1,594Genuinely, I had no idea if I'd ever truly return to this story. Been a lot of weight behind this thing and after a period of time it truly came into question if I wanted to finish it.
Well, to the surprise of myself I actually came back. I had to rewatch DxD to actually remind myself why I originally loved writing for these stories and, surprise surprise, it did just the thing.
So, I've come to say, this story is reaching its finally Arc. For Book 1. More like Season 1. Book/Season 2 has already begun its sort of planning stages as there are many many ends left open but the remaining chapters of this story will be used to close major ends that need to be before Season 2 and it's own problems can begin.
This was a lot of rambling and I feel nothing is coherent but hopefully you guys understand what I'm getting at. So...yeah.
Issei punched the magically enhanced punching bag. Hard. Then he did it again. And again. And again. He didn't stop, even when his breathing became ragged. He didn't stop, even when his arms burned. He didn't stop, even when his body begged him to.
He didn't want to stop. Stopping was similar to quitting. He couldn't quit. He wouldn't quit. Not when he had to get stronger faster. Not when he had to stop Vali and whatever he was planning. Not when he had to protect his friends. His family.
The door to the training room opened and Sairaorg stepped in. He said nothing, watching as his Pawn continued to lay into the punching bag. The heir moved over and behind it, holding the bag as any trainer would. It was unnecessary but he didn't do it to help stabilize the bag but to talk to the boy.
"I received the report of the mission."
Issei didn't respond. He only punched.
"Zeus also called me personally to thank you for what you did."
There was the tiniest hesitation between strikes.
"Hera also sent her thanks and Artemis wishes for you to call her soon."
"...I didn't do anything. I fucked up. I fucked up bad."
"There was nothing you could do. They were already gone and left that illusion to cover their escape," the King explained.
"I could have been faster!" Issei argued.
"You had no idea where they were," Sairaorg said back. "Not even Artemis had known. That was a forest not even she could navigate flawlessly."
"But I could have done something!"
"Ladon had already been revived, Issei. Zeus told me of your orders to retreat. It was yours and Artemis's decision to still attempt to confront them but I shall say it was a poor decision to make."
"Innocent people could die-"
"So could you," Sairaorg replied. Issei froze and without the continuation of motion, his arms finally dropped. "Issei, I understand your desire to protect people but you can't do that when you continuously put yourself in life threatening situations. The last time you faced Vali, he underestimated you and you were surrounded by allies. This time, you did not know who would be with him and he is not the type to make the same mistake twice. And that is not even mentioning the fact an Evil Dragon, beings with the power to rival the Dragon Kings, had been revived to its full power. You would have died pointlessly if that hadn't left before you arrived. Gods or no gods. Artemis and Apollo would not have been able to protect you and Kuisha and fight." Issei didn't reply, Sairaorg having stepped from behind the bag and into his face. "And I also heard of your outburst. Had you stayed there, had Scylla, Apollo, Artemis, Medusa, and Kuisha not stayed to eventually pull you out, you would have died from the colosseum burying you."
"But I-"
"I'm not done." Issei clamped his mouth shut. "This obsession with Vali is blinding you, Issei. Not only to your own health but to the safety of your allies. And, frankly, that is far more worrying than you running into battle."
Issei's eyes widened.
"Do you see what I mean now? It is not just you, Issei. There are others around you, others who want to help you. Kuisha, myself, Ladora, all of us here. We want to help but we can't if you continue down this path of blindly chasing Vali."
"Fuck me..." Issei muttered as the weight of his idiocy started to settle in.
"I'm sure Kuisha would be happy to."
"Ani!"
"What? You said it, not me." The heir shrugged and then he regained his serious look. "Issei, you are becoming stronger. With this strength you will attract many different types of people from all walks of life. Some will only want to fight you, to hurt you or the ones closest to you, anything to say they have defeated or cripples you." Issei's fist tightened and the mere thoughts made a pit form in his gut. "However, there will also be people who want to follow you, believe in you, and fight with you to the very end. There is no doubt in my mind about that. Both of those sides will one day come to a head and, when it does, the outcome will be based on what you do."
"Me?"
Sairaorg nodded. "Depending on what you decide could result in all of you coming out alive and well, or..." He trailed off but the answer was clear.
Issei looked down at his hands. "Damn it."
"It is lucky that you have recognized your mistake now. The next time, you may not be so lucky to have gods and powerful mythical creatures to bail you out."
The dragon slowly curled his fingers into a fist and took a deep breath. "Does it ever get easier, Aniki? Leading, I mean."
"It does but only if you work hard. A good leader will gather a team who trusts in you, the same way you trust in them. You create a bond where you will do everything for them and they will do everything for you. They will follow you through fire and brimstone and that is something irreplaceable."
And just like that, the heavy air became much lighter. Issei understood better of his mistakes and he knew of the bar set before him that he had to surpass. They should have retreated the moment Ladon had been revived but he just wanted to fight Vali. Even go as far as to kill him. Was this what Ddraig had spoken of when he told him of his rivalry with Albion? If it was, Issei was not going to be a puppet with strings. Not to say Ddraig was forcing him on purpose but centuries built on fighting one another, it probably was second nature to him.
Well not anymore. He just hoped Kuisha wasn't super mad at him.
"Thanks, Aniki. And I'm sorry, too," Issei finally said. "I haven't been the best. Even after all this time, I'm still screwing up again and again. I just... I'm sorry."
"It's not me who you should be apologizing to," Sairaorg answered. "No one is perfect, Issei. When I traded for you, I did so knowing of the difficulties that would come with it. I knew Rias meant a lot to you and, once I learned of the baggage behind how you were reincarnated, I knew things would not be easy. However, I'm not going to abandon you simply because of this. I know you mean well in all that you do and I know you want to be better, not just for Kuisha but for yourself. So, so long as I see you continuing to fight and to better yourself, you can keep being a screw up for all I care."
"Hey! That was a gut punch!"
"I jest, I jest," he chuckled. But slowly the smile faded and he looked towards the door. "You know, you are not the only one who has been beating themselves up since your return, either. Kuisha has jumped into training harder, the same as you. She's picked up several more books and has begun trying and testing newer spells whilst trying to improve her own. She's even made a request back to Olympus to continue what Apollo had been trying to teach her. It's quite amazing when you see it but I'm also concerned that she's been throwing herself into this despair that she can't seem to help you. Even after both of you had that heart to heart." Sairaorg paused, watching as Issei took in the information.
"I... I see..."
"Yes and seeing you kill yourself simply to protect her, you know it hurts her. So she has been training harder, pushing herself more, if it means you don't work yourself to death. And if she gets hurt, or even killed, well, she's mentally prepared herself for it."
"She can't do that! Why haven't you stopped her!?"
Sairaorg shrugged. "Because I understand where you are both coming from."
Issei paused. "H-Huh?"
"Issei, I wasn't always the heir to my clan. I had it stripped from me when I was young, simply because I did not inherit the Power of Destruction you've seen Rias use. My father and my own clan, they shunned me and my mother, because they didn't believe I was strong. So I became strong. Strong enough to regain my title. Strong enough to protect her. Strong enough that my own father wont raise a hand to me or my mother ever again."
"Ani..."
The heir ran a hand through his hair. "It's nothing. The point I'm trying to make is that I know of the sacrifices you're making. The ones you've already made. I understand the desire to want to torture your body if it means being able to protect the ones you love. I, too, have nearly killed myself several times if it meant no one harming my family. I see this in both you and Kuisha and know that if one of you doesn't stop, neither will the other."
"But I can't stop. I..." Issei struggled to speak. "I couldn't bear the thought of Kuisha getting hurt. But I cannot stop training, not when there are people who will try to fight me, hurt her, or... worse," he croaked.
"Kuisha thinks the same. It is why she continues to do the same. Possibly even more so now because of you."
"What?"
"Issei, Kuisha was a fighter before you came. She fought like the rest of us, sweated like us, bled like us, and grew stronger. Just. Like. Us. Hell, there were times I'm sure she loved the fight more than me. You cannot stop her from doing what she has loved doing far before even I thought to invite her to my peerage."
"I... see..."
Sairaorg turned and motioned Issei to follow him. They left the training room and started moving down the halls, the occasional maid bowing as they passed before continuing on with whatever chore they were initially doing. "I am happy for you, Issei. Both of you. I had my thoughts when you first met and, with each time I saw you two together, I knew it was only a matter of time. You love each other and it has shown in everything you do. Even now, without even being face to face, you two still prove that you love one another to ends far beyond any love I could show either of you."
"I don't swing that way," Issei remarked.
The older devil chuckled. "Yes, I should hope not. Last thing I need is Kuisha killing me for stealing what's hers. But I digress, you two have both been working hard since your return from Olympus to the point you two haven't even seen each other in days, Issei."
"It hasn't been that long..."
He looked over at Issei. "It has been almost a week. You have either trained with Ladora, Libon, or Coriana. That doesn't seem a tad suspicious?"
The brunette didn't make eye contact. "Well, I mean..."
"Kuisha is not that much better," the King sighed. "She hides in her room, reading those books, and also seems to actively avoid any training room if she knows you're in it."
Now this caught the dragon by surprise and he couldn't help the jab of pain that his girlfriend had been actively avoiding him. "Oh..."
"Do not take it as you doing something wrong. In fact, I'd say it is more out of fear than anything else."
Issei knitted his brows. "Fear. She's scared of me?"
Sairaorg shook his head. "No, not at all. She's more scared of what could happen to you if you continue believing you have to fight by yourself. Or that you have to protect her, even if it kills you. She thinks that you believe she isn't strong enough and due to the fact in the past several battles you two have been in, Kokabiel, Vali, and the illusion in the colosseum, that she has not participated in, has started to believe the thought herself."
"What!?" Issie shouted, blushing as a few servants looked towards the commotion. "That's not true at all, Aniki! She is one of the strongest people I've met! It's because of her that I got to where I am now!"
"She doesn't believe that. And until she believes it, she won't stop. Just like you."
"But..."
"You can't stop her, either."
Issei slumped. The Bael placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a comforting smile. He didn't smile back but he appreciated the gesture nonetheless.
"Would you care for a little advice?" The boy nodded. "Try to fall in love with her fighting. Kuisha has never been one to back down from a fight, especially involving her family. You mean a lot to her and seeing you kill yourself hurts her. She knows she can't stop you but that doesn't mean she can't help you so that you really don't get yourself killed. I'd say if you do the same, it will go a long way for her. But you have to talk to her, allow you two to voice your concerns, and listen to one another. Every relationship requires communication or it is doomed to fail."
"Right. Thanks, Aniki."
"My pleasure. And I do hope to one day see a little one running around soon."
"Ani!"
-XOXOXOXOX-
When he found her, he couldn't help the way his heart fluttered. She was sweaty, she was tired, and she was covered in marks, but she was beautiful nonetheless. He could see the results of her failed spells and the frustration on her face. Yet she tried again, and again, and again. No matter how many times she failed, she continued. It was breathtaking.
As he stepped into the room, she turned to him, releasing the spell she had been working on. He moved towards her, feeling a warmth enclosed on him as he grew closer. He could even see a smile pull at the corner of her lips.
"Kuisha, I-"
"Issei-"
They both began to blurt out their apologies at the same time. Kuisha giggled. "Please, let me go first," she said. "Issei, I know I haven't been the greatest girlfriend or senior devil to you. I have had you fighting all of these battles by yourself and all I've ever done is watch. Watch you risk your body and your life while I stand back. I left you suffering for so long and should have been better not just towards all of the fighting but towards you yourself as well. Your feelings, your doubts, your troubles, all of it. I couldn't even pull you away when the colosseum had started to collapse. I haven't been as good as I could have been, as I should have been, and for that I am so sorry."
Issei's shoulders relaxed and a half smile pulled at his lips. He reached over and gently wrapped his hand around the back of her neck before bringing his face close to hers. They touched foreheads and he slowly shook his head side to side. She sounded so panicked as she admitted each and every thing. She felt like she hadn't done enough, just as Sairaorg had said. And none of her problems were directed at him, but herself. Was she truly worried about those things?
"I need to apologize more than you," he finally said. "First and foremost, you have been the best thing to happen to me, never think less than that. Second, I'm sorry too. Sorry that I have always felt the need to fight for you and not with you. It was poor of me to believe it's my job to protect you. I'm a guy so I can be an idiot at times. You are a devil and have been one way longer than myself. I felt I had to do all the fighting because I wanted to protect you. I never wanted to intervene so I never questioned if you were or weren't fighting. And, for a moment, I truly wanted nothing more than keeping you as far from fighting as possible. But that sounded no better than locking you in a cage and throwing away the key."
"I am Sairaorg's Queen and a devil by birth," Kuisha commented before jokingly continuing. "Fighting is what we know."
"I understand that and will try my hardest to come to accept that. I won't stop you from doing what you love just because I worry of what might happen. Like you said, you're a devil and Aniki's Queen. Fighting is all we know. It was actually Aniki's suggestion that I try and fall in love with your fighting. I already love your kindness, your sincerity, and your perseverance. Might as well love the part that kicks all kinds of ass."
Kuisha giggled as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Our King, actually giving sound dating advice? That doesn't require punching or apples? I never thought I'd see the day."
Issei shrugged. "I've got no complaints if it means we become closer."
"Does that mean you'll only have eyes for me?" She teased, batting her eyelashes.
"Without question," he replied, without a hint of hesitation.
Kuisha couldn't help but giggle. He was cute when he was serious. "Wasn't it your dream to have a harem? To be the 'Harem King'?"
"He told you that, huh?" Issei asked with an embarrassed chuckle. "It was a dream. Hell, it still kinda is but if you were to tell me that you wanted me for yourself, I wouldn't argue."
"But why?" It was a genuine question. If there was one thing Sairaorg had told her it was how passionately Issei had told him of his desire for a harem.
Issei shrugged. "Like I said, it was a dream but you are my reality. You, and Aniki, have pulled me from some very dark places. Even now, just being with you, it brightens my day. Makes the world not seem so big and the weight not feel so heavy. If you have a problem with other women pining for me, as if they would, I would never want to hurt you in any way and I'll shut them down immediately."
Kuisha looked at him, studying him for just a moment. "That was pretty mature of you, Ise."
"Heh, I'm kinda trying to turn a new leaf. I'm tired of running head first without a plan." His arms tightened around her waist and he pulled her closer. "After all, I've got much more to lose now."
"Is that so?" Kuisha began, her own arms tightening around his neck. "Was this revelation before or after you destroyed the colosseum with that impressive arrow?"
"It was a lapse of judgment," Issei replied with a heavy blush.
"Hmmm." She hummed with a playful smirk. Then she gave him a quick peck on the lips. Long enough for him to taste but not long enough to enjoy.
"Y-You're pretty aggressive today," he stuttered out.
"Best to stake my claim now before the others."
"'Others'?"
"You can't be Harem King without a harem, right?"
"But I thought..."
"It was only a question." She unwrapped one of her arms and placed her hand over his heart. "Issei, we are devils. Strength and power attract many different types of people. Not only that, you're a dragon and that is its own level of power that attracts many more types of people. When I knew I loved you, I knew that I wouldn't be the only one. I have already come to accept that I can't handle you on my own." Then the smirk returned. "You're already quite vigorous and we have yet to lay together."
It took a moment for him to understand what she meant. But once he did... "E-EHHHH!?"
Her lips stretched into a grin, a few teeth showing. "Don't tell me you haven't thought of us together, Issei. She drew circles in his chest with a lone finger.
"W-Wha... B-But... I..."
She gave him another peck, same as the first before pulling away. "Because I have and, while my heart isn't ready right now, I do look forward to the day."
His brain short-circuited not too long after. It took moments to reboot, moments Kuisha was very patient to wait, grin still on display.
"Who are you and what have you done with my girlfriend?"
She laughed, though that smile never left her face. He could feel his entire face heating up. He knew his girlfriend was cute but this... this was downright sexy. "Sairaorg spoke to you. I had also been talked to." She continued to draw circles.
"B-By who?" He wanted to thank whoever it was and wish them the best in life. This was definitely the turn he needed after his time in Olympus.
"That would be, master~!" A pair of hands wrapped under his arms, placing themselves on his chest as two soft mounds pressed into his back.
He tried to look over his shoulder but the familiar feeling of slithering and forked tongues across his neck gave him all the answer he needed.
"M-Medusa!?"
"Yes, master~?"
That's right! The legendary gorgon had returned home with them. She had still desired to be his familiar after everything. And he had been neglecting her just as he had avoided Kuisha.
A pit opened in his gut as he realized just how much of an ass he had been. He was a terrible boyfriend and master.
Squish!
"!?"
Kuisha had moved closer, pressing her own generous bust into his chest.
"Uh-uh, mister. No more feeling sorry about yourself. I told you before, you're not in this alone."
"That's right, master," Medusa continued, her hands running up and down his chest and stomach sensually. "You are the best we could ask for. And I know you'll only get better." Her snakes also seemed to agree as they licked at his neck, tickling him.
He couldn't help but laugh. "Hahaha, okay okay, I get it!" He slowly came down from his fit of laughter and, when he did, he gave both of them a comforting smile. "Thank you, both of you. I really needed it."
"It is not an issue. However, next time, I may not be so gentle," Medusa teased with a smirk.
A bead of sweat slipped down Issei's brow. "Please don't. Maybe a sharp blow will be what I need."
"What shall we do now?" Kuisha asked, grabbing hold of his hand as she did.
He scratched a lone finger against his cheek. "Actually, and please don't hate me, but a few of the guys are taking a training retreat."
"..."
"..."
"And we leave tonight..."
"What!?"
"What!?"
"Surprise..?"