Xenovia watched in wonder as a dozen or so tentacles managed the kitchen. A pair was cutting meat, another pair was cutting vegetables, a third pair was preparing fruits, and the rest were doing the rest of the work such as preparing the stove, the utensils, and everything else.
Hyoudou Issei himself was keeping his own hands busy by measuring condiments. "Why, hello there."
"Hi?" Xenovia waved unsurely. It was her first interaction with the beast in boy's clothing.
"Ah, you don't know the meme. Oh well. I assume that since you and Irina knew each other that you would know it too," Issei shrugged to himself. "Want to help?"
"Yes," Xenovia nodded, eager to do something.
"Do you know how to cut the vegetables?"
"Yes I do. I worked at an orphanage before and did chores."
"That's good, come." Issei gestured for her to stand beside him.
Xenovia boldly went to the place where the tentacles cleared the way for her. She wasn't disturbed by them at all.
"Could you dice up these potatoes and carrots?"
Xenovia nodded and got to work. She took the offered apron, a pink one to her dismay, and wore it.
"Issei Hyoudou."
"That is me."
"What is a meme?"
"I will have to educate you on that."
"Just as long as it doesn't go against the teachings of the Bible."
"Don't worry, it's nothing bad."
"I will look forward to that."
The two continued working, lapsing into silence as they prepared the food. The sounds of the knife thumping against the board and the cling clang of the utensils were the only sounds that governed the kitchen for some time. He observed the way she moved her hands and the way she cut, they were refined and smooth. They were not brash like how men would cut. She cut the vegetables quickly but carefully.
"I thought you would be more tomboyish, but you do have a feminine side," Issei broke the silence. His eyes traced her fingers, slowly up her arm, and landed squarely on her round breasts that were hidden behind a pink apron and black, baggy clothes; speaking of feminine huehuehue. He made sure to avert them when Xenovia looked at him.
"Mhmm. I got that a lot." Xenovia said. "I do not understand what part of me is feminine though."
"It's kinda cute."
"E-Excuse me?"
"Don't cut yourself!"
Xenovia's face was a tinge of red. Having grown up in an orphanage and worked in the same one, she didn't have much chance to talk with kids her age. She didn't get complimented a lot either, and only on the rare occasion she did, it was usually a compliment towards how well she worked or how well she did. Never her looks and never by a boy her age.
"I said that your feminine side looked cute."
"T-Thanks… I guess."
And like so, they lapsed into silence once again. The only sound that echoed was the chopping of the knife on the cutting board and the occasional clang of the pan.
Issei set aside the cutting board that he was using and brought out another one. He set a piece of meat on it and started cutting away at it. "If you don't mind me asking," Issei said. Xenovia turned to him, her face no longer pink. "What is your favorite food?"
And so they passed the time learning more about one another.
Irina and Rias looked from behind a pillar as Issei and Xenovia had small talk.
"Should we be jealous?"
"No?" Irina answered, although more like asked. "I guess we have already accepted this. I'm fine if Issei gets another wife. This is a harem after all."
"I know I am jealous," Rias pouted. "I'm okay if it's you but if it is someone else…"
"That's 'cause you love me, riiiiight~?"
"Wipe that smug look off your face," Rias said, her deadpan face couldn't contain the slight flush she has..
"I'm flattered," Irina said flatly.
"And I can hear the sarcasm in your voice."
"That's because it is weird that my husband's wife loves her husband's wife."
"It's how a harem works I suppose."
"No it doesn't?!"
Issei chuckled to himself.
"Hm?" Xenovia turned to him.
"Nothing. Just heard a funny conversation. It is one of the blessings that being me has."
Xenovia nodded and turned back to the vegetables that she was cutting. "I'm curious. How do you think of yourself? Being a monster." A beast.
"You're pretty blunt."
"I'm sorry."
"I don't mind. Don't be sorry about it," Issei continued to work around the kitchen with his tentacles. "I'm pretty fine the way I am now. I've got tentacles," he waved two tentacles to prove his point. It's like every doujinshi's dream to have tentacles in them, "I've got two beautiful wives and everyday life the way I am is pretty comfortable."
"Have you ever thought of what would have happened if you didn't get experimented on?"
"Sometimes," the tentacles stopped working for a moment. "The pain I endured was traumatic. But the happiness I feel right now, living with my family, is worth it," the tentacles that had stopped working started moving again. A serene smile was on Issei's face.
"I understand," Xenovia said. "Although if you were to keep your current happiness and let go of the pain, would you do it?"
Issei thought for a moment. "No," he laughed, "I like my tentacles. I might lose them if I never go to experience the pain." Issei thought of all the ways he used his tentacles in massaging his wives. It was very helpful in holding them in place too. Not to mention that he could secrete a special liquid hormone directly through them. Ufufufufu…
Not to mention Issei felt that he might lose something if he let go of the pain. Would he be less thankful for the things he had now? Would he take them for granted? He didn't know. He didn't want to know either. It was no skin off his nose anyway.
"I suppose they are helpful," Xenovia thought of all the ways she could use tentacles to defeat her opponents. Having multiple limbs could prove to be very useful when fighting. Overwhelm them with sheer numbers. Ha! They will never know what hit them.
The two cut in silence, both contemplating the utility of having tentacles. Xenovia day dreamed of all the ways she could use them to fight against evil! She could use them to hold the criminals in place as a pair of tentacles tightened the restraints on them. Tentacles could also use multiple weapons at the same time! She would be a menace to those who weren't able to conform. Ha!
Issei thought… You know what, let us not venture into the things that Issei used his tentacles for. It is way less family friendly than what Xenovia was thinking. His perverse grin said it all.
"..."
"..."
"Could I touch them?"
Issei thought for a moment. He may be able to accidentally touch her soft mounds. "Sure. Maybe later." Better be sure to make it as accidental as he could.
The two finished the prep work. Issei arranged the meat and veggies in order of getting cooked and the two sat exhausted on the couch; the meal just needed to be cooked for a few more minutes before it could be served. Sweat dribbled down their foreheads after minutes of cutting and cutting. The heat of the stove didn't help matters either. So now, they had an electric fan pointed at them as they cooled down.
"That was more tiring than a battle with a stray devil."
"Agreed," Issei wiped the sweat off his forehead with a tentacle.
"Can I touch them now?"
"Why do you want to touch my tentacles so much? They are not breasts!"
"What?"
"Nothing. Nothing," Issei waved away his slip of tongue. "Give me a moment."
Pain.
Everything was painful.
He didn't know how long he had been here.
He didn't know anymore.
He knew nothing.
He knew pain.
Nothing else.
That was until he saw her.
Her hair was the most beautiful shade of red.
Like the shade of blood.
Not strawberry blonde but pure crimson.
A bright crimson that stained the pain he felt.
Her hair was as red as his.
"Hey, Nii-sama, what is his name?"
"Hyoudou Issei."
"He's Japanese?"
He could hear her voice sparkle.
"Yes. You want him?"
The man who saved him asked, as if giving away a pet dog.
"Can I?"
He heard the glee in her voice.
Rias opened the cell door and entered without fear. She didn't judge him for how he looked, a monstrosity that shouldn't exist on earth or in hell.
"Hey, Issei-kun. Do you want to get out of here?" she looked up at the beast and smiled innocently.
The boy's thousands of compound eyes zeroed in on her. His tentacles writhed as if in pain. His mouths clicked and rattled. His wings and fins slapped against the walls and floor.
"NoooOOooooOo…" he groaned. His many mouths echoed in different tones. Different languages.
"Don't you want to live outside?" Rias pouted.
"KiLl. m3."
"Why?"
"I do n0t w4n+ to liveeEe…"
Rias crossed her arms like the child she was.
"Why?"
The monster groaned as it searched for an answer.
"N0 Re4Son."
"Live for me then," Rias lay a hand on him. "Don't give up Issei-kun. Live for me."
He was touched.
He was touched.
He was touched by someone who didn't mean him harm for the first time in who knows how long.
It was warm.
Not cold.
Death was cold.
Death didn't want him yet.
Yes, he had spoken with death.
Death told him to hold the girl named Rias and keep her close to his heart.
This was how an 18-foot beast met a young girl…