"Issei and others talking"

[Ddraig talking.]

Thoughts

Song lyrics.

Taken from light novel vol 10; Issei's POV

"….Ise, will you protect me?"

…..Why do you ask such a thing suddenly…..? I don't know, but my answer is obvious!

"Of course, I will protect Buchou!"

"…And Asia?"

"Eh? Yes, I will also protect Asia!"

"And Akeno?"

"Akeno-san? That is obvious. But….. What happened, suddenly asking me such a thing?"

I don't get it. I don't get what Buchou's intention are at all.

But, Buchou asks with a lower tone.

"…Hey, Ise."

"Y-Yes…."

"…To you, 'what' am I? 'Who' am I?"

….

I don't get the meaning of this question….. But, to me…..

"….Ummm, to me Buchou is Buchou and-"

The moment I said that.

"-! Baka!"[3]

She scolds me mixed with a sound of her crying. Buchou rushes away from the spot, and she left the clubroom.

"Rias-oneesama!"

Asia goes after Buchou.

Asia turns to me after she reaches the door. Her eyes…are soaked with tears. Why is Asia crying…?

"Ise-san! You are horrible! It's too much! Why can't you…..! Why can't you understand Onee-sama's feelings!?"

Saying that, Asia goes after Buchou.

….

Having Asia also say that to me, I just stood there dumbfounded.

….Wa, wait a sec! What's the meaning of this!? Why is Asia also mad at me!?

"That wasn't right, Ise-kun."

Kiba makes a sigh.

"….N-not right as in what?"

"That, precisely. Geez, you are so….. I can understand very well what the girls are going through."

"Exactly. It's natural for Rias and Asia-chan to get mad."

Akeno-san also sounded mad. Even Akeno-san….?

"Even I, who is dense at these sorts of things thought you were a bit off, Ise."

Even Xenovia looks at me with her eyes half-closed!

"Mou! Ise-kun, sure is a no-no! Poor Rias-san!"

Even Irina was mad.

"….You are the worst."

Ooooooo! I just received the coldest "You are the worst" quote from Koneko-chan!

I don't know what I did wrong! I just don't know! To begin with, maybe I should go after her?

I tried to leave, but I was stopped by Akeno-san.

"The current Ise-kun will just hurt her more even if you go after her, so don't."

…..Seriously?

Is it that serious? B-But….. It's my fault right? My fault…

I really don't know.

No, I actually have a 'maybe' kind of guess, but inside me that possibility is very unlikely…..

It's basically impossible, that's why I don't understand….. Shit! I started to get confused even more thinking about it!

"…Hey, Gasper. Am I really bad here?"

I asked my junior. Gya-suke says it in apologetic manner while twitching his body.

"…Umm…. Yes, I think you are very bad….."

Even Gasper says that to me!

I felt down. –Then Ravel asks while panicking.

"U-Umm…..this is my mother and my fault, right…? I'm sorry…."

Is it…Ravel's fault? It seemed like Buchou tried to leave after the communication between the Phoenix mother and child…

Akeno-san places her hand on Ravel's shoulders.

"Ravel-chan doesn't have to worry about it. Ise-kun's the most at fault here because he never tried to think about the crucial thing between Rias and himself until now."

Akeno-san cheers her up like that, and she started to prepare for tea after urging Ravel to sit on the sofa.

It looks like I'm the biggest villain here.

…..Uuu, what am I supposed to do?

Mandatory song: Fear Factory - Final Exit.

3rd person's POV

Instrumental Intro:

"It's quite an experience, to hold the hand of someone as they move from living to dead."

Derek Humphry

"Final Exit...
The practicalities
of self-deliverance"

Issei was now walking down on a forest, as the rain started to fall from the sky.

Your Life no longer has any value

Why did everyone gang up on me like that?

Let them tell you what your own life is worth

What have I done wrong? I am not sure what happened back there.

There is no compassion as life fades away

[That was very uncalled for in their part.] Ddraig spoke to him.

This self deliverance the choice you have made

No Ddraig, I f*cked up this time. Which is why…. I am going to die for them. He thought determinedly. And please, don't tell me to stop.

[You know, I don't like this idea of you committing suicide, but I support your decision, even though they're not worth throwing your life away.]

Thanks, Ddraig.

Contemplate your last breath
As you see the face of death
Contemplate your last breath
Breath, slowly breath

Not long before a certain fallen angel from his past appeared in his mind, and said "Would you die for me?"

Yes, I will. Raynare!

Goodbye

SCENE CHANGE: OCCULT RESEARCH CLUB

The pain in your life I cannot perceive

"Um, Kiba-senpai." Said Gasper timidly, sometime after Issei had left the clubroom.

"Hmm, what is it Gasper?" Asked Yuuto.

"Do you, I mean, was it fair for all of us to gang up on Issei-senpai like that?" Asked Gasper.

"What do you mean, Gasper? We didn't gang up on him." Replied Yuuto.

Crimes of humanity I see and believe

"Well, I mean, he did seem to be really confused." Added Ravel timidly.

"Hmm, you have a point, Issei did seem to be genuinely confused, but why?" Added Xenovia.

"Do you… do you think we were a bit too hard on him?" Asked Irina.

"Well, Issei needs to understand how Rias feels, it is important to all of us as well. If Issei can't admit his feelings to Rias, then how is he… oh no." Said Akeno, suddenly coming to a realisation.

"What is it Akeno?" Asked Yuuto curiously.

"Issei couldn't admit his feelings to Rias! That was it!" Shouted Akeno in realization.

"What do you mean?" Asked Irina.

"The last person Issei admitted his feelings to…" Said Akeno, as a look of shock appeared on her face.

Contemplate your last breath
As you see the face of death
Contemplate your last breath
Breath, slowly breath

"…Raynare." Said Koneko suddenly, as her eyes widened.

Yuuto's eyes widened at this.

"Of course, how could we forget?" Shouted Kiba.

"Um what do you mean? Who is Raynare?" Asked Irina curiously.

"Issei's first and only girlfriend, one who he confessed his love to, but, she was a fallen angel and she killed him, for the Boosted Gear." Said Akeno sadly.

"So do you think that because of that, he can't admit his feelings to anyone, not even Rias?" Asked Xenovia.

It bleeds my life I know

Draining my heart and, soul…

"Poor Issei-senpai, what have we done?" Whimpered Gasper.

"Quick, we have to go tell Rias and Asia before it's too late". Akeno said as they all obediently followed her.

SCENE CHANGE: With Issei….

"I guess this is a perfect place, where no one will ever find me. I'll get started right away…"

Like the knife that cuts through me
Stabbing uncertainty

Issei summons a magic circle on his chest area where his heart was located as he prepares to do his deed.

It bleeds my life I know
Draining my heart my…

Soul...

Issei takes the first pawn piece out, remembering his childhood friend, Irina. I guess heroes are meant to die at some point. I'm sorry for not being able to make up for years of lost friendship. Her image faded away.

My soul…

Issei takes the second pawn put, as he remembered Xenovia. I guess, I won't be giving you children anytime soon. I'm sorry, Xenovia. Her image faded away.

My soul…

Issei takes the third pawn out, as he remembered his crossdressing kouhai Gasper. Be a man, stand up for yourself, and cherish your friends, something I was unable to do. I have faith that you will. He said mentally as the image of said boy, faded away.

My soul…

Issei takes the fourth pawn, as he remembered his cute kouhai Koneko. I guess I won't be there for you to let off some steam everytime I did something bad. hehehe Her image fading away

My soul…

Issei takes the fifth pawn out, as he remembered his friend Kiba, one last time before fading away. My true friend, we had our pasts and our goals, and we helped each other along the way.

My soul…

Issei takes the sixth pawn out, as he sees the image of Asia, one last time before fading away. Asia, I am sorry, for not being able to protect you that time where you were taken by Diodora Astaroth.

My soul…

Issei takes the seventh pawn out, this time sees Akeno fading away from his mind. Akeno, always remember who you are, and don't let your heritage be a burden. Keep moving forward and do your best.

My soul…

Issei takes the last piece, this time remembering Rias, the one who gave him a second chance at life, for one last time, before fading away. Rias, my saviour, and the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I'm sorry, for not being good enough for you. I hope, when you find this pieces. You use them on people who deserve better than me.

Contemplate your last breath
As you see the face of death
Contemplate your last breath
Breath, slowly breath

"I guess this is it. I was glad you were my partner in crime, Ddraig." Said Issei as he summoned his Boosted Gear Gift for one last time.

[Don't mention it partner, I will miss you too.]

"I guess this is goodbye, my friend. I hope you find a better host than I ever was."

[I will, but it will be hard for me to do so. Goodbye, Issei Hyoudou. I will remember you for who you were and what you stood for] Said the dragon, before the Boosted Gear turned into Twice Critical, before dispersing into red light particles.

Thanks for everything, Ddraig. Issei thought as he was finally all alone. As his counsciousness was starting to slowly turn black.

Goodbye…

"Goodbye, mom and dad. I know you'll be better off without a perverted son like me, haha"

Goodbye…

"Goodbye Irina, Xenovia. I guess I won't be giving you guys, children. hehehe"

Goodbye…

"Goodbye Akeno, Koneko, Kiba, Gasper, it was a pleasure to fight alongside you." Said Issei as he was sobbing.

Goodbye…

"Last but not least, Rias. I hold no ill feelings against you. And I am forever grateful for giving this underserving perverted nobody, a second chance in life. I thank you, goodbye, and I love you…" Said Issei before his body went limp, and his life, officially ended.

Rias and her peerage group and Irina have been looking for Issei for days. And it worried them to no end.

It was determined that once they find him, they will all apologize to him for what they did.

Right now, they are on a forest.

"Did you find anything yet?" Asked Rias.

"No, I'm still on it" Said Kiba, who was with Xenovia as they looked for him.

"Nothing, yet" Said Koneko, who was with Gasper.

"No luck." Said Akeno, who was with Irina.

"Let's keep looking, he has to be somewhere"

Fast forward, they kept looking, until Koneko noticed something on the ground.

A crimson colored pawn piece.

She was in shock as there was one piece was found in the ground.

"Buchou!" She called Rias.

"What is it, Koneko-chan?"

"I found something, I think everyone needs to come here."

"We're on our way." Rias ended the call as she went on to call on everyone.

(5 minutes later)

"It seems Koneko-chan found something." Rias said as everyone now gathered.

"I found this." Koneko pointed to the ground, where the crimson pawn piece was in.

Everyone paled in shock. Issei wouldn't have gone all the way here just to remove his pieces in an almost suicidal way.

"N..no!" Rias could only say, as she couldn't believe it. It was one of the eight pieces she inserted on Issei's chest. But it didn't end there.

"I found another one, this may tell us where he is." Said Kiba, who tried not to think too much about it as he hoped Issei was safe somewhere.

And indeed the pieces were a big clue as they gave everyone an idea where Issei might be.

As they followed each piece, they felt a hellish cold.

A few minutes later, they found a silhouette sitting on a tree.

Stress built up amongst everyone as they didn't want to assume the worst.

But it was what they feared.

It was Issei.

He was laying there, lifeless.

He been the one who removed the pieces one by one.

He had been dead for days.

"Oh, no…" Rias couldn't take it anymore, and started to tear up. So did everyone else.

They lost not only a pawn, but they lost a valuable comrade.

The guilt started to build up, as they were too late to do anything.

Even Rias tried to place the pieces back up, but there was no response.

"Buchou, I think you should see this" Kiba noticed there was a small piece of paper in Issei's hand.

It was most likely a final message.

Rias did not hesitate and took it, seeing that it contained a message.

To Rias and everyone else.

I am sorry for causing trouble. I f*cked up big time. Words cannot express how truly sorry I am. If you noticed the evil pieces laying down one by one, then that means you got to see me one last time. I want to apologize to everyone for being a burden. For not understanding the situation, and for not being good enough. The reason why I took them off, is because when you find them. I want you to use them for someone else who is way more deserving than me. A lowly perverted nobody. I know somewhere down the line, someone will be willing to do what I was unable to.

And that is to protect you and cherish you to the fullest.

I have faith that whoever you choose, will do a hell of a lot better job than I did.

I am truly sorry, and I guess I won't fulfill my goal to become a harem king, nor will I able to keep my promises with everyone else.

I am sorry, you all deserve better.

Thank you, and I love you all.

Issei Hyoudou

"No, Issei. We're the one who are sorry, for not understanding what you were going through." Rias said to Issei's corpse as she was crying in agony.

As did everyone else. This time, they screwed up, and Issei was the one who paid the price. For their selfishness and their lack of understanding.

There was no turning back anymore.

Issei Hyoudou was dead.

And he was not coming back.