Bare This Curse

Chapter 5: The Real Story Begins

"Hello everyone. My name is Issei Shumitto Hyoudou. I hope we can get along."
I waved to everyone from beside Issei, winking at them.
"Heya. I'm Neito Hyoudou Shumitto. I hope we all can get along while I hang around here."
The girls immediately fawned over me, some getting up and gossiping with each other. I felt a little weirded out.
"Whoa there. Some personal space, please. Give a guy too much attention and he might die from a flush."
"Girls. Go back to your seats."
They whined and went back to their seats reluctantly. The teacher gave us the back two seats. I sat at the window as Issei took the one right to the left of it. I glanced out the window before grabbing my notebook out from the handmade pocket I had mom sow into the inner part of the coat. I flipped it to the spot I left it on last night before going to sleep. This next Magic Circle was one that let me create barriers like the ones that were set up by Rias in my dream runs. I narrowed my eyes at the memory of my death, then shook my head and studied it thoroughly.
-----
*RING* *RING*
After getting through 5 pages, the bell rung for lunch and I closed up the book. I put it in the inner pocket and stood up.
"Neito? Could you stay for a second?"
"Hmm? Sure, teach. What'd ya need?"
"What was that book you were studying so much? I saw several colorful circles of some sort from up here."
"Well, let's just leave it to the imagination. To give a short answer, it's something that I've been getting into recently. I guess you could say it's art."
"If it is art, it's very well done."
"Thanks, pal. I'm gonna go get some lunch."
"You go do that. I got papers to grade."
I waved to the teacher as I walked out, going down the steps to the lunch room. I went to the vending machine and popped out a Mountain Dew. I passed by the Student Council, then stopped. I kept going when the feeling that was in the pits of my stomach diminished. I walked out onto the school yard, going to a tree and leaning next to it and flipping open the notebook again. About 15 minutes into my studying, a finger touched my forehead. I perked up and looked into two familiar grey eyes, widening my own when the girl removed her finger, her eyes getting bigger in realization.

"Neito."
"Ophis!"
I sat up and pulled her into a hug, which was a lot easier to do since I was smaller now. She hugged back without hesitation.
"Are you, OK?"
"I'm fine, kid. I'm alright. What about you?"
"None of, what transpired affected me. I'm more concerned, about what your mental state has reduced to, after seeing that everything that you went through-"
"Was not real... I know, and I'm a little shaken from it. I won't lie about that, but I'm slowly getting my bearings again, and seeing you..."
I squeezed her a bit tighter.
"You can't imagine how much relief I feel after seeing you here."
"I, can imagine."
I snickered.
"I know you can, but I was talking rhetorically."
I let her go and sat back down. She sat down next to me and glanced down at the notebook.
"A notebook full of, Magic Circles."
"Yea. I made this in run 1046, with Sona Sitri."
"Would you like me to teach, you how to wield them?"
"I'll ask for help eventually, but no. I want to learn on my own. Trial and error is the best learning method."
"If that is what you desire, but you are still my master, and I will serve you."
"If that's what YOU desire, Ophis, then I don't mind, but let's treat each other as friends, OK?"
"OK."
I yawned, closing the notebook and putting it away. I leaned against the tree, closing my eyes for a nap. I needed some rest from all this revelation. I felt Ophis lean on me and snuggle up under my arm. I grinned and let her through, wrapping my arm around her as I went to sleep.
"Dudes. I gotta say. Boobs are the best thing ever."
I blinked as I opened my eyes, then turned my head to my perverted older bro and his old friends that went here with him. I shook my head at them as Matsuda put his hand in the air.
"Trust me, my man. You and I are on the same page."
Motohama propped up his glasses.
"Me too, but it's all pointless."
Issei sighed and sat up.
"Matsuda, Motohama? Can you please explain to me why the hell we enrolled in this school?"
"Like you don't know. We're in a place that up until a few years ago, it was nothing but chicks."
"We had to take advantage of this male to female ratio. Also, the foreign exchange students here are ridiculous."
"Poon as far as the eye can see. We'd figure women would be lining up to get on our jocks and we wouldn't have to do a d*** thing. We'd be drowning in that stank."
Issei grinned idiotically.
"Like our very own HAREM!!"
His two friends followed suit.
"Hell yea! We were gonna have casual, unprotected sex with hot chicks and then never call them again!"
I rose an eyebrow at Matsuda.
'Wow... A**hole.'
"""1, 2! 1, 2! 1, 2!"""
I glanced up, seeing the track girls go by. Everything played out just as it were in my dream runs, but the only difference is that it's the beginning of the spring semester for Issei and I, and while I'd be taking quizzes and the such in this place, I wouldn't be properly attending. Only just learning with my brother. Issei and his friends looked up at the track girls, the former frowning.
"That was the plan, at least, but here we are, just moved in 3 days ago for the spring semester of our second year and between all of us, none of us have had a single girlfriend."
"What's the point? It'll never happen."
"C'mon, guys. I know you better than this. Don't give up so soon."
Issei looked over and perked up at the Gothic loli girl who was snuggled up under my left arm.
"What the- Where did she come from?!"
Matsuda and Motohama also looked over, gawking at me.
"When the f*** did you get a girlfriend, Neito?!"
I shrugged and began to lie through my teeth.
"Girlfriend? Nah. She's an old friend of mine that I met a couple years back. She didn't transfer to this school yet, but she's hanging around too, like me. Why don'tcha introduce yourself?"
Ophis looked up at me, then looked over at Issei.
"Hello, Neito's older sibling. My name is, Ophis."
"Um... Hey. I'm Issei Shumitto Hyoudou. Nice to meet you."
"Likewise."
I leaned back to resume my nap, but I was interrupted again when some girls squealed up above us on the path. I looked past the tree and saw some girls running up to... Kiba Yuuto. I turned back around, my expression souring a little.
"Kiba! Wait up! What are you doing right now?"
"Yea! You maybe wanna go sing karaoke with us?"
He smiled sorrowfully.
"Thanks, but I got a meeting with my club."
"""Aww!~"""
"That sucks..."
"I really do wish I could go. It's very cool of you ladies to invite me."
They squealed again as he walked away, waving to them. Motohama propped up his glasses again.
"Kiba Yuuto. Class 2-C. Basically every girl wants to sex him up."
"And every guy wants to mess him up."
Issei growled.
"That tool! I don't get it! Just because he's hot, sexy, and the coolest guy in school, they all wanna rub up on Kiba!"
Motohama slumped a bit as he turned back to his friends.
"He sucks so much less than we do."
Issei sighed in defeat.
"Life really does blow sometimes."
"Oh sh**!"
I glanced at Matsuda as he checked his watch.
"I'm gonna be late!"
He picked up his bag and started down the slope.
"Huh? Late for what?"
He turned back to Motohama and Issei, giving them a thumbs up and lewd smile. I knew what that meant and stood up, helping Ophis up to her feet before stuffing my hands in my pockets and following my perverted brother and his idiot friends. We all went back behind the Kendo Club and Issei's friends unveiled a peep hole, which they both looked through while Issei was walking to the hole himself. He was blocked out by Motohama and Matsuda.
"Murayama's jugs! They're freaking huge!"
"36-22-34!"
"And Katase's legs are crazy sexy!"
"34-22-36!"
The two giggled like school girls as I leaned against a tree behind them. Ophis was standing next to me, just watching the scene unamusungly.
"Found this yesterday! I call it the t** hole!"
"Good job, Matsuda!"
"Guys!"
Issei tried to pull Matsuda away.
"My turn! Come on! No fair! I wanna see too!"
"Hey! What was that?!"
We all stopped upon hearing a muffled female voice coming from the other side of the wall. Issei fell back when his friends bolted on the spot.
"Gh-... I can't believe those two idiots left me here."
I walked over to him, offering my hand. He took it and I helped him sit up. He looked for his friends, but they must have been long gone by now.
"Well, well. What do we have here?"
I turned around, seeing the Kendo crew right behind us. Issei sweatdropped.
"W-Wait! Please... Don't hurt me..."
"Issei! You pervert!"
I winced as Issei took quite the beating from the Kendo girls. I know I should help him, but even if he didn't peek, he would have anyway, and it's not like he hasn't done this before in our previous school. Once I saw enough, I grabbed Issei and dragged him behind me, raising up my hands and catching two bamboo swords.
"Alright, I think that's enough, pals. He's had his punishment."
I let go of the swords and they put them down. I turned to Issei and motioned to the end of the treeline. He got the message and walked back to the school yard. I followed, but not before glancing back at the Kendo girls.
"Oh, and by the way. Issei may have attempted to peek, but he didn't. Motohama and Matsuda are your real targets. Give a good few whacks for me, would ya?"
Murayama smirked and patted her sword with her hand. I grinned and walked out with my brother and Ophis.
"Hey, bro? I'm gonna go get a drink. I'll see you around."
"K. See you later."
I turned and went to the interior of the building. I went to the cafeteria and popped in a dollar and 25, grabbing me and Ophis a drink. She eagerly drank down her soda as I took sips every now and again. I heard the bell ring and looked to Ophis.
"Why don't you head out for now, Ophis? I gotta go attend class with my brother, and I don't want any more ruckus going on today."
"OK."
She gave me a quick hug before teleporting away when nobody was looking. I walked up some stairs and went to the second floor. Once I got off the stairs, I bumped into someone, making them drop their things. I grunted and rubbed my head as I got rid of the dizziness.
"Oh dear. Are you alright?"
'A-Akeno?'
I stared at the raven haired Great Lady before shaking my head of the daze. I grinned up at her, as I was nearly a head smaller than her.
"Yea, sorry about the run-in, buddy. Guess I wasn't looking where I was going."
I knelt down and gathered up her things, folding them and stacking them back up neatly. I held them out to her and she accepted them with a sweet smile as I grinned again.
"My bad."
"Oh, no worries, sweetie. Thank you very much. I'm Akeno Himejima. A third year student here and the Vice President of the Occult Research Club."
"Name's Neito Hyoudou Shumitto. I'm not a student here. I'm just fresh outta my junior year in junior high, but I'm coming in for classes for the remainder of the year with my bro, Issei Shumitto Hyoudou due to the fact that it's boring around the house when it's quiet. But I'll soon be a freshman by next year."
She blinked and tilted her head.
"Why are your names backwards?"
"It's just a thing we stuck with. Our real names are Neito Shumitto and Issei Hyoudou, but ever since I was adopted by the Hyoudou family, we decided to have the other's last name as a middle name. So, don't mind it too much."
She nodded.
"Well, where's your bother's next class?"
"It's the Chemistry Room just down the hall there."
"How peculiar! My next class is in the room across the hall from there."
"Really? Huh..."
She leaned down and smiled brighter, no doubt flirting with me.
"Would you be a dear and walk with me to my next class, cutie pie?~"
"E-Erm... Alright..."
I turned and walked towards the Chemistry room with Akeno at my side, smiling the whole time we were walking. I went to the opposite side of the hall and knocked and opened the door, walking in just as class was about to start, holding the door so Akeno could go in.
"Thanks, honey.~"
"Hey, no problem. Happy to help you after crashing into you like that."
"Oh, don't worry about it. It's all water under the bridge. See you soon?"
"Yea. We'll see. Maybe we can have some lunch together tomorrow."
I saw a glimpse of red hair in the crowd of students and looked over, seeing none other than my betrayer, Rias f***in Gremory. My grin turned dark for second before it diminished once Akeno got my attention again.
"My, my. Is my soon-to-be cute junior making a move on me already?~"
My face got a little red as I rolled my eyes.
"Whatever you wanna call it. Making a move, or just treating a friend to lunch, the offer's there. I'll see ya around, Akeno."
"Bye-bye.~"
I walked out of the classroom, closing the door on my way out. I walked across the hall and entered the Chemistry room, finding Issei and sitting myself down next to him. I kicked back my feet soon after sitting down and decided to take a nap for the rest of the day.
-----
"Who was that boy, Akeno?"
I looked over at Rias when I sat down in my seat.
"You mean the one who escorted me in?"
"Yea, that one."
"Well, he and his brother are new here. His name is Neito Hyoudou Shumitto as his brother's name is Issei Shumitto Hyoudou."
"Did you see anything interesting in either of them?"
"I did in Neito's essence. He's not normal, that's for sure, and I can sense a very powerful wavelength coming from him. It's possible that he possesses a Sacred Gear as well as his brother."
"Hmm... Interesting... Have Koneko keep an eye on Issei, and continue to watch over Neito yourself."
"Yes, President."
-----
"Ugh, being a teenager's the worst."
I chuckled as I leaned against the railing on the bridge above the freeway.
"At this rate, jerking off to porn is the only thing closest I'll ever get to doing it before I go off to college which means I'll be a virgin forever and die alone..."
I patted his back, attempting to comfort him. I flinched heavily when I heard a familiar voice.
"Excuse me? You're Neito Shumitto from Kuoh Academy, aren't you?"
"And Issei Hyoudou is your name, right?"
"Or are we wrong?"
I turned to the right side of the bridge, my expression turning to disbelief when I saw... Yuuma. And beside her was Raynare. While I was stuck in my haze, Issei responded.
"Yea. That's us."
I was so engrossed with the sight of Yuuma that I didn't even notice that she was younger now. More to my age, as a matter of fact.
'Have so many things changed in the real world?'
Yuuma fidgeted before looking up at me from the ground.
"H-Hi, I- uh..."
I snapped out of it and grinned at them.
"Hey, if there's anything we can help you with...?"
"Sort of."
"We just wanted to ask you two a quick question."
""Shoot.""
"Are you seeing anyone right now?"
Issei perked up at what Raynare said and Yuuma blushed, hiding behind Raynare a bit, courtesy of her shy personality that I knew her for. I took a breath before shaking my head.
"Nah. I used to not do relationships in the such. Had way too much on my plate back where we came from, but now that I'm here and have some free time... The short answer is no. Neither of us are seeing anyone."
"That's wonderful!"
I grinned mischievously.
"It is? Wow, that's hurtful..."
"O-Oh! We didn't mean it like-"
"Too late."
I turned around.
"You already hurt my feelings."
"I-I'm so-"
"Psyche. Heheheheheh! Sorry. I like to play a good joke every now and again."
I grunted when Yuuma smacked me a bunch of times.
"Neito! You big jerk!"
"Ow! OK! OK! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it!"
She pouted as she stopped hitting me and I smiled at her, ruffling her hair gently. Raynare cleared her throat.
"In that case, since you two are single, would you maybe wanna go out with us?"
"G-Go out with you?"
Raynare nodded at Issei.
"We saw you two pass by this bridge the other day, and... Well, you two looked so fun to be around and gentle in nature."
Yuuma nodded.
"We'd figure we'd ask the question and hope you would say yes. See, the thing is, we've never had boyfriends before, and we're a little nervous about this... So, we'd like for our first boyfriends to be with gentle souls like you!"
"Boyfriends? Us? Heh, lazy describes me the best. And my bro's kinda a pervert. Guess those just our quirks, though. Everyone has em."
Yuuma smiled amusingly at me. I looked up at Issei, who was still wrapping his head around all this. I turned back to the girls.
"So... When and where do you wanna meet up for the date then?"
Yuuma twiddled her thumbs, then pulled me to the other side of the bridge.
"I want us to go on a separate date."
"Separate? OK. I can meet'cha at the town Strip at 3pm tomorrow after school."
"That sounds awesome! I can't wait!"
She glomped and held me in the same embrace as I remembered in the last dream run. I slowly wrapped my arms around her.
"Can't wait either. I'll see you then, Yu-Yu."
She blushed at her nickname, then ran off with her sister when she came by. I sighed, then followed Issei down the stairs to our street.
-----
"I see..."
"You were right. 100%."
"Yea. You totally nailed it."
"I'm just glad I had you two keep an eye on them."
"Yup."
"So? What's next? What do we do with them now?"
"We'll need to make up preparations immediately. That's all we can do. Everything else depends on them."
I picked up and pawn and rook piece from my board, smirking at them before putting them down. I glanced at Akeno, seeing that she was pouting.
"Is something wrong, Akeno?"
"Why couldn't it have been me?"
"Huh?"
"I've been looking for a new cute junior to have fun with, and now he's gonna be stolen by Fallen Angel trash."
I smiled at her.
"Don't worry. We have our ways to make sure they'll live through their excursion."
Akeno smiled when I held up the pieces. I put them down again and continued the game.
-----
"Hmm..."
"Is something, wrong?"
I glanced at Ophis on the couch. I was sitting on my recliner, looking through my notebook for a specific Magic Circle buffer.
"I'm trying to search through and find the Magic Circle I studied in Sona's library. It prevents the reincarnation process."
"You are trying, to prevent your brother from being made, a slave?"
"Yea. If I can get a firewall up before Raynare, and possibly Yuuma, backstabs us, I need a way to keep Rias from claiming us long enough for you to bring us back and heal us."
"Why not join Rias's peerage? How do you, know she has not changed?"
"I thought that so many times that the thought is now just void from my mind. She's selfish, and a manipulator, and until she proves otherwise, she will always be my enemy at heart, no matter how much I fake my act."
"I see..."
I flipped to page 138 and smiled.
"Found it!"
I scanned the page about three times before my phone clock went off.
"Well, there's my cue to split."
I stood up and handed the notebook to Ophis.
"Put that in one of my desk drawers and make sure it's sealed shut, please."
She nodded as I walked out of my house, going towards the town Strip. As I went there, I focused in and remembered the instructions on the page. After doing the process, my body flashed white for a second before fading. I was now permanently a human until the spell can be nullified. I hung out at the clock tower, waiting for Yuuma. I waited there for a while, eventually wondering where Yuuma was.
'Well, she did take a long time before. I outta cut her some slack.'
"Here. Take a flyer."
I glanced to my left, seeing a girl with a red dress and bat accessories giving me a Devil's flyer. I took it and nodded to the girl, stuffing the flyer in my pocket.
"Neito! Hey!"
I looked to my right, seeing Yuuma walking up to me.
"Heya, Yu-Yu. How's it going?"
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"It's cool, buddy. If there's one thing I'm good at, it's patience. Don't worry about it. I'm just glad ya made it. You ready for the date?"
"Yea! Let's go!"
I stumbled a little when she grabbed my hand and pulled me along eagerly.
'Heh, for a Fallen Angel, she still is so innocent.'
-----
"I sure had fun today."
"Glad you did, Yu-Yu. I had a good time as well. Thank god I picked a movie that you enjoyed."
"Of course! It was awesome! I really loved it!"
"Heheheh, good. I'm happy for us both."
I walked down the sidewalk, a little tiredly from the date. Yuuma smiled, knowing from our time spent together that while I have good traits, one of them isn't stamina. I can hold my own just fine, as seen in many of my previous runs, but I'd get the fight or exhibition over and done with quickly or slowly so I didn't waste too much energy too soon. I guess you could say I was a Sans with that, but nothing more in comparison. Yuuma rubbed my back, still smiling, then ran ahead, turning back to me once I stopped.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead. I'm all ears, pal."
She walked towards me slowly.
"In honor of our first date, there's something I'd like for you to do to commemorate this special moment."
Her face went red when she stopped in front of me. I rose an eyebrow.
"OK...? What do you need me to do?"
"... Close your eyes."
I did so without thinking twice. Trust wasn't a factor that I'm well experienced in, but I knew this Fallen Angel in particular wouldn't-
*chu*
"Mmm...~"
Yup. There it is again. Our first kiss. I opened my eyes and looked at her before closing them again and returning the embrace and the kiss. We stopped when the sky turned purple and hazy.
"What the-"
I heard laughter in the distance and my eye pupils shrunk in alarm.
"Oh god. Issei!"
I bolted passed Yuuma, sprinting into the park.
"W-Wait! Neito! Don't go that way!"
I ignored her pleas and kept running towards the fountain area. I grunted when Yuuma tackled me into a bush, covering my mouth as we fell to the ground. She shushed me, then quieted herself as we heard Raynare speaking.
"Well, I have to admit. I did have some fun today. Considering how naive and childish you are, things could have been much, much worse. Especially if your clueless brother caught on early. Thanks a lot for the gift too. Very sweet. But, even so... It's time to die."
"W-Wait! Raynare! Plea- GAK!!!"
I pushed Yuuma off and looked over the bush, seeing my brother's gut gushing with red.
'No!'
I began to jump out, but Yuuma pinned me down with her wings and arms.
"Shh! Shhh! You must be quiet!"
"Let me go, Yuuma! I need to help him!"
"There's nothing you can do! If my sister sees you, she'll kill you too. I arranged our dates to be separate so I could fake killing you. You looked like such a swell guy and I wanted to actually have some fun with a boy for a change. Issei wasn't going to make it."
"No! I won't accept that!"
I punted her off and threw my hand at Yuuma, reciting the instructions for many of my Magic Circles. Several offensive colored Circles appeared and hit her with a variety of different attacks. Some were avoided, and some were unavoidable. I wasn't using much tactic here. I was just unleashing hell long enough for her to retreat. I looked back and it seemed that Yuuma had also disappeared. I turned back to Issei and walked over to him quickly, only to get a red spear through my back and out the right side of my chest. I coughed and gagged as I fell to the ground on my knees.
"N-No... I can't... die... If I do, I won't be able to... go back. Everything is... permanent. No...!"
"Hmph. Stubborn boy. Die for Azazel with your brother."
Another spear went through my body at my gut region, making me throw up blood and fall face down in a pool of my own liquid redness. Yuuma was standing next to her sibling, looking at me with a horrified and saddened expression. I coughed again, a stream of liquid trailing from my lip. I saw that Issei was still hanging on.
'Ophis... Where are you...?'
"I must give you credit, boy. Not just any human can learn how to use Magic Circles. It amazes me that you have talent, but your brother is useless. If you two are looking for someone to blame, why not blame him? He gave you your Sacred Gears. And so, we had to dispose of you because of your existing threat level with those Sacred Gears."
I glared up at them as I slowly pushed myself to my knees again.
"Tough kid. You have some spirit in you. I'll give you that. If I didn't have to kill you, I would have gladly taken you with me. Destroying your innocence would have been the best thing I would have done in this town."
I coughed more blood and fell on my back this time. My body began to lose feeling.
'Ophis! Where are you?!'
"Oh, and tell your brother in the afterlife that I said thanks for the lovely date. It was fun."
She and Yuuma flew off, but not before Yuuma looked back one more time, giving me the same saddened expression. I tried with all my might to move, to try and conjure up one of those tactical Magic Circles to heal me, but I only got as far as to move my arm up.
'D*** it. I can't let THIS end like it is! If I do, we won't get a second chance! I should have... I should have... I should have killed those two when I first spotted them! If only I wasn't so engrossed with Yuuma! What the hell was I thinking?!'
I looked over at Issei, who was only about a minute away from passing on.
'Issei, I'm sorry, bro.'
I felt a cold tear run down my face.
'I am so sorry.'
*FLARE*
I widened my eyes as a red glow came from his pocket.
'Oh sh**. Oh sh**! Ophis! Hurry up! Ophis!'
The flyer Issei had in his pocket flew from his pocket, bursting into a Gremory Magic Circle. I tried with all my might to summon a Teleportation Circle, but since I couldn't direct it with my movement, it was harder to conjure. The Circle floated down, slowly revealing Rias Gremory. She was facing away from Issei.
"I have come. You are the one who has summoned me, are you not?"
Issei turned his eyes slowly up to her as she turned to him. A indigo blue Magic Circle with no symbol this time rather than the clock symbol before appeared under me, glowing dimly and flickering as I was sweating to keep it up. I prepped for transportation and looked back at Issei. I frowned sadly, knowing that Rias had him now, but I could still make it out.
"Since death is upon you, I will gladly take you in."
Her Devil wings burst from her back, making me jump slightly and lose concentration.
'F***!!! Come on!'
Rias drew out 8 pawn pieces and placed them on Issei's chest, smiling at him as they fused with his body.
"From this moment forward, you will live your life for my sake."
Once the ritual was done, she stood up and walked over to me, a rook piece in her hand. I strained myself and right when she was standing over me, the Indigo Circle appeared again, flaring brightly below my slowly dying form.
*SHINE*
A blue light enveloped me and I teleported back to my home. I landed on my living room carpet and saw Ophis floating over to me.
"O-Ophis... Where were you...?!"
"My apologies. I was, dealing with my own problems. Relax your body, Master Neito."
I took a few deep breaths as Ophis poured her magic into my wounds, making them illuminate purple as they slowly patched up. I gasped for air when I could and coughed out the remaining drops of blood. I looked up at Ophis and saw her giving me a glass of water. I took it graciously and downed it.
"Ah... Now, what did you mean that you had problems of your own?"
"Stupid Devils of the Khaos Brigade, came here and attempted kidnap."
"Khaos Brigade?"
"It is an organization I made a, long time ago to defeat the Great Red."
"The Great Red? Is he the other powerful existence?"
"He is, my opposite. I am the Ouroboros of Nothingness, while he is the Dragon of Dreams. He is infinite, while I am nothing."
"Wow, and you two have been at each other's throats?"
"He stole, my home. The Dimensional Gap. I wish to reclaim my silence, but as I stated, I cannot do so with, these world repeats."
"And that's why you came to protect me."
"You do, interest me. You are, my friend. I am your, servant. I will never, leave you."
She put her finger on my forehead.
"For you, are my new silence."
"Heh, thanks, buddy."
I ruffled her hair before standing up and placing the glass on the counter.
"We should probably get to bed. Rias'll be here any second with Issei."
She nodded and followed me to the couch. I sat down and rested my arm on the armrest. I planted my cheek in my palm and closed my eyes tiredly. Ophis used my other arm as a pillow when I stuffed it in my pocket. I smiled down at her and she gave me a faint grin in return before closing her eyes. I did the same again and snored lightly as I went to a deep sleep.
-----
"Stop screwing with me, guys. You seriously don't remember meeting Raynare?"
"Nah, man. Doesn't ring a bell."
Motohama turned to Issei from the stairs he was sitting on. The lunch bell had rang about 4 minutes ago and right now, I was kinda just hanging with Issei till I found Akeno for that lunch I offered her.
"I'll say this again. You never introduced us to a chick and it's impossible for you to have a girlfriend."
"But that doesn't make any sense. You remember, right Neito?"
I nodded.
"Yea. Clean as day."
"See? Hold on. Her email address is right h-..."
Issei's face froze up when he pulled up his contacts.
"What's up, bro?"
"Raynare's contact information isn't in my phone... What in the hell...?"
A shadow loomed over us from the staircase above. I turned my head upwards with Issei, seeing Rias and Akeno up there. Matsuda whispered over at us.
"Big boobies. 12 o'clock."
Motohama stood up.
"Rias and Akeno..."
Ophis narrowed her eyes slightly at Rias, but with a pet on the head, she closed her eyes in bliss, forgetting the hatefulness directed towards the red head. I had her suppress her signature so that Rias and her friends don't suspect her for anything. I just needed to keep Ophis in check whenever we were around them. I glanced back up when I heard them coming down. I leaned off the wall and grinned at Akeno when she stopped right before me.
"Heya, Akeno. What's up?"
"Nothing much. School's always the same."
"Ain't that the truth? You up for my offer?"
She smiled.
"Sure.~"
Rias turned to us.
"What offer?"
I gave her a slightly darker look, but it was unnoticed.
"I crashed into Akeno just the other day and walked her to her classroom as I was heading to Issei's next class on the way there. To make up for spilling her stuff all over the ground, I offered her lunch today."
I felt the jealous waves coming off of Matsuda and Motohama. Issei was just... confused, I guess. I can't blame him. I was like that in my first 10 dream runs or so. Rias smiled, tilting her head.
"Would you mind if I had lunch with you two?"
I glanced to the side, then sighed and walked down the stairs.
"Whatever you want, red head. Doesn't bother me."
She blinked, then followed Akeno and I as we got to the last step. I walked to the cafeteria, going into the line.
"Hey, Muyoa! 2 trays of the good works, buddy!"
The chef pointed his spatula at me and went to work. I went to the register and leaned against the wall as I waited for the order. I saw Muyoa bring out two trays of GOOD food and he handed it to me. I gave the both trays to Rias and Akeno, then paid for it myself. Once we got to the cafeteria, I got stares from girls and guys all over. I didn't care enough to respond to it. I just went over and grabbed me a Mountain Dew from the machine and led the two Great Ladies out to the tree in the school yard, sitting up against it and popping open the cap. They sat next to me on both sides, eating lunch politely. I glanced at Rias.
"So, I hear that my bro is soon going to join the Occult Research Club."
Rias gave me a side glance, raising an eyebrow as she did.
"Where did you hear that?"
I grinned.
"It's not so much as I heard. It's more like I saw."
My grin faltered slightly.
"I know what you did, Rias. To my brother. I know what you are."
Her eye twitched slightly as she stopped eating.
"Did you think I'd figure that it was a dream? I don't think Issei and I can have the same dream by coincidence. And by the fact that we both remember those two Fallen Angels, it's proof enough. Now, as for what you did to Issei..."
"I saved his life."
"By enslaving him."
"Is that not a suitable price for living?"
I frowned.
"Let me make one thing clear, Gremory. My brother means the world to me. He is not your property, and he CERTAINLY isn't your toy. He is a person. He is an innocent teenager who's confused right now."
I glared at her from the side.
"I expect you to treat him as such."
"And what will you do if I don't do what you expect? By signing the pact, we have made an agreement in exchange. His freedom for his life."
"He didn't 'agree' to anything. He didn't know anything about you, but I know more about all of you than you think."
"Oh? Care to illuminate?"
"I don't need to explain myself to you, red head. I'm not your pet and I'm not your slave."
I stood up and began to walk away.
"Why don't you join the peerage as well?"
I stopped dead in my tracks, looking forward with a mixed expression.
"What?"
"If you were to join my peerage like I initially intended for you when you were injured at the park, you would be able to keep a better eye on your brother in my-"
"Stop."
I turned back to her enough for me to glare at her from over my shoulder.
"Beside from being selfish, you also seem to be quite the manipulator. Is that the best you can do to try and get me to join your stupid group?"
My glare hardened as I threatened to unveil a small burst of my power.
"Two brothers come to this school, one of them not knowing about the supernatural, and you're trying to force them into your peerage in a single instance without easing us in?"
I pointed at her.
"And don't you dare lie to me. I know this was all set up."
Akeno flinched, then looked away guiltily as Rias's expression seemed to falter just like my grin did.
"What do you-"
"You could have HELPED us. There could have been another way rather than waiting for Issei and I to either get heavily injured or die, then force us in as an 'exchange'. If you saved us early on, and explained the situation, I know for a fact Issei would have accepted your offer, and I might have been tempted. Now, if you were successful in 'reviving' us, let's talk about the 'what if' scenario."
"Huh?"
"What made you think that I would have been obedient? Would it not have crossed your mind that maybe I would have NOT been willing to get down on my knees and kiss your feet? Even if you shoved your pieces in me, I would not have served you."
"I-I don't unders-"
"It's because humans like Issei and I have free will. We're free to do what we want, and those who try and take it without expecting resistance are foolish, dumb, and idiotic to think that we'd bend over backwards just because you 'saved' us."
I threw my hand at her, hitting her with an Indigo Circle. I dragged her to me and stared her right in the eyes with hate.
"My brother may be an idiot and a pervert, but he's all I have in this world. The only reason why I didn't kill you the first time I saw you, and the reason you're still breathing now, is because not only did I make a promise not to kill without reason, but someone other than myself needs to look after my older brother. I'm only saying this once, and it's your ONLY warning, Rias. You either treat him like he's your own flesh and blood sibling, or I will have to regrettably break that promise."
I let her go, allowing her to drop to her knees.
"Reincarnated Devils who were once human understand what I'm saying, but Pureblood Devils like you will never understand human emotions, instinct, and will. All we are to you is chess pieces on the board."
She looked up at me with a look of hurt and disbelief. I sighed.
"You know that's cruel, right? To enslave humans whenever and wherever you want to. To go about your business in meddling with humanity however you want to. To strip people of their futures and force them under your rule."
I narrowed my eyes at her, then flashes of repressed memories went through my head. My expressions softened as I looked to the school.
"I should have let Issei just die there. It'd be a lot more comforting for me to see him pass onto Heaven rather than serve a Devil. But it's too late now..."
I turned away, knowing that I had failed to protect Issei. I sniffed, the feeling radiating off that though sealing around me and stabbing into my heart like an Iron Maiden. Akeno stood up and began to walk to me.
"Nei-"
*SMASH*
*CRACK*
I stomped my foot on the ground near her, making a light blue Magic Circle appear before her, sending up sharp and very pointy spires of ice right in front of her. She backed away as Rias stood up. I glared at the latter again.
"Until you prove to me in a specific moment and situation that you really aren't what I think you are, I will do no more than what my brother will. I will attend the ORC with Issei to keep my eye on him. I will assist him in any way I can, but... That's. It. I will do no further business with you other than that. I am willing to befriend your peerage members, as none of them are Pureblood Devils like you, but as for you. When I'm not in the ORC or you have nothing for my brother to do, you stay away from us. Do I make myself clear?"
Rias frowned again, then rose her hand up.