Don X Don (High School DxD Miracle Child SI Chapter 9)
Rachelle (5 Years Old)
Rachelle laughed as she ran through the halls of the church. She kinda forgot she's not suppose to, but she forgot in the elation at finally winning that game of tag against Sister Merry. The nun tripping over her own two feet totally counts as Rachelle winning by her own efforts.
She was heading to Father Cornelius' room, as she called there about something very special that he was gonna tell her. She excitedly wondered what it was. Some new present, or maybe she'll be allowed to have pizza early this month. The food is good, yes, and she thanks God in gratitude for it, but she likes some treats too.
Reaching Father Cornelius' office, she stopped, took a second to straighten her clothes, and not look disheveled from playing. She took a breath, then knocked.
"Come on in, come in." Said the kind voice of her guardian.
Rachelle entered the room, smiling wide at seeing Father Cornelius.
"You wanted to see me, Father?"
"Yes, yes, come sit down. This is important news." Father Cornelius motioned for her come sit down on the couch.
He stood up and headed to his desk, toward golden cross of a mini-stand. It was a wicked looking cross, but oddly, every morning, when Father Cornelius would take her to do her daily prayer in front of the cross, she would always feel a sense of peace, joy and contentment. So even if it looked a bit scary, but cool, she liked it.
Rachelle blinked when she saw Father Cornelius take the gold sharp cross from its stand, and came to sit next to her.
"Rachelle," he began gently. "There is a very important task God has given you. Something only you can do." Rachelle's eyes widened as she couldn't believe those words. "Five years ago, a boy was born to one of the Four Great Seraphs. A child of Lady Gabriel named Milo." She gulp feeling how important this is, yet a feeling of elation and excitement also spread through her at hearing something so secretive and important. More so that it was related to her somehow. "In order to hide the boy, ensuring none of Heaven's enemies could know where he is, or even begin to look for him, we hide his heritage, his Holy Powers and all so he would only appear as a normal human child." He then held up the gold cross before her. "And that power was sealed away here in this cross."
"You, you took away a Miracle Child's wings?" Rachelle asked with some trepidation.
"Temporarily of course, and this was all done in front of Lady Gabriel and Lord Michael even. They approved of this plan." Father Cornelius explained, relieving Rachelle's worries. "Of course, this is only part of the plan. Hold away Lord Milo's power won't be effective for long. Soon as he grows, the power here in this cross will grow, till the seal breaks, and so there is only one solution to keep his safety. Someone needs to be the recipient for this power. Effectively they would hold and be able to use the Miracle Child's power as their own, acting as a body double for them." Rachelle blinked in shock, as Father Cornelius took her hand and gentle placed the cross in it. "And the only person I know that could hold that honor is you, Rachelle."
"M-Me?" Rachelle looked up to worry, feeling the weigh of this mission being too big and scary.
"It could only be you, Rachelle. Your Sacred Gear, Divine Sanctum, can hold an enormous amount of Holy Power, and use it to heal and bless your fellow believers. Such gift from God could only be a sign, that you are the one who can carry on this task. To be the one to protect the Miracle Child of the Seraph."
A feeling of excitement and determination welled up in the little girl. This is the mission God gave her? To be a, a...a guardian-No, a hero for one of his grandchildren. She couldn't keep the smile off her face if she tried.
"I'll do it!" Rachelle shouted. "I'll protect the Miracle Child. I'll do my best to keep them safe."
This was what her life was for. This was why she was born with her Sacred Gear activated, like Father Cornelius told her.
Rachelle felt a sensation on her back, but it was different from when she used her Sacred Gear. She saw white feathered wings on her back. Angel wings.
It only strengthen her resolve.
No matter what, she won't fail. She'll be the perfect body double, and no one will even find or harm the Miracle Child.
5 Years Ago
Milo Donato (Just Born)
I was just born, and I can truly, from the bottom of my heart say that babies are blessed beings, because THEY DON'T GET TO FUCKING REMEMBER EXPERIECING BEING SQEEZED OUT OF A VAGINA! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!
"It's okay, Milo. It's okay dear. Please, don't cry. Don't cry now, mommy's here." Said a voice that seemed to embody kindness.
Okay, okay. I'm not, I'm not crying anymore. Sniff.
Alright, breathe. Breathe.
In. Out.
In. Out.
I'm cool, I'm cool. I'm good.
And then I opened my eyes to see the most beautiful face in all of my life. Either of them.
Wait, can babies see after being born?
Man, why is there a lamp so close to my head? But I can clearly see because it. Good thing it's not hurting my eyes, or hurting me with heat.
Also I can see she looked sad.
"Hello my child. I'm so happy to see you." Said Mommy. Then she smiled, pushing through the sadness.
I smiled back at her. I couldn't help it. A happy laugh just jumped up from my mouth. Her smile grew more real.
"There, you see? You have a beautiful smile." She said gently caressing my head, touching my cheek. Her hand felt so nice, that I felt sleepy.
"Gabriel." A melancholic voice spoke. Mommy lost her smile. No, she was still smiling but it was not the same. She was just putting on a brave front now.
"Michael... is this really the only way?" Gabriel said, her lips quivering, before she closed her eyes, and smiled again when it looked like I was about to cry. I just noticed that my eyes were teary.
I can't help it. That cute face shouldn't be crying. If she's crying I'm crying.
I'm warning you, Michael or whoever you are. I have a mean bitch cry if I'm really determined.
Wait. Michael? Gabriel?
...Huh. Guess, I was born in a really Christian family. Hope they're not Amish. I want internet in this life.
Scratch that. I want internet in every life.
"It's the only way to hide him." Michael said.
Hide me? ...Am I important? Is my family rich? Am I like some king's son?
My mom is beautiful enough to be a queen, so that checks out.
"Jean is gone. What if...what if something happens to him too?" Said Mommy, putting on a brave face even while trying to cheer me, and stroking my face.
I gave off a big laugh and she smile more genuinely.
Man, adults are easy to please. You just smile and they're immediately happy. Babies rule.
"Jean Donato was a great knight of heaven, and losing him truly is a loss. However he bought us time, Sister. Time prepare all this." Michael said with a heavy time, and I hated having missing context. I guess this will be revealed in my isekai story, or is this gonna conform to real life rule of unsatisfaction and this will all be left a mystery? "We can't take him back with us to Heaven. You know that, sister. His human half...he wouldn't be able to survive the Holy Energy there." Michael said with heavy regret.
...Wait.
Hold up, this conversation took a very different turn.
Also why is it that whenever I move my head, the lamp above me moves with me? Whose holding it?
I looked up and saw...
Wait a minute.
Is that a UFO? Is that a glowing mini-UFO floating over my head?
I focused back on Mom and Michael and saw they had wings and halos.
HOLY SHIT, THEY DRANK TOO MUCH REDBULL!
"And this will not hurt him. Right, Cornelius?" Gabriel asked, a kind-looking priest in front of her, with my 'Uncle' by her side. Very voice was gentle, but there was this...heavy presence to her. The poor guy was shivering.
Bruh, holy shit.
I'm the literal son of Gabriel, an Archangel. And given that there aren't that many settings with Fem Gabby, and I know that soft pretty boy looking face of Archangel Michael from only one setting, there is only one place I could be-I hope I got it right-High School DxD.
"No, your holiness I assure you. The pain is as miniscule as could be, but more importantly the process itself will not harm him, and returning his powers would be the utmost of simplicity. The same artifact used to siphon his powers once destroyed will immediately return his Holy Powers and heritage without harm."
Honestly I think I should be freaking out about being in a Death World and all, but honestly, all I can think about it...
"And there's no harm to the recipient either?" Gabriel said with concern.
Whose my dad? Like seriously, whose the chad that fucked Gabriel without making her Fall-Wait a minute.
"No, we have found a perfect host. The holder of the Divine Sanctum. It's almost like a gift from..." Cornelius trailed off for a moment, looking awkward.
I looked back for a moment. Yep, her wings are still white. Whose my dad? Seriously.
"Heaven's System still exists, Cornelius." Said Michael, a look between patient and scolding, while still holding his fatherly smile.
I think Gabriel... Mom. Boy is that gonna take a while to get used to. I think mom said his name is 'Jean'. Jean, it reminds me of something, but I can't put my finger on it.
"Yes, of course. What I meant to say, is that it's quite miraculous that we found that child around this time too. She was born recently too, my lady. The girl would be able to hold and store his Eminence's powers, masking his location perfectly, while acting as his cover-" Cornelius explained.
Dammit, baby brain! Why are you failing me? Wait, I should focus. They're talking about important exposition.
"She's not a sacrifice." Gabriel spoke firmly. "That girl is absolutely not to be harmed either."
"Of course, my lady. I will ensure that her ever need is met, and train her to be ready to fight and flee so she'll survive the life that awaits her." The priest explained.
"...This is wrong." Gabriel looked down, she had a conflicted expression when looking at me.
"It's a worthy sacrifice, that any of us would give, my lady." A new voice spoke. No wait, she was quiet. Just standing there form the beginning. Menacingly.
"Griselda," Gabriel spoke. "All of you can make that choice. That child...she can't."
"Your son is more important, Lady Gabriel." Griselda said firmly. "The life of one person, in return for safeguarding a Miracle Child of a Seraph. What better purpose could she lead."
Wow lady, harsh. That's just fucking cold. Also I just noticed, she's holding a baby in her arms too. Is that the kid you're talking about sacrifice and shtick about? Sheesh, at least wait until she's out of the room.
"But..."
"Sister," Uncle Michael spoke. "There would be no end to those that would try to use him, or kill him if his existence becomes known. The fragile balance between the Factions itself could break if either a Devil or a Fallen get to him." He tried to explain. "Cornelius." He gestured for the priest and he took out a freaky looking cross.
I mean it looked cool in that gothic way. It was gold with a black jewel in the center, but it was sharpened like a knife for some reason with edgy...edges.
"This is the Holy Power Transferor. It is based on studies of the Grigori's Sacred Gear Extractor, but of course, modified to only slowly siphon the energy from your son, and send it to the host child, and to do so without injuring patient's body or soul. It will be done in such a way, that neither would notice anything wrong, so they would both grow up thinking they were a normal human and Miracle Child-"
"What her name?" Gabriel interrupted.
"Excuse me?" Cornelius blinked.
"The girl. What's her name?"
"Um, it's Rachelle, my lady."
Gabriel had another conflicted expression, before looking at me.
"When she's old enough, tell..."
I yawned.
Boy this sad backstory is take way too long to go through.
Seriously, people, I get it.
Magic item. Take power from me and put in girl baby. Girl baby grow up as Miracle Child, while I grow up as Joe Average from Bumfuck Nowhere. Seriously, get a move on. This pacing is so slow.
I was the dagger cross held by my mother over me, but like the cross side pointed at me, rather than the edges. She was slowly lowering the golden cross to me, and if this was a different movie, I'd be worrying she's doing an exorcism.
"No." Gabriel stopped her hand.
"Gabriel," Uncle Michael spoke with a pained tone. "I understand this is difficult."
"They should...at least they should be old enough to understand this and choose it." Gabriel said, and I could have sworn Father Corn and Sister Xenovia's Mom, sighed as if they just had this argument. Although I think it was mostly Uncle Michael arguing.
Dammit brain, why didn't you follow this?
Oh wait, it was boring.
I looked to the side at the girl in Corn Corn's arms. Was it me, or was her breathing shallow? I don't know how babies breath.
Actually wait, how did they discover that she had her Sacred Gear as a baby? That shit requires shounen moments and stuff.
I looked up to the arguing and pleading going on between my mom and uncle.
Right, corrupt church stuff and Heaven none the wiser. Because DxD is a Death World under the softcore porn. Softcore because the author is a fucking coward!-
Focus. Okay, focus.
Right, so what to do?
I grabbed the edgy cross and instantly felt a cut and a drop of blood leave my hand.
Ow. That hurt.
But I held it in with dignity.
"WAAAAAAH!"
"Milo!" Gabriel cried out, and I instantly felt the mother of all warm and fuzzy feelings hit me. Guess that's heavenly healing magic.
"It worked!" Corn Corn cried out, and we all looked at the gold cross to see the black jewel in the middle turn white.
Griselda went and offer her hand to take the cross, and after some reluctance Gabriel handed it over. Griselda gave it to Corn Corn and he gently wrapped the girl baby around it, and then I felt some part of me be sucked, like from a straw, from me to her. And she didn't have to have her fingers cut either.
How's that fair?
Suddenly the girl cried out, and wings appeared from her back. They actually had an odd glow to them, like there was an aura made in the shape of wings around the same place. Weird.
I looked up when I noticed my personal flashlight was still on. Huh, guess I keep the halo. Neat.
"That...will be difficult to hide." Corn Corn pointed out.
"So what are we suppose to do?" Gabriel asked with a heavy heart.
"I...think another connection needs to be made." Corn Corn said hesitantly, then began to apologize at the look Gabriel gave him.
I wanted to sigh. Why are you guys making this so complicated? Can babies sigh?
I focused on the halo, feeling it and...huh. It's like it's a part of me in a way that isn't related to Holy Power.
"The wings and Holy Power are intrinsically linked to our bodies, but the halo is more of a spiritual aspect." Michael explained.
"I see. Yes, it's a definitive sign of his divine heritage. Transferring that over would be more of a challenge. Well not really, but making sure to do so without harming his soul is the difficult, but important part." Corn Corn seemed to be talking to himself at this point.
Gabriel looked down at me, and looked like she was about to cry.
Ah, I get it. The halo represents a kind of proof of me being a Miracle Child, while the wings and Holy Power are the, well, power that prove that shows it. It's basically the last link I have with Gabriel.
I sigh, no wonder she's looking at me like that.
I focused on the halo and...pulled it back.
The adults blinked at seeing my halo go away.
"It seems like we don't need to do anything more." Gabriel smiled.
"Um..." Corn Corn began to speak, only for Griselda to place and hand on his shoulder and shake her head.
Good job, telling the insensitive idiot to shut up, Xenovia's Mom.
A few more talking happened and then I was handed over to Griselda.
"He will be safe, right?" Gabriel asked again.
"He will be well guarded in a way that no one will find or come look for him." Griselda said.
"Gabriel." Michael said in a comforting way.
"I know I can't visit him, but at least I want to look after him." Gabriel said looking down.
It's okay, Mom. You'll be okay. I'll come see you later. Promise.
I waved bye at her, and she blinked in surprise before moving, and holding me again, hugging her, and kissing my cheeks.
Hehe, yeah, I'm adorable.
Looking over to the other baby, I saw her crying in the helpless priest's arms, as he tried to calm her down, actually looking worried. Huh, guess he's not a shady bad guy. Mostly. Probably.
She stopped crying when she noticed me looking.
I laugh for her, and she smiled back.
Hmm, I'm gonna find that kid when I grow up to make sure she's not living some golden cage life, or shounen tragic backstory shit like that.
Finally I was given again to Griselda who began walking away from my mom, uncle, Corn Corn and the sacrificial child (not if I have anything to say about it).
We were walking out of a church that a horrifying thought-Hey, we were in a church the whole time. Wait, it's too big.
This is a cathedral.
What was I thinking about?
Oh right.
As Sister Griselda walked out of the cathedral, a terrible realization struck me like a lightning bolt from God.
I never got to breastfeed from Gabriel's heavenly boobs. My life truly started as a tragedy, and so I cried.
AN: Half way through writing a chapter from Milo's POV I realized it would work better to write a Rachelle chapter of everything till the present time, then a Milo chapter just the same.
As you can see, procrastination won out.