Chapter 7 : He watches.

When Akeno strolled back in class without a care in the world, a towel in her hands, positively radiating Confidence, Smugness and Glee, I had an inkling that something may have happened behind the scenes where I wasn't looking.

When the professor then entered after her, roughly 30 seconds later, giving absolutely no inclination that he was in the known, not even through an oblique look sent my way, even with the half-fallen next to me, fussing over my wet hair?

Well, let's say that the only reason why I caught the two devils in the room exchanging a discreet look was only because I was looking for something fucky going on.

Honestly? I was perfectly fine with the outcome.

Not because I was proud of it, since I had rather mixed feelings about how I had reacted, but because it was honestly a weight off my shoulders that my two, newfound, supernatural, friends were actually backing me up on this.

…Which was another can of worms entirely, but it wasn't too hard to decipher that, for them, I was actually in the right in this -despite how messed up that actually sounds in my head- and that the only logical outcome in their eyes for a weakling challenging someone strong was to get punted back the way they came.

Devils, everyone.

I just…

Ah…

…What kept turning in my mind while I was trying to soldier through a lesson on history though, was just how quickly the event had me jumping straight to violence without even an attempt at dialogue.

And I deeply suspected that my loss of control over tHe VoIcEs was the linchpin.

Before today, I had never reacted so violently, not even once, when someone gave me shit.

Now, I had some extenuating circumstances, what with the fact that it had been less than seventy-two hours since my dumpy got stranded in this death-trap of a world, and that I was still adjusting to a lot of changes.

But it still highlighted how badly I needed to work on my control, if a prissy rich girl's attempts at claiming the top-dog spot actually managed to make me lose myself to the local equivalent of Khornite bloodlust at the drop of a hat.

Thank fuck I got the tamer version and managed to wrench back some modicum of control after 'only' breaking her nose, because I think that it would've been pretty hard, even for the two mind-whammy enthusiasts, to just handwave the situation had I eviscerated someone in front of the whole class.

That, plus the fact that the little anonymity I still had left with the local supernatural authorities -even as frayed as it was due to Rias' curiosity- would have vanished in thin air by day two, which I would've been quite cross about, bloodthirsty murder aside, you know.

The rest of the day went luckily without any further accident, until, that is, Rias asked the question, one who incidentally interested her Queen quite a bit too if the radiating Curiosity around her was anything to go by.

"...Prima-chan," the crimson haired devil starts, a little haltingly, as we make our way through Kuoh High-School entrance, a few minutes after the bell signaled the end of the day, "Is it true?"

I look at her askance, only to see her poking her fingers together, head downcast and shifting a little on her feet -which, how adorable exactly can you get, girl?-, refusing to meet me in the eyes.

"I'm afraid I don't quite follow, Gremory-san." I answer after a beat, the sound of the crowd washing over us as our trio comes to a stop a few meters away from the other students, coincidentally far enough for the setting to turn from 'public' to 'relatively private'.

"Are you an orphan?" she hesitantly asks, still not looking me in the eyes, her Queen's gaze on me turning from curious to pensive.

Oh.

Oh.

Yeah, I guess she would latch onto that, uh?

I imagine it would be a pretty big pet peeve for Rias "My peerage is my family" Gremory.

…As dysfunctional as it is, in any case.

I exhale slowly, a myriad of emotions flashing through my mind as I think not about the family I supposedly had in this world, but the one I got taken away from.

Granted, I wasn't close with them, hadn't been for a long time, but, me being suddenly gone like that, without saying goodbye?

Having some mixed feelings about it is the only logical outcome, really.

No matter.

Happy thoughts, happy thoughts.

I inhale back, tHe VoIcEs strangely quiet for once, as if they felt my mood.

"Yeah, I am." I answer simply, because it's the case, after all, and it's not like I can just change it, "Had been for a long time."

I feel a pang in my heart, because, in a way, I'm not even lying here.

"Though I'm surprised you heard that, because I'm pretty sure I was whispering lower than usual when talking to blondie." I add after a bit.

"Ah…" Rias trails off, a bit flummoxed, "I have good ears?"

Nice try, ditzy devil: 6/10 on the scale of bullshitry.

I snort a little laugh, before shaking my head ruefully.

"Got surprised is all, but yeah, I grew up in an orphanage affiliated to the JSDF," which oh so conveniently explains why my posture tends to be ramrod straight unless I'm actively slouching against a wall or something, now that I think about it, and I'm pretty sure it's from the other military background I have, "Never got adopted, so I'm still a ward of the state, but I'm getting by."

The two devils trade a look.

"Are you…" Rias starts, not-quite wincing, before visibly steeling herself, "Are you alright?"

I blink.

"I mean, yeah?" I answer, a bit confused for a moment before remembering who I'm talking with exactly, "Honestly? Quite relieved actually."

"Huh?" the Gremory heiress and the half-fallen together balk.

"Yeah, the orphanage was noisy, and now I have a little two story home all for myself, so I'm alright with it. Still not quite sure how that happened," -I'm suspecting ROB shenanigans- "But I'm not complaining." I explain, gesturing around with my free hand, the other still holding my school bag, "And since I'm in school for most of the day, it's not like I'm getting bored."

And with all I have to do at my house, between training away from prying eyes and all of the homestead tasks?

It's not likely that I ever will.

Because I'm pretty sure getting myself up-there in Warp-bullshit mastery is going to be quite time consuming, on top of everything else.

Eh, silver lining and all that, at least I won't bore myself to death because I just happened to not have a computer.

Uh.

I already spent three days without access to the internet, and I'm still not going barmy, now that I think about it.

It's 2009, I'm not in the dark age or anything: hell, I even have a Nokia -good brand, pretty sure it'll break the pavement before breaking the cell phone if it ever fell-, but the computers from those times, when you're used to those a decade from now?

Well, let's say that I anticipate quite the shock when IT Class rolls around.

As those idle thoughts cross my mind, the two devils' emotions flash through the whole spectrum, for some reason, ultimately settling on Resignation and Sadness for Rias, and something that looks like Kinship from Akeno?

Eh, you know what?

I'll take it.

"Prima-chan, if you ever need anything-" Rias starts, but I wave her to stop.

"I appreciate the gesture, Gremory-san." I interject kindly, "But, I told you: it's fine.

"Though, we can always do something for the first of May, if you want?" I demure, thinking fast, sweating a bit internally as I feel the classic beauty at her side frowning both inwardly and outwardly.

"Why?" the crimson haired devil asks, a bit puzzled and her head tilted.

"Well, it's my birthday." I tell her with a smile.

She instantly perks up.

Akeno's expressions soften.

I sigh on the inside.

Ugh, I don't even like celebrating my birthday.

…Or is it still the case?

The sun was shining through the windows, the benevolent warmth landing on the genuflecting woman in front of it.

Hands clasped together, she knelt there, her eyes closed, quietly mumbling to herself and to a superior power, hair woven of gold falling on her shoulders and the high of her back.

She is bare, her features indistinct, only pale, creamy skin with no clearly defined shapes.

The only detail that catches the eye, beyond the feeling of veneration the woman emits, is the drawing adorning her back.

A tall skeleton, clad in a white shroud, arms spread apart at its side and with its palms upward, in an inviting, welcoming gesture, over a golden, lifelike background of a beautiful vista.

And to complete the picture, above and below, a sentence is written, four words, grouped two by two, inscribed in a way to evoke parchments of old.

It reads-

I wake up with a start, and, as it recently became my new norm, a pounding headache.

Slowly, groaning, I sit myself against the bedhead, my knees folding under myself as I coax myself into the correct breathing pattern.

It takes a bit longer than usual, for some reasons, until tHe WhIsPeRs recede, and my eyes flutter open.

It's only then that I remember the dream, minutes before my alarm rings, signaling that I have to get ready for a new day.

"From beyond, he watches." I mumble to myself, before shivering slightly in the coldness of the morning air.

Well.

That ain't ominous at all, ain't it?

[AN: spoopyyyy~

So, technically, I've read that DxD starts in 2011, so I fixed the timeline right now so I don't have to do it later.

Hope you enjoy, xoxo]