Well hello everybody. This is the next chapter of A Second Chance. If you have been keeping up with the reboot story, then you guys learn by fact that I'll continue writing A Second Chance till the end of the Volume 02. So without further ado, here's the next chapter of A Second Chance.

Also Happy Halloween!

Life 01: Guardian Pt 01

I'm having that nightmare. I dreamt of this nightmare over and over again. The nightmare of the day where a young girl's life turned upside down.

It happened on one summer evening where this girl was with the boy who she cherished deeply. This girl had a dark secret that she was too afraid to tell the boy. She feared that the boy who she cherished will resent her if he learned the truth. So she kept the secret away from him till she knows if the time was right. There were multiple moments where she could have confessed the truth to boy, but she couldn't take the opportunity due to the possibility of being rejected by him.

The guilt has been killing her over the years, yet she was able to bear with it. The only reason why she was able to bare the guilt because the boy was the only friend she only had at the time and she felt happiness that she never felt with her parents.

One day she and the boy went into the woods where her parents met. It was their favorite place to be at. They were lying down under a tree where the girl rested her head on the boy's shoulder. It was like every other day, the girl thought. She was at peace and thought nothing can go wrong.

However she was wrong. Dead wrong.

Neither one of them knew they were being followed. When they did learn the truth, it was too late.

Two serpents. There were two abnormal serpents following the young children. When the children noticed their unearthly presence, they ran. But they couldn't out run those uncanny serpents. The boy tripped and the snakes surrounded the boy and girl.

One of them went after the boy. He was going to be swallowed whole by that serpent. The girl couldn't allow the boy to die on her watch. So she had no choice but exposed herself. She chose to the reveal the dark secret she hide from him. She revealed to him who she was. And she was...

... A fallen angel. An evil angel who fallen from heaven who for disobeying the law of God of the Bible. She posses blood of one of the infamous fallen angel and cadre member of the Grigori, Barakiel, the fallen angel who posses the power of holy lightning.

She used the power of lightning she inherit to destroy the serpent. The boy was struck by lightning, however he was unconscious by the blast of the exploding serpent after getting hit by the lightning.

The boy was unconscious, but still alive. The girl was relieved that the boy was still safe. However...

"It's pointless..." The other serpent stuck out its tongue out and hissed. "Are you willing to take the chance of being resented by the only boy you that you'll probably love?"

The serpent was provoking the young girl. It knew what the girl's greatest fear. She should have killed the other snake and probably lied to the boy she loved that he passed out or something. But no, she was already falling for the words of the serpent's silver tongue. The pressure finally came and the words of the silver tongued serpent decided to do the last thing she wanted to do. She erased away the precious memories she had with the boy she fallen in love with.

With the serpent agreeing to leave both of us alone, she will erased the memories of her first love and agreeing to leaving him be. So she did. What she experienced was tragic indeed, however it wasn't the end of it. She later lost her mother that night and her resenting her father for what she and he was. If it wasn't for the secret of being a fallen angel, then that girl would've still have her mother and the boy...

T-That girl... Is me...

I-I could still have my mother and still have Ise-kun... B-But now... I have nothing... I have nothing... I have nothing...

We, Asia, Valerie, and I, walked our way towards the only abandon shrine in Kuoh Town, where my childhood friend, Akeno lives in. When we arrived to the shrine, there was an invisible barrier that prevented anyone to step on the stairs. I put on the ring of dispel and held hands with Asia and Valerie before walking through the barrier. The three of us continued to hold hands till we arrived to the top of the shrine. After we let go of our hands, I took off the ring of dispel and put it back in my pocket.

"So this is the shrine where Okaa-sama and my little sister use to live in?" Valerie asked, putting a hand on Shuri's gem while looking at the shrine. She's referring Akeno as her sister huh?

"Yes," I said, turning my gaze to the run-down and nearly destroyed shrine where Akeno-san's family use to live in. The land is dried up. The plants that remain are all dried and fragile. The trees and the shrine are badly burn and are in poor condition. It looks like its going to collapse any second. "It looks completely different than the last time I came in."

I feel nothing but remorse. It was because of me I allowed Akeno's life to be destroyed for a second time. I could have saved Akeno's mother and give her a better life if I only told the truth. Told her how I was a time traveller and warning the Himejima family of danger that was going to happen. I truly screwed up this time around.

"You shouldn't feel sad Ise-san." Asia said next to me. "You tried everything you could do. You at least saved Akeno-san's mother."

She's right. Thanks to Ophis, the soul of Shuri is safe and sound around Valerie's neck. However I still bare so much guilt for allowing Akeno-san's life to destroyed and making her grieved for all these years.

"She's here." I said, noticing the presence of someone.

I noticed with the aura detector of Senjutsu. I knew who it was immediately.

I took off the utility belt and dropped it on the ground. I went down on my knees and placed my hand on my back.

"I mean you no harm." I shouted with no lie within my words.

The person who presence I discovered also noticed this. She came out from the one of the dead trees in her traditional shrine maiden kimono. She looked at me with sadden eyes she once showed me in my past life. She also looked a bit haggard as if she lacked a bit of sleep.

"Ise-kun..." She murmured my name.

"Akeno-san..." I murmured.

Rias POV

I'm bewildered of what this girl is willing to offer me.

Yumi Kiba, the supposed twin sister of my knight, Yuuto Kiba, and the only female survivor of the Holy Sword Project. You can say that she's the "knight" of Issei Hyoudou, the young enigmatic man with a mysterious past, who seeks to join my peerage for personal reasons.

"Well Gremory-sama?" Yumi said. "Will you accept my offer?"

I can tell this girl is willing to sacrifice herself for someone like Issei. A girl who very skilful with swords just like Yuuto, maybe even better than he is. She's literally throwing herself to me, kind like Issei. She may be very useful for me since she's a ninja after all, however...

"I need to know," I said after clearing my throat. "Why do you want to become a devil? Don't you know what will you giving up if you become my devil?"

Yumi remain silent for a moment.

"I don't want to be left out," Yumi said, breaking the silence. "My Onii-chan is a devil, who's going to live in a long life. My master, who we all know that you're going to make him a devil, is going to live a long life. The people I lived with and known are going to live a longer life than I do. I also want to be with them and have a long life too."

"So you want to become a devil because you want to have the long life span?" I asked, raising a brow.

"Maybe," she shrugged. "My purpose in life is to become Ise's sword. I can't allow myself to rust due to condition of my body."

"C-Can't you wait till Issei becomes a High-Class devil?" I asked. "He'll receive his own set of Evil Pieces and you'll be reincarnated by him."

"That will be nice," Yumi nodded. "However I may not look like it, but I'm impatient woman. Who know how long will till Ise-sama achieved his evil pieces and make me his servant."

So no wonder Yumi wants to become my servant. We don't know how long will it take for Issei to become a high-class devil. It would take centuries or even eons for him to become a high class devil. She was aware its going to take a long time for Issei to become a high-class devil.

"Also I believe having us will become a great asset for you," Yumi added, "grabbing my attention. "Especially if you need to face your so called "fiancé" in a rating game." She let out a dubious grin as I and everyone else, except for Ophis, widen in bewilderment.

Ise's POV

I didn't know what to do as I followed Akeno-san into one of the Japanese styled room while Asia and Valerie stayed out. We were both kneeling on the ground, facing each other. Valerie gave Shuri's necklace before I walked inside with you.

"So what brings you here?" Akeno asked, ending the silence between us.

I cleared my throat before speaking. "I want apologize for everything."

"Everything?" Akeno-san asked frosty smile. "Whatever do you mean?"

"I... I held secrets from you," I confessed, bowing my head down to the ground. "I knew who you were before we even met. I never lost my memories of you thanks to the help of my Sacred Gear, or that I even had a Sacred Gear in my possession. I know that apologizing isn't going to resolve everything that happened in the past, but I really want to say that I'm really sorry that I made you grieve for all these years!"

I clutched on the Shuri's gem. I wasn't sure what Akeno is planning to do or say. Oh please say something. This silence is killing me.

"Secrets..." Akeno murmured something quickly that I couldn't pick up.

"Huh?" I asked, lifting my head off the ground due to I couldn't heard what Akeno just said.

"You said you held secrets from me," Akeno spoke nice and slow. "How much secrets have you kept from me? I already know that you possess two dragon like Sacred Gears, a ninja for a bodyguard, a dhamphir that acts like a secretary..."

Meanwhile...

Within the Phoenix household, Ravel Phoenix's body shivered as she felt a disturbance within the air.

"What's wrong, Ravel?" Her older brother and master, Raiser Phoenix asked, noticing his younger sister and servant shaking as if she was cold. "Is the temperature of the room too cold for you?"

"N-No. It's nothing," Ravel lied, unsure how to reply to her brother about what she felt. "Why do I felt like my future as a manager is in jeopardy?"

Back to the story...

"And Ophis! What haven't you told me about her!?" Akeno brought up Ophis. I almost forgot that Yumi told me that Rias and the others have spoken with Ophis last night before she confronted her twin brother. "You've been keeping her under your home all this time right? Don't lie to me! I've seen her before in your house when we were kids!"

I widen my eyes for a moment. I actually forgot that Ophis did mention that Akeno did found her once in my closet when she stayed over in my house. Since Akeno didn't say anything, I let it go.

"If you knew what kind of person Ophis was, you as well would want to keep her safe from the wrong hands." I said, giving her my excuse.

"So keeping Ophis away from me was preventing her from falling into wrong hands?" Akeno assumed.

"No," I shook my head to the side. "I wasn't afraid that Baraqiel or Azazel would take it the wrong way if they learnt that Ophis was in this town, however I didn't want anyone to know that Ophis was in this town."

"From who?" Akeno asked, raising a brow of interest.

I narrowed my eyes as the core members of the Old Maou Faction and the Hero Faction within the Khaos Brigade came in my mind. "Trust me, you don't want to know just yet." I grinned my teeth and I clutched harder to Shuri's gem while the memories of Cao Cao and Shalba using Samael's curse came to my mind.

Akeno-san blinked in surprise due to viewing my dark demeanour. I can tell from her eyes that she knows I'm telling the truth. "You're not lying, are you? There are people who are coming after Ophis."

"That's right," I said, exhaling some air to calm myself down. "They want her to use for a power source. I couldn't allow them to find Ophis's location, even if I had to keep her away from the people I cared about."

"The way you were speaking sounds like you were also trying protect those who are precious to you." Akeno pointed out.

"You're correct," I agreed with my eyes looking down on the ground. "Ophis is more pure than you think she is. She's willing to sacrifice herself to help those important to me if you or anyone close to me are in a dire situation."

"If Ophis is so kind as you speak you, then why did she send those snakes to attack us in the first place?"

-!? Akeno brought the only question that I wished she never asked. She must have realized that the snakes that attacked us seven years ago belonged to Ophis.

"Well? Don't try to play dumb. Why did Ophis attacked us that night?"

What should I say to Akeno? She's suspecting an answer right now. I can't tell her that I'm a time traveller that knew that she was in danger. She wouldn't believe if I told her the truth. So what should I tell her?

"She was jealous right? That stupid dragon was jealous of my relationship of I had with you!"

Akeno is assuming things again. I don't know how to respond to Akeno properly without telling her that I'm a time traveller, which I still doubt she will believe me.

"N-No," I denied, averting my eyes away from Akeno's. "Ophis isn't that type of dragon. She's a pure innocent child who help everyone in need."

"Oh? Prove it." Akeno requested sceptically with her arms crossed.

"Alright," I said, getting up from the ground. I held Shuri's gem by the chain that holds it. "You see this gem."

"Yeah? What about it?" Akeno asked.

I swallowed all the saliva in my mouth before confessing the truth. I gave one last squeeze on the gem, hoping this could work.

"You're mother was bit by a snake a week before Ophis attacked us," I said, holding the Shuri's gem straight at Akeno. "That snake belong to Ophis. Ophis used that snake to transmit your mother's soul into this gem per chance of her dying."

"W-What do you mean?" Akeno asked, unsure what I'm talking about.

"What I'm trying to say that your mother is alive," I confessed. "And I'm holding her right in my hands."

*Slap!*

The second I finished my confession, Akeno slapped me across my face. Akeno-san used the trait of the rook in that slap, knocking me down to the ground. When I turned my gaze back up to Akeno, her eyes are watery and she looked enraged. More enraged than I ever seen before in my life.

"Do you think this is some sort of joke!?" Akeno shouted. "Mother is dead! She's dead and she's never coming back!"

"Akeno list-"

"Get out of here! I don't want to see you again and never speak about my mother's name again!" Akeno interrupted me with a strong outburst.

By seeing Akeno's reaction it was clear that she was in no state to be forgiving or believing me. I was about to get up till the slide door of the room was opened. The slide door opening caught the attention of Akeno and I. We both turn to see Valerie, who appeared to be very expressionless. She marched over to Akeno, ignoring me, who is still on the ground.

She looked Akeno straight in the eye and...

*Slap!*

Valerie delivered a slap right straight to Akeno's face, knocking her to the ground as well. I became utterly flabbergasted by this, but not as shocked as Akeno, who has a hand on the cheek that has been slapped while looking back at Valerie with widen eyes.

"You must been through a lot ever since Ise-sama came to your life right?" Valerie suddenly asked. "It probably became even worse when he revealed being a possessor of a Sacred Gear and being affiliated with Ophis-sama for all these years. Your heart couldn't bear it when you saw how Ise-sama maltreated those Fallen Angels and told you that he never lost his memories of you."

Valerie shifted her gaze towards me. No, her gaze is on my hand that holding Shuri's soul. She wiggled her finger, signalling me to give her the gem. I got off the ground and slowly approached Valerie.

As I handed Shuri's gem, Valerie spoke to me and whispered: "I'm going to use Balance Breaker."

My eyes widen in shock for a moment, realizing what Valerie was planning to do.

"Are you sure? Have you practice something like this before?" I asked.

"No, I haven't." Valerie shook her head to the side. "But I have to do it. For your sake. For Akeno's sake. For my sake. For... Okaa-san's sake." Valerie clutched on to Shuri's gem. "Just give me a chance."

"I understand." I nodded my head once. "Do what you need to do."

I backed away as light gathered on Valerie's free hand. The light took shape in form of a chalice.

"Issei-san, what's going on?" Asia popped her head into the room, looking a bit concerned. She probably heard the slapping and screaming that was happening in the room.

"There's going a family reunion," I said, looking back at Valerie as the chalice in her free hand materialized. I shifted my gaze to Asia. "Asia, whatever you do, please close your eyes?"

"Huh?" Asia cocked her head in confusion. "What are saying Issei-san?"

If someone who's faithful to the church like Asia is sees the holy grail, she's going to get mesmerized the second the grail comes. No, it happens to everyone if they see the Sephiroth Graal.

"You have to believe me." I said as the five of my Evil Pieces came out from my utility belt. I commanded my Evil Pieces towards Akeno and created the crimson pyramid to protect her eyes from direct eye contact the Sephiroth Graal. Asia shut her eyes and covered them with her hands while I shielded my own eyes with my arm.

"Balance Breaker." I heard Valerie said. Despite shielding my eyes, I felt the flash of white light go through my arm, and into my eyes. The light slightly stings my eyes. I'm wondering how the eyes of Asia and Akeno are doing? Asia might be alright since she's standing right behind me, but I'm concerned about Akeno. Though I have the pyramid protecting her eyes, the light of Valerie's Balance Breaker might penetrate through it and sting her eyes.

Akeno's POV

I didn't understand what was going on. The Dhampir named Valerie summoned her Sacred Gear's Balance Breaker in the form of a golden chalice that came with a bright light that can blind me if it weren't for Ise-kun's pyramid. I can sense unimaginable aura coming from that chalice.

"Akeno? Are you alright?" I directed my eyes towards, Ise-kun, who had his eyes shielded by his arm.

"She's alright." Valerie said in my place. She place the purple gem down in front of her and took a step back. She tilted her golden chalice enough that it poured a clear water liquid out.

That's weird... The chalice was empty when she summoned it.

The liquid that came out from the chalice directly hit the gem, which began to shine a purple light. When the chalice was out of the strange liquid, the gem began to levitate off the ground.

"What's going on, Valerie?" Ise-kun, who still had his eyes covered, asked.

Valerie was too apprehensive to respond back to Issei. She bit her lower lip, unsure what's on going herself. The gem began to encircled around Valerie in rapid speed, causing a small vortex to enveloped her in the process.

"Valerie!" Ise-kun uncovered his eyes to see the purple vortex surrounding Valerie. Ise-kun tried to approach the vortex alone, but he was quickly blown way to the wall.

"Issei-san!" The blonde hair nun that came with Ise-kun went to his aid. As she helped Ise-kun get back up, the vortex started to subsided. The strong wind gathered around Valerie diminished into thin air along with the purple gem and... Valerie.

There was someone else standing in Valerie's place as the vortex vanished. This person was dressed in the business clothes that Valerie wore, presuming that she's possessing Valerie's body and her psychical body changed into the one person I never thought I'll see again.

"I'm sorry, sweetie." she said, probably speaking to Valerie. "Looks like the spell you performed rebounded. I'm not sure how long this spell will last, but I guarantee you that I won't waste this opportunity you gave me to speak with my daughter."

Issei's POV

I rubbed the back of my aching head as Asia helped me to get back up. The vortex that surrounded Valerie disappeared, that's good at least. I was about to ask Valerie what happened to her when she used her Sephiroth Graal, but when I put gaze on her, she was no longer there and there was an older woman who looked just like Akeno in her place.

At first I thought that I was still delusional from impact my head made with the wall, but I no longer sensed Valerie's presence in room. I turned my gaze to the pyramid, where I see Akeno still captive and back to the older Akeno, who stood in Valerie's place and wore her clothes.

"I'm sorry, sweetie." she said gently, putting a hand on her chest. "Looks like the spell you performed rebounded. I'm not sure how long will this spell last, but I'll guarantee you that I won't this opportunity you gave me to speak with my daughter."

That voice! I know that motherly voice anywhere!

"S-Sh-Shuri?" I said, leaving not only myself, but Akeno and Asia as well, stupefied.

I would have made this chapter a lot longer, but due to time I have in work, school, personal life, and writing other Fan Fiction. I'll grantee you that I'll continue A Second Chance till I finished Vol 2 of the Light Novel. The next chapter of A Second Chance will come by Christmas, though the December's chapter of Awakening of Red saviors won't be updated.

Also if you're reading A New Opportunity, then I'll tell you. I'll be making a sequel to A New Opportunity. I won't say much about this sequel, except that at the end of A New Opportunity, there is going to a huge twist at the end which will lead to a tie in with my other story Awakening of the Red Saviors story, who will also appeared in the this A New Opportunity sequel.

Now to the preview of the next chapter of A Second Chance

In the next Chapter of A Second Chance: The return of Shuri Himejima... Forgiveness... Acceptance... Home again...

Next time in A Second Chance: Life 02: Guardian Angel 02

Issei: So you decided to take this path then?