Disclaimer: I don't own DxD and all of its characters as they are rightfully belong to Ichiei Ishibumi. Any references you will find in this story are also not mine.

(It's still) CASE I:

Never Jump Into Conclusions And Traps

Ise's POV

Another day, another school.

Normally, I'd arrive at the front gate in no time. Meet with my two narcissistic, perverted friends; Motohoma and Matsuda. We're gonna start the usual random conversations, such as: "Why are we still here, just to suffer? Everyday I can feel my penis raging as I watch the girls' breasts bouncing as they're passing through the gate...It won't stop hurting...

I WANNA TOUCH THEM!".

That sorta thing. Once, Motohama and Matsuda shouted such words while in the public. I remembered some girl immediately heard and stomped right towards them, turned their heads into jelly in a satisfying result. That had me laugh for hours. Ahh, good times, good times.

Karma then hit me out of nowhere for laughing at their misfortune, cue the Kendo girls incident two days ago. And yesterday, as I introduced my 'girlfriend' to both of my friends, they went all mad and jealous - starting to curse me. That time, I had a slight thought Karma would come around and say 'hi!' to my face.

Karma slap me in the face again like a bitch by showing that my so-called GF was a supernatural entity and tried to straight murder me for a goddamn reason. What the actual fuck, Karma? Why did you do this to me, why!? Have I ever done something wrong-

Ah, I did do something wrong...

"I'm off..."

Heading out rather like a zombie, I closed the door behind me. My mother had been worried about my condition and told me to stay at home for a day. No school for today? That sounded great!

I'd love to do that. However, I kept forcing myself to go with all my limbs and body aching. So, with a concern look on her face, I bit her farewell. Two feet away from my house and I can feel she has a troubled look.

Sorry, mom. I have a problem to be solved with-

"What were you doing? The school will start within 20 more minutes and we're gonna be late."

Came an impatient voice from my side. That person, a year older than me, crossed his arms and leaning on the wall near my home like some cool guy. Without his usual fedora, I felt like I wanna punch his handsome face away from this planet, sending him freezing to the galaxy, until he lands on a different planet with a small amount of oxygen for him to live. Alone. I hope there's an alien living there and started to do the same as I did.

Shotaro suddenly pushes me and forcing my poor body to walk our way to school "Get your ass moving already."

"Stop pushing me, handsome bastard." I weakly frowned, my words were turning into a mutter. Shotaro could barely heard it, but he seemed to understand my situation well as he shakes his head.

"Yare, yare, your symptom still hasn't gone yet? Ise, you're weaker than I thought." I wanted to shot his insult back, only an irritated sigh came from my mouth. I don't even have the strength to speak now.

He continues followed with a sigh, "This is the result of forcing your Sacred Gear out using Mizuki's terrible method."

Ah, right. Mizuki and my 'Sacred Gear' that causes me to become a wimpy limp-ass teenager.

A day ago.

"Anything you knew it wasn't real, are real."

"S-So you mean, Demons, magics and all mythcial creatures, even Vampires, exist?!"

"Yes."

"Does that also include Godzilla as well!?"

"No."

"What about Mermaidma-"

"-No..."

"...Is Ultram-"

"No."

Mizuki answered my questions. Her voice is slowly becoming one that sounds like a lion. Whoa, where did this dark atmosphere come from? It's suffocating us to the point I felt limbless.

"After 300 questions and most of them are repeated, are you going to buy my limited book, or what?" She narrowed her eyes sharply at me.

I think I have crossed the line I shouldn't do. I hastily shook my head and murmuring, "sorry" to her. She was left disappointed but soon rolled her eyes and returning back to her own book as she sat comfortably on the sofa right next to me. Gee, I hope she doesn't hate me...

Shotaro, who was whistling a tune before as if he enjoyed what happened, snapped his fingers to gain my attention while sitting on his work table.

"You're watching too many shows. Just, look, I'll give you the basics - Gods, Devils, Angels, Fallen Angels and Vampires are real, get it now?"

As I arched my brows, looking troubled, I found the table in front of me to be interesting. "I...I..."

Mizuki sighed. "Told you to buy my book for a better understanding with supernaturals."

"N-No, it's not that - I'm already getting it..." I shook my head. My face is currently riddled with emotions as I reminded with an unpleasant memories.

"Confused why your girlfriend wants to kill you?"

I nodded at Shotaro's slight sympathetic voice. "Yeah...I wanna know why Yuuma-chan, of all people, wanted me dead. I mean, what the hell...?!"

"She's not Amano Yuuma. That's a fake name with a cringy meaning if you translate it. Her real name is Raynare." Mizuki chided in.

"And you have something special inside your body." Shotaro's voice sounded serious as he crossed his arms.

"What do you mean?"

"Sacred Gears." Mizuki replied after flipping her page. "Anomalies placed by God of Bible into each souls of every humans in this world. They can come in many shapes or forms. Every Sacred Gears have their own uniqueness and prowess. For one of many examples, Canis Lykaon has a body of a wolf and it can become a weapon such as swords for its owner to use."

"Once a person reaches his potential, they may obtain their Sacred Gear's Balance Breaker; a stage where its power becomes stronger, higher than before. That is, if you're diligent enough to train yourself everyday or having an unbreakable will."

"Capisce?" Shotaro asked.

"..."

"...Don't tell me, after all she had explained, not a single info absorbed by your brain?"

After the room was flooded with dead silence for a moment, safe Mizuki's page flipping, I reluctantly stood up and-

"THAT'S AWESOME!"

-raising my fist to the air!

"..."

"I don't understand about the whole Sacred Gear thing, but it sounds REALLY CO~OOL! Just by imagining it pumps my heart! Guys, can I get the power like Kamis Ryokyawn-something like that, too!? WOW! CAN I SUMMON SWORDS AND THROWING THEM LIKE ARC-"

SLAP!

"Guhyaaa!?"

As if Thor's hammer had pummeled me down, my poor face hit the wooden floor roughly. It hurts...it hurts, dammit.

"No indoor voices, please."

It was then I noticed the culprit was Mizuki and her green sandal as she calmly sat back after saying something nice and polite.

"I-I'm sorry, Mizuki-chan..." My voice was muffled.

I bet she really hates me now. Oh, no, the last thing I wanted to do on this Earth was a cute imouto to hate me to depths of Hell...Again, I'm so, so sorry...

"Yare, Yare...Kuoh's friendly wind isn't riding with me now." He ran his finger on the tip of his hat. There goes one of Shotaro's cool lines. "Guess the crows wanting to kill Ise was that he has a rare one."

"Eh?" I sat on the floor, a sudden realization hits me. "I have a rare Sacred Gear?"

"No, duh." He deadpanned. "It's because you may hold a dangerous weapon inside your soul so the Fallen Angels are scared shitless."

"That's why...Yuu-...Raynare did all that..."

"Well, look at the idiot finally manage to piece the puzzle."

"Don't insult me, you detective wanna-be!"

"Who're you calling detective wanna-be, you lecher!?"

"Indoor voices..."

"-Yes, ma'am/Mizuki-chan..."

After the dread, the handsome prince coughed on his fist. "It was just an assumption. There's several guessing in my mind now..." He coughed again. "In any rate, we're gonna try to unleash your Sacred Gear."

I blinked in surprise. "What? You serious?"

"Yeah, I'm kinda interested with what you have and why the crows know about it. Wouldn't you agree, Mizuki?" Shotaro has a nasty smirk on his face that screams eager. Mizuki just nodded in response.

Then, I have a question on my mind as I stood up.

"Do you have one, too?" I asked Shotaro, who blinked his gray-blue eyes out of blue (Sorry).

"Of course, I have." He simply nodded. "That sword you saw before is mine."

Oh, back when he swung it like a mad man being chased by giant hornets.

"Alright, alright, let's get yours up and running." The prince clapped his hands, walked around the table and took something out of his desk. "Stand on the middle the room."

And stand on the middle I did. Mizuki closed her book and her eyes lured at me. Her face is full of interest unlike her bored look. I think she wants to witness the marvel of my awakening. Goddamn, I'm so excited!

"It's gonna be easy and simple. Just don't freak out prior to the process..." Shotaro lowly said while fidgeting with his phone. "Try to imagine the strongest being - it can be fictional or real."

"The strongest, huh..."

Who will be it? Goku from DBZ? He's my favorite character alright. The way he has the energy ball with a size of a goliath on his palms are so cool!

...But talking about who's the strongest, this is a real deal. Lots of anime I've watched and the characters all have different powers. So, if I gather the whole lot of them. Then the most powerful one should be...Seiya? Man, this is just too frustating to me!

Ah! What about caped baldy? Yes, yes! As much as I love DBZ, baldy is the most OP of all anime & manga characters!

"Okay, then, what's next?" I asked with a grin.

"Oh, try to imitate his/her pose."

"Eh?"

"Don't 'Eh' me, just do as you was told so."

"That's not what I mean! Are you taking a picture with your phone?" I pointed out with my finger at Shotaro. He took an aim with the lenses to me this whole time.

"This is a standard procedure." He repiled normally and his face showed anxiety. Eh, what kind of procedure? "My device can calculate your power level, so that we'll know how strong it is."

"Wait, it can do that?"

"Ask Mizuki in case you don't believe it. She invented it herself." When I looked at his little sis, Mizuki cutely tilted her head. "C'mon now, Ise. Don't leave me hanging here."

"R-Right..."

This is it, huh. Adrenaline pumped my heart - I can't wait to see the result. Although I have the slightest doubt of failure clouding my mind, I won't let it to control my whole body.

Here goes nothing!

"-Uwoooooooooh! ONE PUUUUUUNNCCCCHHH!"

My determination echoed around the room as I thrust my fist into the air. Whoa! What's this!? My body is surged by an unknown force. Is this it? Is my Sacred Gear going to come!?

Clunk!

Huh...?

"Nice, nice one, Ise..."

"Wha-what? What's going on?"

Detective wanna-be is giggling like crazy as he stared hungrily at the device's screen. On the other hand, Mizuki grinning like a feline, looking at me as if she grew a pair of fire horns.

Shotaro replayed the vid-...Huh? Video of my recording!?

"Now I have my revenge! Gyihihihihi!"

"Let me see it."

Both brother and sister looked at the screen like kids opening their Christmas presents. While I'm here standing in confusion. Did I fail? Nah, just look at them happy faces. I'm sure everything is oki-doki-

DID HE JUST SAY REVENGE!?

"Oi, oi! What the hell's going on with both of you!? Don't tell me that was all a trap!" I pointed my finger accusingly. Shotaro inhaled some oxygen as they stopped laughing their ass off.

"Well, nothing's wrong. It was all complete."

"Complete? Then where the hell is my Sacred Gear?"

"About that, you haven't awaken it yet."

"WHAT!?" I growled at them. "You bastard! You tricked me into doing such embarrassing style!"

"On the contrary, it's your fault for being too stupid to be blinded by our ambush." He shrugged before grinning madly like a certain psychopath. "Joke's on you, Ise. I am now going to spread this disease to everyone like you did to me. Oh, I love sweet vengeance! Gyuhyahahahaha!"

"Gh...! Y-You son of a bitch!"

Argh! I'm ashamed! This is too embarrassing that my cheeks redden. I can't believe Mizuki, of every cute imoutos, could have possibly trolled me and making that cheshire grin. Is your hatred on me grows bigger than I thought, Mizuki? Uu...

"Though, I won't do that..."

What Shotaro said gives me a bit hope.

"REALLY!?"

"Yeah, not for now."

"Kuh..." My shoulders slumped...

After Shotaro placed his phone on his pocket, a small chuckle left him. His gaze then became much more serious.

"Your body is too weak for using number one general method of releasing it." Mizuki commented. "It has 1% chance of it. I have a doubt that you would success, and I was right."

"1%!? Why are you suggesting me to do that if it's so goddamn low!?"

"Because everyone else can, but not you. You are too weak... Either that, or its just powerful as I expected." She said harshly. I was depressed when I thought she was insulting me.

"So, are there any other ways?" I absentmindedly scratched my head. At that point, her brother clicked his tongue and frowned.

"There is. But, well..." Shotaro took a moment to glance at Mizuki who started to walk towards me. "It's gonna be unpleasant..."

W-Why unpleasant?

"Sit down on the floor, please." Mizuki commanded and I hastily do so. How can I resist her wish after she said "please"?

"Good." She nodded. "Now hold still."

"Woah, woah, woah - Time out!"

I motion my body away as I noticed her palm were coming towards my forehead and breaking my stupor. The only response I got was a monotonous "what?" from her lips.

"What are you gonna do to me?" I remain cautious. "You guys aren't laying another trap for me again, are you?"

"Nope." Shotaro popped his mouth while shaking his head. "This time, we're not gonna trick you or anything - trust me."

"'This time...'" I rolled my eyes. And you call yourself a detective of justice, Mr. Criminal? After you tried to blackmail me, hm?

Noticing I was about to spark another war, Mizuki impatiently sighed. "Can we continue your conversation later, boys? I've got better things to do and I don't have all day."

Shotaro just shrugged and sat down relaxingly to his chair. On the other hand, I fixed my position and rubbed my cheek.

"Should I do, like, clearing my mind or somethi-"

"No need."

Her petite hand suddenly creeped onto my forehead. The instant she did it, I was flying.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wai-!"

I was pushed back with an incredible force.

...

The sky is blue with clouds floating.

The land is green as grass dancing.

The wind blows; the air trembled.

"Huh...?"

Where am I...I was in the douchebag detective's house. A bit blurry on my sight, but mountains as far as the eye can see. And my body - I can't feel it - I can't even feel anything! What the hell is this place?!

Oh my fucking God, am I dead!?

All of these doesn't feel like Hell at all. I mean, where's the Devils and their tridents? I don't see any of those red creatures. This must be Heaven then... I-If this is truly Heaven, then maybe...I might be reborn again on Earth as a human?

Ah, I hope I will be born again with a dick; I don't wanna be a girl! No offense but there are several reasons of having a penis that you girls will never understand!

"Hello there."

"Kyaaa!?" I swifted my body around just to see the familiar little sister. "M-Mizuki-chan?"

Her shining golden hair flowing gently as the wind blows, her bright eyes. Plus her flat chest telling me that she is indeed Mizuki with her long-ass green coat.

"Once a pervert is always a pervert - stop staring, please."

"Gah! Sorry..."

She warned politely, yet her look screamed, "I'm gonna slap you with my green sandal until you pathetically bleed, motherfucker!"...Sort of that. It was scary.

"No, I won't slap you with anything. I don't think a sandal can drop a blood."

"Oh, a-ahahaha...ha...Wait! H-How!?" My face has shown a mild surprise. "C-Can you read my mind!?"

"I pushed out my astral form out of my physical body and transferred myself into your spiritual world using my Sacred Gear. With the help of World Library, I'm able to access anything once I entered your soul. Every single thoughts that cross your mind, every memories you have - I see it "

"Eh, what do you mean?"

"When I'm in a person's soul, my Sacred Gear becomes a similar level of Balance Breaker. You can't read my mind; I can read yours." Mizuki sardonically smirked and gestured around. "There's no point in lying anymore in this place, Issei-san. This is my world."

Astral, physical, whatever - I don't understand a single thing of what she said. But man, talk about scary! Mizuki-chan is really terrifying! It's like she's an evil Goddess or something!

"Evil? I won't consider myself as one. The word 'villainous' may describe me well." She said flatly. "Now then, please follow me."

"O-Okay..." I soon took a step and moved my ast-whatever body. It feels like I'm floating and my feet isn't touching the ground like normally. It's so weird and I kinda sick...

"Uhm, Mizuki-chan, where are we going exactly?" I lowly asked. I hope she heard me.

"To where your Sacred Gear is being held. Every souls are like a bunch of datas and God placed a tiny cheat code into them that we need to crack in order to use it."

...What?

"In a nutshell, He threw a black ball inside a basket filled with white balls. We need to find the former ball and take it out."

Ah, now I get it.

Seriously, this place is nauseating as every time I walked (?) to nowhere on this grass. My stomach's tingling. I sometimes lost my sense of touch.

"Oh, my apologies. Here let me help you."

Mizuki raises her hands and- CLAP!

"Better?"

"Uh...I feel slightly better, but I don't think it was directed to me."

"Of course, it could have hurt our sights if we continued to stare at something small and slopy."

"I honestly don't get..." I stopped and took a fine moment as I witness a black wooden door in strange carvings and symbols I don't know. I could have sworn the huge wall plus the door in front of us wasn't there before.

"Ah, there we are. It shows itself up to us. How generous..." Mizuki had a sarcastic tone and approached said door. She twisted the handle and swung it ope-

Black. Eternal darkness engraved and swirled around those figures. Standing, crouching, sitting and twitching all around the room. These things - these abominations are the nightmares themselves. A mere gaze could traumatize men and women - haunting them forever and ever.

"Could it possibly be...?"

They snarled.

They begged.

They crawled.

They cried.

They cursed.

I breathed out. The air is suffocating and my shoulders weigh heavier than a ton of bricks. Even Mizuki shuddered from the pressure.

!?

They noticed.

Surprised, I suddenly yelped and fell onto the ground. Those hooded figures didn't stop and kept creeping towards us in flash. Mizuki immediately acted as she shut the door. The force from the wooden door almost thrown her away.

"We hit the wrong neighborhood." She grunted and tried to shrug the tension off. "This isn't the right door."

"W-What the fuck was that all about!?"

"Remember what I told you about the black ball? It was contaminated; past possessors of your Sacred Gear are trying to get you, controlling you, and then getting rid of me." She frowned. "Bothersome...they acted like a defense mechanism as if I'm a virus."

Mizuki was so calm and collected all the time. But this, this is the first time she looks extremely worried. Scared as if she doesn't have the power to control all of this. Then, that means she's in danger!?

"No, I certainly have." She shook her head. "If one of them comes out of nowhere, I can hold them off - but not for long."

I slowly got up and we awkwardly yet quietly stayed away from the door.

"Mizuki-chan...you mentioned something about 'past possessors'?" I asked. I then noticed the whole area we're walking isn't covered with nature, but a long and dark hallways with walls painted red. The lamps won't help us clearing the darkness away as if it was meant for a mere decoration or accessory.

It confuses me how everything would change in a blink of an eye. This place sure takes the weirdness up to eleven...

"Take the words literally, Issei-san. There were the previous hosts. It's a rare case for a person to have their soul trapped within their own Sacred Gear after they die." Mizuki looked around for any signs of anomaly. "Probably got trapped because they were addicted to its power - too stubborn to let it go. Either that, or there's something else."

I gulped. Man, I thought this Gear thing would be cool but damn, never expected there's a dark story behind it...

"There it is." Mizuki titled her chin forward as soon as a large sized red door.

"Uh...are you sure it's gonna be the right one this time?" I said cautiously, worried that the same accident will happen again. To my response, she walked towards the door with no single care.

"Have some faith in me, Issei-san." She grabbed the handle but soon stopped. "Oh, yeah. Once we're inside, just shut your mouth and let me do the talking."

"W-Why?"

"-Do as I told or I'll leave you outside with 'them' around."

"Please no!"

"Very well..."

She's easily opened the large door that is twice our size.

What we saw next is fire and fire everywhere. A blaze that could not be set down by a mere water. Nor it could perish anyway, anytime.

But what's more, around the flames...We encountered a red giant. No, a fucking dragon. A literal dragon!

"I knew it." Mizuki muttered. "The Heavenly Dragon, Y Ddraig Goch. To finally witness you by myself is so... satisfying."

Oh, I don't know which is more terrifying. The slightly insane smile of Shotaro's sister, or the preying eyes of the red dragon.

"You have some nerve trespassing here, little girl."

The dragon speaks!

"I appreciate the compliment." Mizuki shrugged off, earning a glare from the dragon. "Although there are few things I need to ask mainly about you, the most important question is that I want to know why Boosted Gear didn't show up right after he tried to awaken it. What hold you back?"

After she said it, the dragon's head moved slightly to the side as eyes looked down upon me. I swallowed hard as fear rushed across my body.

"The brat's still weak. I will not force my raw power out for him to use... I will not take the unnecessary risk that could end both me and my host."

"Reasonable, as he is not a hybrid and just a normal person with a human body." She nodded. "But would it be an excuse when there's danger around him?"

"True. However, the amount of my power would be unstable for him to handle and in the end, his body will not take it. Before the battle even starts, he will kill himself from within." A grim voice escaped his large mouth.

Kill myself!?

"What are you saying!? Am I gonna die of overload!?"

"What did I tell you about..." I ignored Mizuki's sigh and her audible facepalm. I just focused on the gigantic creature in front of us with pure dread.

"Yes, that's what will kill you."

"But I-"

Mizuki halted my words. "How about we make a bargain, Ddraig-san?"

"...What bargain?"

"Lesse..." She tapped her chin. "From what I gathered, one of your past hosts was a frail woman who had a disease, an asthma, I believe."

"..."

"An accident happened - She was stranded alone in an island and was being hunted by a pack of werewolves living there. She was sad and scared like a baby. Took no time for the hungry wolves to finally found her and-"

"How can you know that?"

"-that's when you tried and forced yourself to show up and not wanting to let her die. You were putting too much strength and damaging her body, her asthma only worsen her condition. At the end of the story-"

"ENOUGH!"

A furious roar from the dragon enough to jump-start my heart and yet another fear rushing throughout me. Mizuki, on my side, didn't faze away and kept staring at the angry mythical creature. There are no signs of sympathy in her eyes; only pure monotonous contentment.

"...She died."

Mizuki flipped the switch. I was expecting a horrible attack from the dragon, but no. Ddraig had a sign of burning rage on his eyes. However, it was soon disappeared when he closed it.

"...I did not do that for myself."

"You were trying to save her but failed, I know." The little sister then bowed apologetically. "I am truly sorry for rubbing a salt to your old wound."

"The old wound was no longer here, little girl." Ddraig chuckled bitterly. "I can see your point now. Very well then, I will give just a small amount of my power to this boy. In the meantime, you will have to train him to become stronger so he will truly be worthy of wielding me, the full strength of the Red Dragon Emperor."

"That's exactly our plan, Ddraig-san." Mizuki gave a nod before switching her gaze to me. "Let's go back, my job here is done."

"A-Alright...That's quick but sure was something..." I rubbed my neck. "So how are we going ba-!?"

The moment Mizuki touched my forehead with her palm like before, I was catapulted with a speed that can put a certain speedster to shame.

Present day

Shotaro's POV

"Yeah, you'd be better soon. It happened with one of my clients." I patted Ise's back for comfort...or uh, I just made him wanna puke.

"Really...?" His palm muffled his voice, but I heard him nonetheless.

"An old man complained that a spirit once possessed and stayed inside him. Sure we aren't exorcist and I politely told him to find a right person for the job."

As I remembered that useless time, I sighed. Mizuki insisted and stated she was interested and...y'know the rest. Said spirit was actually a former hobo who died alone in a sewer somewhere. The reason he fell down was, well, he was high on drugs.

Mizuki, in astral form, went to his soul and pulled the hobo out and the old man didn't feel so good. I know too little about the details - my little sister said nothing more of it, and giving me only the skin of the information.

"Shotaro, I can get inside a person's soul and know their memories! But I will never share to you how it works!"

A bit sting on her words but...I wished my sister would say that in a cheery sound like my childhood friend, at least. And not after she gave a small info, and then coldly said, "this doesn't concern you." Uhk! My heart!

"Oh, I'm sorry. Does it hurt you that much?"

Do you mean it?

"Hm. No."

Figures. It didn't sound like you at all.

I took a moment to send a gaze at Issei on the corner of my eyes. A skeptical look escaped my face as I remembered Mizuki's explanation of his Sacred Gear.

One of the thirteen Longinus that can kill a God - Boosted Gear.

Mizuki was smart enough to summon a barrier before he could unleash it. A small amount of force he emitted can attract outsiders. How in the name of fate can a powerful artifact get stored inside this pervert? I will never know. I mistaken his Sacred Gear was typical Twice Critical due to it's being a simple red gauntlet and a green orb on his left arm. I sensed a tiny power. It's there but you can't see it.

He has the rarest weapon. A legendary red Dragon is resting within him. One of the Two Heavenly Dragons that could split the world in two during the Great War - Ddraig and Albion. Their rivally relationship still continues. They fight until one of them lost or dies and the winner will wait for its rival to find a new host and come battling again.

This cycle will not stop unless the world ends immediately.

I do wonder if there will be a peace between both of them. An endless fight sounds boring, but for a dragon? To them it's called a rave.

We need to get this idiot ready. Else, he's going to lose his life. It's already a destiny that both Dragons should fight. Mizuki have a small intel on the existence of White Dragon. Few 'Keywords' given to World Library; few informations we get. We only got his race and his location.

A human hybrid - half-Devil. To top it off, he's currently staying in the Grigori's territory. Looks like the Fallens manage to get their hands a Longinus. Hope none of the factions spark another goddamn useless war again.

As much as I loathe this guy on my side, I must protect Hyoudou Issei at all cost. It is my job as a detective, a human...and as a friend.

"Is that Date-Senpai?"

"What's he doing with a pervert!?"

"Khpuu..!?"

I realized we have arrived at the front gate of the academy, and that broke me out of my thoughts. We're in front of a school, already? It felt like just a minute!

"Aaaaah! Don't tell me Senpai's gay!"

"Sniff! Senpai has been tainted. I can't be with Senpai, anymore! Sniff! Sniff!"

Nooo...! Just because I walked with a sick lecher, it doesn't automatically mean we're yaois!

"I wonder if Senpai's an Uke or Seme..."

I wonder if your neuron is functioning right, my lady...

Whatever - We're arrived in the main lobby now. They will understand. Sooner or later, they'll know the noble reason of my awesome job as I am protecting a useless human-

"FUCK YOU, ISSEI!"

-life! Watch oooouuuut!

Smooth reflex controlled my arms and I replaced Issei leaving his dust behind. The sick boy is right in front of me, standing still, whilst the bald assaulter missed and crashed onto the wall face first and fall flatly.

"The traitor escaped from the God hand, it seems." A 2nd year student fixed his glasses as his lens shined. One's bald, one's glasses? Ah, these must be the Pervert Trio, minus Issei here.

"I shall take him on by myself! Eat this! Hiyaa-"

Blinking, I picked Issei's body with no difficulty and we merely stepped to the side. Dude, he's light as a stick - even his whole body acted like one. Does the side effect really this worse than I think it is?

"-aaaakk!?" And he crashed onto the same location right beside his friend and falls flatly.

"Yare, yare..." I shook my head and smiled wetly behind the scene. "This is what I call a good morning."

3rd Person POV

"Date-senpai whacked The Peverted Duo without even touching them!"

"Why is he with the other pervert, actually?"

"I don't know either."

"JAPAN WON AGAINST COLUMBIA IN YESTERDAY'S MATCH, BITCHES!"

"..."

"...That was something."

Rias blinked at the lively event. From the balcony, both she and her friend-rival, Sona witnessed the private detective pushing Issei out from their line of sights. No doubt the latter's face was pale like white sheet.

"Your plan on reincarnating him failed."

Leaning on the column on her left is her friend-rival, Sona Shitori. Of course, it is a fake name of a fake family. She's actually a Devil from Sitri clan - A heiress, like herself. Has a sibling who are both Maou Lucifer and Leviathan. What differs the Kings are their life situations.

And everything seems terrible on Rias' part.

She had planned it top to bottom; from sending her familiar to gave him the Devil leaflet and sending her Rook to observe the human and the Fallen, and told her to protect him in case if something bad happened. If it was worsen, Rias would immediately teleport with the help of the magic paper and turn him into a Devil.

The card was folded and she was over confident that the next scenario Issei would become her servant. She had bet on it.

Over confidence destroyed her pride and prediction.

Date Shotaro robbed her title of the savior and took the boy away.

She was shocked - a bit mad even. However, she's just awfully glad that poor Issei's life is safe and sound as she saw him this morning. Not just that, she might have a chance to persuade him to abandon his humanity and thus become a reincarnated Devil that will save her from the arranged marriage. She can sense a disturbing aura around the boy that, according to Koneko, smelled akin to a Dragon.

Rias wanted him so badly for her own salvation against Phenex.

However, destiny came down and slapped her so harsh it pained her until now; Shotaro shouldn't have been there...

But is this the time to regret? No. She still has another plan set up that will not involve with trading lives. She just doesn't have a heart to kill an innocent just for her own greed.

Rias will never dare to stab a student's back, let alone a famous detective who has done everything he can do protect the peace of Kuoh. Without the Dates around, this town could have thugs around.

Yes, the Gremory had finally found an archive of Date family in her school library, much to her surprise. What's more, the Date estate was the one of the first family who stepped on this land and has been living on Kuoh for years - even long before Cleria Belial governed the town.

Looking at the year, the bizarre family could be connected to Youkai faction as Kuoh was once under their care and they may have some relation with the Churches. That's why Akeno could sense a small yet familiar presence of an old Shinto magecraft before it faded away back in the abandoned factory.

That means Shotaro is a Youkai? Her Nekoshou didn't say so, but it is something else entirely. For Rias, it is a strange raw power akin to Stray Devil.

"So it'd seem." Rias sighed from her nostril and turned to Sona as a sudden realization hits her. "Are you planning on recruiting him as well?"

"Perhaps." She shrugged. "I already have my eyes on a candidate but, another one wouldn't hurt, would it?"

Sona flashed a smirk of a challenge as she adjusted her glasses. The light, reflected by the sun outside of the windows, from her lenses bothering her. How many times she has done that? Ten, hundreds, thousands - Rias lost her count. How did this girl and all other people can do that and not Rias Gremory!? Oh, come on, she wanted to look cool in those shades, too, like that mecha anime character.

"I will have my hands on him, Sona. I still have a plan." Rias had her confidence back, but it was too little to be noticed by her rival, and her bitter gaze is still there.

'Hope it will work...'

"..."

The class is about to start soon and they better get going. But with those depressing aura coming from Rias? It made Sona sigh as an idea crossed his mind.

"I have no work after school for today, fortunately. You want to go to the usual place?"

Hearing this, Rias' sullen gaze was replaced by a bright look as she stared at her. "'Crab Battle' with sushis?"

"Add some sauce."

"And an extra mustard."

"Mhmm..."

"..."

"..."

""My treat.""

Simultaneously, the words came out from the girls as they are staring at each other.

"How about we take a bit time for chess match and the loser pays for dinner? Deal?" Yet again, the Sitri flashed a small smirk.

"Deal." Rias easily accepted it and winked.

And thus, both heiresses made their way to the class.

'Having friends around me feels like home...'

Shotaro's POV

It is now 6:00 PM on my phone.

Class ended three hours ago and I am just glad it's over. A horde of cute female students gathered around and started questioning me once the bell rung. People had been imagining what it feels like to be in my position as if I was a star who commited a scandal...Well, it's both annoying and gives you anxiety as whether your career will end along with your reputation. You can't do anything about it.

I have a feeling random rumors of me and Issei will spread like a wildfire and it won't go down anytime soon...

How humiliating it would be; it will not stop my wind and I'll keep riding until the end of the road. I won't be worthy as a detective of Kuoh if my pride matters than the people.

This is my hometown - I will guard Kuoh like it's my mom!

...or sister, or father, or any member of my family!

"You can't even save your own food..."

I don't bother to reply Mizuki as we walked towards a familiar hospital on this gray pathway.

"Err, Shotaro. I think I'm already fine. S-See? I'm good as new!"

Issei, right beside me, showed his bicep and patted it - healthy and back to normal again. Yet I kept walking without care even if he stops behind, sooner or later he will follow the suit.

"Why am I going to crappy Toyama hospital all of a sudden after you talking to...well, 7 people?" The idiot muttered, loud enough for me to hear it.

Masao's murder case hasn't been solved and I need to capture the killer fast. My hunch tells me he/she will move away from this town and/or taking another life. The words that came out from Masao's associations are pure negativities, even speaking of his name leaving a bad taste on their mouths.

Well, he had borrowed tons of money from almost every citizens around the town and he had promised nothing but lies and lies. I know those 7 people and they are nice folks who had helped my late boss in his several cases. Their eyes speak the truth.

The lastest place we went was the gambling den, which is out of question as we cannot enter for a reason of we aren't older yet. Even after I showed my badge, the security guard still insisted on letting only me in. That was troublesome. I also think Masao hadn't had the balls to borrow money from that place. Based from Auntie's perspective, the owner is a tough looking old man with an eye patch who has a body of a wrestler...

All roads lead to this hospital. There are surveillance cameras on each floors. Auntie said they couldn't find anything with those useless footages. Well, adding the fact that they are all aiming at the stairs to see people going up and down gave them nothing!

There's also a certain gardener who I need to question.

"Not for you, I need to find the culpirt behind the death of Masao."

"Who the heck is that guy?"

"Figures. You don't watch any news, do you..."

"Yeaaa- Nope."

Shaking my head mockingly to Issei as we arrived at the front gate, I professionally flipped down my badge at the security guard and he nodded, letting us in.

"Show off."

I ignored my friend's irritating eye roll.

There's no chalk outline nor there's any police line anymore and the 4th floor window was replaced with a new one, as if the whole incident was a dream. Kuoh Police Department really thought this was a suicide, automatically declared this case was closed yesterday.

"Really, I'm dead tired now - can I just go home?" Issei placed his hands on his knees as he took a breather.

"The Fallens want you dead, you think I'd let that happen again?" I sighed and ruffled my hair. Part of me feels incomplete without my fedora and my usual suit. "Everything would be quick if I had my bike here with me...It was all thanks to you."

"Oh, sweet. You're welcome." He deadpanned as I immediately halted our movements right behind one of the step stones that lead to a small greenhouse. "What?"

"Whatever you do. Do not. I repeat: Do not step on the grass."

"...Okaaay." He slowly nodded weirdly at my fair warning. I nodded back and we carefully step on the stones without damaging her grandsons - the plants.

"You need to form a sensible approach and not repeat the same mistake like Makura-san. She might be the final key."

I have a thin chance. One wrong move and we'll lose it.

"Exactly. Try not to get hit by a shovel."

Will do, will do...

Coincidentally as we reached the small green house, the door swung open and the granny is there, brows arched at us.

"Hello, madam! How do you do? My name is Date Shotaro, and this is my buddy, Hyoudou Issei!" I grinned widely and wrapped my arm around Issei - TIGHTLY - and forced him to introduce himself.

"Ack!" He waved at the old folk. "H-Hey there..."

Being friendly is the good way to get inside a thick-headed person. Especially when you are dealing with a stubborn old woman.

She blinked! Yes, we got her! Now onto the next step.

"Hyoudou...You're Hyoudou's son."

"...Huh?"

The granny pushed the confused me and approached the surprised Issei. For an age like her, she sure got some muscles.

"Look at you all grown up."

And then, as if the memories came back into his mind, Issei gasped. "Y-You're the granny who gave me flower when I was 8! Nonoko-obaa-chan!"

"You know her!?"

"Boom. Plot twist."

Shocking even! Didn't expect this pervert who had met an unapproachable old bone such as this granny. Ah, this will be a way to ask her some questions!

"How's your father doing?" Nonoko asked nicely with a smile that could water away her wrinkles.

"Oh, well, the 'usual'."

"Hm...the 'usual', eh?"

And then they loudly laughed to the sky. I don't understand what their short conversation was about and I don't want to know a single thing about it, or I'd be tainted.

"Hate to break in on a lovely moment..." I chided in. "but Nonoko-san, mind if I ask something regarding Masao's death?"

"Hrm?" In a sudden, she grunted. However, her hostile nature had disappeared the moment she spoke to my friend. "You should leave the dead alone, kid."

"Yeah, I should. But letting this town flooded in tears as the culpirt is still around? No way I would let that happen."

I had seen her slight hesitancy the moment our gaze met. Nonoko knows something important - a secret she's unwillingly to hide from the ears of the public. The reason could either be she's afraid of surrounded by multiple roots of interrogations or she was threatened. Considering how she acted, the latter is strong on this one.

"...You sounded the same as that detective."

She knew Boss, too!?

"Don't look so surprised. Almost everyone around knows him and his job, including me. A stunning and cold man he is but he does have a heart."

"Sounds like Boss, alright..." A grim voice escaped my throat as I averted my gaze a bit.

"You... look like dead, Shotaro." Issei had a small concern look and put a hand on my shoulder. "You okay, man?"

"Grab a hold of yourself...Past is the past. There's nothing you could do about it."

"...Right. I'm fine - I'm okay." I wavered. Nonoka then, sighed and started walking back to her greenhouse as she left the door opened. "Where are you going, granny?"

A few seconds later as we heard her scrambling for something, her voice echoes from the house.

"I saw a person throwing something outta hospital's window."

Although it didn't matter to Issei as he doesn't know shit, those words shocked me instead. This could be the key!

"Do you know who that is?" I instantly asked as she walked out again.

"My eyesights are blurry, detective. I couldn't see the man's face clearly..." Nonoko tossed me a small glass bottle and I almost couldn't caught it. That was dangerous! "I found it in the bloody thing lying on my precious plants."

I wavered my suspicion from her to the bottle. It was cracked after the fall, it'd seem. There's no liquid left as I shook it.

"Henry's...Cleansing?" Issei muttered the brand before noticing something horrible at the small skull. "Is this a poison...!?"

I grimly nodded and looked at the granny and about to ask for something yet again, but she walked passed us in a hurry.

"That's all I could give to you, detective. You kids better go home already, the sun has already set down."

"Wait, do you know which floor he was at?"

And she left us confused with her stubbornness back. True to her words, the sky is dyed orange and the ray of light is slowly losing itself.

"Rub off your bitter disappointment - bring it back here quick...They usually show up around this time. Without your full arsenal, you are nothing to them, Shotaro."

I inwardly sighed and heading out of the scene. "C'mon, Ise..."

"So," He immediately brighten up. "We're finally done?"

"Maybe so, maybe not."

"...Goddamit."

As soon as the sigh escaped him, I bid farewell to the security and later, we found ourselves walking to Issei's home. Although my house is far away from his, and it'll take 30 minutes on foot, the safety of this boy is more important than my personal problem.

...

"I wonder if I can use my power to strip-..." Suddenly a hand grabs his shoulder and stopped him. "O-Okay, you hate it. I'm not gonna talk about it whenever you're around..."

Something's wrong with the air...

"Shotaro...?"

A killing intent.

"Issei, I need you to cooperate with me. Once I distract them away, you run. No matter what happens, don't look back."

"I...Is it those Fallen Angels?" He sweated and I silently nodded. My body is on high alert as I gaze around through the darkness.

Just my luck. Without my guns, I'd be powerless against them. I still have my sword ready...

"..."

I have faced this kind of thing a couple of times before, why does everything feel different? Shit, why am I doubting that I will fail to protect this pervert?

"Pathetic."

This is no time for a bickering!

"If you can't even save a life, then you're not worthy of being hard-boiled. I'm sure he would say the same."

"What about you...!?" He whispered.

"As cliche as it sounds, I'll be fine." My voice was slightly hesitant and bitter.

"Like hell you will." Issei frowned. "What if yesterday's mistake happens again?"

"Yesterday is the past; today is the present. Everything will be different this time."

"Kh! Don't try to act cool in this kind of situation!"

"I'm not trying to act like one, idiot. I'm acting the way I am!"

"Wha... That's the same meaning, handsome bastard!"

Just before I could retort back, black feathers fall on top of us and flap of wings could be heard. Someone landed in our front as a man in a dark trench coat slowly stood.

"Well, well, didn't your parents ever tell you not to go out during this kind of time?" He properly fixed his fedora and retreated his wings back.

"Tsk. Can't believe he copies my style..." I muttered before realizing an anomaly as I narrowed my eyes sharply like a falcon on his small written brand on his hat.

Lucards...

"He even bought the hat at my favorite store!"

"You're worrying about it!?"

Our voices were enough for him to noticed.

The Fallen smiled and closed his eyes. "Ah, I see you're a man of fashion as well."

"At least my sense of style isn't edgy like yours..." I spatted at black hat, black coat, black pamts and black social shoes. It left a bad taste on my mouth...

"Raynare mentioned some guy with 30's fashion and a detective." He chuckled. "Looks like it's you, huh...That means the person beside you is the Sacred Gear boy."

"So you work for Raynare." I said cautiously. A heating sensation rushed on my back - I'm about to call my Sacred Gear if things go hot.

"Work for Raynare?" The man in black grunted, a face of disgust appeared. "Oh, please, I don't work for anyone. Especially not from a weakling."

He has a thin friendship, no surprising. He seems like a guy who works independently and fights alone rather with a group. His intent on killling shows he's so confident in his own strength.

-Over confidence can destroy ourselves from within. He's alone and no signs of his friends around, which is going to be more easy to run and escape quick. If we keep this soon-to-be battle for so long, they'll probably come as a backup.

"You're breaking a territory without a permission. A Devil's territory, on top of that. Don't you worry that you'll start another war?"

"To be truth, I don't care at all." His smirk was unsettling as Issei gulped. "So long as I can fight to my heart's content and survive. Another Great War won't bother me."

"Now I can see why you fell from the paradise uptop. It's sad, really." A pity look plasted my face.

"I chose this road, kid; not you." He dismissed my condolences before raising his gloved hand to his side. Immediately, a Spear of Light manifested on his palm. "Enough talking. My name is Dohnaseek - I shall end you in an instant."

This is it. An unavoidable battle will start. But more importantly -See? His overconfidence let me towards his name D-...D-...Eh?

I raised my brow. "Do not...seek?"

"Dohnaseek."

Issei then, snickered beside me for some reason. "Pfft, Donut-Seek. That's funny name...!"

"I told you it's Dohnaseek!"

My friend bursted out in uncontrollable laugh. Oi, oi, can't you see this is a real deal, Issei!? You're gonna get me in a big mess!

"D-Donut-Seeex!"

...I'm starting to regret everything. Jesus Christ, help me.

"Go help yourself, my child."

Haha, I love it when you can get along, but this is serious!

"Pardon my friend's impolite behavior, Donut-san-"

"It's not Donut; it's Dohna."

"-As much as I hate this guy, I will not let you take an innocent's life - whoever that is." I said coolly as I ran my finger on the tip of my-...my...Uu.

"Hah! Can't be cool without your fedora now, Shotaro?"

"S-Shut up! Even without my hat, my spirit is still hard-boiled!"

The footsteps coming from the Fallen disturbed us. With a smirk filled with malice he has, Donutseek's getting more closer on us.

"Hey," I elbowed the pervert. "Ready yourself."

"Yeah!"

Issei stood beside me like a brave man.

I have a hidden ability of measuring a person's IQ just by looking at them. Did I just made it up? Yes. Did it really work? Sometimes. Now, let's gauge this lecherous bastard beside me, shall we-...Oh, Neptune. He has an IQ of a peabrain. That's a good news! May God bless him for this gift!

"Ise." I robotically rotated my head from the moving crow to the stupid. "What are you doing?"

"Eh?" Letting out a dumb sound, he blinked. "Helping you, of course?"

Even he questioned himself?

"With what?"

"My Sacred Gea-"

"Wake up. You've no any sort of battle with beings you barely know, and you're volunteering yourself to help me !?" I shouted.

"You ask me to stand around, doing nothing while you'll get your ass kicked?!" He shouted back.

"Even with a small amount of power, you still can't do anything...-And my ass kicked? Heh! You haven't seen any of my moves yet!" A smile of confidence appeared on my lips.

"Kh, you cocky son of a bitch. Wipe that grin from your face!" Ise clenched his fist as if ready to strike me.

"Oho, I will when you agree with my plan."

"What plan...?"

"For the love of!?"

Sensing a danger incoming, I hastily moved him to my back out of the cross fire as the spear travels through his former position. The wall behind us was destroyed after the tip of the spear made impact.

"Hey, hey...you aren't worried Devils will come and bite you?" I noticed he hasn't create a barrier yet. This could be my chance to get Issei out of the danger zone and hide him.

"No need. I told you I will end your life in an instant." Donutseek produces another spear on his hand.

"Dude, you just missed." The lecher peeked above my shoulder and muttered such calm words.

"I'll say this again:" I whispered. "Once I distract him, you run to safety."

A gale of wind was gathering on my back - starting to form a long silver sword. This demonic-styled weapon is a mysterious Sacred Gear of mine. True to it looks, the blade is able to cut down any light. Effective against Angels and Fallen Angels.

What's the reason for this dark artifact doing inside my soul? For making me edgy!? No, I hate it! There are differences between hard-boiled and edgy. Edgy style you can find on teenagers hitting puberty, for example, this Donutseek guy.

God, I appreciate You to put me such useful item for this kind of situation, but this is too much. This is a god darn excuse for me to favor my customized Light-guns instead of my sinister sword...

"What the hell!?" Issei suddenly and forcefully turned my body as I stralted. "Then, what's use of my awakened power for?"

"It's to defend yourself." Flashing a glare to him, I faced the Fallen once again.

"Isn't this the right time to defend myself since this guy attacked us?" Issei complained, rather with a logic, while gesturing to Donut.

"Look, the little dragon's starting to learn."

"You're... probably right."

"See!? Now the-"

"But I won't let you endanger yourself!"

"Oh, come on!"

With that, I gripped the handle of my sword over my left shoulder behind and charged to the crow. Donutseek blocked my downward slash.

"This presence...your sword has a demonic aura, hm?" He muttered as sparks flying out of collisions. "Looks like you have a Sacred Gear, too, boy!"

I grunted as he pushes me back to my last position like a butter. His strength is no joke.

"I must say, meeting two users at the same place and a same time makes my work more easier." He chuckled darkly.

"Just what are your intentions?" Issei's balled his fist out of frustation. "Why the hell Raynare wants us, especially me, dead!?"

"Calm down, Ise. You'll only provoke him." I frowned at him getting all red.

"She was technically ordered by higher-up and then asking us for help. Pitiful she didn't know she was tricked by fear. Hahaha..." Donutseek laughed in amusement.

Tricked by fear? What does he mean by that?

"I'm getting bored. You better give me some hell of a fight, kid." Edgy Angel pointed his Spear of Light on us.

This is bad. I begin to doubt I would hold him off. Motivation is a dangerous potion that could lift our spirit. And now he eagers to fight us more than before is troublesome.

"..."

Noticing the click of my tongue, Issei snickered and wipe his nose with his thumb - looking confident all of a sudden.

"I could do whatever the heck I want - You're not my brother; you're just another cocky prince I wanna punch right in the face!" Issei smacked his palm with a shit-eating grin. "With this power I have, I will protect myself...and my friend I cares about!"

"Ise..."

I was in complete shock. Never ever in my life had I wished for the old Issei to be back. I thought he has fully changed into a disgusting male. I'd be glad if just a small fraction of his child personality returned to him.

And now my wish has been granted.

"And with this power, I will become Harem King! Bwahahahaha!"

...My blade will be a slow death - I need my guns to shoot myself right in the head.

"You and your perverted mind." I exasperatedly sighed but a slight smile was on my face. "Well, if you want to be here with me, don't charge head on and just protect your own ass from the crow."

"What about your own? Your ass needs protection from being penetrated by a light stick, right?"

"Can you stop your negative thinking?"

"Nope!"

"Hmph..."

Humorous smiles crossed our faces. Issei then raised his left arm to the sky.

"Here it comes! SACRED GEAAAAAAR!"

His shout could alert the neighbors, but we don't care.

The last time was prior to his awakening and unevolved Boosted Gear manifested on his arm. Now, Issei's about to summon his gauntlet for real. His burning determination radiates from his body. It admires me a bit.

...

...

Moments later, nothing happens.

"Huh?" Issei lowered his arm and glanced at it. Then, he raises his hand again while shouting "Sacred Gear" out loud.

"Sacred Gear! Sacred Gear! Sacred Gear! Sacred Gear!? GEAR!?"

"..."

"Gear Sacred! ...SHAZAM! BY THE POWER OF GRAY SKULL!?"

"You're embarrassing me..."

"Ryu Sei Ken!"

Donutseek wasted no time to launch another spear to us. I frantically swung my blade up. Lucky enough, I managed to hit it as the spear disperses into sparks of light.

"Ise, if your Sacred Gear won't show up, let us go back to plan A." With my demonic sword on my left hand, I readied myself to charge again.

"Wait, what's plan A?"

I rolled my eyes. Ignoring the cry from him, I ran forwards and made my move by swinging my blade down hard. My intention is to disarm him and knock him out cold real quick before he could even summon another spear.

I mustn't decapitate this Fallen without any clear reasons. The leaders of Grigori would be suspicious. And since me and my sister's existences are like humans - they're probably gonna blame the Devils for their missing spies. Devils would counter them easily by saying they were trespassing.

Don't know much about the leaders of the Fallens. Unless Grigori would simply saying sorry to the bats, another battle between two factions occurs soon because of my mistake.

No bloody way I'll live with another sense of guilt.

Grunting between each blows I took from Donut's bright lance, he pushes me back slowly. I almost failed to block a quick thurst on my face. In a result, my cheek was grazed as the spear passes my blade.

My frustation is building up - regretting every moment in my life that I didn't bring Fang & Joker every single day on my back!

"It's illegal."

I KNOW! I don't like swinging this thing like a baseball club!

I lowered my head down from a swing, and I counterattacked by slashing upwards. Donut immediately raised diagonally to defend himself. The demonic aura cleaved his spear into two before it vanished into particles.

That's it. I'll pummel him to sleep!

Using the pommel of my sword, I swipe my left arm and hit his face hard enough to send him crashing to the wall.

"!?"

A disturbing sound of flesh penetrated by something sharp enters my eardrum. The sense of pain emerged and rushed through my body as I dropped my sword.

Half-manifested Spear of Light hit my left shoulder and ripping off my blazer and shirt.

"Damn you...My spare clothes hasn't been cleaned yet!" I held my shoulder and stopping it from bleeding. Eh, it could stop soon - my wound's nothing major.

"O-Oi, you alright?!"

"Hmph! 'Tis but a scratch!" I responded with a cocky smirk at Issei's concern face.

"Smug bastard..." He huffed and crossed his arms. "So everything's done? That was quick. Let's go home already."

"No, not yet." I tilted my head to the literal Fallen in rubbles. "I still have to get this guy to talk-"

"You're still soft and unskilled, boy."

I opened my eyes wide and turned around. A set of wings flapped and shielding my eyes with dust.

"Gah!" I quickly rubbed my sore eyes. "What hell is this?! I can't see anything!"

"First, I will slay this weakling friend of yours!"

Donut's voice was of glee behind me. At the same time, my sight was cleared and I ran towards Issei.

"Get out of there! He's targeting you!"

"Uwaaah!"

Goddamit, Issei! Why do you fall down on your butt!?

"I got you!" The tip of his spear shines in front of Issei's trembling eyes.

No, no! This won't happen! I'm getting close - but it's too late. If this keeps up, my friend will die!

However, when Issei raised his left arm and shielding himself to no avail-

Dooon!

Hope is still with us; a brilliant crimson light emitted from Issei and blinding us for a moment. As the brightness slowly fades away, I lowered my arm.

Unexpected to see the pervert can block the sharpness with his arm. No, it was something that is protecting both him and his limb.

A red gauntlet and a green orb on its forearm - His Boosted Gear.

"His desire is way too ambitious than we thought..."

BOOST!

There was a fire in Issei's eyes as the Sacred Gear let out a sound from its jewel.

A power of a dragon flows in his body.

"Twice Critical? Is this low tier Sacred Gear is all...you..."

The Fallen Angel - from a face full of mockery to a mild surprise, Issei grabbed the rod with his free hand and moved it without a sweat.

"W-What the!? How-"

Issei retreated his gauntlet back.

"ORA!"

With a powerful thrust, he knocks the Fallen away to the sky. His body sun like a ragdoll and Donut tried to balancing himself with his black wings.

"Your Sacred Gear..." Donut coughed between speeches. "isn't normal...!"

"*huff*...*huff*..."

I managed to get in front of Issei and recalled my sword back as it vanished on the ground and appeared on my right hand. His body is shaking like a tremor. Guess that small power tires him a lot.

"He's not a Devil, Shotaro. It will take some time to adapt Ddraig's power."

"I see. I see!" Donutseek then laughed. "So this is Raynare's fear...You really have a dragon living inside you, boy!"

I narrowed my eyes. How did the Grigori know about this?

"It makes me more eager to fight both of you at once!"

Crap, he's getting hungry...

"Issei." I called. "Can you stand?"

"Y-Yes..." He slowly stood, only to fell down to his knee. "No, I-I don't think so..."

The only option is to carry him out of here. But not only my injury would slow us down, Donut will certainly catch us by flying. There's no place for us to hide, too!

What should I do...What should I do!?

Our opponent dives down and approaching fast. Dammit all! Looks like I don't have much choice other than slay this crow. I'll leave the future problems later!

Just as I raised my sword - red magic circle formed between us.

"...!"

A blondie rushed out from the circle and stopped Donut's Spear of Light with his own blade. The new guest singlehandedly pushes the shocked Fallen away from us with his sword skills.

"Are you alright?" The savior asked kindly.

"Y-You're...!"

His pretty face. His blonde hair. Wearing our school outfit? Yep, that's Kiba Yuuto. If he's here with the magic circle behind him-

We suddenly heard a sound of thunder, and a burst of lightning came out of the circle, moving forward to the charging Fallen Angel. Seeing this, he reflexively stopped his actions and dodged to the right.

"Ara, ara. I missed..."

A disappointed-yet-playful voice sounded as the person who casted the spell walked out. Her long ponytail-

"You don't need to describe the Himejima to me."

-then that means...

"Devils?" Donutseek spoke out of my thoughts. And then, he widened his eyes at the incoming projectile.

A spoon is coming towards him like a bullet as he merely tilted his head as the utensil passes while holding his fedora.

"Missed."

"Don't worry. If you train hard enough you can do it~!"

"Nn."

Himejima responded nicely to the monotonous sound. A little girl who has an extremely similar size like my sister came out as her short ha-

"Again, don't describe her to me - I already know their looks. And please, never use me as an example, it creeps me."

Finally, a certain redhair stepped out.

"Mr. Fallen Angel." She stood in front of us and the magic circle vanished. And, a wind blows her hair and-

"P-Panties...Black."

With a shaky breath, Issei closed his mouth as his cheeks redden. And it fueled him up, plus his fatigue has gone, somehow.

"Hm?" He stared at the girl for a moment before fixing his posture as he soon realized who she is. "Ah, Heiress of Gremory. Good evening to you, too."

"What are you doing? Hurting innocents in my territory?" Gremory dismissed his sudden-politeness with a bit sarcasm on his voice.

"Oh, just following orders from a Fallen friend of mine, Raynare." Donutseek had a nasty smile on.

Something tells me he's hiding something disgusting. He talked Raynare lowly like a bug before, but now? What is this - why he showed his fake friendliness to the Devils?

"That isn't enough to answer my question. Why are you hunting the boy with Sacred Gear?" Rias threatened by unleashing a demonic aura - the Power of Destruction is forming on her hand.

"It's simple: 'Fear' is what drives her."

"That again..." I muttered as Issei frowned.

Rias narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean by that?"

"I will speak no more." Donut then turned his gaze to us. "Our time is enough, boy. We shall meet again soon. Until then, farewell."

He soared to the sky and leaving the feathers on the ground.

"He left off with his belongings lying around..." Akeno pouted and Kiba smiled wryly, clearly don't know how to respond to that. "Now it's getting dirty and all."

Oh, no...

Rias smiled. "Well, we can clean it later. But first-"

This is not good.

"E-Eh? Gremory-senpai and Himejima-senpai! Why's the Two Great Onee-sama here!?" Issei yelled out in surprise as he got up. "And Toujo-chan, also..."

"It's so nice to finally meet you-" Rias turned and faced us.

It is the worst!

"-Hyoudou Issei-kun, and Date Shotaro-san." She smiled beautifully.

"S-She know us...!?" The pervert cautiously took a step back.

Jesus, help me.

"Help yourself, my child."

...We always stay on the shadows and avoid their detection. Of all times and places, why did they show up when I haven't planned anything? Well, I'd like to thank them inwardly for saving our asses - without them, we were going to end up in a human kebab.

"I would like to talk to you regarding this 'incident'. However, it's already getting late. So, how about we start tomorrow? I will send someone to escort both of you to our place." She sent a quick look to her Knight and Kiba nodded in response. "For now, you two should go home."

"That means we can go?" I said with a steady tone. I sounded like Issei for a bit but just to make sure...

She nodded. "Don't worry, no harm will get you two during your walk to hom-"-

Wasting no time, I swiftly carried the bloody pervert on my back, then-

"NIGERUNDAYOOO, ISSEI!"

"Wa-Wa-Wa-WAIIITTTT!"

Piggybacking him to his house as fast as possible and letting the Devils to bite my dust.

"Oh my, what a nice companion~" Akeno giggled whilst the Nekoshou nodded.

"Buchou, you don't think they will run away like that again?"

"I hope not, Kiba." The Gremory smiled wetly. "I hope not..."

2 years I've left this story. There's other two I have yet to continue. If only someone can slap me everytime so that my writing can be fast and perfect. Or...d-don't slap me, just give me your motivation juice and load my tank. mmm? MMMMMMMM?

JesusThat'sAWorstWayToAskSomeoneToReview. I was so focusing on my Fate and DAL stories (Game Start! will hold until further notice.). I'm in a roll with those two. Especially when I have a big plan (torture) for my OCs.

Those who have waited, I had given you a new chapter. It may not what you expected to be, but...well, it's an update! Yeeeey! :3 Also, I had slightly edited chapter 1&2 and changed some things, such as "Sparda". That made me cringe so much and remembered how stupid and unoriginal I was. Now that I mention it, there are so many unoriginallity in my previous works. I hate my old self...

Sorry isn't gonna cut for updating this story for such a long time. I won't blame my new job or during my school days. That'd be a childish thing to do. So, I need you to blame me. Yes, me! It was also my laziness and my slooooow writing. Sometimes I got stuck in a sentence, and I was wondering around to pick the right words and not repeatedly, choosing the same words over and over again. Thank God Almighty for Google.

This is a natural habit of mine that hard to die. In bed, in show, in my office, I can construct a plot in my mind. But when I opened my document, I am like a new-born baby who doesn't understand a word.

Welp, my time for my pathetic ranting here is up! Hope you enjoyed it and I'll see you guys in the next chapter!

Buh-By- Why did I sound like Markimoo?

"..."

Mizuki sighed.

Taking Issei's consciousness out of his soul burdened her too much, her hand was in flame. She needed a small time to recover her psychic back.

Entering someone's body wasn't easy and simple as she thought. One must clear their mind from thinking too much before and during their time in someone's soul. Failed to that, you would return to your own body, or worse, trapped in subject's soul forever until someone who knows how to do the same get you out.

And the subject would suffer a major headache and dizziness, this is the result of forcefully entering their soul and dragging them along. It's weird when she didn't have the same symptom. Shouldn't it be the other way around as she got the disease instead of the specimen? She was trespassing into their soul - shouldn't there be any punishment or something?

"...Little girl."

Ah, how can't she remember the badass-looking Heavenly Dragon with his badass grumpy voice?

She faced him up. "Yes?"

"Are you so desperate to see my true power?"

"What?"

"Don't you dare lie to me, I can see it from your eyes." His red eyes narrowed with small fury. "It speaks through you."

Is Ddraig still mad after Mizuki exploit his privacy, somehow? Probably. Will the Red Dragon attack her now? No. They have made a promise. And the dragon respects promises. Should she break the contract for no clear reason, hell hath no fury when the Red Emperor scorned.

Mizuk sardonically smiled at the thought. Truth be told, she has never seen a dragon so angry it could tremble the earth and her heart. Exciting. Interesting!

"Yes, that's true. My dearish wish is to see both superior Dragons fight. Wouldn't it be interesting to see you and the White one meet again?" She said honestly.

Ddraig could hear her curious, and somewhat innocent, voice among these heat that surrounding both of them.

The dragon closed his eyes sympathetically. "You'll regret it, little one. Our battle could shatter the stars and ending all life. Are you sane enough to witness it?"

"Of course not." Mizuki shrugged. "It would be fascinating to see. But, I'm not foolish enough to let it happen. I just want to see mini-you in a mini-battle, that's all."

This little brat is strange...

"I see..." Draig dismissed his thought and closed his eyes once again.

That was a short and nice conversation. She wanted to ask more about the dragon. But, Mizuki's time in here is almost over and she would love to see Issei's Sacred Gear manifested on his arm. Also, with his gloomy atmosphere because of her, she'll return in the future. She can feel it.

Now it's time to-

"Wait-"

"What is it?"

"I know your face from somewhere..." Ddraig said. "A long time ago."

She didn't reply to his words for a while and merely blinked. Know her? They were just met for the first time in her life.

"I'm sorry, it seems you're wrong-"

"You're lying again." Ddraig narrowed his gaze suspiciously. "Tell me the truth, little girl. I won't ask again."

His threatening did not bother her a lot. She simply tilted her head-

"Ah...Is that so. This horrible truth can't hide forever...I guess God really hates me so much, huh..."

Ddraig was slightly confused at her words.

This girl smiled at him, but it was not filled with curiosity. It was hollow, blank like an empty space.

"Fine then, I'll tell you." She shrugged her shoulders.

However, her body began to disperse slowly as she will return back to her physical body.

"I have it in my veins. A filthy blood flowing inside my body, and my body alone. What's evil and what's good, mixed in a single body. It's so disgusting. Or so people thought. But you know what's more ironic? I'm still alive. And..."

Her hollow smile is gone.

Her face is lifeless.

Her body is fading away.

"I have the same blood as the one who put you here."

...

She has vanished.

Deep down, Ddraig had regretted his chance to burn her.

To be Continued