The Chains that Bind (Highschool DxD x Ghost Rider Reader)

Chapter 34

Rias and the others gathered inside, immediately heading towards Issei's room to understand what had transpired. There, they saw the shirt (F/N) wore on the day of the robbery. The bullet holes, the blood, everything. They stared at it, looking everything over and putting the pieces together.

"It all makes sense," Kiba said as he continued to look at the shirt. "The disappearances, Freed, and even now with the Fallen Angel in the alleyway."

"I didn't want to believe it," Rias said, "I wanted to believe that he was just having some bad luck, but with this...it's just hard to believe." She slowly looked up and over towards Asia and Issei, studying their expressions first, before asking. "Did...he say anything before storming off? Anything we could use to determine if he serves a Devil house, or not?" She spoke slowly, and calmly, appearing composed and gentle so they don't disturb them. Asia didn't reply, she was more focused on the words he said before he left, instead of Rias's question. Issei looked over towards the former Sister and then looked at Rias. He just shook his head "no". Rias sighed, looking down at her lap as she tried to wrack her mind for anything. She glanced at the others, who just couldn't help but stare at the shirt longer, except for Akeno; Akeno was also saddened, no doubt from (F/N)'s words to her.

Issei gripped his hands into tight fists, and stood up abruptly.

"I'm going to go and find him!" He said. He then turned around, grabbing his jacket and leaving his bedroom door.

"What? Issei, wait!" Rias stood up and followed him out, leaving the rest to ponder and think. They both got to the front door, where Issei was about to leave and go look. "Issei, hold on!" She said as she caught up to him.

"Look Rias, it's our fault that we didn't consider this. Not to mention, he said he wanted to tell us something important."

"I thought it was just that he was the Ghost Rider," Rias said, "true, but what if there was something else as well?" Rias held her chin and pondered the possibility.

"You might have a point..." she said, "if he wanted to keep his identity a secret from us, why would he then decide to tell us himself?" Issei opened the door and stepped outside, which snapped Rias back to the present and she took a step forward. "Wait! Let me go with you and look!"

"Nah, I'll be fine!" Issei said, waving to her. "Besides, I don't know if he'd want to talk to you, after all that's happened." Rias stayed quiet when she heard that, agreeing with what he said, but still wanting to help. "I'll talk to him, Devil to Devil!" He gave a smile and a thumbs up, as a means to try and assure her, before turning and running off. Rias continued to stare, watching as he disappeared from sight, before accepting his decision and going back inside.

As she did, closing the door behind her, Wormwood stepped out from the shadows of a nearby house, having watched the interaction go down between Issei and Rias. He hummed to himself, looking up at the window where they resided, and then looking over towards Issei. He grinned to himself, chuckling darkly as a plan began to hatch.

I'll need to take my time, he thought to himself, if I attack them now, they'll surely destroy me. But if I get the Red Dragon, then that's one less, powerful piece off of her board.

~~~

(F/N) pulled up towards the park of the other town, bringing his bike to a stop and kicking the kickstand out, taking a moment to sit and reflect on what had happened. He just stared at himself through the reflection of his handlebars. Having rode out of Kuou, and taken a long drive, it helped calm him down. He let out a sigh, rubbing his eyes and leaning forward.

So, we're on our own, aren't we? The Rider asked, already knowing the answer but still feeling the need to ask it.

"It looks like it," (F/N) answered. "We'll just have to find Samael and stop him ourself."