded his head and let her guide him through the halls. As he looked around, he noticed that there weren't anybody in halls, and that the classroom doors were closed which meant that it was still 4th period… or was it 5th… he wasn't sure anymore. His head was starting to hurt and he was close to passing out…

….

No.. he was passing out….

Rias felt a sudden shift when Itsuki had suddenly passed out on her, alerting her that something was wrong and she needed to get him help. She was going to take him to the nurse but she felt like if she did then he wouldn't get better. So, she changed her mind and took him back to her clubroom at the ORC. After making her way to the main room, she gently set him down on the couch and stared at him with concerning gaze. Pressing a hand to his forehead, she let out a quiet gasp in shock… he was cold… very cold to touch as if he was dying.

She took her hand off his forehead and remove his sleeves staring at the bandages on his arms wondering why he had those before shaking her head and went back to her objective. She move her hand up to touch his upper arm and felt the same thing on his forehead.

She wondered if he was dying…

Quickly, she moved her hand to his neck pressing two fingers but panicked when she couldn't feel a pulse… She then moved her head to his chest pressing her ear and was about to fear that the worse happened only for her mind to rest when she heard his heart beating as if it was normal. Letting out a sigh of relief, she stood back up and looked at him in confusion.

Itsuki was breathing but his body temperature was cold… way too cold and his skin was actually starting to look pale it was confusing. She couldn't feel any symptoms or curses through magic so she couldn't figure out what was going on with him. She wants to say that maybe he was just feeling under the weather but this is way too unorthodox to be a simple common cold.

She could let him be but she can't let him go. He is an unknown factor right now, and despite wanting to help him earlier she needed to know who he was or what he was exactly. Maybe she should let Akeno know or better yet have her talk to him, Rias hated using her best friend to do this but she was worried because she wasn't sure to make of Itsuki right now and what had just happened with him, there's obviously something more.

Quickly calling her familiar, she wrote a note that would excused Itsuki for the rest of the day and gave to her familiar before the bat disappeared and headed off to the classroom.

The said girl was actually roaming through the halls to her kouhai's classroom where she would normally meet up with him. As she walked through the halls, she heard the usual words from her fellow peers about how beautiful she was or wanting to be like her, dating her… the same old stuff of everyday. And yet, none of them actually decided to start a conversation with her, no one other than Itsuki.

Akeno smiled at the thought of him. Despite hearing some information about his past, she learned a few things about him. Like being a photographer, liking to wander and play video games as his hobbies and listening to types of music that made him feel comfortable. She also learned some of his favorite type of foods, after getting it out of him when she observed him not eating food within the first two days. And when he told her that he doesn't really eat much and was used to it, she told him that he was not doing that anymore and that she would be bringing him food or making sure that he was eating.

Speaking of food, she had some gyoza and fried rice for him in her book bag as she was walking. Coming to his classroom, she walked looking for her favorite little kouhai only to see an empty classroom only seeing one student and the teacher.

"Hello can I help you?" Toshiko asked as Akeno nodded her head.

"Toshiko-san, sorry to intrude but I'm looking for someone. A boy named Itsuki." Akeno asked unaware of the student perking their head up at the said name.

"Oh, yes. I was just informed by a student that Itsuki would be off for the rest of the day." Toshiko informed as she put a hand on her face. "I hope he recovers well, he didn't look too good when he arrived and he looked like he was on the verge of passing out."

"He was…" Akeno trailed off, worry entering her body as she thought about the said boy. "…is he still here?" She asked.

"Oh yes, the student said he was in the nurse right now oh and they told me to give this to you." Toshiko said before giving the note to Akeno who took it and read the words written.

He's in the ORC resting right now if you're looking for him. Come here if you want to be the first person he sees when he wakes up.

Akeno quickly thanked the teacher and left the room to go where she needed to go. As she left, the two students in the back turned back to each other.

"He's with her!?" Katase muttered. "Dammit, we need to go now." She said as she was about to leave only to stop when her friend spoke.

"Calm down, Katase. They're not going to hurt him." The brunette said stopping her friend.

"How do you know that Murayama? How do you know that they won't just take advantage of him the moment he wakes up and turn him into their servant?" Katase growled with venom in her voice.

"Because if they wanted to do that, then they would've done it already and it would be Rias seeking him out. And he hasn't been to the ORC the whole time he spent with Akeno… so that means either they're waiting or she's intentionally keeping him out." Murayama stated. Katase let out an annoyed sound before sitting back down with her arms crossed.

"Still, I don't like it. Itsuki is a kind person, he wants to be a photographer and live a normal life. He shouldn't have that choice taken away from him." Katase said remembering when she asked what he wanted to do a week beforehand.

"Relax, I already have something spying on them… if anything happens to him then we'll make our move okay?" Murayama suggested as Katase slowly nodded her head and couldn't help but glare at the spot that Akeno was in.

It wasn't too long before Rias had heard the door open and looked up seeing Akeno entering with a worried look on her face.

"Where is he?" Akeno asked. Rias only shushed her with a finger to her lips before motioning her to follow. Walking, she took him to another room where they saw Itsuki and Akeno let out a slight gasp at seeing Itsuki's state. She also saw that he was covered with blankets over him.

"Itsuki."

"Something's wrong with him." Rias started as she stopped beside her best friend. "His body temperature is too cold and his skin is pale. I thought he was dying from some sort of fever or illness but his body has no trace of any sort, and his breathing is perfectly normal."

"So what is the problem then?"

"I don't know. There's no internal symptoms showing that he's under stress and there's not much for me to go on other than what we already do know." Rias said with a sigh while crossing her arms under her chest. "Which leaves us to ask him about it."

"I don't think that's a good idea Rias." Akeno interjected with a frown.

"Why not?"

"Itsuki… doesn't like people." Akeno strained as she focused her gaze back to the boy on the bed.

"He seems fine to be talking with you and that other girl, Katase I think her name was." Rias said as if it wasn't a big deal only for her the hybrid angel to glare at her. "He seems to trust you so I think it should be fine."

"That's because I've took the time to know him. I've learn that Itsuki has problems with people and his walls are up all the time. He only lets them down if he feels like he and I can tell he still does whenever we talk." Akeno said with a frown. While she knows that Itsuki was comfortable around her, it still saddened her that he had to keep his guard up all the time and it made her wonder just how bad his life was to get to that point.

"So, what do you suggest then?"

"Nothing. After he wakes up, I'm taking him home and that's that."

"Akeno."

"Rias, Itsuki is not like the boys and girls here who can be easily manipulated, he has trust issues with everyone… and I don't want to him lose his trust in me thinking I only spent time with him for you to escape your engagement." Akeno said sharply causing Rias to flinch at her words before looking away.

Rias did plan on having Itsuki in her peerage, she was really trying to find powerhouses that could help her escape her engagement with Riser. And yes, while she had met Issei she wasn't close to acquiring him due to his attitude and his status, and it seems that Itsuki would be a bit harder due to both his trust issues and her queen who was really opposing the idea of him coming to her peerage.

"And what about you Akeno? You know sooner or later he'll get caught up in our lives because of the supernatural so what would you do when that day comes?" Rias asked.

"In the short time I've spent with him he's the first boy to treat as if I were a normal girl. Not because I'm your queen, not because I'm one of those titles that label me and not because I'm a… hybrid…" She muttered that last part in anger before her tone switch back to soft.

"He just treats me for me." Akeno said as she set down her bag and sat in the empty chair next to him, reaching out to gently press her palm against his cheek, shuddering at how cold he was. "I hope that when the time comes and he's willing to trust me then I can tell him everything about me and who I am… and if he decides to not be around me then that's fine, no matter the outcome… it won't stop me from watching over him."

"You taken to a liking to him." Rias realized as Akeno slowly nodded her head.

"I did." Akeno breathed out slowly.

"Do what you want." Rias said while leaving the room.

The redhead closed the door behind and let out a sigh in frustration. Akeno's words ranging in her head over and over. In truth she was hoping to get Itsuki through her peerage through Akeno but now she knew that she wasn't going too unless he was involved. She needed to figure something out now and fast if she wanted to escape Riser.

When she looked through his files, Rias couldn't find anything that would help her out until she came across the job that he was taking. She then saw something that had interest her, a photo of his boss and him, along with how close they were to each other, well more like the former then the latter.

Though that did give her another idea on how to add this situation to her advantage.

Itsuki groaned as he slowly woke up from his second passing out. Last thing he remembered was going into the hall, and bumping into Rias before feeling his heart a lot worse but now it was feeling so comfortable… very comfortable.

Like his head was encased in soft pillows and that were very comfortable and calm and breathing…

….

Wait a minute…

Slowly opening his eyes, he looked up and saw Akeno staring down right at him with a smile on her face as she had her arms wrapped around his head.

"Enjoy your nap?" She asked softly as he blinked his eyes rapidly before slowly trying to get up and held his head once more.

"Ow, my head." He said before noticing that he wasn't in the school anymore. "Where am i?"

"You're in the ORC's nursery." Akeno stated as he stared at her in confusion, allowing her to continue. "Rias had brought you here when you suddenly passed out during your walk back to class. She said that you were pale and your body temperature was cold."

"My body temperature?" He repeated while touching his face and arms, he didn't feel any different but he could see his skin way paler than usual. "What the?"

"Itsuki, are you okay?" She asked gently. "Is there something you're not telling me?"

Itsuki wanted to say that he was fine but he wasn't, not with the dream he experienced, the constant blackouts and the fact that he was now as pale as a damn ghost. He was a bit scared of what was happening to him but he didn't know who to talk to.

He talks to Misumi but rarely, and it's not like he could just tell her about this stuff, the same could be said with Akeno. While he was glad that she was hanging out with him and comfortable with his personality, he still couldn't help but feel like it was a lie. Deep down, he still felt like he couldn't trust anyone but it a trait he didn't want to have forever.

He looks up at Akeno's gaze, he could tell through her eyes that she was worried for him. Against his better judgment, he let out a sigh and then told her.

'I don't know." He whispered as he stared at his hands. "I don't think I'm okay, more so than usual. I've been feeling like something is haunting me for the past weeks. At first it was just my nightmares but now it started going through the day as well and now I can't even focus without thinking about the dreams."

"Dreams?" Akeno asked as Itsuki curled in on himself. She noticed that his shoulders were tense and that his mouth was opening and closing as if he was tell her but was having a hard time doing so.

"I don't really understand it but… I…" He kept stopping as if he was trying to find the right words to say but he wasn't even sure if she would believe him. Well might as well tell her and so she can view as a crazy person… it was a nice friendship while it lasted. "…. I keep seeing this dark figure in front of me. At first, I walk into the room and call out if anyone's there but… there's no one there. I turned around and then the entire room just becomes so dark…." Itsuki started trembling as he remembered the dream he had earlier.

"And then I find myself somewhere else…"

Akeno gently placed a hand on his back, comforting him to let him know that she was here.

"Where are you, Itsuki!?"

"It's… crazy to explain… hell I still don't believe myself but… I… I…" As he starting to remember, he found himself no longer in the ORC, he was back in that dream. His breath hitched as his body froze in fear and he saw the multiple bodies all around him. Blood covering the walls, ceiling broken, shattered glass from the windows and his hands were covered in blood.

He started hyperventilating ,the blood wasn't his but it was everyone else… did he do this…. Did he kill everyone here… if so… why, what was the purpose of it…. he wasn't out for revenge or a crusade… he… he was here… for…

Why…

Why was he here…..

Itsuki…

….Itsuki….

"Itsuki!" Akeno called out as she tried to get the boy's attention for the past minute who suddenly found himself back in the ORC staring at the older girl before him and then at his hands.

"Sorry, you must think I'm crazy for what I just said don't you?" Itsuki said in a low tone and then let out a small sigh. "It's hard to believe in the supernatural right?" He joked as Akeno didn't say anything. The latter worried for his health. She didn't know what to do.

Akeno wanted to Itsuki away from the supernatural, everything that she's involved with. To her, She didn't want to give him more trouble in his life as he already had. She wanted him to have some form of normality in his life and would slowly want to get him out of his shell and look up to her if needed.

On the other hand, she knew she can't hide who she was from him forever. These dreams he's been having aren't exactly normal and they been becoming more frequent and it sounds like something is happening to him. There was also something growing inside of him yet for some reason… only she could sense it. She wondered why Rias couldn't sense it but she couldn't care less right now, there's no telling if anybody else was able to sense what was wrong with him and she can't predict when it would happen.

So instead of doing either one of those, she decided to go with a third option. He needed a friend.

"Itsuki, whatever you're experiencing sounds way too realistic for it to be crazy. To be honest, it sounds like something serious. Maybe it's a memory of a past life."

"No, I already checked that and everything. I looked in the mirror one time in that vision and saw my face so I know it's me. The problem is that I don't know how I got there." Itsuki stated before letting out a small sigh. "I just wished it made sense but it doesn't."

Itsuki sat up from Akeno's lap and onto the floor as he was about to exit the ORC.

"Thanks for watching over me. I'm going to head home and get out of your hair." He said as he was about to walk out.

"Do you want me to walk you home?" She offered as he shook his head.

"It's okay. I'll be fine." Itsuki said as he walked out of the room and into the empty hallway. As he left, Akeno's face etched into worry. She had a bad feeling in her stomach that told her that he shouldn't be alone and that something bad would happen. Just as she was about to follow him, she got a call from Rias.

"Hello."

{Hey, is Itsuki still there?}

"No, he just left the ORC. Why, you're not going to interrogate him are you?" The fallen angel hybrid asked with a bit anger in her tone.

{No, I won't. Actually I have a mission for you and the others. Gather Kiba and Koneko, there's stray that needs dealt with at an abandoned warehouse tonight.}

"And you'll meet up there, I presume?"

{…Yeah… you can say that. I've got something to take care of with Sona, so go on and start without me. If things become too much to handle, let me know.}

"Understood, Rias." Akeno ended the telepathic call as she stood and went to get her two juniors. However, she knew something was off. The pause at the end, Rias had done something or was currently in the middle of doing something. She wasn't sure what it was but it sounded like another one of her things that she'll be in over her head and will get more than she bargained for. She just hopes that whatever it was it didn't involve Itsuki, that's been through enough already.

As she left, the pit in her stomach grew larger and never went away.

As Itsuki was walking home, his head was replaying the events in his head from falling asleep in class to having that nightmare to being with Akeno and telling her about everything that had happened.

He still didn't understand why he told her about it, it's not like she would've believe anyway. Even though she didn't say he was crazy, she didn't agree with him either so she's either in the middle or kept her opinion to herself.

'But she seemed really sincere about it, and she wasn't lying when she said that she didn't think I was crazy.'

"Maybe, I should look into this… whatever is wrong with me."

"There's nothing wrong with you." A random voice said next to him.

Itsuki turned his head and saw an unknown person in front of him. They had a black cloak that covered everything. Danger filling with his mind, Itsuki slowly took a step back and put his hand behind his back ready to pull out a pocket knife he kept in his pants just in case. He also noticed the sky in front of him was now a dark red as if the world around changed into something else.

"No need to be afraid of me… though you probably don't recognize me." The unknown assailant spoke softly as Itsuki stood still, not making any sudden movements.

"Well, who would? You appeared out of nowhere, and the way you introducing yourself is kind of well… not the best way to greet someone." Itsuki replied although something was off. His mind was wary but his heart wasn't thumping loudly as if he knew this person.

"I suppose that is true…. And you're not scared of me…?" She asked slowly, waiting for his answer.

"No… for some reason I'm not… I should be on guard but it's like I have no reason to be." Itsuki spoke slowly as he tried to make sense of what was going with him. "You're familiar and I don't know why but I know you… I just can't understand how?..."

"You always did say that you would protect me…. you always appeared in my dreams and I appeared in yours. We are connected… our souls are bound to each other forever and always… and no matter which timeline we end up, no matter which world we're reborn into… we will always find each other."

"I… I…." Itsuki was struggling as he was trying really hard to remember this but nothing was working…. His head was hurting and he quickly grabbed it.

"Poor thing…" The cloaked person whispered before taking off the hoodie, revealing their face. It was a girl with long black hair with a pair of ears atop of her head, and red eyes that were filled with eternal love. She slowly walked over to Itsuki who was still grunting in pain from his migraine and got on her knees.

Gently she lifted her hands to his face as the latter let out a hitch breath realizing that she was now in front of him. Her skin pale and her hands as cold as ice but for some reason, it had a calming effect on him.

"What are you…"

"Shh." She gently whispered as she traced his face before gazing into his eyes, inwardly frowning as she could see his eyes were filled with pain and loneliness…. Just like hers. "All alone… and forced to endure the world's cruel nature of humans…"

Itsuki was confused until he clenched his head once more and his head started hurting.

Suddenly a few flashes started appearing in his head. In one, there was a shy girl in front of him having a hard time introducing herself as he offered his hand towards her. The next, showed both of them in a diner eating as they both ate something and instantly they started burning up as if they had something spicy with fire breathing from their mouths. Next, was a memory of them on a lake just staring at the river as they sat together, holding their hands underneath the starry sky.

Itsuki slowly opened his eyes and gazing at the girl in front of him, who gave him a smile full of love and warmth, and instantly the name came to him.

"Nier…. That's your name… why do I… how do I know that?" Itsuki whispered as he suddenly knew the girl in front of him but nothing was making sense. One second he was on guard around her and now it's like they knew each other. As far as he knew, the only person that he's had somewhat of an attachment to was Misami, and maybe Akeno and Katase but this girl he felt…. He felt… normal.

"I know it's too much right now but… you have to wait my love…"

CRACK!

Itsuki looked up when he heard something like glass breaking, he looked around trying to find the source while Nier looked up and frowned while glaring at the sky above them.

"Looks like someone found us." She whispered. Turning back to Itsuki, she gently leaned forward and gave him chaste kiss on the lips. "I have to go my love, I have some irritating matters to take care of but as soon as I'm finished we'll be together again."

Nier stood up from her position before turning around and started walking away while Itsuki remained before realizing that the girl was leaving.

"W-Wait!" He shouted as he scrambled to get to her only to stop when he saw red mist surrounding her presence. "How do I know if I see you again? Where do I find you?" His voice filled with the air as he needed answers.

Nier turned her head towards him, her lips moving upward as a gentle smile appeared on her face.

"Don't worry about me… I promise… we'll be together again." She whispered, her voice laced with love and gentleness. She turned around and walked into the red mist before it slowly disperse into the air along with her. Soon the sky was no longer red and back to the normal yellow dusk.

"What just happened?" Itsuki was brought out of his thoughts when a voice called out to him.

"Itsuki!" Turning his head around, he saw Katase running to him with panic showing on her face. "Are you okay?"

"Katase… what…"

"Are you okay?" She asked as she gently walked up towards him and notice that he was still in a daze as if he was looking at her. "Itsuki?" She called once again as she gently shook him by the shoulder and this time he realized that he was back to normal.

"Katase? What's going on, what happened?" He asked while rubbing his head as he felt disoriented. "Wait, where's that girl?" He remembered as he looked around the area.

"Girl? What girl!? Who else was here!?" She asked him as the boy continued looking around.

"She… she was just right here.." Itsuki was confused.

"Hey," Katase slowly grabbed him by the shoulders and force him to face her. "Itsuki, what's going on, what had happened?" She asked, inwardly she flinched at how cold his body temperature was. It was warm outside and she could feel through his shirt that as if there was ice.

"I don't know… I feel like I've been losing it these past few weeks and now I'm officially going crazy." He muttered to himself.

However, Katase was well aware of the supernatural and like the ORC and Murayama have been watching him. She noticed a slight change in his behavior, how he's been falling asleep in class, dark circles underneath his eyes and how he keeps staring off into space as if something was watching him. It worried her.

"Hey, do you need me to accompany you home?" She asked him.

"No, that's… that's okay…. I don't want to disturb you with your activities, plus I don't think it's a good idea since certain people will not like the fact that they see the outcast with a pretty girl." He stated.

"Well, they can screw off for all I care. Plus, you don't look like you'll make it home without collapsing." Katase stated. In truth, she wanted to walk him home to make sure that he would be fine but inwardly she also wanted to spend time with him.

"It's fine… I can…" Itsuki trailed off as for some reason he felt something was coming towards him. Out of the corner of his eye he saw something heading for them and immediately grabbed Katase and pulled her close to his chest before turning around.

"WAaahh!" Katase shrieked at the sudden contact as they fell to the ground. "Yurei-chan! W-what are you doing!? This isn't the time for- uh!?" She stopped her ranting when her eyes widened in shock at what she was seeing.

Itsuki hovering over her with a colored spear of some sorts lodged through his shoulder as the former was on gritting his teeth in pain. Once the spear disappeared, Itsuki moved off of Katase allowing the former to get up and grab him.

"Itsuki!?" She shouted in panic as she gently held him, noticing the blood dripping from his right shoulder where they was a giant hole as if they were trying to blow his arm off instead. "Hold on, don't move!"

Katase ripped off her shoulder cape and performed a tourniquet so she could at least stop the bleeding.

'Where the hell did that spear come from?'

"Well that's a shame, I was hoping to kill that human girl quickly and then take the boy, but it doesn't matter." Katase and Itsuki looked up ahead of them and saw their assailant. Slowly coming into view was a tall and buxom woman with brown eyes and long, navy blue hair that obscured her right eye. She was wearing a maroon trench coat-like top with a wide collar exposing her breasts and cleavage, with a matching miniskirt and black heels.

"It's more enticing when I get to hear them scream."

"Who the hell is this lady?" Itsuki strained while holding his shoulder. Katase eyes widened in shock and then narrowed in irritation.

'A fallen angel now? I didn't even sense her presence!' Katase then turned to Itsuki who was on the verge of passing out due to losing blood, as she could see that it was drenching her shoulder cape.

"What do you want, lady?" Katase asked.

"It's nothing that concerns you human, all I want is the boy." She pointed out to him. "I'll be taking him now, so I'll make your death quick." The woman threatened as a light spear materialized in her hand before throwing it at them.

Katase was ready as she quickly withdrew her kendo stick that immediately shifted into a sword and swung it to block the attack. The spear ricocheting off the blade and into the air.

'I need to Itsuki out of here.'

"Itsuki… I know this will be hard to explain but right now I need you to listen." Katase started as she spoke to the boy next to her. "When this is over, I will explain everything but right now I need you to go and get away from here."

"What!?" The boy shouted and look at Katase as if she was crazy. "No! No that's not going to happen! WE need to—ugh!?" Itsuki was cut off when he gripped his shoulder. "Dammit!"

"Itsuki." Katase called out his name in a stern tone, as he realized that she was referring to his first name. "I will hold them off, you need to go okay. I'll find you when this is over, I swear… now go!" She instructed before pushing him away as another light spear flew right by them.

"He's not going anywhere, girl. Out of my way."

"Fat chance." Katase shouted in defiance as she disappeared from her spot and charged forward, reappearing in front of the fallen before swinging her sword downward, causing the latter to block the attack.

Itsuki gritted his teeth in frustration before following Katase's instruction and started heading the other way from the fight. He didn't like leaving her behind but she was right, he had no idea what was going on and he would just be in the way so he needed to leave. As he ran, he looked to his right and quickly headed into an alley as he looked for somewhere to hide and didn't see anything other than that he was trapped until his eyes fell upon a dumpster.

He groaned as it wasn't the best place to hide but it was better than nothing. As he was making his way over, he felt a sense of dread behind him. Quickly using his left hand and taking out his knife, he turned but was blindsided when he felt something hit his stomach and sent him flying, hitting the wall of the alley.

"Ah!" He grunted as the wind was knocked out of him, bouncing off the wall and landed on the ground. He coughed as blood spilled from his lips and his shoulder wound was now tore open revealing the hole once more. Shaking, he slowly lifted his head up and saw three pairs of feet in front of him. From what he could tell, one was in heels, another was in black shoes and one was in black boots.

"What the hell old man, you didn't have to kick him too hard! We're supposed to bring him alive not dead!"

"Apologies, I merely meant to go for a gut punch but I did a little more damaged than I thought."

"You think!?"

"Enough, remember why we're taking him. We needed him before the devils and angels discovered him and we're lucky that neither of them noticed his power. So, simmer down and shut up. Dohanseek go help Kala and you Mittelt get flying and make sure there are no devils in the area, stall them if you have to until we escape back to base.

"Fine, you meanie!"

"Understood."

Itsuki panted as his vision was fading even faster then before and he tried to look up, slowly he saw a woman in front of him, making out only the eyes and hair but couldn't make out the rest.

"So we finally have you. We couldn't get that other brat because of his sacred gear but they're nothing compared to you… Death's little champion." She whispered.

Itsuki tried to stay awake a little longer but couldn't as he felt himself losing a fighting battle and immediately fell into unconsciousness.