Issei stood in front of the broken window with a smug smile on his face. He gives the remains of the bird's feathers the bird using his gauntlet. Rias stands in Issei's arms flustered as her face glows the color of her hair. She then sees Issei going for another peck, the noise of it melted her as he lets go. "Sorry. I must have scared you" Issei says with a rather soft voice. "I see, so you know about those?" Rias says rather flustered.
"What do you mean? I'm gonna be honest I have no idea what you're talking about" Issei says. Rais looks at him confused as Issei stares into her eyes. "That bird, it was watching us. Someone was looking behind it. Like a camera" Rias explains. Issei laughs her statement off. "Oh, yeah I just felt it" Issei then lightly shoves Rias to the couch. "Woops. I uh, are you okay?" Issei asks.
STOP ASKING!
A loud voice screams in Issei's head. "What is your problem?!" Issei asks inside his mind.
YOU AND I BOTH KNOW WE STILL AREN'T DONE!
Rias: Yeah, you shoved me onto a soft couch. You're an idiot, of course I am okay." Rias says with a soft smile spread across her cheeks. Issei chuckles as he then drops down on top of Rias. "Ouch dude what's your problem?" She asks playfully. Issei looks down at her as he feels himself twitch. "Can I be honest?" He asks. Rias nods. "Go ahead" she says. "I feel bad saying this. But I wanna be angry at you." Rias looks at Issei confused, not sure how to take his message. "Oh" Her face is saddened as Issei's eyes are suddenly off the charts. One is gold and another is green, showing Rias that something is off. "I wanna be angry too, at that soft, pretty face of yours" she says back. He then moves her chin so she looks straight into his eyes. She blushes as she hears those words come out of his mouth. "I just. I need to speak to God." He then gets off as his dark mind plays out the worst of fantasies. "I'm sorry. I think I'm giving into something much darker here." Rias nods. "It's okay. Human trauma is said to be one of the worst things in the universe. You guys have all the other worldly being's respect and sympathy for that." Issei just looks at her like she said something dumb, but then changes his expression.
"We're not that different you know." Issei says to her. "Oh really?" Rias asks. "Not trying to be mean or insult you. You guys are not as special as you think." Rias nods. "No worries, now do me a favor and don't let me coddle you as much or else our new member might get jealous. Even though you are mine I don't wanna be a cruel mistress now." Issei chuckles. " I coddle you when I want you." Rias blushes as Issei walks away.
"Um what's going on?" Asia asks as she enters the room. "Uhhhh, hey Asia! How's the club doing? We're just talking!" Issei yells as he almost bumps into her while leaving the room. "That's how it always starts. It's okay I know she's prettier than me and you're engaged, not to mention she'd do stuff with you and I wouldn't!" Asia yells. Issei finds himself flustered. "Hey, we're not engaged! I'll choose okay?!" Issei yells. "You trying to break my heart Issei?!" Rias yells back almost angrily. "No, I just want a sense of control!" Issei says as he begins to feel the heat of embarrassment. "Unbelievable!" Rias roars. "Please don't take that as jealousy, I'm just insecure!" Asia shouted as she begins to regret even bringing the subject up. She says this as she shakes her head back and forth. Her hair waving like a cape as each perfectly strand of blond hair follows. "Dear Lord, please forgive my sins of lust. Please deliver me from this crush if you plan on having these two married under your church." Rias looks at Asia confused. "Hey now no need to get all spiritual. How are you doing that you're a dev-"
She stops mid sentence and looks back at Issei. He shakes his hands as if to say he's not responsible for anything. Scared she'd whip his butt. She then looks back at Asia as she finishes her prayer. "Amen!" Rias lets Issei's words click in her head. "Devils, huh?" She asks. "Hey, that outfit. Does that mean you go to our school now?" Issei asks as he looks at Asia's new school uniform. "Yeah. My father is on the school board so it wasn't that hard" Rias says cheerfully. "Great. Satan is a teacher." Issei says half jokingly. "You're welcome." Rias says with a sarcastic sassy tone. "No of course thank you!" Issei says matching the energy. He says as he shakes his hands around. Rias smiles smugly at him. As Akeno rolls in a cake. "Good morning everyone!" Yuuto says cheerfully. Koneko then enters the room. "I'm almost glad to see you're not dead." Issei looks at Koneko strangly.
"Almost?" He asks. "Everyone come around. Let's celebrate Asia's new role as one of us now." Issei looks at the cake and gets excited. "Let's go! I'm gonna dig in!" Yuuto grabs Issei's collar and pulls him into the air like a fish on a rod. "The guest gets a piece first." Issei looks at Yuuto bitterly. "Yeah yeah."
That day everything was fine. All went well and the group had a wonderful time celebrating Asia's acceptance. As the party ended it was just Issei, Rias, and Asia left in the club house. Rias and Issei sat on the couch as they stared at the empty cake plate. Issei saw Rias eating what's left of her cake, taunting him as she ate every last bite as slowly as she could. "Hey, I never thanked you. For bringing me back." Issei says. Rias turns away as she felt slightly hurt. "Oh? I thought God did?" she asked. "Even though he did, you still were a part of that" Issei says, which causes Rias's heart to skip a beat. He then gently grabs her face and pecks her, licking some of the frosting off her lips. "You dirty pig, you just wanted some cake! Look now you have some on your face." Issei giggles as his plan for cake worked. He wipes some off as Rias giggles along with him. The two then laugh at each other for a little while before Issei brings something up. "Hey, listen" he says softly. "I uh. I really do feel conflicted though" Rias leans closer to Issei. "What do you mean?" she asks. "Between you, Asia, Akeno, even Raynare. You all had some place in my heart, but all it wants to be is angry right now. I'm sorry that I've been taking it out on you. Accepting reality is sometimes hard." Rias blushes a little more. "A place, in your heart?" she asks. "I just. I'm a very torn soul right now. So if I'm off it's because well. I don't know if I'm able to ever move on from Raynare."
Rias nods, "Oh, yeah I get it." Issei then sighs once more. "This sucks. I really think she took something from me when she broke my heart. This is the worst thing ever! And now it's only gotten worse. I don't know what I should be feeling!" Issei says aggravated. "Issei it's okay" Rias says as she gets closer to Issei! "No it's not. Having all these women around at once, it makes me feel so alive, yet in the end I'm left empty. I wish I kept Raynare around. As revenge. Rias I'm a monster." He then stands up as he looks out at the broken window, where he shot that bird.
"Here I am, wasting your time while some other soul might be out there who will treat you better. Love you better. Someone who deserves you more than I ever will. Yet the truth is, I….." Issei then looks at Rias as his golden brown eyes turn green. "I want you." He then walks out of the room and into the hallway. "I'm sorry Rias. I'm unable to change for you. I just want to live like this now. I don't wanna go back to my old self. I just want to rule with a Harem. My mind cannot make up what it wants, only that it wants everything." Rias leans back as she crosses her legs on the couch. "Hey, quite bringing yourself down. Just get some rest." Issei nods. "Right." He then walks out, the last thing he saw with the glance of his eyes was a Rias trying to put on a happy front, even though she was broken inside. As he leaves the room she looks up at the sky.
"There is someone out there, waiting to marry me. But I know what you're like, Issei. You're a wonderful person. I want you even if it hurts at times. I know you'll return to the light side again. Even if you don't want me I know you'll become someone better. I'll make it happen even if I don't reap the benefits. As long as you are happy, I will be happy, no matter the path you take. Whether I am on it with you or not."
I promise.
No matter what.
Meanwhile Issei walks down the hallways of his school when he bumps into Akeno. "Oh hey" Issei says. "Hey Issei" Akeno says rather quietly. The two look at each other awkwardly. Akeno tries to pass by Issei but he stops her. "Hey wait" Akeno turns around, trying to hide her blushing. "Can we talk, just for a quick second?" Issei asks. Akeno nods. "Listen, about what we did." Issei says. "I was actually gonna say the same thing" Akeno adds. "I kinda realize that it's getting in the way of me and Rias. And even though she said you could have some time with others. It sounded desperate. I didn't wanna ruin something between you if there is any." Issei bows out of respect. "I just wanted to apologize for using you as some replacement. It was very crude and inconsiderate."
"Thanks. And it's all right. We were both selfish. I say we are even now." Akeno says in response. "Great. So I'll see you tomorrow?" Issei says cheerfully. "Yeah, can't wait!" Akeno says back down the hallway. The two wave as they head down the halls. "Right, now for Asi-"
SLAM!
Issei feels his body slammed against the wall as he sees his demonic self taking over.
You idiot. How the hell are you making our Harem!
"I'll use other girls, and Rias can be the-" Issei is cut off by his inner demon.
NO! YOU'RE GONNA DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO DAMMIT! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!
"Nothing is wrong with me! You're the sick one!" Issei tells himself. "The two wrestle out of the building and onto the front yard of the campus. "DAMMIT JUST GO!" He then finds himself alone in a white void as a giant bang sends him flying. He looks around and sees a man with long white hair and a staff standing in front of him. The demon long gone, leaving the boy with his maker. "Woah, you can do that?" Issei asks as he looks up at his lord. "Hey. You said you wanted to speak with me?" Jesus asked. "Yeah. This is all overwhelming me. I thought you only gave people what they could handle?" Jesus shakes his head. "I don't give people demons, or battles they can handle. I deliver them from hardships when they trust in me." Issei stands up. "You know what's on my mind" Issei insists. "I'm just gonna say I don't like it. A harem? You think that'll fill what Raynare took?" Jesus asks. "Money from a lawsuit doesn't replace exactly what was lost?" Jesus looks down at Issei from above.
"So these women are just compensation? Not daughters and sisters to mothers, fathers, and brothers?" Issei begins to tense up out of frustration. "I didn't choose this!" Jesus levels with Issei. "Maybe not at first! But you certainly are now!" Issei clentches his fists. "HOW?!"
"You're gonna need to wake up and take a look at what I've given you" Jesus says as he puts one hand on Issei. "Just tell me!" Issei demands. "You won't appreciate it. Wait." Issei laughs. "Yeah well. I'm kinda liking my will more." Jesus turns around. "About that sacred gear I gave you. You think you could become a god with it?" He asks. "Look, people say it can kill you. Or God, not sure if they mean the trinity or just the father. Either way it was a heat of the moment statement. I was angry! Who knows maybe you're hiding this from me because you're scared!" Jesus smiles as he begins to turn around to stare Issei down. He then walks up to Issei and shows him the palms of his hands and his feet. "You can't kill what won't die"
Issei suddenly feels intense fear as he looks at Jesus. "I'm here to save the world and all of reality. "I'm. Look, I gotta go talk to Asia. Can we just talk later." Issei says as he hurries out of the area. "Hey, wait a second." Jesus says as he hears Issei's voice down the hall. "Thanks for the chat. I gotta go figure out what I'm doing with my life." Jesus yells for Issei. "If you go home you're just gonna fall for your friends' dirty stuff!" Issei looks back and cups his hands ready to shout. "Well I won't talk to them then. You knew I was gonna go make things right weren't you!" Jesus smirks. "Just talk to Asia for now!" Issei then nods. "Right!" He says as he looks down with sadness. "I'll see you around. Can't say I know if I'm the hero or the villain in my story anymore!" Jesus begins to give Issei parting words of wisdom. "Sometimes, the hero's go through a villain arc. It's not okay, but I can make good on what was bad. Struggle creates character, and that is what I desire." Issei nods. "Thanks. Because honestly this might not even be the end of it." Issei responds. He then looks at Jesus with his eyes, about to declare something. "I'm honestly the enemy in your story. I just know it, because my selfish desires will always override what I want."
"In time they won't. Because while you declare yourself as the enemy, I declare you as the hero of your own story. A story that ends with me. A story where I die for my enemies." Issei begins to walk back to Jesus and grabs Jesus's hand. The two squeeze like they're about to arm wrestle. "Can't wait then. Let the person who's right be God." Issei says out of pride. "Are you trying to declare yourself as God?" Issei backs down and tries to spin his statement with humility. "No pride inside of me sir. So if I'm right then I'm God, but if you're God, if you're who you say you are, you got nothing to worry about. My life is in your hands." Jesus just stares at Issei for a solid second. "Go feed my sheep young one. I'm not done with you yet." As Jesus goes to exit the building, Issei tugs on his arm. "I have something to ask of you."
"Then speak boy." Jesus says in a light hearted tone. "I kinda did some stuff with Akeno. Some stuff I regret." Jesus nods as his face grows sad. "I know." He says. "Nothing crazy but, it's still somewhat up there." Issei says as he looks away. "I just hope she is not too attached to me. That I didn't damage her mentally." Jesus nods his head and smiles. "Go speak to Asia." Issei nods. "Yeah of course. I promise."
Meanwhile Akeno was cleaning up in the kitchen when Rias entered the room.
"Hey, Akeno?" Rias asked. Akeno turns around with a faint smile on her face. "Yes?" she asks. She stops cleaning the plate. Expecting another lecture from her best friend. "What now? I'm done with this crap about Issei." She thought. "I just wanted to apologize. I overheard everything you and Issei said. I think I need to take some time off for you, to get to heal what we had." Akeno feels her heart melt. "Rias?" She asks as she turns around with slight tears in her eyes. Rias is the same looking back. "What made him so damn special? He's just a pervert." Akeno asks. "Akeno?" Rias asks with an offended tone as she asks with every emotion active at once. "Rias I. I thought I liked him. But I feel so used." The two suddenly hug each other. Their tight embrace holds their emotions inside their bodies as they both support each other.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't think it would end like this." Akeno says. "Akeno, no matter what, even if you still feel attached. You'll always be my best friend." Akeno looks away in shame. "I think I have what he has. I don't know why we ever took him in to be honest. He's just a reminder that I'll always be brushed aside." Rias feels her heart crack as she shy's away in shame. "What?" She asks for clarity. "I'm never noticed at school like you are, and I'm never noticed in the underworld. I'm always just that hot chick next to Rias, smiling like her servant should be. Just another face to goggle at." Akeno then puts down the dishes and starts to walk away. "It's not Issei that's the problem. It's my situation. I'm going home. I'll be back tomorrow." Rias rushes over to stop Akeno. "Akeno wait!" Before Akeno makes it through the door she turns around as Rias calls for her name. "Just, give him a chance. I'm sure he didn't know how that made you feel. He's been through some stuff. I know you're still kind of mad at Issei and I am sorry! I didn't find him in a perfect state.
"Yeah well. That's not enough for me."
"Akeno come back. Please just help me get these done." Rias cries out.
"Why?" Akeno asks. "I wanna spend time with you Akeno! I don't want you going home hurt! Please." Akeno sighs as she comes back and picks up a plate. "We never make the guys do this." She says jokingly. "They always leave early." Rias says. "Well we're gonna get 'em soon." Rias says. "And not making Koneko do it and you joining her." Rias chuckles. "Okay didn't know you were the boss?" The two laugh as they do kitchen chores together. They suddenly hear Issei walking back into the club house. "What the? What's hanging here?" Issei asks. He looks to see a white pair of panties and a bra. Someone's in that shower. And if I put Matsuda and Motohama equations together, then this belongs to…"
Asia!
He hears the former nuns singing in the shower. Suddenly he feels his head smacked by a lobster.
"AGH!"
"See something you like, you big pervert?" Koneko asks.
Pervert
Pervert!
PERVERT!!!!!!!
Suddenly Issei jumps as those words echo in his mind. Koneko's joke turns into a nightmare as Issei struggles to keep the anger inside. He then hears Asia open the curtains and cover. "Is that my bra?" Asia asks. "Uhhhhhh" Issei says as he struggles with his words. "I think he was gonna put it on and parade it around" Koneko says. "Eeeeeeek! Oh please don't!" Issei blushes. "It's not what you think! I swear I'm not weird."
"I'm not becoming that devil inside!" Issei thought to himself.
Oh yes you are. It's too late. My desires are your desires!
Akeno and Rias giggle from the other room.
"It won't be long before I find a place to stay. Rias said she was even helping me." Issei smiles and nods as he tries to escape the situation. "Right. Hey look I'm gonna go now." Issei says. "And Sniff Rias's panties now? Creep." Koneko adds. "Hey what the hell Koneko I'm not a pervo! Shut up!" Kenoko laughs, her innocent smile destroys any anger trying to seep out of Issei. He finds himself laughing along with her when suddenly horrible nightmarish images of people forming a giant worm out of each other flash in his mind. The disturbing images keep going as Issei finds himself leaving the premises once more. He keeps running until he hears some kids fighting in a nearby alleyway. Five boys pinned two smaller ones onto the ground.
"Man you idiots think you can catch a girl, let alone that hot redhead?" The oldest-looking boy had a backward cap on his navy blue uniform. His cap was red and he had a red tie on. The others also had this uniform. They referred to him as Travis. The one named Tommy speaks up. "Yo let's get out of here. These guys are lame!" Tommy was a leaner kid with a black cap instead of a red one. Boston, a bigger kid spoke up. "No not yet! They gotta know who's fucking that bitch before them!" He laughs as he grabs one of the kids by the hair. He then takes off his glasses and throws him against the wall. "Man screw you! You're just as bad as us!" Motohama yells. "Oh really?!
Boston asks. Two twins, Daniel, and Craig, both walk up to Matsuda. Danial pulls out a knife when suddenly they hear a voice yell at them from the end of the alleyway. "HEY ASSHOLES BACK AWAY!" The five boys all look at Issei as he stares them down. "Issei?" Matsuda asks. "What are you doing? Get out of here?" Motohama warns. "Oh we got a tough guy!" Boston roars. "Get away from them! And don't ever talk about Rias like that again or I'll knock all your teeth out. She's no one's bitch." Issei says with disgust. He then cracks his knuckles in front of the delinquents.
"A lion crest. They're from that private school district. There are five different schools, four of them are private and then there's the public school. They're all gangsters over there. What are they doing out here?" Issei thought to himself.
"Hey! You know these morons?!" Travis asks as he tries to intimidate Issei. "Yeah I do!" Issei says. He then activates his ability as he puts up a fighter pose. "I said get away from them." Boston cracks his knuckles as the five all walk over to Issei. "Man this guy must be looking for trouble! This is gonna be sweet!" Boston yells. "I bet he likes that red head you've been eyeing" Daniel points out. "None of you will ever get to look at her you understand?!" Issei yells, Travis then narrows his eyes as he puts together what Issei is saying.
"Kill him."
"ISSEI GET OUT OF THERE!"
Issei rushes at Boston as he goes for a bear hug bone crusher, his signature move to breaking as many bones in so few hits. Issei dodges his grasp and punches the boy in the face. As the giant crashes to the ground Craig picks up a trash can while Daniel grabs the lid and uses it as a shield with his blade as a sword. Issei leaps off the shield and kicks the makeshift knight across the alleyway. Craig throws the entire trash can with all the garbage in it at Issei. Issei dodges it and lets the giant object hit Travis. He then rushes at the thrower, and slams him into the street. This causes a car to swerve. Leading to the driver calling 911.
Hello 911!
"MATSUDA! MOTOHAMA! RUN!" Issei then feels a stab in his back as Danial finds a home for his knife. "ISSEI!" Matsuda yells. "WE'RE COMING!" Motohama adds. Issei feels the knife and compares it to the intensity of a light spear. He then turns around and stares the kids down as his sacred gear forms around him like an iron suit. "What the fuck are you?!" Daniel yells as he begins to realize the knife had no effect on Issei. "You better get out of here" Isseo threatens. His teeth grit as the five boys run for their lives. He then pulls out the blade as he stands over his two friends. "Issei?" Motohama asks. He holds his hands out for the two boys. They each grab on, finding themselves pulled off the ground. "You guys alright?" Issei asks. "I don't understand? Why would you-" Issei cuts Motohama off. "Oh come on. Would you have let them kick my ass if it were me?" Issei asks with a cheerful smile. "I wouldn't be able to fight." Motohama asks. "I guess not with Motohama's logic." Matsuda adds. "It's fine, look you get my point right?" Issei asks sincerely. He pats Matsuda's shoulder before disabling his sacred gear. "What even is that?" Matsuda asks.
"Oh this. It's uh, complicated." Issei says. "Issei?" Motohama asks. "Yeah?"
"What's been going on with you?" Motohama asks. "Look what I did to you guys." Issei begins to enter an inner monolouge. "Just lie to them, there's no way I'm over that shit yet. But it's better to not show anymore animosity than to keep this war going. I need healing. Turn the other cheek."
"It wasn't right" Issei says. He then turns around and holds out his hand. "I'm sorry." The three just stand there as they hear police sirens barreling down the street. "We should get out of here" Issei suggests. "Yeah, yeah you're right." Matsuda answers. He takes Issei's hand, giving it a firm grip. "We'll see each other around, right?" he asks. "Yeah. Talk to yeah when we next catch each other." The three all flee as police cars pull up. Three cruisers unload some officers who scan the area, only to find no one left. "Those lion crests. They're part of that rough part of the Financial District. Where all the rich kids live, but the mafia kind. Right now I need to go home and just take the day off."
No more devil work.
He then gets a text and sees a message in his inbox.
Hey, it's Rias. Add me to your contacts. Tomorrow we're gonna train you since that last fight shows us that you need to get stronger. How does five sound?
Issei: Five?
He texts her back.
"Sounds crazy" He says before he hits send, however right away he then sends another message.
Issei: Sounds good cya then.
He then puts his phone away.
"Jeez, this is such a force." Issei thought.
Rias: Great, see you soon.
She hits send before putting her phone away. She then looks at Asia who's wearing her nun outfit while Kenoko plays against Yuuto in chess. "So Asia, let's have a chat about the sleeping arrangements." Asia looks at Rias confused. Rias returns almost a strange confident smug smile. As if she was trying to convey something. Asia misses the mark and doesn't take Rias's hints as she just stares at her. "Rias, I can tell this is some kinda passive aggression against me. But what exactly is causing this?" Asia thought.
Meanwhile Issei walks by the school campus and sees some missing flyer posters fall off a telephone pole.
"Man, they're getting worse every day. And now we have a mercenary group making life harder for us as well. What's going on?" Issei thinks to himself on his morning commute to school.
To be Continued.....