Chapter V

The next day Issei went to school and saw everyone looking at him strangely, yet it wasn't bad for him. At least not to him. He kept walking throughout the halls to class when he overheard Matsuda and Motohama talking to each other. "Oh man this is cool. Dude we scored huge!" Matsuda yelled. "Yeah man I can't wait. After school is gonna be lit!" Motohama says in response. This causes Issei to look over at the two boys holding a poster of some kind. A party that was held at the abandoned manor. "What are you idiots doing?" Issei asked grumbling. He stares at them with his eyes slightly glowing. Motohama and Matsuda back up as they look at him from down the hall. "Why do you care?" Matsuda asks. "Yeah I thought we made you look weird?!" Issei sighs now having to confront them. "You idiots should know people are going missing, put those away and get them to the police. No way that's legit." Matsuda laughs at Issei, almost mocking him. "What?! No screw you, just because three bitches are now throwing themselves onto you doesn't mean that we can't have fun too!" Motohama yells.

Issei walks up to Matsuda and rips the poster out of his hands. As Motohama tries to stop him he's shoved to the ground. "HEY WHAT THE HELL?!" Matsuda yells. Issei then slams the poster into Matsuda's dumb bald head. "LOOK AT THE DATE! THIS PARTY ALREADY HAPPENED!" Issei roars. Matsuda grabs the poster out of Issei's hands and looks at the date closer with his own eyes. "The date changes so that more and more people who look at it can fall for its tricks. If you take a look around you can see that they're finding stuff from that house. Here!" Isei leads them into Homeroom where they notice the TV showing police officers taping off the property. Bodies are wrapped in body bags and are carried out in pieces. On the TV the girl from yesterday was crying as she mourned over the loss of multiple loved ones affected by this incident. "Tragedy strikes our little town today as a horrifying discovery is being undug in this house's foundations. Over five hundred bones, each testing to have come from different bodies have been found…."

Matusa pauses as he looks at the poster. "Wait, the address on the news matches with this" Motohama turns around to face Issei. "Where the hell is Issei?" He asks as the two look around and find Issei gone. Issei walks out into the school courtyard as the sun starts to set. A ton of missing persons fliers flew by him as a guest of wind carried them across the campus. He then turns around to see Rias staring at him with tears in her eyes.

"Issei, it's okay now." Rias asks. "We're not here to trick you like that monster. I love you." Issei turns around to face Rias. He then creates the gauntlet that slain the monster from last night. "I'm doing what makes me happy. And last time I was a gentleman my life was a laughing stock. RIght now what'll make me happy is complete control of my life, no God, no devils, just peace. I'll be my own front in this war." Rias's hair flies with the wind a a breeze blows by. "Is that so?" Rias asks. "I'm doing what I want. Second chances don't come around too often" Issei states. "Well then. I can't force you to love me. I hope you live a happy life Issei" Rias says despite her nature going against her very words. Issei looks at Rias as his heart spikes despite his very nature going against it. He sees himself holding her for a solid second as he snaps his fingers out of rage towards an angry god, a deity that's not of love, but of hate and wrath. He wore armor and prided himself in gold, and it called himself a beast. "Hey now, why are you acting like this is goodbye?" Issei asks. He turns around and smiles at her. However she gives him a bitter cold look as he holds out his hand.

"You're asking me to leave you alone, except when it's my body you want, right? You don't want me, just the lump of flesh that I'm inside." Issei stays silent. "Your little harem is just a show or flex. "Oh look at all the girls I have". Maybe they don't mind but I wanted more from you. I saw how you lived your life before. I admired it, how you were always so kind despite how annoyed you were with those two. You didn't let others thoughts of you define your character and you were always a gentleman. Even when spontaneous thoughts of lust flew off the handle, you always were a gentleman. Issei just looks at her as the wind blows through his hair, cooling his scalp despite being hot headed at the moment.

"Yeah. And all I wanted was to marry my best friend, and she turned out to be a Fallen Angel. What a joke. All I wanted was to care for her, and now I'm told that I'm supposed to just move on?! Life's not fair so I don't know why you think you're the exception" Issei then gives her a cold glare back. "And I'm told that I have to watch the person I like screw around with other girls! Girls who are my friends!" Issei cuts Rias off. "And you didn't do the same to me?! You only brought me back to life because you wanted some suck up pawn for a husband! Well I'm more than a pawn and I'm not gonna live my life because someone else told me to!" Rias bites her lip out of rage. "Are you kidding me?!" She asks. "You brought me back for your sake, not mine! That's selfish!" The two now devolve their conversation into a shouting match. "Guess you don't know what being a devil means then!" Rias yells. "You know I thought you were a human." Rias then feels her eyes open wide as her back faces Issei. She slowly turns around as tears pour out of her eyes. "Don't you dare call me a devil." She chokes out as her face turns red. "There are no humans, and you certainly are the last one to become such as that." Issei then starts to walk home as Rias watches from afar. "Maybe we're all just devils. And I'm gonna start embracing that."

See you around Rias.

Rias stood there as the whole student body saw the incident go down. A couple girls look down in shame as they all understand what Issei meant by what he said. Recognizing they caused him to become the very thing they thought he was. However when Rias finally turned around the crowd dispersed into a normal student body ready to leave school for the day. Despite their slick efforts she knew they were listening and wiped her face with tears in her eyes. As she looked into the orange sky she remembered Issei's words about her not being a real devil. "What happened to us?" Rias asks as she feels a slight pain gnawing at her. She moves her hand over her chest to feel the scar over her upper breast.

Later that night Issei walked into the club house and took a look at a summoning request. "Something tells me those missing posters aren't going away. Just because we found one monster doesn't rule out the idea of this being an isolated incident" Issei tells himself. "Awww why do you think that sweetie?" Akeno asks, startling Issei slightly. She kisses his cheek as she rests into his lap. Issei lays back and feels the couch support him. "I don't know. That last client I had, he had this creepy poster. People were in these weird positions, like they were all connected. It was gross. Like some worm demon, or some kind of centipede." Issei feels his gut wrench as he feels a faint voice calling his name. He ignores it and proceeds to pet Akeno's hair as she snuggles into his chest. He sits back and takes in the present moment. "Do I still like those two? After everything I've said and done?" Issei asks himself.

He sighs as he looks up at the roof. He then looks around and finds himself lifting Akeno up as he gets off the couch. "I'm surprised that Rias isn't on your ass about this?" Issei asked. "Me too, but I can't help but think this is kinda mean" Akeno points out as she finds herself in conflict with her own desires. "What do you mean?" Issei asks. "I'm not gonna lie. I can't say that I don't like you one bit, but Rias is my best friend. I feel bad for doing this to her. I thought I'd tell you this beforehand." Issei chuckles a little. "That's the thing with devils, they always tell you their intentions before doing something evil. Sell poison apples and keep their poison a secret, you're a murderer." Issei then points to Akeno. "Tell everyone they're poisonous, then they're killing themselves." Issei says with a grin. "She ruined me. Bringing me back into a world where I have to act like some white knight!" Issei thought.

"Is this not the woman you always asked for?" Issei turns his head to see a white light glowing. "It's you" Issei says as he feels himself smiling faintly. "You're at an all time high score for worlds worst at doing what's right" The Lord said. "But if I do what's right I'll suffer" Issei spoke with the manner of a child. "And sometimes that's the right thing to do! Can't you see that life is more than just yourself and pleasure?" Jesus asked. "But then how can I be happy when I'm only existing for others happiness?" Issei asked. "Because they'll do anything to make you happy. Even if it's pain that you must endure, besides life is not about one's own self, but to serve others." Issei sighs. "Yeah well so far I'm just her pawn, and last I checked the pawns do anything for the King's sake. You've got it backwards." Issei feels the glare of someone far more powerful than him. "You're gonna question an all knowing power?" Issei shakes his head. "I'm gonna do what I want because it's all I can at this point!" Jesus sighs in return. "And let's see how far that'll get you."

SLAM!

Rias slams the doors open. Yuuko hides in the corner in the room she was just in as Keneko leaps from the couch like a cat into another room. Issei stares right at Rias with Akeno in his arms. Her arms wrapped around his neck as his hands squeezed her thighs. He puts her down as Rias walks over to the window with her hands behind her back. "Issei, I have something for you." She says with a darker tone in her voice. As if she was passively aggressively addressing the elephant in the room. "Yeah?" Issei asked. "Akeno, you mind?" Issei asked back. Akeno bows as she scurries into the other room. As she closes the door Issei stares right back at Rias with his eyes glowing. "You really are devolving into a perverted scumbag" Rias comments. "Hey, it's like you said. Friends who hang are usually similar to each other" Rias sighs out of frustration. "That's why I picked you out from them, you were different, so I wanted you." Issei laughs. "I think you're confused. A relationship takes the consent of two, not one party." Issei notes. "I brought you back from the dead! What more could I possibly do for you?!" Rias asks. "That was God you idiot!" Issei barked.

"OH?!"

"God's will then if you do have some devil power!" Rias snaps. "EVERYTHING IS GOD'S FUCKING WILL IF YOU BOIL IT DOWN!" Issei stands up from the couch. "Well don't act like I wanted to be saved." Rias backs up as tears once more flood her eyes. "You're the worst." Rias says as her voice begins to crack. "Nothing new there" Issei says softly. "Who hurt you?!" Rias asked. "Everybody did Rias" Issei says as he looks up into Rias's blue eyes. "Everybody." She puts her hands on her hips as she gives Issei a death stare. "I don't wanna be controlling Issei. I just want you, the real you." Issei sighs. "That's not love, idiot. So I'd be a douche either way." Rias groans as she grows more and more aggravated." Rias sighs. "If you're aware of the fact that you're being one then why are you doing this?!" Rias asks frustrated.

"Because I'm mad! I'm fucking mad because I can't ever win! Even in this second life I'm just this loser who's some demon puppets pawn! I was always known as a douche so what's the point in trying to not act like one?! I'll act the way people treat me, see how they like it!" Rias's eyes widened. "Puppet?!" she asks. "Yes, and we're all puppets. We're all freaking puppets. So stop taking offense and take a minute to realize that we're all being played by forces of darkness." Issei's violent tone gives Rias chills. She starts to take his words into consideration. "He's so dead set on that view. Did he meet the one?" Rias asks. "I'm so sick of this. Sick of being the white knight who's used by others. And then once done I'm looped back with the perverts. My friends almost died because that monster we killed was able to use those party posters in school to use them! That's how bad they're into this lust thing that you demons can use! I'm not one of them! BUT IF THE WORLD WANTS ME TO BE THEN HERE IT GOES!"

"STOP! I DID THIS SO YOU WOULDN'T DO THAT! Issei, your friends almost died from this behavior. Why would you copy it?" Rias asks. "Well here it is because I'm not gonna sit back and just make the same mistakes I did last time. You think I can still trust you?" Issei asks. "How could you not?" Rias asked with such brokenness in her voice. Yuuto even stands back and reflects as he eavesdrops with Koneko and Akeno. "When we shared our stories. I told him about how Rias found me. I ran away from that church after the priests used us for the Holy Sword project. A cruel experiment that killed everyone I knew. But this man, just like how I don't trust priests, can't trust his classmates. Yet I've seen him show compassion. He's struggling inside because what he wants is not agreeing with his morals" Yuuto thought.

"Issei, what did they do to you?" Rias asks. Issei doesn't answer her question. Instead he lets the answer play over and over, he remembers every beating he took for his friends. His reputation crashing like a falling plane into the ground, blowing up into smithereens. "Just, Give me the address and I'll head over." Issei says as he takes Rias's slip and starts to walk towards the exit. "Don't expect me to be part of your harem" Rias says as she gives Issei a cold glare. "Never was to be honest" Issei says not looking back.

"What?" She asks herself softly as tears overwhelm her voice. Issei then closes the door and leans up against it as he slides to the ground. His hands cover his face as the outside world tries to invade his mind. "What the Hell is wrong with me? She's not like Raynare." Issei says. "Well of course not." A voice says as it takes a seat next to Issei in the hallway of the castle-like building, sipping a juice box as Issei just sat there with his eyes covered as he heard the sucking of a straw next to him. "You realize Raynare is what you're trying to warn them about. She used you like a puppet, and she tried to do the same with me. They all betrayed me, after I gave them life they decided to follow my precious son Lucifer." Issei leans back a little. "But how can I tell that they aren't? These people are working for the enemy regardless of how anyone feels about them. I'm just being alert." Jesus looks at Issei. "You're using them now. I'd say this whole situation is messy." Issei shakes his head. "Yeah well I've been used in the past. It's only fair if I come out on top now." Jesus scowls. "Get that distorted thought out of your mind. Life is never fair for anyone. That's as fair as it'll get for us all. Just because you've been used doesn't mean you're weak. It just means you now know who to trust and who to avoid."

"I still can't keep doing this. I feel cheated. I've loved Raynare for my whole life and in return I not only get rejected, but..." Issei sniffles as he wipes his eyes and nose from running tears and snot. "I hate this. All of this."

Life isn't worth this.

It doesn't feel worth it.

Jesus sheds a tear as he watches Issei get up. "It's like the one thing in life I asked for doesn't happen. What did I do that was so horrible to get such a no. If you didn't want us together then you coulda just made it happen, make me like someone else but no it has to be God's glorified answer and take things to extreme." Jesus stands over Issei. "Free will is what led her to killing you." Jesus states boldly. "Yeah but she doesn't deserve it!" Issei yells. "I thought you told my father you knew how this worked? This is why he doesn't intervene like we think he should. Our will is greater than all." He then looks at his hands as they shake. "I can't though. Just stop." Issei states. "I'm done living like this. I wanna do what I want. I can't make myself go back. What's the point of having something if in this life you're never meant to have it, and in the next life it doesn't exist?"

"And what is this thing?" Jesus asks. "You and I both know what it is" Issei states. The two stare at each other as intensity fills the halls. Jesus's blue eyes never change into a blood red, however Issei's activate, turning into a powerful gold as each second passes. "I want what I want. Not what you think will bless me." Issei says boldly. "Then go see where your will will take you. I'll be waiting." He turns around and walks down the hallway as Issei watches with his fist clenched. "I'm gonna have as much fun here as possible. And no one can stop me now" Issei thought. He smiles slightly as he watches the Lord exit the school campus. "Now it's my turn to enjoy luxury."

Later that night the boy rode his bike to the house Rias assigned him to. "For a Harem Overlord this sucks. Why do I have to ride a bike?!" He comes upon the door and knocks several times. "Hello!" No response. "HEY DEVIL KNOCKING AT THE DOOR!" No response once more. He opens the door, causing a squeaky noise to echo throughout the room. "Hello?" He feels slight fear as he slowly enters the dark abandoned house. "It's abandoned? This is a bad idea. I'm breaking in." Issei then imagines himself returning to the club house. Rias gives him a cold stare before uttering-"Psh, useless. I guess I have no more need for you"

He then sees himself activating his gauntlet as she sends a lighting strike towards him. He finishes the group off as he jumps around the room, killing each "devil" with some special move he learned from watching anime. From Levi's behind the couch firing a gun, to the way Naturo threw his ninja stars. His mind took him to places not imaginable. "No need for violence yet. I don't even wanna see her turn on me." He then feels his heart start to increase pace. "It's not like she likes me anyways. It's an act I know how this shit works." He then opens the door all the way. "I'm not gonna let them have the last win. I'll come out on top." He tells himself as he continues to walk in as he buries his fear with courage. "Don't be freaked out but I'm coming inside!" Issei yells. He walks in and enters a room with candles lighting it. Their flickering glow sets a sinister tone that causes Issei to activate his ability out of fear. "Stay calm, don't panic." Issei says calmly. He then plays it off with a joke.

"Nice of you to set the mood!" He asks as he steps into the room he feels blood on his shoe. He steps back and takes a look at what liquid he just stepped in. "What the? What is this?" Issei asks. He wipes it off with his hand to find blood. Dark red crimson blood on the floor. He then looks around and sees in the dark corner of the room a corpse, just lying there as blood from it sits in a puddle. Issei covers his mouth from the stench of the body as his being shakes. "What the?"

Punish the wicked, such wise words to live by.

Issei looks over to see a man with silver hair get up. He wore a cross and had a priest's attire on. He got up from the couch he sat on as the priest started to dance with joy. Hahahaha! So you're the little pussy who's fallen for my trap! "What?" Issei asked freaked out. "YOU'RE THE DEMON I'M GOING TO EXERCISE! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Uhhhhh, I don't think priests can swear" He says nervously, trying to keep the mood light so he won't panic. The priest then pulls out a shotgun carved from metal and gold, fitting the church theme. He also pulls out a sword that glows blue like a lightsaber. "Crap, a sword of light!" Issei thought as he leapt back. "I'm gonna carve out your evil heart with this bad boy and then blow your devil brains out!" "YOU DID THIS! YOU'RE A MURDERER!" Issei yells. "It's my job to eliminate the crowds of devils, fallen ones, and the souls who cry out to them. It's God's work my boy." The priest says as he aims his sword and gun at Issei.

Issei then smiles as a wave of confidence drowns his personality out. He hides the fear with a fake front, starting with a cocky smile. "I could give you a Sunday School lesson." Issei's eyes then glint. Or I could bash your stupid skull right in.

He then activates his gauntlet as he dodges the priest's lunge with the blade. It tears off some drywall as it's swung back and forth. Issei slides across the room and starts to run back at him. As he slams his fist into the priest's gut the priest fires a bullet into the boy's leg. It pierces through the skin, causing Issei's fear to resurface back to his mind as he falls to the ground. The priest is slammed through the wall and gets back up from the other room. As he dusts himself off of dry paint he aims his gun as Issei, staring him down with his red eyes.

"This gun was blessed by an exorcist you know. I hope it tastes good." Issei groans in pain as he bleeds on the ground. "Idiot. I'm not a devil that just hurts! A gun is a gun!" The priest begins to laugh maniacally. "Well it's been fun, but it's time I finish you off. After all, I'm part of an organization where we can't waste time on small fries like you. We won't stop till all of God's enemies are purged." Issei begins to cough up some blood as he stands up. "So you get to decide who gets to live now? To fight the devil you must follow God's commands, not your own." The priest however just snarls at Issei. "Oh what would you know about the word of God you damn devil?!" He points his gun at Issei as Issei laid on the ground. "You realize you're saying to God right now that you don't need him?" Issei asks with a smile on his face.

"What?" The priest asks. "Think about it. You just broke the sixth commandment, you brutally murdered someone and used their soul to lure me. And even if the devil could take souls like that, and it wasn't just some Hollywood trope you didn't know that, so we'll assume you damned him too. And then by killing me you said you don't need the lord's protection, you can hunt devils yourself." The priest looks at Issei rather offended. "What are you saying?" He asks. Issei gets up and grabs the man by the collar. He then looks into his eyes with his glowing pupils and finds his voice turning demonic.

I'm saying you're no different than me.

At that moment, a beast like no other awoke.

Issei suddenly hears a scream as he slams his head into the priest. He looks back to see Asia in her nun robe looking at the corpse on the ground. "What the?! WHAT ARE YOU?!" Asia asks.

"ASIA WHAT NOW?! Did you finish the barrier?!" The priest asks. He then slashes at Issei's back while he looks at Asia. "AGH! DAMMIT!" Issei roars as he falls to the ground as the priest stands over Issei. "Don't do this!" Asia pleads. "Oh Asia this is the job. You see, we dispose of evil people and the devils they worship." Asia looks up at the man with tears in her eyes. "No, this is satanic. We're doing what they do. This isn't right. Wait, what are you?" She looks at Issei as he gets back up. "What the? Asia?" Issei asks. "Wait? Do you know each other?" The priest asks. "Issei, what are you doing here?"

"Asia. I'm sorry"

"I'm what you call a Devil." Asia looks at Issei horrified. "What? No way!" Issei laughs a little "I didn't wanna tell you. So I thought I'd just, ghost you." Issei then heard a voice in his head. "What are you doing?! YOU'RE BEING USED! STOP BEING SO NICE!"

"Please forgive me."

"NO SHUT UP! YOU DON'T NEED FORGIVENESS! They're the ones that should be sorry!" He thinks about the entire student body and his two former friends, all just standing there like silhouettes.

All of them.

Issei gets up and looks at Asia. He then clenches his arm and stares the priest down. "Now Asia. I know this is so heartwarming." He puts his hands on her shoulders as she stands there crying. "But the Fallen One's forbid us from talking to them."

"No way, did he just say....."

Fallen Fucking Angels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Issei gets up as he feels his wounds heal instantly. His rage fueling his power as he clenches his fists and focuses on his sacred gear. "Alright then let's finish this up. Not that it matters but I hope you've said your prayers!" Issei roars. "ISSEI NO!" Asia yells as she rushes over to him and shields Issei from the madman. "Oh you're joking Asia." The Priest says. "Father please don't do this. Don't hurt him, forgive him of his sins." Asia pleads on Issei's behalf. "That thing is a devil not a man!" "But father he has good in him! Do you really think The Father would approve of this? "

"Asia are you kidding me? You'll get killed!" Issei thought. The priest feels his hand squeeze the hilt of his sword and slash at Asia's chest, a slight cut forms right in the middle of her body as she flies back to the ground. Issei catches her as she starts to bleed. Her scared eyes look up as the priest grabs her by the chin and kicks Issei. "HEY LET HER GO!"

"Are you out of your fucking mind?!" He then smacks her to the ground. "Do you have maggots growing in that dumb skull of yours? What was that?!" Issei growls. "YOU LET HER GO!" He then grabs both her wrists and pins her to the wall by stabbing her sleeves. She stood there shirtless as the priest cocked his gun. "They told me not to hurt you but I don't give a damn anymore!" Issei couldn't take it anymore. "ASIA NO! THAT'S IT!"

What are you doing?! She's a Woman of God! She's too dangerous to be kept alive!

The voice said in Issei's head. "SHUT UP JUST SHUT UP!" The voice persisted.

I'm not kidding you son of a bitch.

"WHY SHOULDN'T I DO WHAT I WANT WITH YOU!" Issei rises from the ground as he watches the man violate Asia. "Let her go!" He then finds himself gritting his teeth as his hand surges with power. "Hey now you're gonna stand there and watch. You're gonna have to pay first, this isn't a free-" Suddenly Issei rushes at the man and slams his gauntlet into his face. As he goes flying back he bounces off the wall and fires a couple more shots back. Issei blocks them with his metal glove and sends a green laser towards the priest. He blocks it with his blade and strikes at Issei. Issei hops back, dodging the priest's attacks with his sword. He then dodges some more bullets from the man's gun until he's at his last round. "How am I even doing this? It's like my skills are suddenly aligning with my will!" He then grabs the priest's gun and turns the barrel into the man's shoulders. A bullet flies and shreds the man's shoulder. As blood leaks onto the floor the priest then smacks Issei with his hilt. "BASTARD! BURN IN HELL YOU HERETIC!" He then smacks the man in the face.

Issei then stands over the man as he looks up at him. He takes heavy breaths and wipes his face of blood. "I want answers, you said you worked for the Fallen Angels.

Tell me where they are.

To be Continued....