Chapter Text
" Oh, this dream again. How many times does this make?"
The dreamer found himself without memory of who and where he was once again, unable to actually move his body as it moved on its own. An observer is what his role was in this instance, in the body of what he supposed was a samurai.
When the dreamer heard the loud neigh of a horse, "he" almost turned his head to look at where the sound came from just as he blocked the strike from an enemy samurai donning black armor with red outlines. Terrified out of his mind as he was though, the dreamer could only let out a startled gasp as a long red spear with six-pronged edges buried itself in the exposed throat of the opposing soldier. Blood spilled out of the man's throat as his eyes bulged, coughing in pain as his left hand moved to move the weapon away from him in futility when the spear was quickly pulled out, coating the dreamer's "face" with the red liquid and instinctively causing him to look the other way.
" Pardon the intrusion!" A voice spoke, one with confidence unlike those of the warriors around them who bellowed war cries.
What he saw was another of the legendary military retainers, one with black armor over a white cloth with red outlines on their sleeves and a white open skirt with a yellow tied around their waist, of which it reached down past their legs. The armored warrior rode on horseback with spear on hand, their expression unreadable as white hair with black tufts to the sides and middle of their head obscured the dreamer's vision to any sight of their face. What was seen however, was that the horseback rider charged into a scene that could best be described as an ancient battle .
The feudal era of Japan? The dreamer thought as he watched the black armored warrior impaling her spear into a samurai who had been preparing to plunge his blade into his downed enemy, their equally black armored horse also impaling another unsuspecting enemy soldier, who was quite literally thrown to the side with a jerk of the horse's head. Despite this brief change in action, the warrior continued onward as the wind blew in their direction, pushing back their hair to reveal…!
An unsettling shade of yellow in those eyes regarded the battlefield before them, not blinking once even when the blood of their enemies splashed on their face. The warrior had just stabbed through an enemy samurai's neck with their sword before cutting through it to the side, almost gleefully allowing the blood to spill on them.
" Men!" The warrior proclaimed, a noticeable feminine tone in their voice as they raised a bloody sword in the direction of their target, a japanese castle with a large army of those samurai who wore black and red armor before it. Behind the horseback rider, an army gathered behind them as the soldiers in the front raised their rifles and prepared to fire the first volley, the white cloth on the hips and arms of their leader billowing outward as the wind seemed to push the army toward the opposing force gathering past the ridge.
" There is our enemy! There is Oda Nobunaga's army waiting for us to greet us with sword and gunpowder!" The warrior never stopped smiling as their head tilted to the side at an impressive speed as a rifle shot whizzed past her head, as if attempting to silence her for that proclamation alone. "Let's do the same!"
The dreamer watched as the rider charged the forefront of the army as the army cheered and charged to catch up with their commander, an impressive sight to behold as the opposing force charged to meet their enemy with a clash of steel and brutality. There was no hesitation as the dark blue armored samurai of the Uesugi Clan- as the dreamer noticed- punched, parried, and slashed at the black and red armored samurai of the Oda Clan who in turn did the same.
Before long, a mountain of corpses would be formed on both sides, the heavily wounded being pulled back to be replaced by the able-bodied. Yet the one to not retreat for even a moment was the white haired warrior with the unsettling yellow eyes, they who fought on horseback as well as on foot as they hopped off their horse to slash and impale before jumping back on their horse to continue the dance of slaughter, galloping and twirling as they did so.
The dreamer was taken aback for a moment as they laughed, realizing the warrior was most likely a woman by her condescending yet pleasant voice, this admiration ceased when her gaze fell on the dreamer with eyes that seemed to scream a painful death. The dilated pupils giving her the appearance of someone caught in a state of euphoria, the toothy grin almost feral as her breath was visible in the cool air as she blushed, clearly enjoying the heat of the moment.
" Fighting for death brings life, while fighting for life causes death! In short, there is no use thinking about it! Kill them- !"
Issei Hyoodou woke up in a cold sweat as he gasped for air, looking around frantically to get his bearings, making sure he was in his room. When he was satisfied that no enemy samurai were out to cut his head off, he let out a sigh of great relief, plopping back down on his bed.
"Man, that dream always seems so freaking real! Who is that woman anyway?" Issei pondered with a thoughtful expression. It wasn't the first time he had this dream, but it was one of the newer ones he has had since he was very young. At first they frightened him, those of the white-haired individual that is, even more so as it felt he was actually there in some of them. And although he never saw her face until this dream, he was always wary around them.
Thinking back on the more expanded reveal of the woman however, Issei's thoughtful expression turned slightly perverted. "Oh but she was just smoking! Looking at me with crazy eyes! I wonder what she'd look like without-!" The perverted ramblings of the boy ended when his alarm clock set off, frightening him as he fell off the bed.
"Wake up Mister! Wake up Mister! Wake up Mister!"
Later, Kuoh Academy...
"Ah, Issei! You're here!"
"Issei my man!"
Issei couldn't help but smile at his friends as he arrived at the courtyard grounds of Kuoh Academy, a school formerly known as a private, all girls academy, which until recently switched to a co-ed program. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but for the three students currently attending the academy, it was a minor nuisance as they had a rather infamous reputation there.
"Sup guys? Ready to sneak some peeks?"
"Well you bet your ass we are!"
Matsuda and Mohotama, Issei's best friends who partake in lecherous acts around the school they attend, something which the majority of the female majority of the institution do not particularly take kindly to. It was not uncommon to see the three ogling in perversion, whether openly or discreetly, the three would eventually come to be known as the "Perverted Trio" during their time at Kuoh Academy.
Yet such indecent acts demanded retaliation from peeping on the girls during P.E.- or physical education classes, changing into appropriate apparel for their extracurricular activities, or even spying on the most dangerous group: the Kendo Club. More often than not, the trio of indecents would be caught by the girls of said club, beaten by their shinai as they lay on the ground to learn from their mistakes.
"I still think attacking me with bamboo swords was a little extreme…" Unfortunately for one Issei Hyoodou, he was the only one of the trio to be dealt the full power of a whole group's consecutive strikes from wooden swords.
"Did you at least get to see any nip?" cheekily asked Mohotama.
"No I didn't get to see any nip! I was too busy having my ass handed to me for looking through a tithole I didn't get to look through because of you a-holes…" Issei trailed off as he felt a pair of eyes looking down at him from somewhere.
Looking up, Issei felt mesmerized upon noticing the long red hair first, the sunshine giving it an almost ethereal look to it as it seemed to glow. A fair-skinned beauty with blue eyes, the girl looked at him with an impassive gaze before leaving, starting up a conversation between the three perverts.
"Her name's Rias Gremory." Mohotama stated in a matter of fact tone, pushing up his glasses with a smirk as he began listing every detail he knew about her.
But Issei stopped listening once he heard a voice, familiar in its confident tone but a little creepy with how close it was heard.
" My~! That's quite a catch you saw! But don't be fooled by beauty so easily~!"
"Huh? What?" Issei exclaimed as he fell backwards, getting the attention of his friends. Jerks for leaving him for slaughter to the Kendo Girls, they were still good people, showing concern for their friend was only natural.
"You okay, Issei? You look like you've seen a ghost." asked Matsuda.
"You mean… you didn't hear that?"
"Hmm? No. Did the girls hit you harder this time or something?" Mohotama inquired.
Weird, they didn't hear anything? Issei scratched the back of his head as he got up, letting out a sigh of frustration. It was about time to leave for home after all, maybe a walk would clear up his head.
Later that day…
"Man, being a teenager is just the worst…" Issei complained to no one in particular as he rested on the railing of a bridge over a freeway. "At this rate, just jacking it to porn is the closest I'll get to doing it before heading off to college… hrmm I'll probably die a virgin too…" Oh the troubles of one teenager.
Issei was too busy mulling over his sorrows to hear the footsteps approaching in his direction.
"Excuse me, you're Issei Hyoodou from Kuoh Academy, right?" A soft and peasant voice started. "Or am I wrong?"
Issei raised his head, curious at who knew about him, and what he saw was one of the cutest girls he'd ever seen! No! Calm down, Issei! Play it cool! She wants something so behave! Still, long and silky black hair, and with the most vibrant violet colored he'd ever seen…
"Yeah?" No harm in confirming that. I don't recognize that uniform. What school is she from? Ah, who cares? She's fine!
"Hi I uh…"
"Um… hey if there's anything I can help you with…"
"Sort of… I just wanted to ask you a quick question." A pause before she continued. "Are you seeing anyone right now?"
"Now? No."
"That's wonderful!"
"It is?" Was it really? Now that I think about it, it's pretty weird of a girl to ask me th… wait. Hold on!
"Ah, in that case, since you're single... w-will you go out with me?" That earned a brief moment of surprise from Issei.
It was a simple question, one that everyone asks or is asked by another individual. It was a question that no matter the time and place, age or race, would be asked eventually, followed by surprise.
The one who asked this simple question was a young girl about Issei's age, one who wore a different school uniform from the one Issei went to. A dark red jacket with the letter "P" in gold was shown as part of the uniform, with a green skirt completing the look as her hands were holding onto a school briefcase.
For all that she seemed quite timid as she fidgeted on the spot, a blush being sported on her cheeks, she was still the one who asked the question. Still…
"Go out with you? Um I..." Was Issei's only reply. For how could it not be? After all, he was without a doubt a bit of a pervert, and thus he was certain of the fact that he wouldn't get a girlfriend with how he acted. Contrary to popular belief, he was self-conscious to a degree, and that extended to the awareness that a peeping tom was not exactly a popular person. Still, the girl before him was wearing a school uniform from another school, so she was probably at least unaware of his behavior and activities.
"I've been watching, you pass by here a lot. And you seem so… I don't know, gentle a-and very handsome and I…"
Bro this cannot be happening to me right now! It was a good thing the girl could only see and not hear one's inner thoughts because Issei was pretty dumbstruck at the moment.
"See, the thing is…" She took a deep breath before speaking her next words as she looked at him with a determined expression. "I'd like for you to be my boyfriend!"
Other than the cars passing below on the street, there was only silence as Issei's mind seemed to short circuit before exploding. WHOA! IS THIS FOR REAL!?
The next week, Sunday afternoon…
What followed would come to be the happiest day of Issei's life, not only did he get to rub it into his friends' faces, but he was actually going out with a girl who genuinely liked him! Here he was, one of the most notorious students at his school, going out with a girl who saw past that and enjoying the moment just as much as he was!
Yuuma Amano, everything about her was charming, her bubbly personality, her attitude towards him, and her smile… It was a picture perfect smile. A smile meant for him alone that belonged to the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen, and the only one that wasn't disgusted by him.
The couple had visited the local outdoor mall for their date, going from shop to shop for some general sightseeing, trying out different clothes, just… having fun in a way that didn't bother anyone. Issei was honestly so smitten with her that he even bought her a red ribbon to wear around her arm, of which he bought with his own money. Heheh, god I am such a fucking gentleman...
It was when they got to eat at an ice cream shop where Issei realized just how lucky he was, he wasn't even interested in eating some of the treat himself, just so long as Yuuma was enjoying herself. Besides, it was nice to take a break from all the walking around as it was a bit hot out today, and the cool air of the shop was a nice change.
" Last chance~!" That voice from out of nowhere spoke again in a sing-along voice, only for a moment, though it was enough to spook Issei as he looked around quickly. This action was enough to get the attention of Yuuma who had the decency to look concerned before smiling at him. It was that smile of hers that put him at ease, a kind and beaming smile that made his heart flutter, making him feel like there were butterflies in his stomach. To tell the truth, he felt like a little kid again when he had his first crush.
It felt like nothing could go wrong today, nothing that could ruin this moment of tranquility.
Later that evening…
They'd decided on taking a stroll through the nearby park, the sun was setting and the whole area was pretty much vacant. It was just the two of them now, and the water spraying from the fountain in the middle of the plaza set up a peaceful atmosphere.
"I sure had fun today." Yuuma started with a smile.
"Yeah, this was the best date ever!" The enthusiasm was not lost to Issei, it really was fun to do this with someone else. That and it was a nice change from taking part in the usual activities he and his buddies would always end up doing.
Yuuma's hand brushed his, it was only for a second but it was a step in the right direction. So he went and held her hand as they walked, eliciting a gasp of surprise as she blushed.
Only, when she skipped towards the fountain and turned to face him with that beaming smile of hers, it felt as though he did something strange. Wait no, she's smiling, nothing wrong with that.
"Can I ask you a question?" She began as she tiptoed back over to a confused Issei. "In honor of our first date, there's something I'd like you to do. To commemorate this special moment!"
I'm gonna get to kiss her! I'm totally gonna get to kiss her! This rocks!
"Sure, you can ask me for anything at all." He replied to Yuuma who bowed her head to him, as if she was nervous about something.
She smiled and looked up at him with half-lidded eyes.
"Would you die for me?"
…
That… was not what he was expecting to hear. At all actually! It was a long day after all so maybe he was just tired.
"Heh… what'd you say? Sorry something must be wrong with my ears. I don't think I heard you correctly." Amidst the nervousness he was feeling, a crow cawed. Followed by another. "Could you maybe say that one more time please…"
Yuuma Amano did just that, stepping closer and whispering into his ear with a deeper pitch to her voice, " I want you to die for me." She began laughing as a bright purple light engulfed her.
Issei's mind was in overdrive as Yuuma's clothes disintegrated into nothingness, revealing her nude body in all its glory as some sort of black leather formed over her body's more intimate parts, black feathered wings sprouted from her back which- Wait. WHAT THE FUCK.
Breasticles! Those are boobs! I am looking at boobs! My little boy eyes have finally grown into manhood! And she's a super-hot chick too! What's that old saying? This is a sight for sore eyes? This is totally a sight for…
Issei felt his legs turn to jelly when the fear of the situation finally hit him. Wait, no this isn't a sight for sore eyes!
This was not the Yuuma he knew, sure she looked like a dominatrix from an adult film, but this was real! Her eyes no longer stared down at him with kindness in them, but with a predatory look to kill, yet that smile did not leave her face...
Those wings! She looks like a demon!
"Well I do have to admit, I did have some fun today." Her voice was definitely not that of his girlfriend anymore, it was as condescending as the way she regarded him like an ant. "Considering how naive and childish you are, things could have been much much worse." She held up her black gloved hand and regarded the red ribbon tied around it with, her pleased smile leaving Issei with mixed feelings about the whole situation. Her words hit him harder however.
"Thanks a lot for the gift too! Very sweet~!" "Yuuma" hummed before her eyes took on a more dangerous look, her hand outstretched towards her victim of deceit as a bright red glow encompassed the limb.
A bright red spear formed in the tall woman's hands as she raised it with the intention to strike at something, or rather, someone.
"Yuuma wait!" Issei shot a hand forward to placate his girlfriend, hoping that she would see reason or at least give an explanation. "Please!"
" It's time to die!"
Those were the last words he heard from the sweet and kind girl that Issei thought he knew as Yuuma Amano, his girlfriend who took pleasure in impaling his stomach with some kind of spear of light. Honestly, his mind was in great confusion, yes he felt a bit aroused beforehand, but now there was a whole lot of pain . Sharp, burning pain which spread throughout his whole body as his hands grasped at the wound, but there was too much blood spilling out from both the front and back. The spear had already disappeared like it was never there but the result was the same as Issei lost his balance.
"I'm sorry…" "Yuuma" stated although she didn't sound sorry at all. "But the fact is you were far too great a risk to us. I had no choice but to dispose of you." She sat with one leg crossed over the other on the ridge of the fountain, her hand resting on her cheek as she continued regarding him almost impassively. "If you're looking for someone to blame, why not blame him? He gave you the Sacred Gear after all."
What in the hell is she talking about? He barely even heard the next words she said, full of nonsense as they were while he bled out, the pain in his stomach too great for him to even notice her departure as he fell on his back.
" If you're looking for someone to blame, why not blame him ?" Him who? Sacred Gear? What in the actual Hell was a Sacred Gear? … What a bitch. Am I really about to die like this? Bleeding out on the ground? Alone and pathetic... Issei's thoughts were becoming more of a blur as much as his vision was. A giant virgin? If you were gonna kill me… couldn't you have let me squeeze your jiggly jugs first? I only got to look at them for a second, but I could see how bouncy they were… Oh Yuuma…
"Ahh… my blood…" It's red, just like the color of her hair. Darker than any red hair I've ever seen. Just like the color running down my hand… long, beautiful crimson hair… just like this… Wait, why the crap am I talking like this? I'm about to freaking die! It's over! Damn! I can't even move anymore! Trying to touch a pair of orbs, what a stupid way for a person to die!
He really didn't want to die, nevermind the fact that he would never go out with a girl like Yuuma ever again, he won't even get to see Rias again! And… his friends and family… what are they going to think? What will they do when he dies? These were horrifying thoughts.
To be honest, I know I've lived a pretty shallow life. Next time around, I'm going to try REAL hard to be a better person. But the only thing I can think about now is Rias… with her pretty red hair and huge gazongas! If I'm going to die, then why can't I die motorboating those glorious funbags!?
A bright red light shone brilliantly from his jacket's pocket, where he put away that flyer a weird but interestingly dressed woman gave him. The flyer, for lack of a better word, flew out of the pocket before forming into a red circle with unknown symbols, descending as a figure formed from its epicenter, one with red hair and wearing the Kuoh Academy girl's uniform.
"I have come. You're the one who summoned me, are you not?" The girl's voice was soft and pleasant to hear for the first time.
The bright red glow of the arrival lit up the fountain park, increasing in intensity as the trees began rustling from a stiff wind, the water from the fountain ceased spraying water, yet the birds that frequented the park remained as though observing the sight before them as the curious audience. From the magic circle that formed in the air and ground, the red haired beauty of Kuoh Academy turned to look down at Issei Hyoudou.
"Since death is upon you, I will gladly take you in." Rias Gremory stated as black wings far different from Yuuma's sprouted from her back. As if noting the dying boy's surprise, Rias smiled beautifully in a manner that captivated Issei once more. "From this moment forward, you will live your life for my sake…"
If he could live than that would be great! No one would suffer the heartbreak of having to hear he died. He just wanted to see his friends and family…
Rias briskly walked toward him, confidence in her gait as the setting sun combined with the red aura surrounding her upon arrival granting the red head an almost sinister appearance.
But Yuuma's smile… If Rias has wings too then…! What if this is the wrong choice!?
" My my~! It just might be!"
A sudden change in the air shifted the wind, far more than Rias' arrival as trees began rustling, the birds occupying them flying away in fright in greater numbers than when Rias arrived.
On Issei's left side, another magic circle had formed, glowing a brilliant white as it increased in intensity before a beam of light shot down from the sky to land on the circle. Smoke dominated the area for a moment before clearing, revealing another individual had come to the scene, one who wore a hooded white cloak. They looked ever so familiar, what with their right hand holding a long red spear with six-pronged edges while their left held a bronze katana… the same weapons from that dream… and that cloak!
"Well don't let me distract you. Life or death..." A woman by the sound of their voice. The hooded figure turned their eyes slightly towards Rias. "Do choose soon, even Akuma have impatience."
"Who are you!? As Heiress to the House of-!" Rias was cut off as the unidentified woman's head snapped toward her with a far too enthusiastic smile under that hood, but it was the dim glow of those green eyes that unnerved the Devil.
"Well… I guess it doesn't actually matter, life or death. I wager not much difference will be made with your kind." The girl looked back down at Issei and titled her head, "Bind your soul to evil, or devote yourself to the God of War?"
Absolutely nothing was making sense so far, and he wasn't entirely sure who he could trust. His girlfriend turned out to be a homicidal and supernatural chick who smiled and spoke sweet lies to him, showing a false love before she moved to kill and left him to bleed out while she flew away with black wings. And now Rias came here sporting those as well, who was to say she didn't have similar intentions? Finally, there was the other girl, no sign of wings of any kind, though she seemed to be smiling underneath that hood… a bit too much perhaps. Maybe… maybe she was a benevolent angel. Who knew? Issei certainly didn't at this point.
Too focused on his fading life, Issei didn't even notice he had been crying until he blinked away the stinging sensation as he struggled to move his head, raising his right arm to move it in a certain direction. Unfortunately, he fell unconscious before he could gesture toward one of the two, although the general direction was clear if his finger was any indication.
The hooded girl's smile turned into a wide grin, one of twisted form of joy and smug satisfaction. Though it was her bright green eyes that truly terrified Rias Gremory, the Devil of House Gremory, as the girl let down her hood to look down at Issei wholly. "Very well, I am the Servant Lancer of the Eightfold Blossom. Regardless of my position however, you should know that you can always call me-"
The next day...
"Wha-!" Issei exclaimed as he shot out of bed in a cold sweat, the dream he had of Yuuma and Rias still fresh in his mind, even if it was slightly unbelievable.
Between the pain he felt upon waking up and the memory of that dream, he could say without a doubt that he felt like absolute crap. It wasn't even like yesterday where he woke up all giddy and excited for the day of his date.
That's when the lethargy and laziness of having to get out of bed finally hit Issei, "Oh man, I'm so tired... hold on..." His alarm hadn't rung its wake up call.
And today was Monday...
"SHIT! I'M GONNA BE LATE!"
Nagao Kagetora walked the halls of the realm she found herself in, quickly coming to the conclusion that this was practically her mindscape melding with that of the one who summoned her to this world. She knew not the specifics, only that it brought her and Master ever closer to each other, allowing for a shared understanding as she wished.
Deciding that was that, Uesugi Kenshin- as was her other name- briskly walked through the dimly lit shoji halls without interruption to her advance. Her eyes sparing not a glance to her surroundings nor the additional halls the mindscape formed access to. No, her destination was clear as she approached the fusuma doors leading to the individual of interest. She smiled widely as she slid them open and bore witness to what she sought.
No, not a person of interest, but a phantasmal beast of interest~! Such were the thoughts of the Kagetora as she approached the red avian beast with a confident gait to her step, the dragon merely regarded her a moment bursting into laughter. His massive clawed hand grasping a large barrel of what was presumed to be alcohol, sloshing down the contents greedily as he set it back down without care of the contents spilling. The ancient daimyo did not break her smile as she wiped her face of the droplets of the beverage.
" So its true then? You have come in regards to his summons?" The dragon's voice boomed in the room's expanse, his breath hot and dank with the scent of previous meal. Odd considering this was in the mind… Oh well, no use thinking about that.
"Of course, why wouldn't I? It is correct to answer no?" Nagao asked with a tilt of her head.
Y Draig Goch only huffed out black smoke, he knew of the history this woman held, a warrior of great renown, raised to the status of daimyo of the feudal era of Japan. Said to be the incarnation of a war god, one who did not understand human concepts as well as humans actually did. Yes indeed~ for as powerful as they were, gods were not humans, and so it was that this individual… would both serve as amusement and power for his host to gain.
" That it is, that it is." The Red Dragon nodded in agreement as he saw no use in changing the mind of someone like this. " As for the boy, we're already bonded to him so for now, I suggest we train him, the boy will need both of our power if he wants to survive the coming conflict."
"Agreed, it'll be fun training someone again…" Nagao chuckled to herself as she regarded Draig with a look of anticipation, her eyes gaining a sinister look to them as she smiled widely, her teeth gleaming in the dim light. "Maybe I could gain some understanding of people this way?
" Hmph! I don't see a need to, the other humans will be humans! I'm just curious to see how one as lecherous as this one will be able to utilize us."
"Lecherous? You mean…"
" Heh, massive pervert this one is. Biggest detail to note about him is that he yearns for a harem of women."
While Draig the red dragon laughed and drank his fill of alcohol, Nagao continued smiling as her eyes narrowed, waving her hand to ward off the stench that wafted from the beast's inner being. Her thoughts centered around her Master from Draig's observation. While it was true that she didn't really understand humans, she did want to try if she was going to work with one.
"A harem huh?"
When she left the Welsh Dragon to his own devices after conversing for a while longer, Nagao went off to explore this curious abode, finding a measure of familiarity with its walls and atmosphere. It almost felt as though she returned to her original time, partaking in the war and bloodshed it provided for her. She would find herself in a vacant room reminiscent to one in an actual Japanese home, the tatami floor underneath her feet felt nice and cool as she sat down before the room's chabudai table.
"Ah, I know. I should go introduce myself to my Master later. After all, that's what people do when they wish to know more about each other." The warrior mused to herself as she poured sake on the wide shape of a sakazuki dish, bringing it up to her lips to drink.
"Puhaa~! So good! So good!"