246Intro:
"Hey Ise..." Irina looked sad. Issei didn't think there was anything sad about playing "Holy Heroes," or whatever they agreed on calling it.
"Irina," She didn't move, so she was sad. "I don't get why you're sad." Issei felt his head tilt a little but did nothing about it. He was confused. "We are playing heroes, aren't we?"
"Un," The tomboy nodded slowly, before explaining, "I'm moving to Europe and I don't think I'm going to come back."
"Do you have to go?" Issei didn't want to see his only and best friend leave. "I'll have no one to play with..." Irina knew how Issei would feel; it made her feel even guiltier. She didn't like the feeling at all. Why couldn't he leave with her?
"I got it!" Issei almost jumped at the sudden yell from Irina. "Hey, Ise." She got a quick yes as a response before she continued, "Can you convince your parents into going to Europe with us?"
"I don't know Iri-chan..." His face down-casted as he thought of his parents' responses. For one thing, he only knew how to speak Japanese. He wouldn't even be able to communicate with anyone. However, it wasn't as if he "communicated" with other people besides his family and Irina's family. He didn't know why everyone always did avoid him. He wasn't some weirdo, was he? "Do you think your family would even let me go with you?"
"Yeah! Of course!" She couldn't think sad thoughts then because if she did, he wouldn't be able to go. She had to remain positive!
"Do you have to go Iri-chan?" Issei didn't want to leave the park they always played in. He didn't want to lose his happy memories there in Japan. He didn't want to lose his best friend either.
Irina was silent for a while before she spoke again. "I- I don't think I can, my father really wants to leave with me..." She knew a little about the supernatural, at best. She knew her father hunted all the baddies!
Since she was his only child, she knew her father would want her to follow her foot steps and would be super proud! And she also wanted to do that too. But at the cost of her friendship with Issei? She wasn't sure what to do. Her father always did say, things come with a sacrifice, but for a greater good and a brighter future.
Her future with Issei would also be bright... She couldn't imagine him not at her side...
"But! I think he'll still let you go with us!" Her father was a respect figure. Every time they went to the church, he was always bowed at and everything else that was respectful! She couldn't really remember what, but she wasn't lying! She was sure of it!
Issei put on a smile, and brightened up. Irina couldn't have lied to him. There was no way! Nevertheless, there was still a part of him that didn't want to leave. However, if it were for his best friend, he wouldn't mind at all. "Let's go finish our game, first! Come on! Let's go kill the bad devils!"
Irina wiped her eyes and nodded vigorously, "Uh-huh! Let's!"
[†]|[†]
It was some number of hours after midday and a few till dawn. They were still playing until Irina's parents came by to take them home.
"Irina-chan! Issei-chan!" The mother smiled gently as they ran together, racing each other to the car.
"Ima beat you, Iri!" Issei began to pull forward and was breathing heavily.
"No, you're not!" Issei's legs were started to give way and Irina took advantage to run past him.
For one thing, Issei's family was a mundane family. They were no exorcist of sorts, no magic users, they were normal down to the roots. However, Irina's family contained many exorcists and were rather famous in their work. Consequently, for Issei to almost match Irina, who just began some basic training, that was rather astonishing. Not so much an arrogant sense but nonetheless, a boy with no training and a normal life could compete with their daughter. That boy could make a fine exorcist, and suitor. If only he could-with them...
They both carried themselves with childish heroism and were the best of friends. The parents found it hard to part them...
"Hey, Papa! Mama!" She pulled them into a big hug as a loving greeting. She let go and jumped up and down. It was kind of odd (not really), the parents were sure that the last run had drain her energy. "Can Ise come with us? To Europe?"
"Wha..." The parents were speechless. They knew they should have seen it coming but it was still shocking nonetheless. For one thing, they were going to pull a child from their parents if they didn't go. Irina's parents couldn't imagine Irina leaving without them. "Do his parents know?"
At this Issei answered, "No, not yet! But! Ima go ask them!" His innocence made the parents retract on their statement, of it being unlike that he would be able to go.
The parents honestly had a hard time choosing whether to break their hopes or not... To break them, it would bring to the harsh reality and away from their child delusions... Or let them keep their innocence... But, for all they knew, Issei could go with them, even despite their own thoughts. "Okay, what are you waiting for! Let's get-a-move 'on!"
"Yea!" The two kids cheered together and jumped into the car.
Mrs. Shidou shot Mr. Shidou a glance, while it was disapproving or not, he didn't know. She got into the car and listened to the children play some sort of game. She smiled gently, with an underlying sense of sadness. She couldn't find it within her to break it to them either... It was very unlikely that he would be able to go.
[†]
"This is your stop Issei-kun." Irina's mother noticed that weren't paying attention, even after she said her statement. She really didn't want to break them up, but it was now or never...
Never was never an option...
"Hey, Issei," She spoke louder to gain his attention. "We're at your house." She say him frown slightly before smiling.
"Okay! I got it! Ima go ask my parents!" He hopped out the car and ran towards his front door, where his parents were waiting since they heard the car pull up in the driveway.
Issei smiled as brilliantly as he could and stared his parents. Then he mustered the most cutest and undeniable voice he could gather before speaking. "Umm, Okaa-san, Otou-san, can I go to Europe with Irina?"
The parents of Issei looked at each other. Both their expressions held different emotions. The father held forged serious and the mother held a worried look.
"No." The father's tone was gravely serious and first time Issei has ever heard him speak in such a way.
"But-"
"It's the same answer, Issei." As the male, Masaru, spoke, Issei's mother, Megumi, bit her lip and worriedly looked back and forth between them.
Issei turned to the ground and let his hair overshadow his face. "Got it..." From there, he mourned his lose and trudged himself in his house, to his room.
She worried for the both of them. It was his first time acting such a way because parents do regret what they do and how. For the both of them, they were still learning on how to raise a child. Whether they were doing something wrong or not, they would not know. Being without other family did have it downfalls, especially when it wasn't voluntary. "Masaru, don't you think that was a bit too harsh..."
"...I'm sorry, the fishing rod just came to mind and I-I just spoke... I didn't mean to be so harsh... Sorry..." Masaru looked away, it wasn't manly to show tear, now was it... "But still, he did need to get the answer straight."
The clouds ahead rumbled, signaling a storm coming. "I just hope he doesn't change... He already doesn't like fishing you know..." Megumi started to head inside.
"Right..." Whether it was to the first, second or both parts of her speech, she didn't know. She could only hope, it didn't affect the whole family's relationship. However, when she went inside the house, she saw his lips move but didn't hear his voice. "...Sorry..."
*CRACK!* The storm started with a spectacular entrance.
"Sorry..." From there he headed inside his adobe after waving off the Shidou's car.
[†]
Issei was home alone since his parents left him alone. Even still, they wondered if it was okay to leave the child home by himself, especially at his age. He began to leave the door and spoke to no one in particular, "Otou-san, Okaa-san, I'm going to the park..." The park where I played with Irina... The name after I think about it, was rather girly... Pictures of Iri-chan flashed in her mind. He did have girly eyes and wasn't able to take baths with him. But that could be because of the Christian things or whatever...
"Ise-kun!" Isn't that...
"Iri-chan? Wha-!" He pulled me into a big hug.
"This is going to be the last time I see you, Ise! I want to have the most fun ever!" Girls don't act this way...
I'll ask him later... "Let's go!"
[†]
It was getting down by the time they stopped.
Irina and Issei were just sitting in adjacent swings, sitting in peaceful silence. It was odd for youth-filled children to act in such a way.
"Hey, Iri-chan..." Issei groveled his feet into the ground to stop his steady swinging.
"Hmm?" He stopped his swing and looked my way.
"Ne ne, Irina... Are you, a... Girl?"
"I-ah... Yes?" After all, Irina thought that Issei always knew.
"Oh I knew I was just-WHAT!" Issei fell from his seat on the swing, in latent surprise. "Since when?!"
"Mou! Since, forever, Baka-Ise! Hahaha!" She laughed at his face. It was cute with confusion. But, at the same time, she knew it would be the last time she would see it. "Ne, Ise, will you miss me?"
For a moment, Issei sat unsure of the answer. And Irina in turn, feared what his answer was going to be until he smiled, brightly. "Of course! Even if you were a girl!"
"I'ma miss you so much, Ise!" She jumped atop him with tears. "I don't want to leave! I don't want to leave Ise! I don't! I don't-I don't!"
"I don't either..." Issei stared at the sky with wanting. He could only wish he could go with her, or she... It felt odd changing he into she... or she goes and stays with him. But there was nothing neither of them could do. "I'm going to really miss you, Irina..."
"Issei... I-"
"Irina!" It was her mom calling her.
"Issei, I-"
"Irina! We're going now!" She sounded as if she were in a rush.
"I'm sorry, but-"
"It's fine, Iri-chan," Issei smiled, calmly, and waved, "I don't think you should keep your mom waiting any longer..."
"Yea..." Irina sprinted and took one last look as she waved. "I'll never forget you, Ise!"
"...I'll never forget you too, Irina..."
[†]
*Sigh* Issei kicked yet another rock in his path. He was bored beyond his comprehension. His smiled from before was set in a firm line. There was nothing for him to do. He didn't want to go home and face his parents. However, he was pretty hungry.
*Grrr* His stomach growled in agreement. Even so, he really didn't want to go home. He sat on the bench and watched all the other kids play. He wished he had more friends to do the same thing, to play some kind of ball game, talk about many random things, or even just to swing or "chill" with, whatever that meant. *Grr* He wished he had friends to eat and drink with. He took a seat on a nearby bench, hoping the growling would stop.
"Young one, perhaps you're hungry?" A woman, a beautiful woman where even the word "beautiful" had no justice for her beauty, came up to Issei. It made Issei swallow. He wasn't supposed to talk to strangers. However, he had to admit she looked really pretty and had a sugar-sweet voice. One that matched the "heavenly" beings Irina called "angels," that much he knew. Irina even said they were the most beautiful people you could find and the most selfless people too!
Even still, he would still follow his parent's warning. After all the last time he didn't, he broke the fishing rod..."I'm fine-" *Grr* He blushed, he felt so... weird talking this woman. He had no idea how to describe his feelings. They were just... numbed and awkward.
She took a seat next to Issei on the fine-grained wood bench. She held a steaming sweet bun to his hands. "I hate to see such a child in need of food. So please, take it." Her hands felt smooth, gentle and warm, whether if it was from the hot bun or if it was naturally hot, Issei had no idea.
"But... I don't have anything else to give to you."
"Seeing a smile on a lovely child is enough for me." Her smile made something in him flutter. With that flutter brought a smile to his face.
"I-Is this alright?"
She ruffled his hair. "Yes of course." She smiled with heavenly warmth. "I'm Gabriel, just call me, Gabriel-chan, how 'bout it, ne?" Her cute pose made him, he's never done that from a girl, munis Irina. She struck her tongue out and the fingers, attached to her left hand, were taking a V shape, under her left cheek. "What's your name, young child?"
"I'm Hyoudou Issei! Nice to meet you!" He felt oddly but really happy, even with one conversation with her.
"Nice to meet you, Issei-kun. I-I mean, can I call you Issei?" The smile from her face stayed planted, engraved almost.
"Yes, of course!"
She looked at her watch and frowned lightly before returning to Issei. "It seems I got to go." That also made Issei frown.
"Will you be here tomorrow, too?!" He really wanted her to say yes! Otherwise, he would be all alone again...
She paused from her action of leaving her seat and looked at him, her light frown became a gentle smile. "I think I may."
"Yatta!" He jumped from his seat and hugged her leg. "See you tomorrow!" They took their separate ways.
[†]
"Mommy I met a pretty girl! Her name was Gabriel!" He hugged his mom after entering his home. "She was really nice. She gave me food when I got hungry."
"That's nice..." Megumi was somewhat afraid as to where he went or if he was going to come back. Nevertheless, by looking at him now, none of it mattered. Only that he was happy. And she could be any happier.
"Okaa-san, can I go back to the park tomorrow! Can I-Can I?! She said she'll meet up with me again!" He squirmed a little as his mother picked him up from the ground effortlessly.
"Only if I get to met this Gabriel, and thank her for making you happy, ne?" She smiled as he cheered. "You hungry for your favorite? The soupy 'Hyoudou' special?"
"OOOoh! Yes!" The father at the table smiled behind his late night newspaper.
"There was nothing to worry about either... There's going to be real food..." He smirked under his paper as he knew his wife could most defiantly hear him.
"Baka!" A flying pan hit Masaru in his forehead. Direct hit! K-K-K-K-OOO! Fatality! Those phrases went through Issei's mind from his video games or some he watched somewhere before.
"Ahhahahaha!" Issei laughed his parents playfulness. Soon, the whole family joined him. There family, jolly with tight closeness because of just one little boy.
...Now I really wish to thank this "Gabriel-chan," both parents thought.
[†]
Vorpal: Watching some anime gave me some ideas on what to do and the such.
If you read some of LN 20, you know why I'm talking about a fishing rod. The chapter it was from was really heartfelt, especially after what happens next... I thought it would be nice to incorporate it.
Even though I don't say this, but I do appreciate and want criticism. I rarely get such comments and even if I do, most of them don't point out much things to help me...
Till next update, ne?
More Importantly, Please,
"Have A Nice Day."
-Vorpal
[Words: 2,991]
Ashen Evanescent: Ravel
"Days have gone by
In your arms,
Yet,
I hesitate,
To Embrace You,
To Kiss You,
To Love You.
I even hesitate to say,
'I love you.'
Yet,
You don't hesitate,
To Embrace Me,
To Kiss Me,
To Love Me.
Not even to say,
'I love you.'"
"Here I lie in your arms,
Yet,
I was too late.
"I love you,"
And yet,
"I'm... I'm so, so s-sorry."
I apologize in advance.
*Smirks*