Highschool DxD Cosmos

New Begining

Rias rushed forward, her arms wide open, ready to leap into Ryu's embrace, something sudden and terrifying happened.

Ryu's body stiffened, and before Rias could reach him, he staggered backward, a pained gasp escaping his lips. His hand shot out, clutching his chest as if the very life force within him was trying to tear itself free.

"No...!" Rias's voice cracked in horror, the instinct to reach him overwhelming. But before she could take another step, Ryu doubled over, coughing violently. The force of it caused him to stumble to his knees, blood spilling from his lips and staining the golden armor that had been his symbol of strength. But suddenly, with a sharp, resonating clang, something dropped from his body, hitting the ground with a metallic echo. Rias' eyes widened as she recognized the object lying at Ryu's feet, his rook piece, ejected and inert.

"Ryu...," she whispered in shock, feeling a wave of disbelief. That piece had tied him to her, bound him as her servant. But now, it lay discarded, severing the bond between them. The reality hit her like a punch to the gut—Ryu was no longer part of her peerage.

Rias's heart raced as she held onto the lifeless rook piece, the very symbol of her bond with Ryu now cold and inert in her hand. It had all happened so fast; one moment, he was fighting Riser with everything he had, and the next, he was collapsing, severed from her peerage in a way she didn't understand. Now, as her family and her peerage transported themselves back to the Gremory estate, she couldn't shake the dread that filled her heart.

Venelana gently placed a hand on Rias's shoulder, her expression warm but serious. "We should let him rest for now," she suggested softly, glancing at Ryu's still form. "He needs time to recover, and there's nothing more we can do at this moment you can stay by his side if you wish dear."

Reluctantly, Rias nodded, knowing that they couldn't rush the healing process, but the thought of leaving Ryu alone in his condition filled her with unease. She held the rook piece tightly in her palm, a physical reminder of what she had lost.

Sirzechs exchanged glances with Zeoticus and Venelana before turning to Rias. "We'll be in the living room. Just call us if anything changes," he said gently, trying to reassure her.

One by one, her family and her peerage left the room. Issei, Kiba, Akeno, Asia, and Koneko offered Rias supportive nods as they stepped out, their expressions a mix of concern and encouragement. As the door clicked shut, Rias felt the weight of isolation settle heavily around her.

Alone with Ryu, she sank to the edge of the bed, her heart pounding as her thoughts spiraled. He was no longer hers. The reality gripped her with a panic she couldn't shake. The bond they had shared, the connection that had made him her loyal rook, was severed. She couldn't fathom the idea that he was no longer part of her peerage.

Tears brimmed in her eyes as she whispered, "What does this mean for us?" Her voice cracked, filled with emotion. "You fought so hard for me, but now... you might never be by my side again." She wiped a tear away angrily, trying to suppress the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.

The thought of Ryu returning to a normal life haunted her. If he became human again, he would age, while she would remain a devil, immortal and unchanged. She would watch him grow old and wither away while she remained untouched by time. The very idea filled her with dread.

A sinking feeling gripped her stomach as she imagined living without him, knowing he could no longer protect her in the same way. She didn't have any pieces strong enough to bring him back into her peerage. What if he couldn't be with her at all?

"Ryu..." she whispered; her voice filled with sorrow. "I can't lose you. Not like this."

Without thinking Rias undressed herself and slipped beneath the covers beside Ryu. She carefully wrapped the blanket around them both, pulling it tight and nestled against him, her body seeking the familiar comfort of his warmth. She hugged him tightly, closing her eyes, hoping to draw strength from the closeness. She felt an ache in her chest, a yearning to tell him everything she hadn't said, all the love that had blossomed in her heart and grown with every day they had been together.