A Brother

"Hahahaha!" Kiba was laughing, holding his sides as he and Issei sat next to each other on stools inside a street stall, waiting on noodles.

''Should've seen her face, as red as her hair. Think I might need to be careful for the next few days, might try and blast at me if I'm not.''

''Well, Issei you may have noticed it already but... Devils wear their hearts on their sleeves. We fall in love easily and feel lust easily. It's worse for reincarnated devils since it fights against our human nature while it turns us, but yeah. Despite you not being around for long, the girls look up to you in a romantic way. Not sure about Koneko, she's always been hard for me to read, but I can tell she is more open to you than anyone else other than Rias... She shares snacks with you, and that's something not even Rias can always convince her to do.''

''Hell, even I look up to you, not in a romantic way, but in a... Cool older brother way? I'll be honest, I thought you would be perverted trash that I would be forced to get along with for Rias' sake, because of all the rumors that surrounded you... But when I heard from one of the fan girls that you changed and started to look 'Hot'. I became interested, but now that I've been around you for so long? I'm glad I got to know the real you... You're mature, strong, and keep your head cool... Unlike me.''

Issei chuckled a bit, thanking the guy as their noodles got set down. ''Look Kiba... I understand your emotions, calm down with the eyes that could kill. I'm not saying I know how it is, to go through what you have... But I understand that anger for revenge, far more than I am willing to admit."

Kiba had glared at him, his temper quickly fluctuating before he took a breath. ''Issei, if you were anyone else... I might have punched them.''

Issei chuckled as he nodded. ''I know, just know I punch back, and hard to.''

Kiba flinched a bit, rubbing at his side. ''Oh yeah, don't I know that... How can you already hit harder than Koneko?''

''Dragon training instructor, not only do I have access to most likely the best combat instructor, but I have a magic system based on imagination with a massive mana pool. I'm learning more complicated human magic, just for fun. But I'm also most likely going to start learning Touki... Something all of us should learn over time.''

Kiba nodded. ''It's useful, I've seen a few people use it, but when they do? Their monsters."

There was a moment of silence as they ate, eventually Kiba broke the silence. ''Issei? We're friends... right?''

''Isn't Rias' whole thing about being a big family? I'd consider you my brother more then a friend, but yes. For technical reasons, I am most definitely your friend.''

''You know about... The Project... right?''

Issei realized how serious it was about to turn and he took a large swig of soda before he nodded, turning his full attention to him.

''Yea, I know a lot about it actually... Possibly more than you.''

''Wha-.... How? I was apart of it Issei!''

Issei raised a silent barrier around them, making them hard to notice, and quiet to the others around them.

''Yes, you were. But even being apart of it, did you ever realize what was really going on? Were you allowed to look at the research notes? Were you allowed to know why they were really torturing you and your friends?"

Kiba's fist clenched, Issei was able to see the training and discipline Issei had been helping him with slowly work as he seemed to unclench his fist slowly. ''No... But does that mean you do?"

''I'm not supposed to tell you this, but I will. I am looking into the project for Rias... That's actually why I am taking two weeks off school and have been putting so much effort into requests."

''She's letting you look into it but not letting me?!"

''Yes she is Kiba, and you know why." Issei's eyes closed a bit as he glared to Kiba.

Kiba took a few breaths before his head hanged low. ''I know... But, I should be the one to do it..."

''Kiba, you might be confused... I'm not handling it for you... I am looking into it, I am building evidence and a folder so that when we do find out who did it, and why. We can take LEGAL action... So when you cut off their fucking head? It won't hurt us, it won't hurt President, and it won't hurt Gremory, or the Devil society as a whole. Because if we do just go up and cut off his head? The church could use that to wage war against the Devil's, and we're barely holding onto the land we have now.''

''...So you have a name?" Kiba looked up, anger was there, but there was something more... There was hope.

''Yes, I do... I want to tell you it, but I won't. But I need you to trust me, I will do my very best. We will help you get revenge, but you need to learn to get over your anger to the swords and their users... It is not their fault, it is the Church's for letting that kind of experiment be carried out, and it is that person for making you... Focus your anger on that, not the people who don't deserve it. Focus it, wield it, I gave you a whole book basically on how you can increase your imagination and increase the number of swords you have, study it, and watch what I told you. Harness that anger, so when you finally do get the chance to bring the fight to the people that matter? You can. Because destroying the sword won't get anything but people wanting to create more... But you stop the people who can make people into Holy sword users? You stop them and you make it so no one ever has to go through that again.''

Issei then leaned in, his voice laced with anger. ''And, in the chance, they try again? We'll live long enough that we'll be able to snuff them out before they get any... 'Bright' ideas."

Kiba's eyes focused before he nodded, just as they finished, they felt it. The energy they were looking for, a fallen angel was nearby.