Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I do not own Darksiders or Highschool Dxd.

Well, I honestly don't know what to put here; it's my first fan fiction, so I hope you readers will cut me some slack. If you've got any suggestions as to how I can improve my writing style, I would gladly appreciate them. Thanks to dragonsong2795 for proofreading this for me. Anyway, on with the show…

"You summoned me?" Asked Death, sardonically, as he stood before the Charred Council, the entity that was responsible for enforcing the balance.

"You know well that we did, Horseman." Intoned the first head. "Do not seek to test our patience."

"What would the council ask of me?" Asked Death.

"The Law states that none from Heaven or Hell shall set foot in the kingdom of Man until the seals have been broken at the appointed time." Stated the third head.

"Yet both the Archangels of the White city and the lords of Hell have violated this!" Roared the first head. "This will not stand!"

"And you would reduce me to a common assassin?" whispered Death, as his eyes narrowed. "Go find someone else to do that kind of work."

"The Pale Horseman makes a point; are the Horseman but common assassins chained to our will?" Asked the second head.

"No, but something must be done about this defilement of the law." Insisted the first head.

"Agreed." Stated the third head. "Horseman, you will travel to the kingdom of Man and discover the truth of this."

"And if there are any… Problems?" Asked Death.

"The balance must be upheld, Horseman." Answered the first head. "Do what must be done."

"And where will I find these… Troublemakers?" Asked Death.

"You shall find them upon a small island in the east." Answered the third head. "At a building called 'Kuoh Academy." Nodding, Death turned to leave.

"Horseman, wait!" Commanded the first head. Death turned slightly and raised an eyebrow beneath his mask.

"You must use an alternate means of reaching the third kingdom." Stated the third head. Death sighed.

"Don't want them to see me coming, eh?" he muttered to himself. Shaking his head, he left the chamber, and found himself within a smaller chamber, where his fellow Horsemen were waiting.

"What news?" Asked War, his discomfort obvious.

"I've been sent to Earth." Death informed his brothers and sister. War's, Strife's and Fury's eyes widened slightly.

"Why?" Asked War.

"There have been reports of Angel and Demon sightings there." Death Answered impatiently. "I've been sent. Alone." He added, as War opened his mouth.

"Safe journey, brother." Said Fury, as Death walked past. Death snorted, he was one of the most dangerous beings in creation. His path was then blocked by Strife.

"Here." Grunted the White Rider, as he proffered a handgun.

"Redemption." Muttered Death. "My thanks, brother."

"Thought you might have need of it." Replied Strife. "Just bring it back in one piece." Smiling slightly beneath his mask, Death turned to the Red Horseman.

"Behave yourself while I'm gone." He told the youngest of the four. War grimaced as Strife smirked beneath his mask.

"Greetings, Horseman…" Hissed a sinister voice, as Death passed a serpent hole.

"Vulgrim…" Sighed the Pale Rider. "What do you want?"

"Oh, Horseman! You wound me…" Replied the demon. "I was merely trying to see if my… Favourite customer needed anything." Death paused for a moment.

"As a matter of fact, I do have need of your help." Death told him, swallowing his pride.

"How can this humble merchant help?" Asked Vulgrim.

"I need passage to Earth, council business." Replied Death, to Vulgrim's surprise.

"Oh? And why would you need me to take you there if this is 'council business'?" Asked the demon shrewdly.

"They want me to be… Discreet." Answered Death.

"Ah! Say no more, Horseman!" said Vulgrim eagerly. "Old Vulgrim will take you through a serpent hole… For a price, of course."

"Of course." Muttered Death, as he proffered a boatman coin. Cautiously, Vulgrim extended a hand to take the coin, withdrawing his hand as Death relinquished his grip upon it.

"Come then." Invited Vulgrim. "Where to?" Death's answer was terse.

"Kuoh Academy."

The first thing Death saw when he entered the human world was that he was inside a run-down flat, dust was collecting on the floor; clearly no-one had been here for several months, perhaps years. The second thing was the clock on the wall; its hands indicated that it was 8:15.

"Is there anything else you require of old Vulgrim?" Asked the demon.

"A disguise and a false identity." Answered Death. "A full one, I don't want to draw suspicion."

"What takes your fancy?" Asked Vulgrim, as he summoned various disguises. Death recognised one of an elderly man, another of a middle-aged woman.

"I need a Kuoh Academy uniform." Said Death. Vulgrim nodded eagerly, and then called forth a disguise, along with a small gem that would allow the Pale Rider to sneak into the school without arousing suspicion. Death never bothered to enquire how it worked; he guessed that he didn't want to know. Death searched his person for the gold needed to pay the demon merchant, before handing it to Vulgrim.

"Safe journey Horseman." Said Vulgrim, as he descended through the serpent hole, leaving the disguise and gem in Death's hands. Silently, Death donned the disguise, using his skills in such matters to make himself look like a teenaged boy. Once finished, his face hidden behind a false one and Harvester safely stored in his trouser pocket, the scythe shrunk to the size of a pocket knife; he stepped outside. As he took in his surroundings, there was a flash of green light behind his shoulder, and a crow materialised.

"Dust." Muttered Death. "Where have you been?" Dust looked at his master as he perched on his shoulder. Death caught brief flashes of a world of ice, an old man and a tickling sensation on his head…

"Crowfather…" Muttered the Pale Horseman. "What did he want?" Dust merely looked at him. Sighing, Death began walking towards the nearby school building, Dust perched on one shoulder and his bag draped over the other..

Nearly five minutes later, Death arrived at the front gates of the school.

"This must be Kuoh Academy." Muttered Death. "Dust, keep an eye out. But be discreet." The bird squawked, and then took flight, leaving several feathers behind. Calmly, Death walked through the gates and walked into the main office, where he was greeted by a male teacher.

"Um, who are you?" Asked the teacher in Japanese, as Death strode towards him. He was clearly unnerved by this strange, thin, pale man who stood at least a head above him, with strong features and red eyes that looked as if they had seen too much.

"I'm a new student here." Death told him in fluent Japanese, using the gem to manipulate the teacher's mind.

"Ah, yes." Nodded the teacher. "If you'll come with me, uh…"

"Carnificis Rider." Death answered, deliberately using the language style used in the Western part of Earth.

"Well, Rider-san, what year are you in?" Asked the teacher, as they walked to the teacher's office.

"I'm a second year." Death lied, with the expertise of a master, as they arrived in the teacher's office. Both sat down, the teacher behind his desk.

"You're not from around here, are you?" Asked the teacher, shrewdly.

"No, I'm an exchange student." Answered Death, as the teacher checked something on his computer.

"Yes, I see." Commented the teacher, as he read something on the computer. "It says here that you're English-born, spent most of your childhood around Europe and America, and have just transferred here as a part of a foreign exchange program."

Looks like Vulgrim did his job properly. Thought Death, as the teacher stood up.

"Well, Rider-san, you will be a part of class 2A, okay?" Asked the teacher, as if Death had a say. The Pale Horseman merely nodded.

"Good." Said the teacher. "Now, please follow me, Rider-san."

Five minutes later, the teacher had led Death to where he was to be studying, whilst explaining the details about Kuoh Academy; but Death was uninterested, having learned the information he needed from the Crowfather's memories, transferred via Dust's mind link with the Horseman.

"Please wait here until the teacher calls you in." Requested the teacher, who then proceeded to walk off. Death sighed; he could imagine Strife's amusement at the Pale Horseman – one of the most feared entities in creation – being pushed around by an ignorant human. Taking a deep breath, Death readied himself for school life, as the class teacher walked inside and called the class to order.

"Now class, we have a new student today, so I would like you to make him feel welcome." The teacher told them, causing the Pale Horseman to smirk. "Come in, Rider-san." Death walked into the classroom, his eyes scanning the faces; he noticed that females outnumbered males in this school.

"Please introduce yourself to the class." Requested the teacher. Death nodded, his long, greasy black hair falling around his face, then parting as his head tilted.

"My name is Carnificis Rider." Death stated. "I would say that it's nice to meet you, but that remains to be seen." The class muttered amongst themselves, curious about this pale, red-eyed man who towered over even the teachers. Death could tell that many were unnerved by his presence; some were openly staring in horror.

"Well, Rider-san, if you would take that empty seat over there." Requested the teacher, pointing to a seat next between a boy and a girl. Shrugging, Death sauntered to his seat, sitting calmly as if he had no care in the world, as the teacher began the lesson.

Nearly two hours had passed and Death was now quietly sitting in a shadowy corner of the school, eyes roving as he watched the students go past. He had paid little attention to the lessons, having learned such trivial matters long ago, and had instead focused on using his knowledge of the unnatural to look for anything abnormal; but the only unusual thing he had found was that there were three boys in his class who were definitely not above the more… Earthly pursuits. Death sighed; this entire mission seemed like a waste of time. He closed his eyes as he massaged the bridge of his nose, and when he opened them, he saw that there was a young woman standing before him, casting him into shadow.

"Can I sit here?" She asked, gesturing next to Death, who shrugged.

"I don't know, can you?" He responded. The young woman giggled slightly, and then sat next to him.

"My name is Himejima Akeno." She introduced. "Are you new here?" Death nodded.

"Carnificis Rider." He stated, as he studied this Akeno. She was about five foot six, with black hair and a buxom figure.

"My, my." Giggled Akeno. "See something you like?" Death raised an eyebrow.

"You're not my type." Death responded, causing the girl's eyes to widen. "Now, why don't you tell me just what it is that you want?" This caused her to giggle again.

"Bold, aren't we?" Asked Akeno rhetorically, as she began gently pressing her chest against Death's shoulder.

"What are you doing, Akeno?" Asked Death pointedly. The girl's expression hardened slightly.

"My, my, aren't we rude?" She responded rhetorically. "You know, it is customary for a student to address those in higher year levels as 'senpai'."

"And it is customary for me to break several bones of whoever is foolish enough to touch me." Growled Death, as he lost his patience. Akeno giggled again, to Death's annoyance.

"Aggressive, aren't we?" She asked. "You know, I do like that in a man." At this, Death lost all pretence of civility.

"Take the hint and get lost." He growled, as he stood up, a snarl on his face. Giving Akeno a cold look, the Pale Horseman stalked away from the girl, leaving her standing there with a look of astonishment on her face.

By the time Death reached the classroom door, the rumours had already spread like wildfire.

"That's him!" Hissed a first-year girl, who subsequently received a venomous look from the Pale Horseman. Then, he saw a second-year walking up to him. The boy had brown hair and brown eyes.

"I don't believe it!" The boy almost yelled, causing Death to raise an eyebrow.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"Hyoudou Issei." The boy introduced himself. "And are you crazy? You just rejected one of the two 'onee-samas'!"

"What are you on about?" Asked Death, slightly confused.

"Himejima-sama is one of the two hottest girls in the school." Explained Issei. "Known as the two 'onee-samas' of Kuoh Academy. And you just turned her down!"

"Why are you complaining?" Asked Death pointedly. "Aren't you one of the 'perverted trio'?" At this, Issei paused.

"Yeah, so?" He demanded.

"I thought you'd be jumping for joy from the knowledge that there was one person you didn't need to compete against for the women's attention. In short, I don't care if she likes me." Clarified Death coldly. "Also, don't try and lecture me about women, you're a pervert. I am also in a very bad mood." Turning on his heel, Death walked to a window, where a familiar crow was waiting. Opening it, he let the bird inside, to the surprise of the nearby students.

"Wow, he has a pet bird?" Asked one of the girls.

"Show-off." Muttered Issei, who walked off, but was cut off by a dark haired girl who he called 'Yuma-chan'. Death glanced at the girl; she seemed ordinary, but Death had his suspicions.

Looks like I'm not the only one with ulterior motives for coming here. He thought to himself as Dust perched on his shoulder, whilst the girl had a loving look on her face that Death – despite being unconcerned with such matters – could tell was false.

Once the morning break was over, Death walked back inside the class, drawing many surprised expressions from the students due to Dust being perched on his shoulder. Death also saw the boy Issei introducing the girl to his friends, Matsuda and Motohama, the other two who made up the 'perverted trio'; both of his friends had looks of rage on their faces. Eventually, they calmed down as Yuma left and the teacher walked in, who raised an eyebrow when he saw the crow on Death's shoulder.

"Rider-san, please remove the bird." Commanded the teacher, who visibly paled under the Horseman's cold gaze.

"Dust stays with me." He growled, using the gem's power to influence the class. The teacher nodded.

"Very well, carry on Rider-san." He said, before starting the lesson. The rest of the day passed in a blur for Death, whose mind was distracted by the strange girl that was with Issei.

Looks like it's time to get to work. He thought to himself, as the lunch bell rang. Silently standing, the Pale Horseman stalked outside, the other students giving him a wide berth. Quietly, he began walking around the school, taking in his surroundings. He was halfway around when he sensed someone behind him. Spinning around, one hand in his pocket gripping Harvester, he was surprised to see Akeno standing behind him.

"You again?" Growled Death. "If you're looking for an apology, you're going to be sorely disappointed." Akeno giggled, causing Death's ire to rise even further.

"Well, what do you want?" Demanded the Pale Horseman, causing the girl to giggle again.

"I've been asked by the president of the Occult Research club to extend to you an invitation to join us." She stated. Death raised an eyebrow.

Occult Research club? He thought. Now we're getting somewhere.

"And if I refuse?" He asked.

"My, my, aren't you stubborn?" Asked Akeno rhetorically.

"Me? Never." Responded Death sarcastically. "You still haven't answered my question."

"You aren't even going to give it a chance?" Asked Akeno, a look of surprise on her face. "We don't just invite anyone, you know."

"I guessed." Muttered Death. "Fine, I'll consider it. Until then, get out of my sight." Giggling softly, Akeno turned and left, heading for an old building that Death had never been inside.

That must be the Occult Research club's meeting room. He thought to himself. I'll handle that problem tomorrow; I still have to find out about that girl with the Hyoudou brat. Turning the way he came, Death headed back to the classrooms, unable to shake the feeling that he was being watched.

For Death, the rest of the school day passed slowly; the work was tedious, yet he knew it was necessary to do it to maintain his cover. Those he had been sent to hunt couldn't know he was on Earth… Yet. Once the bell signalling the end of the day rang, Death sighed with relief, before grabbing his bag and leaving the classroom. As he walked to the gate however, the Pale Horseman had the distinct feeling of being watched, and his suspicion was correct; as someone was watching from the top level of the old school building. Her face was cast into shadow as she observed this tall, dark-haired boy in the year below her, one hand resting on her jaw.

"President." Said Akeno, as she entered the room. The girl turned, the afternoon sun highlighting her distinctive red hair.

"Did you issue the invitation?" Asked the girl. Akeno giggled.

"Yes, president, although he was most reluctant to accept." Answered the dark-haired girl.

"Really?" Chuckled the red haired girl. "This makes things interesting… Have him join us during morning break tomorrow."

"Yes president." Answered Akeno, who bowed slightly and left. The red haired girl turned back to watch the strange boy, who had now exited the gate. This girl knew a powerful entity when she saw one and was determined to meet this 'Carnificis Rider', if that was even his real name. Smiling slightly, she turned and exited the room; her thoughts now focused upon her other potential recruit: Issei Hyoudou. Now, if only she could separate him from that Fallen Angel glued to his side.

Death was back at the abandoned building when the sun began to set; he had sent Dust to scout the area, so that he knew his surroundings. Sighing, he opened his schoolbag and retrieved Redemption, ensuring that the pistol was loaded and the safety on. Death looked forward to shedding his disguise, but decided to wait until the sun had set, so as not to attract attention. Once he had retrieved Strife's loaned gun, he set out again, before finding an empty side street and leaping to the rooftop, climbing with unnatural speed. Keeping low, he surveyed the area; the sunset was beautiful, yet the Pale Rider had no such appreciation for such a natural occurrence. Nearly an hour had passed, and Death was about to go back inside and bribe Vulgrim for information when he heard a yell of pain.

"Dust! Find it!" Snapped Death. Instantly, the crow sent him a flash of a bleeding boy, a spear of solid light through his torso, and a black-haired Angel with black wings advancing on him. Death leapt for the nearby rooftop, shedding his disguise and revealing his pale, corded-muscle frame and bone-coloured mask; Harvester in the form of two scythes at his waist. Silently, he called Despair, his phantom horse. The beast rose from the nearby street as Death jumped down, landing on his mount's back. Instantly, Despair set off at a gallop, knowing where his master sought to go. When Death arrived, the Angel had gone, along with the light spear, and the boy was on the ground. Silently, Death dismissed Despair as he leapt from the horse's back. The scene was a mess; the boy had a hole through his torso and his blood was pooling on the ground, some of it had also been coughed up. At a glance, Death could tell that he was dead. Crouching beside the boy, he drew upon his necromantic powers, calling the boy's spirit back to his body – albeit temporarily. The boy awoke with a gasp, as Death recognised him: it was Issei.

"The girl who killed you, where is she?" Demanded Death. Issei looked at him.

"I... She killed me!" He gasped in shock. "Yuma-chan, my girlfriend killed me!" Death rolled his eyes.

"Where is she?" Repeated Death.

"I don't know…" Answered Issei. Sighing, Death called Despair, lifting himself onto his back as the phantom horse arrived, drawing Harvester.

"Who are you?" Asked Issei, as the necromantic energy started leaving him. Death glanced back at the dead boy, Harvester gripped in his hand, in the shape of a single scythe.

"Death." He answered simply, before facing the direction Dust flew, aware that the bird suspected something, and urged his mount forward, unaware of the red light shining behind him as a red haired girl stepped through a magic circle…

There you have it: my first fan fiction chapter. Any suggestions for improvement will be highly appreciated; (Grammar and writing style in particular) and yes, I know that giving him the Latin word for 'Executioner' as an alias is a bit cheesy, but it's also fitting. Also, I know that there wasn't much action (Or blood, or nudie moments) but this just sets the scene; an introduction, if you will. Finally, if there's anything that leaves you asking questions, it will be answered in a later chapter (I have to do something to try and make this thing interesting). A quick heads-up: I may not be able to produce new chapters very often, due to having other obligations, including editing for dragonsong2795. However, know that your support is very much appreciated. Okay, I've had my say. Hope you enjoyed.