"Wait, multiverse? End times?" He looks at her shocked as she just stares back at him. "It's a lot to take in. But I'm sure your secret is just like that." Issei nods his head in denial. "Yeah" he said softly. Asia and Issei sit in silence as they process what they just said to each other. The mood dragged down by end time doom and gloom until Issei strikes the conversation back up with a new topic. "Hey, what do you wanna do when you grow up, out of high school I mean?" Asia looks away as she thinks. "Well I'm not sure. I guess I'm just letting the lord take the reigns. You?" Issei shakes his head. "I'm not sure either. I just wanna live a fun and exciting life." Asia smiles. "Same. With a lot of friends. That's my dream. Even one friend would mean the world to me." Issei just looks at her before getting up.
"Hey Asia" Issei says. "I'll be your friend. I mean we already are. With everything we went through I doubt we aren't right?" Asia feels her eyes water up. "Issei, that means the world to me." She squeezes her plushy and looks at Issei as her heart flutters. "Issei, thank you."
Drip.
The subtle tap of a toe on water interrupts the two. "Issei, long time no see. That was very heartwarming of you to say to my little servant" a familiar voice said. "No way" Issei said bitterly. He feels his eyes grow narrow as they glow an intense gold. His sacred gear activates as he stares her down. "It's you, damn you!"
"Raynare"
"Lady Raynare!" Asia yells as Issei moves his arm in front of her. "Shoulda killed me that night!" He then feels himself create a spear from his sacred gear. A red rod with a gold tip to pierce his enemies. "This thing, I made it? What is this weapon I was given?" Raynare snarls like a small dog. "My my our little pet found you."
"What?"
He looks back at Asia, she looks down at the ground as Issei just stares at her. "I'm sorry Issei" she looks up at him with tears in her eyes. "No, no you were different. You were-" Issei realizes what just unfolded. "This always happens to me. It never ends does it?!" He then finds himself creating a spear as Raynare starts to walk towards him on the water. "What do you want?" Issei growled. "I had our little human tracker go find you. You see she was getting quite rebellious so we decided to send her off with one last little task." Asia looks back at Raynare in horror. "WHAT NO! YOU SAID YOU'D!" Raynare cuts her off.
"I lied. Don't think because I felt bad for you that we're friends now." She flies over to Asia and grabs her by the jaw. However Issei sends a punch that misses as she dodges and slides on the water. "Oh my you're quite the fighter. Let's see if our rematch will be any fun."She then creates a bright hot pink spear of light and wields it like a sword.
"You don't scare me one bit!" Issei roars. "Oh come on my love don't act like you've moved on."She then lunges at Issei. He dodges her swing and attacks back with a spear of his own. As the two duel on the water Asia watches from afar, afraid. "Issei I'm sorry! THEY MADE ME! I DIDN'T THINK YOU'D BE AT THE PARK! I WAS TRYING TO STALL! BUT WHEN I SAW YOU I COULDN'T RESIST!" Issei shuts out everything that enters his ears. "NO!!!! LIES!!!!!! THEY'RE USING ME!"
"Oh come on Issei! You know you still love me!" The two keep dueling, Raynare uses water tricks by kicking up some of it as a way to distract Issei. As Issei is about to jab his spear he looks at her and sees the girl he fell in love with. The girl he'd hang out with every day after school. The angel he fell in love with. Now about to be in tears as he jabs a giant steak into her heart. He couldn't stand those tears. He remembered how in elementary school she had that terrible look when she cried. After the bullies would steal her strawberry shortcake at lunch he'd always share his.
"Come on now, don't act like I'm lying. I know I've fallen from God, so I'm no angel, but it's true!" She then almost stabs Issei with her spear, but he grabs it with his gauntlet, he holds his other spear as he stares the woman dead in the eyes. "You!" He slams her into the water as he takes her light spear. He then throws it at her. She catches it and creates another one as he lands with his gauntlet out. He rushes Raynare and jabs his spear at her. She dodges once more as she throws one of hers at Issei. He catches it and lunges back at her with two spears. She creates one more and the two duel it out until they both get frustrated. They end up throwing them and colliding straight towards each other. Issei finds himself dazed as Raynare grabs him and wraps her arms around him for a hug, as if she was about to kiss him. Her wings keep him warm as the two stop fighting and just sit there in the air. "ISSEI!" Asia yells.
"Darling, how has it been? Being a devil I mean?" Issei shakes his head. "What is this?" He thought to himself. "You're so different now. Word upstairs says you have a sacred gear. And it was the one God made himself after creating creation. I gotta say that's pretty amazing. I wish I had that." She then leans in closer to Issei as he feels tingles all over his head. She lightly pecks his lips as she starts to get into it. "I really did wanna do that. I mean you really are something special. To be honest I was supposed to kill you when we were kids. But instead I wanted to live a reckless life of partying and drugs, and misguiding others. All just so I could spend more time with you. More time without having to hurt you." Issei shake shis head. "Then why did you have to kill me?" He asks with a heartbroken tone. "Because I have to. Otherwise you'll wipe us all out."
Issei feels her smooth legs and thighs on his body wrapping around his lower body like a snake. His arms around her waist as the two secure each other in the air. "Your wings are so pointy and bony. Devils really are different. I miss when your heart was as soft as mine, even if it had darkened feathers. Yours was pure, white as snow, and something to be treasured." Issei starts to shed a couple tears. "Why did you do this to me?" She looks into his teary eyes and sees herself grow saddened as she puts her hand on his face.
"Because I'm conflicted. I have to kill the boy I fell in love with or else I'll die along with everyone I know. Either way I lose." She then pecks his lips again. "What's going on? Why are they just up there? And why are her wings all of a sudden so big I can't see Issei one bit?" Asia thought as she stood on the ground. "And I'm also conflicted. My best friend just killed me, betrayed me, used me. And yet I can't stop thinking about her. Why?" Raynare blushes a little as the wind she and Issei create shake up the whole park. Dark storm clouds gather around them.
"Oh?" Raynare asked. "Yeah. In fact I just want things to all be a dream. I'd wake up and you'd be with one of those football douches." Issei sais defeated. "He he, and then I'd tease him when I talk to you. They'd fear you, you weren't just the best friend they were jealous of I'd let them know you loved me. Always knew you had feelings Issei. You were the male best friend they hated." She once again kisses him. "I'd make them do things for me." Issei shoves Raynare a little. "They coulda killed me you know." Raynare shakes her head. "Oh and they have tried, but every time they did I'd have to find a new boyfriend. All those boys would just, crash their toy cars on the way to your place. Or jump off a cliff the night before with too much to drink." Issei's eyes widen as he puts together what Raynare was telling him.
"You really are someone different. I don't know you at all!" Raynare hides her face. "So are you. A harem lord now huh? Already moved on?"Issei tightens his hug as he feels a rush of energy flow through him. "Hey!" She feels his warm hug turn hot as she looks into his angry eyes. Her exposed body is now vulnerable as she struggles to escape Issei's bear hug. "Yeah I have. And it hurted a lot! But it's the only way to move forward!" He tightens his squeeze once more. Raynare yelps in pain as his strong, tight body is now starting to crush her. "Issei!" She yelled. "You have no idea how badly I wanted to die after what you did!" Raynare looks around scared. "Issei? ISSEI?!" Issei's eyes begin to glow green. "You broke my heart, after I already broke my reputation for giving my friends everything I had. In exchange they dragged me down and all I had left was you!" Raynare squirms a little more. "Issei stop!"
"You were my best friend, the only one I loved! I wasn't some lewd pervert like them, but now I am! I'M WHAT YOU MADE ME!" Raynare hears several limps pop. "Issei! STOP IT HURTS!" Issei smiles sinisterly. "OH I BET IT DOES!" Raynare looks around terrified as her eyes begin to glow. "I'M SORRY!" She yells. "YOU'RE SORRY YOU DIDN'T KILL ME THAT'S WHAT!" Raynare shakes her head. "Issei! I loved you too!" Issei throws Raynare around. "LIAR! You used me!" Issei roars. "If you loved me why are you doing this?! DON'T HURT ME!" Raynare pleads as Issei begins to throw fists. "LIAR! IF YOU LOVED ME YOU WOULDN'T HAVE KILLED ME! YOU USED ME TO MURDER OUR PEERS! PEOPLE DAMMIT!"
He then throws her off. The two glide around and slash at each other as they use their abilities, like a dog fight. "ISSEI WHAT ARE YOU?!" Issei cuts Raynare off. "I'm gonna become the world's greatest king! I'll have my Harem and you'll just be an irrelevant thought! Another body I've seen!" Raynare feels her heart crack. "Another body?" She then takes a hit to the head and falls down to the ground. "Another body?" She thought to herself. She then gets up and dries herself off as she looks at Issei land on the ground superhero style. "You've taught me something. I should stop letting people use my kindness, and start doing what I want. After all, I'm a devil now." He then charges up a laser from his iron glove. "Issei! Snap out of it! This isn't you!" Raynare yells.
"You don't give a damn about me! You don't know me! THE REAL ME!"
He then sends a laser towards her. She dodges it and throws a light spear that grazes his face slightly, not enough to cause any bleeding though. As she lands on the water she feels her belly burst with laughter.
"Oh now I wish I was a devil! Issei I thought I'd hate you before I became a "human", but look at me. I'd never guess I'd have such feelings. Of course I still have to kill you, but once you're a corpse I can do whatever I want with you. Oh it makes me feel so hot! "I thought I was messed up." Issei thought to himself. "Yeah well you'll be fun to have around once I've conquered all of purgatory. I'll keep you around as my personal concubine. How does that sound?!" The two exchanged degrading insults to each other and their looks before Raynare creates another spear of light as she stands on the water staring Issei down. "Sounds like a win win to me! Maybe I should let you win!" Issei grinds his teeth. "It's only fair after playing with my feelings! Ah who am I kidding! You're pretty but not worth keeping around." He then points his gauntlet at Raynare. "It was nice looking at yeah." Raynare for the first time in forever felt a piece of her heart crack. She looks at Issei as he crudely talks about her body right before he goes for a headshot.
"He's insane. He's too far gone. I've made him one of those two. Oh no.......Issei!"
She then grabs her spear and aims it at the boy. "Issei I've made up my mind! I've created a monster and I'll finish it off!" She then throws her spear into Issei's gut. Blood spurts all over the place as his gut leaks out the red fruit punch into the river. "You bitch!" He then uses his gauntlet to heal himself.
"What the?! How did he learn all of that so fast?!" "You should know that it doesn't work twice in a row." Issei roared. He walks over to her slowly as he pulls it out. "ISSEI! BE CAREFUL!" Asia yells. "You're the craziest one of them. A liar and a good actor too!" Raynare slams her heel into the ground. "My lord you're annoying! You can't even just pretend that you believe me can you!" Issei powers up once more. "You know keeping you alive was a generous offer." He walks up to her and grabs her jaw. "I thought I was being nice! Maybe even a second chance at something. But I think I know what the problem is."
It's love.
"What?!" Raynare yells. "Love is just lust with extra steps. I guess I just liked your body didn't I?" He then slams her onto the ground and stands over her with a spear from his gauntlet, ready to stab her. "Right? This is a punishment right?" Raynare looks up at Issei's tears and starts to cry with him. His tears fall into hers. The two just stood there as time flew by them. "Issei. You're far gone." She says softly. "At least what was of me was real." He then fires his laser, however as it goes off he then feels a spear send him flying up into the air. "I'll see you tonight!" She jumps up and creates a giant spear that slams him across the fountain and into the water. As he laid there Raynare landed next to Asia. "Come with me, or I'll finish him off." Raynare threatens. "What?" Asia asked. "You heard me little girl I could have blown him up. Instead I spared him. Now come here." Asia bows in defeat. "Yes Lady Raynare."
"Lord, please lift this cup from me. I don't wanna die."
As she goes up to Raynare Raynare hugs her with her arms and wings. "I'll see you tonight for our final date Issei." Issei groans as he tries to get back up. "No" he grumbles, reaching his arm out as he tries to get Asia. "Raynare. You ruined my life. "
I hate you.
Raynare's cocky smile fades into a saddened frown. "You're the worst. Worse than me." Issei looks up. "Asia" He gets up and looks at her. "Why?" Asia looks away in shame as Raynare smiles sinisterly. "I didn't wanna! Issei please!"
"You'll regret this Raynare"
You'll regret moving next door.
Raynare looks away as Issei uttered the words "You never loved me". This got under her skin as she turns around. "Think Issei think! You're just living in your own world, Issei. I've said it over and over of course I don't hate you. But I never came down to please you. I just happened to fall in love with the person I had to kill. Hey, be glad things worked out now!" Issei smiles rather sinisterly as he crawls over to her. "Well then. I can move on with your replacement." Raynare laughs at him. "Oh come on Issei nothing will replace me. Your first kiss is your only one. "Oh I've checked that box off for sure. And I gotta say your poor excuses for a peck up there, ugh man I'm glad we never went out." Raynare feels her heart once again break as Issei degards her. She reacts with bitterness as she starts to take off with Asia. "You pig! I was being genuine!" Issei bites his tongue as he sees Raynare walking away with Asia.
"ASIA NOOOOOO!"
"I HATE YOU! HAVE FUN IN HELL!"
She takes off with Asia as Issei reaches out for her. "NO! STOOOOOOOOP!" He then falls to his knees as he watches Asia disappear. "What the? No! Why?!"
Why couldn't I save her?
Later that night
Akeno indulges herself in a sweet donut when suddenly-
SLAP!
She looks over to see Rias disciplining Issei. "If I say don't you don't! How many times do I have to tell you?!" Issei looks up at Rias bitterly. "Does it look like I'm one to follow the rules?" Rias sighs. "You're so stubborn sometimes it pisses me off. You can't just do these things Issei! This is ridiculous! You must forget about her now you're a member of our household now. The Gremory household!" Issei sighs as he looks down at his arm. "Then I guess you're gonna have to release me. I refuse to let her go." Rias shakes her head. "You know I can't do that." Issei sulks his head. "Right cause you wanted to ride this didn't you?! This stupid pawn piece of-"
"Issei!!!!"
"No, I'm done with this! You think you can just take whoever you want and have no relationship with them! All my life I was the only guy I knew who just wanted a relationship! THE ENTIRE WORLD IS JUST A CESSPOOL OF INDULGENCE! Nothing is genuine anymore! It's all transactional! You know how rare it is for someone to actually ask someone out on a date now? Yet you can't be public about your horniness like those two dumb asses or you become the weird kids! The world is just this giant hypocritical-"
"What's your point?" Rias asked. "All I wanted was something good and I can't get that. Instead Satan's daughter decides she wants to hook up with me!"
"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME WHAT THE FUCK WERE WE ALL WATCHING THEN?! WHO ARE YOU ISSEI HYODO?!" Rias yells as she loses it with Issei. "Someone who was living in a lie their whole life. I'm gonna have to change or else I'll be miserable forever!" Rias walks over to Issei.
"Take a good look at yourself and tell me right now that you're not miserable!" Her words finally went through Issei. He saw her cold glance and just stared at her face. He then looks down and sees his reflection on the ground. "Raynare. She uh. She had quite the story to tell."
Issei told Rias every detail of his encounter with Raynare. Not leaving one detail out. Everyone just stared at him, shocked at his words as he told them every little bit that even made him look bad. "So did you believe her?" Rias asks. "I don't know? I really wanted to, but I guess I don't." Rias then takes a step back to let everyone else within distance of Issei. "And I'm assuming you don't trust me. But how about everyone else here?" Issei looked at Yuuto, Akeno, and Koneko in the eye as Rias finished her question.
"Do you trust us?" Rias asked earnestly. "You want me to be completely honest?" Issei asked. Rias nods her head. She sat with her arms crossed and her legs folded. "I don't even know if I can trust myself anymore. Or anything I say and do. It even felt like Asia betrayed me. So if you wanna take offense to my answer, you should know my background permits it."
Silence fills the room for a couple seconds.
"I'll just say this. You guys have been the nicest to me out of everyone I've ever met. I am grateful, really, even if you're steaming hot pissed at me right now. I don't blame you. I just have a terrible mindset right now. Tell me, why did you take me in? What was it that you thought I was?" Rias drops the somber serious tone as she gets up and looks at Issei. "When we all saw you. We saw a boy who didn't conform to the world. A sweet boy growing up to be a man, and take care of this thousand year old doll." She then sniffs as she takes a step closer to him. "Someone who cared for people, even the outcasts. Someone who was a gentleman and someone who wasn't gonna let the worst of the worst drag them down. Yet all I can see is the exact opposite." Issei just looks at Rias as the two get into a stare off. "Now what were you saying about being a pawn?"
"It's dumb. You have any idea what a pawn can do? It just takes out other pawns." Rias sighs. "Well of course I know what a pawn can do. You suck at chess. Since when have you been an expert? Look Issei a pawn is very valuable piece. It can mimic the attribute of any other piece but the King and that's by the King's consent." She explains.
"Woah, that actually does sound kinda cool. You mean all these things I could do were because of my pawn ability?" Rias nods her head.
"Yes, wait what?" Rias feels her body shake with fear. "The King's consent though, yet you were able to use it outside of my boundaries. The fountain isn't the enemy territory?" Issei gets excited. "Yo that means I can use it regardless of your stupid consent! THIS IS AWESOME!" He creates his gauntlet and charges up a small energy ball. "Woah that's new! I can use energy balls now! It's like that redhead from that superhero webcomic!"
"No, wait a second! I can copy all of your abilities?!" He looks at Yuuto, Keneko, Akeno, and even Rias. "Why are you looking at me?" Rias asks. "He he he, you see. I don't need your consent for my abilities activation, which means I'm already able to copy powers. But this sacred gear must make me able to copy the king's ability!"
I'll be like that Joker guy, or the superhero gold god dude who can copy abilities!!!!!!! A Golden God, unstoppable. "Yeah, stupid consent....." Rias looks down on the ground as Issei lifts his gauntlet up in the air. Suddenly Akeno whispers in Rias's ear. "Oh, I see. Something just came up." The two leave and head to a magic circle into the ground. "Issei, just remember that a single devil can't take on a fallen one. They're not as many as us so that's why we fight in numbers." The two fade into the ground as the portal takes them away. "Issei, you were my only hope against him" Rias thought to herself as she imagined a man standing over her with evil intent. He was much older, around his mid-thirties, and had blond hair. His eyes glow red and yellow as he smiles a sinister grin. Please, don't let me down.
Please, don't let me down.
"I love you. Whether you understand why or not is irrelevant." Issei gets up and walks out to the door. "You're going aren't you?" Yuuto asks. "I am and there's nothing you can do about it." Issei says. "You could die." Yuuto says blankly. "As long as she's okay. That's fine by me." Yuuto laughs. "How brave and stupid. What happened to being selfish?" Issei turns to Yuuto and smiled. "Yeah well it's none of your damn business! You'd think I'd be able to understand myself but I-" Yuuto gets angry and walks up to Issei. He grabs him by the collar and slams him against the wall.
"DAMMIT YOU IDIOT WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?! Just let it go already! Look she's gone and we can't do anything about it! But you're part of the boys with me now and the boys look out for each other! They don't leave each other behind or let them do stupid shit! Hell they don't drag them down and blame them for their crimes! Instead they take the blame for their brothers! You never had anyone loyal like that I get it!" He then backs away before Issei can get angry and grab his head for a headbutt. "But come on!" He then bumps his chest with his fist and and takes a couple steps back.
"Why give this up? Why hold onto that anger. You'll let them win! They're so perverted Issei that I always hear about them from those girls. Hell I heard your name but I knew you were different. I respected your loyalty to them." He then walks up to Issei. "Now you have mine." He pulls out his sword and cuts the palm of his hand. "Okay now hold out your hand."
"Uhhhh, okay?" He holds it out and gets cut by the edge of the sword. "Ouch!" Yuuto grabs his hand and lets their blood mix. "What the?" "A blood bond. We'll always be together in combat. My shedded blood will be yours, and yours mine." Issei nods. "Oh, alright then." The two squeeze their hands so tightly the blood rushes out and leaks on the floor as they stare into each other's eyes. "Sounds like a plan then."
"I'm coming too."
The two look at Koneko as they separate their hands. "Alright then. Sounds like a plan."
Meanwhile the portal opens up. Rias and Akeno step off and find a fallen angel ranting about how bored standing guard is. She drops down in a maid uniform and introduces herself as the best of the best. She was a rather small frail little girl with blond hair. Two short pigtails and black bowties in her hair to compliment her blue eyes. Her maid socks went up way beyond her knees, and the only thing that covered her feet were a pair of school uniform shoes.
"My my this little girl is really into herself isn't she?" Akeno says. "My servants sensed that you were out here so that means that you must be worried by an attack." Rias states. "An attack? No, we just don't want any devils on our property that's all." Akeno nods. "Oh I hate to break it to you but we already have three more on the way right now."
"What? An attack?! Now?!" Millet thought to herself. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME! I HATE DEVILS! I JUST WANNA CRUSH THEIR STUPID UGLY FACES IN!" Rias smiles as Akeno giggles. "This is nice, who woulda known that without Issei here I'd actually smile again."
"What's up with that?"
She looks at her best friend and smiles some more as Akeno laughs at the misery of her opponent. "I can't believe I let a guy get in the way between me and my best friend."
"Well it doesn't matter. There are more of us than you so if you're going on a rescue mission then you're gonna have to get through me first! I may be small but I can pack a mean punch!"
"Oh we won't be partaking. They're on their own." Rias says. "What?" The small fallen angel asks "So you're just gonna sit back and watch?"
"Yes. We're gonna watch this entire field become his territory."
"Alright Issei. Become the Emperor you were meant to be.
Koneko and Yuuto look at Issei as he stares at the church with intense rage.
"Hang on Asia."
We're coming.
To be Continued....