Hell on Strikers
Tank Cat
- Location
- The Commonwealth
Dont let Levi-tan know.
Or do, Sanity is for the weak.
Dingdimension Sniptunia
- Thread starter dingbat779
- Start date
Or do, Sanity is for the weak.
Mirriam Grave
The Bemused. The Amused. The Unstable.
- Location
- The edge of a point.
I find it amusing that Vanquished Dragon and Issei have both been skewered by spears.
And that the Mods didn't notice the whole Supernatural world... Most don't even try that hard to hide it. >_>
Also, Ding, this idea looks GREAT. I am REALLY curious as to how you would work with this. Go full DxD and have Issei's parents accept that his love for the female form had him spontaneously change?(Or get a sex change since he felt that was the only way to touch 'real oppai'?)
Keep with the darker tone brought from Kampfer?(Which meshes well with the darkness prevalent in a more realistic take to the DxD verse.) Where and how would Issei move and live while waiting things out? Would he draw attention from the Devils? As an enemy?(Rias tends to jump the gun in her suspicions of anyone she catches in her territory without advanced notice... When she actually manages to find said incompetents, as everyone else easily manages to avoid her notice... Even when not actually trying. I am mostly looking at you Azazel, mr. I bought my house in Kuoh before the Angels took the territory from the Youkai and then lost it to the Devils and no one realized this until I pointed it out on the Eve of the Peace Treaty.)(Also be interesting if Issei still SMELLED like Issei to Koneko. Would Rias believe 'she' killed him? Stole his Gear? Would Koneko confront him before going to Rias leading to him getting a friend and ally? Maybe more?[I really want more Shirone/Koneko x Issei pairings without it being part of a Harem... T^T Recs anyone? Heck, I will take any monogamous pairing with her and anyone else at this point. Same with Sona. Except for Saji...])
How would VDragon(Which I am amused can also mean Vanishing Dragon.) knowledge and concurrent lack of knowledge affect Issei and his actions.
Heck. Their is so many questions and potential and we haven't even touched the minefield that is Issei being genderswapped. This isn't a born female Issei, but a forcebly transformed one. What lessons are there to be learned while being ogled or worse? And I am also curious how any relationship would work if his male form is permanently locked away(although honestly, Asia could probably deal with the issue quickly based on the what was said.) since Natsuru proved that the change never affected his sexuality unlike most other such changes would.
And that is only if he succeeds in getting over his shiny new psychological scars, gratitude of one Raynare, in regards to relationships in general, plus those brought about courtesy of his being female now. (Would they love male me? Or only female me? Can I accept being with someone as a girl?)
Ooooh. So many questions and curiousity at 1am! Damn insomnia urging me to check the forums. T^T
Edit: I can't help but picture Issei as Asuna from Negima with a colorswap, no bells, and a gem on her sword...
And that the Mods didn't notice the whole Supernatural world... Most don't even try that hard to hide it. >_>
Also, Ding, this idea looks GREAT. I am REALLY curious as to how you would work with this. Go full DxD and have Issei's parents accept that his love for the female form had him spontaneously change?(Or get a sex change since he felt that was the only way to touch 'real oppai'?)
Keep with the darker tone brought from Kampfer?(Which meshes well with the darkness prevalent in a more realistic take to the DxD verse.) Where and how would Issei move and live while waiting things out? Would he draw attention from the Devils? As an enemy?(Rias tends to jump the gun in her suspicions of anyone she catches in her territory without advanced notice... When she actually manages to find said incompetents, as everyone else easily manages to avoid her notice... Even when not actually trying. I am mostly looking at you Azazel, mr. I bought my house in Kuoh before the Angels took the territory from the Youkai and then lost it to the Devils and no one realized this until I pointed it out on the Eve of the Peace Treaty.)(Also be interesting if Issei still SMELLED like Issei to Koneko. Would Rias believe 'she' killed him? Stole his Gear? Would Koneko confront him before going to Rias leading to him getting a friend and ally? Maybe more?[I really want more Shirone/Koneko x Issei pairings without it being part of a Harem... T^T Recs anyone? Heck, I will take any monogamous pairing with her and anyone else at this point. Same with Sona. Except for Saji...])
How would VDragon(Which I am amused can also mean Vanishing Dragon.) knowledge and concurrent lack of knowledge affect Issei and his actions.
Heck. Their is so many questions and potential and we haven't even touched the minefield that is Issei being genderswapped. This isn't a born female Issei, but a forcebly transformed one. What lessons are there to be learned while being ogled or worse? And I am also curious how any relationship would work if his male form is permanently locked away(although honestly, Asia could probably deal with the issue quickly based on the what was said.) since Natsuru proved that the change never affected his sexuality unlike most other such changes would.
And that is only if he succeeds in getting over his shiny new psychological scars, gratitude of one Raynare, in regards to relationships in general, plus those brought about courtesy of his being female now. (Would they love male me? Or only female me? Can I accept being with someone as a girl?)
Ooooh. So many questions and curiousity at 1am! Damn insomnia urging me to check the forums. T^T
Edit: I can't help but picture Issei as Asuna from Negima with a colorswap, no bells, and a gem on her sword...
Last edited:
- Location
- PA
The size of the sword is about right @Mirriam Grave. The thing is Issei ended up with size D's. (Yeah really going with that DxD Oppai joke)
I was thinking of something more humorous, but the fic strayed into darker waters. I find it more fascinating really. Who knows what will happen?
I was thinking of something more humorous, but the fic strayed into darker waters. I find it more fascinating really. Who knows what will happen?
Jack of Olives
Rolled a '3' on their Con score
- Location
- The land of fruits and nuts (California)
Kampfer & DxD? Oh, Ding; you spoil me.
Also, I may or may not have let out a 'squee' when I realized you were going to make Issei a kampfer.
Also, I may or may not have let out a 'squee' when I realized you were going to make Issei a kampfer.
Kampfer Drachen 2
- Location
- PA
Kampfer Drachen 2
The night was dark. Okay, that was a bad description. Obviously night was dark. Except it wasn't a physical darkness, but one of the spirit. Issei felt miserable and it was affecting his perceptions. He didn't think it was too unreasonable to be upset. His girlfriend turned into a winged monster and stuck a spear through him. Then a mystical plushie turned him into a magical girl warrior. The topper was that he couldn't even turn back as his male form was effectively dead or dying. He could be excused for feeling miserable thank you very much!
He glanced down at the plushie in his arms. Vanquished Dragon was blameless. The plush was only trying to save his life. How could Issei blame him for all this? That honor belonged to Raynare. Yuma wasn't real. The damn monster toyed with his feelings and lured him off to die. Maybe he wasn't always the most virtuous, but dammit he didn't deserve death! Now he was stuck with D Cup breasts. While the size and shape was pleasing, he would rather them on a real girl. The fact he was missing other parts was locked firmly in the dark. He would deal with that can of worms later.
His stomach rumbled unhappily. Lunch was hours ago and here he was skulking around Kuoh at night. Issei's footsteps dragged as he made his tired way towards home. There was no way to convince his parents that he was Issei. That wasn't the only reason he couldn't really go home. What if Raynare wanted revenge? Anyone he was close to would be at risk. The decision to leave her alive taunted him. He didn't want to be a killer. His eyes dimmed as his imagination vividly told him what would happen. Not for the first time did he curse all of the violent anime he watched. The Mahou Shoujo deconstructions were particularly brutal about depicting what happened to muggles.
"Issei…" Vanquished Dragon murmured. He sounded strangely like the VA for Natsu Dragneel just more subdued.
"Don't worry buddy. I'm just gonna pick up a few things and we'll be out," Issei assured him quietly.
"You're hurting so much…" He buried his face in Issei's fluffy chest sadly. Dammit. Issei couldn't even sulk in private?
"Once I'm better I can go home. It's not forever," Issei insisted firmly. He wouldn't let it be forever. There had to be a way to fix this. Heck he could even force the change and collapse outside of a hospital. Only problem with that was he didn't know how. Something to work on.
"Okay, Issei," the dragon perked up a little. Issei gave the dejected plushie a little hug. The poor guy was still exhausted after changing him. Then again he was tired too. The bracelet on his right wrist was still a dull green. The one on his left wrist was more ornate in crimson. He eyed the green gem in the center for a time. It was pulsing very faintly with light but also felt spent.
The giant sword stuck to his back as if by magnets. That was something else he had to contend with. The sword just wouldn't go away. Normally a Kampfer's weapons disappeared when they reverted. More experienced Kampfer could will their weapons away. He could pretend to be a cosplayer but even that would wear thin. Then there were truant officers. The less recognizable he was the better. Bright green hair, large breasts, and a giant sword were fairly easy to spot.
Standing before his home felt strange. Just this morning he walked through the front door like normal. Now he was returning and the house was dark. The door looked as welcoming as before, but he couldn't accept the invitation. There was no going back. Not now at least. Instead he was going to have to sneak in through the window. Issei always kept his window cracked just a little. Not because he crept inside regularly but because his room was stuffy. The only problem was in getting up to the roof…
"Think I could jump to the second floor?" Issei asked VD.
"Of course," VD assured him.
Issei nodded briefly to himself. He bunched his legs before leaping straight for the second floor. Much to his shock it was like being launched out of a cannon. How strong was he in this form!? The boy turned girl let instincts take over and somersaulted onto the roof. While it was higher than he intended, it would suffice. Learning about his powers moved up the list. He crept along the roof as quietly as possible before hopping down to the second floor ledge. The window opened smoothly allowing him entrance.
He almost leaped right back out again as he saw his mother.
His heart rate slowly returned to normal as it was clear she wasn't awake. To Issei's lasting shame it was obvious she was waiting for him. Tears fell silently even in her sleep. He felt like a giant's fist slammed him in the gut. Until this moment he thought it would be easy to go through with this. Well, not easy, but easier. Now he was confronted by the sight before him. He choked back a sob to avoid waking his mother. Vanquished Dragon hugged him tighter before hopping onto the desk.
Issei had to be quick and quiet to avoid waking his parents. His dad was probably downstairs. Just like the time Issei came home late. He lost track of the time and returned from his friend's house after midnight. His dad yelled himself hoarse. They were really protective of him. At one time he would have said overprotective, but at this very moment? He wanted that protection back.
The boy grabbed a few shirts out of his closet. Baggy ones that would hopefully fit over his new chest. Sweatpants were next as they had a drawstring. No way was he fitting these hips in his normal jeans. The boots were fine. He didn't care about coordinating fashion. In the back of his closet was an old military surplus jacket. The cap that went with it should hopefully lower his profile. He found a body bag sized duffle folded up on the floor. Didn't he buy that to carry his porn stash that one time? It was a beast of a thing and just big enough for the sword.
He was quick to change his clothes to something more discreet. Removing the blouse caused his staring to intensify. The bra and panties that came with the transformation were appreciated. At least that was one less indignity. The charcoal gray shirt was baggy enough, but managed to be tight in the chest. He couldn't even escape a shapely silhouette in the sweatpants. The next thing to go were the twintails. By pure reflex he used the ribbons to tie the mass of hair back in a low ponytail and put on the cap. With the oversized jacket he didn't even recognize the girl he was before. Just another delinquent girl. The extra clothes were put in a messenger bag.
His stomach growled again. Issei sighed. He couldn't afford to leave hungry. Silent as a ghost, Issei crept downstairs. The sense of nostalgia was overwhelming. How many times did he sneak around the house for a snack? Maybe to catch his parents hiding his presents? Tears blurred his vision. He had to stop and scrub them free before continuing. His dad was right where he expected him to be: seated in a kitchen chair facing the front door.
"Never change, Dad…" Issei whispered softly. He had to be really careful now. His dad was not a sound sleeper. Get in, get food, and get out. Issei hurried into the kitchen and started checking the cupboards. He grabbed a box of cereal bars and an abandoned bag of ancient trail mix. No one else was eating it. When did they buy that anyway? It was supposed to be for a camping trip that never happened. Issei wanted to be at the store early for the release of a new Kaben Pinky DVD.
So many things he didn't do…
Remembering the camping trip reminded Issei about water. He knew where to get water easily enough in the city. The issue was carrying it around. Issei found a canteen in the hall closet (Why was it there?) and the collapsible tent (Dad was supposed to put this in the garage). It was only thanks to long experience with his dad that he checked here first. He pocketed his dad's utility knife. It belonged to his great grandfather during the war and was passed down, father to son, for generations. Issei felt tears stinging his eyes.
"It's only a loan...I'll bring it back...I promise…" He whispered hoarsely. The knife felt heavy in his pocket, but also oddly comforting.
He checked the fridge to see if there was anything already made. Could fate be kind enough to let him eat his mother's cooking again? Right there on the second shelf was a plate of all his favorites. What was the occasion? The note on top of the plastic wrap said "Eat in good health." His mom was always worried about things like that. Issei carefully took it from the fridge and closed the door. Some careful searching found silverware already in the drainboard. He wanted to savor the flavor, but time was not on his side. Once the meal was a fond memory, he made to rinse of the dish before stopping himself. Reflexes would get him caught. Issei set the dishes on the counter before hurrying back upstairs with his acquisitions.
The tent fit in the same duffel as the sword with room to spare. Luckily it wasn't as long as the blade. Issei bit his lip at the sight of his mother sitting near the bed. That couldn't be comfortable the way she was slumped over. He quietly turned down the blankets and gently scooped her up into his arms. Issei laid her down on the bed and brought the blanket up to her chin.
"Issei...don't go…" She moaned in her sleep.
"I'll be back...I promise…" Issei kissed her forehead. Damn the tears. He wiped his eyes again.
Before leaving he scrawled a quick letter for his parents at the desk. It wasn't much. Not nearly enough, but the false dawn had come. It would still be a few hours yet before morning, but he couldn't take the chance. The longer he stayed the less willpower he had to leave. Issei collected Vanquished Dragon at the window. The plushie brushed the tears from his face kindly. He wanted to just bury his face in the plushie's body, but resisted. This wasn't the time.
Issei couldn't afford to look back now. He would never leave otherwise. Instead, he faced towards the uncertain future. His heart was in the past.
The night was dark. Okay, that was a bad description. Obviously night was dark. Except it wasn't a physical darkness, but one of the spirit. Issei felt miserable and it was affecting his perceptions. He didn't think it was too unreasonable to be upset. His girlfriend turned into a winged monster and stuck a spear through him. Then a mystical plushie turned him into a magical girl warrior. The topper was that he couldn't even turn back as his male form was effectively dead or dying. He could be excused for feeling miserable thank you very much!
He glanced down at the plushie in his arms. Vanquished Dragon was blameless. The plush was only trying to save his life. How could Issei blame him for all this? That honor belonged to Raynare. Yuma wasn't real. The damn monster toyed with his feelings and lured him off to die. Maybe he wasn't always the most virtuous, but dammit he didn't deserve death! Now he was stuck with D Cup breasts. While the size and shape was pleasing, he would rather them on a real girl. The fact he was missing other parts was locked firmly in the dark. He would deal with that can of worms later.
His stomach rumbled unhappily. Lunch was hours ago and here he was skulking around Kuoh at night. Issei's footsteps dragged as he made his tired way towards home. There was no way to convince his parents that he was Issei. That wasn't the only reason he couldn't really go home. What if Raynare wanted revenge? Anyone he was close to would be at risk. The decision to leave her alive taunted him. He didn't want to be a killer. His eyes dimmed as his imagination vividly told him what would happen. Not for the first time did he curse all of the violent anime he watched. The Mahou Shoujo deconstructions were particularly brutal about depicting what happened to muggles.
"Issei…" Vanquished Dragon murmured. He sounded strangely like the VA for Natsu Dragneel just more subdued.
"Don't worry buddy. I'm just gonna pick up a few things and we'll be out," Issei assured him quietly.
"You're hurting so much…" He buried his face in Issei's fluffy chest sadly. Dammit. Issei couldn't even sulk in private?
"Once I'm better I can go home. It's not forever," Issei insisted firmly. He wouldn't let it be forever. There had to be a way to fix this. Heck he could even force the change and collapse outside of a hospital. Only problem with that was he didn't know how. Something to work on.
"Okay, Issei," the dragon perked up a little. Issei gave the dejected plushie a little hug. The poor guy was still exhausted after changing him. Then again he was tired too. The bracelet on his right wrist was still a dull green. The one on his left wrist was more ornate in crimson. He eyed the green gem in the center for a time. It was pulsing very faintly with light but also felt spent.
The giant sword stuck to his back as if by magnets. That was something else he had to contend with. The sword just wouldn't go away. Normally a Kampfer's weapons disappeared when they reverted. More experienced Kampfer could will their weapons away. He could pretend to be a cosplayer but even that would wear thin. Then there were truant officers. The less recognizable he was the better. Bright green hair, large breasts, and a giant sword were fairly easy to spot.
Standing before his home felt strange. Just this morning he walked through the front door like normal. Now he was returning and the house was dark. The door looked as welcoming as before, but he couldn't accept the invitation. There was no going back. Not now at least. Instead he was going to have to sneak in through the window. Issei always kept his window cracked just a little. Not because he crept inside regularly but because his room was stuffy. The only problem was in getting up to the roof…
"Think I could jump to the second floor?" Issei asked VD.
"Of course," VD assured him.
Issei nodded briefly to himself. He bunched his legs before leaping straight for the second floor. Much to his shock it was like being launched out of a cannon. How strong was he in this form!? The boy turned girl let instincts take over and somersaulted onto the roof. While it was higher than he intended, it would suffice. Learning about his powers moved up the list. He crept along the roof as quietly as possible before hopping down to the second floor ledge. The window opened smoothly allowing him entrance.
He almost leaped right back out again as he saw his mother.
His heart rate slowly returned to normal as it was clear she wasn't awake. To Issei's lasting shame it was obvious she was waiting for him. Tears fell silently even in her sleep. He felt like a giant's fist slammed him in the gut. Until this moment he thought it would be easy to go through with this. Well, not easy, but easier. Now he was confronted by the sight before him. He choked back a sob to avoid waking his mother. Vanquished Dragon hugged him tighter before hopping onto the desk.
Issei had to be quick and quiet to avoid waking his parents. His dad was probably downstairs. Just like the time Issei came home late. He lost track of the time and returned from his friend's house after midnight. His dad yelled himself hoarse. They were really protective of him. At one time he would have said overprotective, but at this very moment? He wanted that protection back.
The boy grabbed a few shirts out of his closet. Baggy ones that would hopefully fit over his new chest. Sweatpants were next as they had a drawstring. No way was he fitting these hips in his normal jeans. The boots were fine. He didn't care about coordinating fashion. In the back of his closet was an old military surplus jacket. The cap that went with it should hopefully lower his profile. He found a body bag sized duffle folded up on the floor. Didn't he buy that to carry his porn stash that one time? It was a beast of a thing and just big enough for the sword.
He was quick to change his clothes to something more discreet. Removing the blouse caused his staring to intensify. The bra and panties that came with the transformation were appreciated. At least that was one less indignity. The charcoal gray shirt was baggy enough, but managed to be tight in the chest. He couldn't even escape a shapely silhouette in the sweatpants. The next thing to go were the twintails. By pure reflex he used the ribbons to tie the mass of hair back in a low ponytail and put on the cap. With the oversized jacket he didn't even recognize the girl he was before. Just another delinquent girl. The extra clothes were put in a messenger bag.
His stomach growled again. Issei sighed. He couldn't afford to leave hungry. Silent as a ghost, Issei crept downstairs. The sense of nostalgia was overwhelming. How many times did he sneak around the house for a snack? Maybe to catch his parents hiding his presents? Tears blurred his vision. He had to stop and scrub them free before continuing. His dad was right where he expected him to be: seated in a kitchen chair facing the front door.
"Never change, Dad…" Issei whispered softly. He had to be really careful now. His dad was not a sound sleeper. Get in, get food, and get out. Issei hurried into the kitchen and started checking the cupboards. He grabbed a box of cereal bars and an abandoned bag of ancient trail mix. No one else was eating it. When did they buy that anyway? It was supposed to be for a camping trip that never happened. Issei wanted to be at the store early for the release of a new Kaben Pinky DVD.
So many things he didn't do…
Remembering the camping trip reminded Issei about water. He knew where to get water easily enough in the city. The issue was carrying it around. Issei found a canteen in the hall closet (Why was it there?) and the collapsible tent (Dad was supposed to put this in the garage). It was only thanks to long experience with his dad that he checked here first. He pocketed his dad's utility knife. It belonged to his great grandfather during the war and was passed down, father to son, for generations. Issei felt tears stinging his eyes.
"It's only a loan...I'll bring it back...I promise…" He whispered hoarsely. The knife felt heavy in his pocket, but also oddly comforting.
He checked the fridge to see if there was anything already made. Could fate be kind enough to let him eat his mother's cooking again? Right there on the second shelf was a plate of all his favorites. What was the occasion? The note on top of the plastic wrap said "Eat in good health." His mom was always worried about things like that. Issei carefully took it from the fridge and closed the door. Some careful searching found silverware already in the drainboard. He wanted to savor the flavor, but time was not on his side. Once the meal was a fond memory, he made to rinse of the dish before stopping himself. Reflexes would get him caught. Issei set the dishes on the counter before hurrying back upstairs with his acquisitions.
The tent fit in the same duffel as the sword with room to spare. Luckily it wasn't as long as the blade. Issei bit his lip at the sight of his mother sitting near the bed. That couldn't be comfortable the way she was slumped over. He quietly turned down the blankets and gently scooped her up into his arms. Issei laid her down on the bed and brought the blanket up to her chin.
"Issei...don't go…" She moaned in her sleep.
"I'll be back...I promise…" Issei kissed her forehead. Damn the tears. He wiped his eyes again.
Before leaving he scrawled a quick letter for his parents at the desk. It wasn't much. Not nearly enough, but the false dawn had come. It would still be a few hours yet before morning, but he couldn't take the chance. The longer he stayed the less willpower he had to leave. Issei collected Vanquished Dragon at the window. The plushie brushed the tears from his face kindly. He wanted to just bury his face in the plushie's body, but resisted. This wasn't the time.
Issei couldn't afford to look back now. He would never leave otherwise. Instead, he faced towards the uncertain future. His heart was in the past.
Jack of Olives
Rolled a '3' on their Con score
- Location
- The land of fruits and nuts (California)
Ergh! Right in the feels.
Looking forward to seeing where you're going with this one.
Also: 'VD' is a rather unfortunate abbreviation.
Looking forward to seeing where you're going with this one.
Also: 'VD' is a rather unfortunate abbreviation.
Ah, the running joke of Kampfer, dating back to the original light novels. Wonder how they're going to handle it in the dub...
Incidentally, the name I think you're looking for is Tetsuya Kakihara.
Mega1987
A TTK somewhere at Kancolle's Iwagawa Airfield
- Location
- somewhere at Kancolle's Iwagawa Airfield
*repairing the broken, for the upteenth time, side where alot of the FEELs torpedo hit me.*
damn....
the Kaiju already sunk me multiple times with his snippets of FEELs... now I read this one....
can i ask for more? *got punch by Noire And Zuikaku in the face.*
damn....
the Kaiju already sunk me multiple times with his snippets of FEELs... now I read this one....
can i ask for more? *got punch by Noire And Zuikaku in the face.*
Mirriam Grave
The Bemused. The Amused. The Unstable.
- Location
- The edge of a point.
Wonder if Ddraig ever used that against Albion, the Vanishing Dragon.
Ah Ding. I go to sleep on a new chapter, and wake up to a new chapter. Truly, you are a generous and kind deity.
Wonder if I can fit you in the pantheon with Kirby.
Aeir/Number III
Unsustainable Gloom Engine
- Location
- America
Nah, Issei has both. One on each arm.
...Someone might assume that Issei's part of 'Red' team as a result.
Kampfer Drachen 3
- Location
- PA
Kampfer Drachen 3
Issei wasn't a master woodsman, or even a boy scout, but he did know how to set up camp. There was a small area just outside of the city used for such a purpose. By the time he reached the campsite it was almost morning. He mustered up enough energy to pitch the tent. His eyes were already closing as he collapsed inside of the two person affair. The messenger bag full of clothes made a wonderful pillow. He was asleep in moments.
Vanquished Dragon crawled through the tent flap and took up sentry duty. His charge was beyond exhausted emotionally and physically. It wouldn't do for someone to catch them off guard. The plushie drew himself up proudly. He didn't need to sleep. Sleep was for organics. He would be the perfect guardian dragon.
"What a mess…" He lamented. It was almost enough to make him suggest going to Tokyo. While there were undoubtedly hostilities in the city, the potential for allies who understood his situation was high. There was just one problem: Issei was a Green Kampfer. There were no Green Kampfer before now. He had a hazy memory of irregular colors being utilized as enforcers by the Moderators. Did he accidentally make an enforcer? Not possible. The function was locked and could only be released by the Overseer of the Proxy War. As far as he knew the Arbitrator was in Tokyo.
That was another thing. He was remembering classified details. Apparently all Messengers were given certain knowledge to perform their duties. The details were locked until a situation occurred requiring the information. Things like Moderators, Overseers, and variant Kampfer should have been impossible to recall. Vanquished Dragon knew more now than he ever did. The fact he even knew the identity of the Overseer should have been impossible. Only Burnt Alive Lion should have known the things he did!
The fact it was a Proxy War for two races lightyears away from Earth was only the beginning…
"Earth isn't important enough in the grand scheme of things. The Moderators would have had a conniption if they knew about human potential," Vanquished Dragon muttered to himself. The bastards could not be allowed to find out about this. Who knows what they would do? They were throwing a hissy fit over the Red and Blue Teams cooperating. Under normal circumstances their truce would be seen as a form of resolution. Unfortunately, the Moderators were too shortsighted and insisted on Winners/Losers.
How did he know about the truce? He rubbed his forehead, but it didn't help. Plushies didn't actually get migraines, but that didn't change the whopper developing between his eyes. Vanquished Dragon was distracted from his musings by whimpering from the tent. He sighed sadly. Maybe guard duty could wait. There was someone who needed guarding, but not from physical threats. The plushie climbed back into the tent and snuggled up to the sleeping Kampfer. Issei embraced him in her sleep while slowly breathing more easily. Her troubled rest calmed with his presence.
Several hours later, Issei awakened in an unfamiliar location. Bleary eyes stared at the blue weatherproof fabric without comprehension. The plushie in his arms was vaguely familiar. He started to scratch at his side only to freeze. His fingers pressed against heavenly globes of mammary flesh. What turned it instantly from Heaven to Hell was the sudden remembrance. These weren't just random breasts. These were HIS breasts. He was a She. His brain blue screened completely.
"Issei? This really isn't a good time to have a panic attack," Vanquished Dragon snapped him out of his stupor.
"I'm safer than I was before. This seems to be the perfect time for a panic attack," he said much too sweetly. The plushie shivered with dread. How did a collection of fabric and stuffing shiver anyway?
"M-maybe...I just thought we could talk about stuff…" Vanquished Dragon chuckled nervously. Issei calmed down. He didn't want to snap at his partner.
"What kind of stuff?" Issei asked.
"Kampfer stuff mainly. Like training your powers and all that," the dragon finally calmed down.
Issei's stomach growled, "Yeah sure...You can tell me while I wash up and eat." Decision made, he left the tent and stretched. Vanquished Dragon toddled out a minute later.
He checked his phone only to see twenty missed calls. All from his parents. Issei flinched, but didn't break down. He couldn't afford to keep losing his nerve. The time was just after twelve which was probably why his stomach felt empty. His eyes felt gritty and the smell of dull sweat filled his nostrils. Wash first, eat second.
The river outside of Kuoh wasn't a private place. Couples and families came here often to walk along the embankment. However it was a work day. Paradoxically it meant that the area would be mostly empty. Issei ducked back inside the tent to put on a tank top and bicycle shorts. The shorts were from his Kampfer outfit and fit perfectly. Just because the riverbank was empty didn't mean he was going to try actually bathing.
"I'll keep a look out if you want," Vanquished Dragon offered.
"Yeah that's a good idea," Issei agreed. His buddy wanted to be useful. He knew that feeling quite well.
Did he forget just how cold the river could be? Yes, yes he did. The first splash on his face triggered a full body shudder. Water dripped from his face and down his cleavage. Another shudder ran through him. If not for the need to be clean he might have given up. Issei grimaced as unfamiliar sensations came from unfamiliar body parts. The third member of the Perverted Trio was so unnerved that his mind blanked the next fifteen minutes. Some things he couldn't wash at the river, but were probably important.
"Maybe I could use a gym shower or something?" Issei muttered. The thought of being exposed in the shower made him even more uncomfortable. Showering around other people where they could see him, comment, fantasize…
Issei's brain froze as sheer horror clawed at him.
"What have I done?" He whispered. Peeping used to be a harmless pastime before. Issei would get together with his friends and spy on the girls' kendo team. There was a hole in the wall that an enterprising upper year made and sold the information on. Boy would they get mad when the trio of perverts was caught. He couldn't count the number of times they would beat him with a shinai. Issei, Motohama, and Matsuda would grumble and complain about the unfairness of it all.
One day as a girl and he already knew why they were mad. This fear, this uncertainty, it was almost painful. Why else was he being so careful not to get caught undressed at the riverbank? Girls used the locker room together with an expectation of privacy from prying eyes. When he got back to school he was telling his friends to stop peeping. Stick to anime, magazines, and games. That still didn't absolve him of the shame he felt.
"Want to talk about it?" Vanquished Dragon asked.
"I took a look at my life and didn't like what I saw. I've been ignoring my parents in favor of porn. I've been peeping on girls at school without their permission. Maybe this is karma. I'm a shitty son and a terrible pervert…" Issei clenched his fists tight.
"Stop that," the plushie said sharply. Issei turned a bemused look on him. "Maybe you haven't been the best, but you're a teenager. Making mistakes is a part of growing up. The fact you're learning, and wanting to change, speaks volumes for your character. Don't overcompensate!"
"Overcompensate…?" Issei blinked.
"Right. Overcompensate. What you're doing right now is going too far the other way. Maybe you didn't feel bad before, but now you're feeling too guilty!" Vanquished Dragon pointed at him.
"So you're saying I should feel guilty, but not too guilty," Issei clarified.
"Right. Do what you must to make amends, but don't get too carried away," his friend said.
"Well that's going to have to wait until I'm male again. I've already decided to get my friends to stop peeping. I also want to apologize for what happened," Issei lowered his head.
"And then?" VD eyed him curiously.
"That's it. I won't take it too far. I'll apologize and just never do it again," Issei clenched his fists with determination.
"Great! Now then let's get something to eat," Vanquished Dragon said.
Lunch was a cereal bar and a handful of trail mix. He had to conserve his rations. The water was fresh from the river. While he ate his partner explained just what a Kampfer really was. The information that went over his head yesterday was vitally important today. Issei was a Schwert Type. The size of his sword denoted how much potential he had. It was peculiarly reassuring to realize had worth. The whole Boost thing wasn't part of the Kampfer package.
"From what I can tell it's a power you possessed beforehand," his partner summed up.
"Coincidentally awakened at the moment of my death?" Issei blinked.
"Probably. Too bad it didn't wake up sooner," VD folded his little arms.
"Yeah I know...Ugh. I don't even know how to use it. The Kampfer power didn't come with instructions either," Issei grunted.
"Schwert Types are instinctively experts with the Sword. Through training you can improve even faster than the greatest geniuses. You just have to work hard," the plushie told him confidently.
"So my power amounts to swinging around a sword really well. I can't really mock it since it worked on Raynare. Now if I could figure out the Boosting…" Issei sighed. The gem in the center of the bracer flashed. He stared at the bracer in surprise. "Wait. I just have to will it?"
"Is it saying something?" Vanquished Dragon sat forward intently.
"Sort of...It's less 'saying' and more stuffing the information in my brain. Each Boost doubles my power," Issei said.
"Additively?" VD asked.
"Exponentially," Issei responded.
"Dayum…" The plushie whistled appreciatively. "No wonder you were exhausted yesterday. Your body had to contain all of that power. You really should work on your capacity too."
"Guess this is as good a place to train. If I go further away from the river there's a quarry I can use," Issei pointed off in the distance.
"Too bad I can't help with the sword training. I'm a little too small," VD chuckled wryly.
"Do you think I should do patrols through Kuoh? I don't know what Raynare will do. For all I know she might go after my parents anyway…" Issei was suddenly tense with worry.
"Good idea, Issei. You don't know what can happen," the dragon agreed.
"I should pick up some other foods too. I have some money," Issei checked his wallet. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.
Plans were made. He would sleep through the morning, train in the afternoon, and patrol Kuoh at night. Today he was going to just go into Kuoh and do some shopping. The only problem was just how little he had actually had to spend. It wasn't like he could ask his parents for money. Issei sighed while pushing back a surge of depression.
"Before we go there's one thing I have to do," Issei flipped out the utility knife and pulled the duffel bag over. Expertly, with knowledge gleaned from the Kampfer, he fashioned a slit in the end to make drawing the sword easier. Trying to get at it during a fight would have been hard otherwise. He settled the bag on his shoulder and tested the hidden slit. It wasn't pretty, but it was functional. Issei slid a sock over the pommel and hilt.
"Actually why don't I stay here? Someone should watch the camp. Besides...I'm a little too conspicuous…" VD gestured at himself.
"If you're sure…" Issei hesitated.
"Don't worry about it! I'll have a piping hot...cereal bar...waiting for you?" He trailed off with a laugh.
Issei waved goodbye to his friend before hurrying along the riverbank. The bus was still running. His bus pass should be good for the rest of the month. Maybe he could have just jumped across the river? Something to try later. He was once more in disguise with the hat pulled down over his forehead. When the bus arrived he stood near the back. There were a surprising number of people on board. The press of the crowd made him a little nervous.
His earlier revelation was playing havoc with him. The other passengers on the bus were like a who's who of chikan movies. There was the overworked salaryman suspiciously out of work in the middle of the afternoon. Standing nearby was a delinquent with shifty eyes. Those eyes raked over his body a few times already. The delinquent had a couple friends who weren't quite as brazen. Issei moved further towards the back of the bus and sat down. The duffel bag was used as a barrier to prevent approach.
Scratch chikan videos off of his porn list.
During the ride the salaryman slowly fell off the radar. The man fell asleep in his seat. Unfortunately the delinquents were moving up the list. They kept looking in his direction and whispering to themselves. The subject of conversation was obviously him.
Issei cursed his overactive imagination. His nerves were strung so tightly that he almost couldn't walk straight. He made to get off the bus at his stop and stumbled on an uneven patch of floor. The delinquent reached out quickly as Issei closed his eyes in resignation. Nothing happened. He didn't fall to the floor and no one copped a feel either. Instead the delinquent steadied him.
"Hey you okay, miss?" The delinquent asked. His buddies looked oddly concerned.
"Uh, yes…?" Issei was plainly confused. Someone flipped the script when he wasn't looking.
"You looked kind of out of it. Was there somewhere you were going?" He asked.
"Just to the store. Uh, thanks for catching me?" Issei tried not to make it a question.
"Take care of yourself, okay?" The guy smiled.
Issei waved to them as he got off the bus. Maybe it wasn't what Vanquished Dragon meant about overcompensating, but he was being too paranoid. The shopping district was packed at this late hour of the day. He could just disappear among the crowds. In theory. The reality was that he was obviously not a regular. The vendors and shoppers seemed to know one another. With his Kampfer form's figure it was hard to blend in. Then there was the fact he didn't know much about shopping for groceries. The prices of some of the produce shocked him.
"Who would buy apples for that much?" Issei muttered to himself.
"Hey I'll have you know these are fine apples. One bite and you'll never go anywhere else," the vendor bragged.
"Eh heh heh…" Issei flushed at being caught bad mouthing the product. Without another word, he sidled away. The vendor's cries followed him as he fled.
Maybe this was a bad idea. He didn't have enough money to buy even cheap produce. The vendors didn't like window shoppers either. Other patrons were starting to give him the stink eye. Issei resisted the urge to feel sorry for himself, but it was hard. His shoulders hunched dejectedly as he slowly walked away. He still had a patrol to do. The patrol was of his Motohama, and Matsuda's streets. Issei slapped his cheeks to try and restore some vigor. He managed to put the disaster of the shopping district behind him. Barely.
Hours later and still no leads. No one was prowling around his friends' homes and definitely not his own. There was something when he saw his dad taking out the garbage. His father looked like hell. He could only imagine how his mother was holding up. It was hard, but he managed to resist the urge to just watch his parents all night. Only most of the time. He watched them have dinner and try to make small talk. It was stilted and painful. They left the table quickly with a strange sense of relief. As if trying to go through the motions was too hard.
His parents tried to conceive for years before having him. They doted on him even when he was a raging hornball. He was such a disappointment. At least, that was what he thought, but here they were falling apart without him. Issei lowered his head sadly. The decision to stay away was looking worse.
The night passed slowly and Issei was growing sluggish with fatigue. It was time to get back to camp and sleep. Since it was so late he decided to try something. He looked back and forth a couple times to make sure the coast was clear. A faint smile crossed his face. No one in sight. He lowered himself to a sprinter's crouch a moment. When he shoved off it was like someone strapped rockets to his feet. The streets blurred together as he picked up speed. One of his powers might not be actual super speed, but his strength gave him plenty of push.
The part he was waiting for arrived. He approached the river at a rapid clip. Without stopping to think, he shoved off from the riverbank. Issei screamed with joy as he sailed completely over the river and landed on the other side. The force of his landing kicked up dust and debris as he skidded to a halt.
"That was a jump!" Vanquished Dragon exclaimed.
"It felt like I was flying…" Issei smiled dreamily.
"You soared," he clenched his little paws.
At least his night was productive in one way. While it didn't seem like such a momentous achievement, Issei felt proud of himself. The key to success was to take even the littlest accomplishment and build from there. The rumble of his stomach interrupted the celebration. He was reminded of the state of his supplies. Four cereal bars and a bag of trail mix wouldn't be enough.
Issei sighed. At least it couldn't get worse.
Then the rain came down.
Maybe he should stop taunting Murphy.
Issei wasn't a master woodsman, or even a boy scout, but he did know how to set up camp. There was a small area just outside of the city used for such a purpose. By the time he reached the campsite it was almost morning. He mustered up enough energy to pitch the tent. His eyes were already closing as he collapsed inside of the two person affair. The messenger bag full of clothes made a wonderful pillow. He was asleep in moments.
Vanquished Dragon crawled through the tent flap and took up sentry duty. His charge was beyond exhausted emotionally and physically. It wouldn't do for someone to catch them off guard. The plushie drew himself up proudly. He didn't need to sleep. Sleep was for organics. He would be the perfect guardian dragon.
"What a mess…" He lamented. It was almost enough to make him suggest going to Tokyo. While there were undoubtedly hostilities in the city, the potential for allies who understood his situation was high. There was just one problem: Issei was a Green Kampfer. There were no Green Kampfer before now. He had a hazy memory of irregular colors being utilized as enforcers by the Moderators. Did he accidentally make an enforcer? Not possible. The function was locked and could only be released by the Overseer of the Proxy War. As far as he knew the Arbitrator was in Tokyo.
That was another thing. He was remembering classified details. Apparently all Messengers were given certain knowledge to perform their duties. The details were locked until a situation occurred requiring the information. Things like Moderators, Overseers, and variant Kampfer should have been impossible to recall. Vanquished Dragon knew more now than he ever did. The fact he even knew the identity of the Overseer should have been impossible. Only Burnt Alive Lion should have known the things he did!
The fact it was a Proxy War for two races lightyears away from Earth was only the beginning…
"Earth isn't important enough in the grand scheme of things. The Moderators would have had a conniption if they knew about human potential," Vanquished Dragon muttered to himself. The bastards could not be allowed to find out about this. Who knows what they would do? They were throwing a hissy fit over the Red and Blue Teams cooperating. Under normal circumstances their truce would be seen as a form of resolution. Unfortunately, the Moderators were too shortsighted and insisted on Winners/Losers.
How did he know about the truce? He rubbed his forehead, but it didn't help. Plushies didn't actually get migraines, but that didn't change the whopper developing between his eyes. Vanquished Dragon was distracted from his musings by whimpering from the tent. He sighed sadly. Maybe guard duty could wait. There was someone who needed guarding, but not from physical threats. The plushie climbed back into the tent and snuggled up to the sleeping Kampfer. Issei embraced him in her sleep while slowly breathing more easily. Her troubled rest calmed with his presence.
Several hours later, Issei awakened in an unfamiliar location. Bleary eyes stared at the blue weatherproof fabric without comprehension. The plushie in his arms was vaguely familiar. He started to scratch at his side only to freeze. His fingers pressed against heavenly globes of mammary flesh. What turned it instantly from Heaven to Hell was the sudden remembrance. These weren't just random breasts. These were HIS breasts. He was a She. His brain blue screened completely.
"Issei? This really isn't a good time to have a panic attack," Vanquished Dragon snapped him out of his stupor.
"I'm safer than I was before. This seems to be the perfect time for a panic attack," he said much too sweetly. The plushie shivered with dread. How did a collection of fabric and stuffing shiver anyway?
"M-maybe...I just thought we could talk about stuff…" Vanquished Dragon chuckled nervously. Issei calmed down. He didn't want to snap at his partner.
"What kind of stuff?" Issei asked.
"Kampfer stuff mainly. Like training your powers and all that," the dragon finally calmed down.
Issei's stomach growled, "Yeah sure...You can tell me while I wash up and eat." Decision made, he left the tent and stretched. Vanquished Dragon toddled out a minute later.
He checked his phone only to see twenty missed calls. All from his parents. Issei flinched, but didn't break down. He couldn't afford to keep losing his nerve. The time was just after twelve which was probably why his stomach felt empty. His eyes felt gritty and the smell of dull sweat filled his nostrils. Wash first, eat second.
The river outside of Kuoh wasn't a private place. Couples and families came here often to walk along the embankment. However it was a work day. Paradoxically it meant that the area would be mostly empty. Issei ducked back inside the tent to put on a tank top and bicycle shorts. The shorts were from his Kampfer outfit and fit perfectly. Just because the riverbank was empty didn't mean he was going to try actually bathing.
"I'll keep a look out if you want," Vanquished Dragon offered.
"Yeah that's a good idea," Issei agreed. His buddy wanted to be useful. He knew that feeling quite well.
Did he forget just how cold the river could be? Yes, yes he did. The first splash on his face triggered a full body shudder. Water dripped from his face and down his cleavage. Another shudder ran through him. If not for the need to be clean he might have given up. Issei grimaced as unfamiliar sensations came from unfamiliar body parts. The third member of the Perverted Trio was so unnerved that his mind blanked the next fifteen minutes. Some things he couldn't wash at the river, but were probably important.
"Maybe I could use a gym shower or something?" Issei muttered. The thought of being exposed in the shower made him even more uncomfortable. Showering around other people where they could see him, comment, fantasize…
Issei's brain froze as sheer horror clawed at him.
"What have I done?" He whispered. Peeping used to be a harmless pastime before. Issei would get together with his friends and spy on the girls' kendo team. There was a hole in the wall that an enterprising upper year made and sold the information on. Boy would they get mad when the trio of perverts was caught. He couldn't count the number of times they would beat him with a shinai. Issei, Motohama, and Matsuda would grumble and complain about the unfairness of it all.
One day as a girl and he already knew why they were mad. This fear, this uncertainty, it was almost painful. Why else was he being so careful not to get caught undressed at the riverbank? Girls used the locker room together with an expectation of privacy from prying eyes. When he got back to school he was telling his friends to stop peeping. Stick to anime, magazines, and games. That still didn't absolve him of the shame he felt.
"Want to talk about it?" Vanquished Dragon asked.
"I took a look at my life and didn't like what I saw. I've been ignoring my parents in favor of porn. I've been peeping on girls at school without their permission. Maybe this is karma. I'm a shitty son and a terrible pervert…" Issei clenched his fists tight.
"Stop that," the plushie said sharply. Issei turned a bemused look on him. "Maybe you haven't been the best, but you're a teenager. Making mistakes is a part of growing up. The fact you're learning, and wanting to change, speaks volumes for your character. Don't overcompensate!"
"Overcompensate…?" Issei blinked.
"Right. Overcompensate. What you're doing right now is going too far the other way. Maybe you didn't feel bad before, but now you're feeling too guilty!" Vanquished Dragon pointed at him.
"So you're saying I should feel guilty, but not too guilty," Issei clarified.
"Right. Do what you must to make amends, but don't get too carried away," his friend said.
"Well that's going to have to wait until I'm male again. I've already decided to get my friends to stop peeping. I also want to apologize for what happened," Issei lowered his head.
"And then?" VD eyed him curiously.
"That's it. I won't take it too far. I'll apologize and just never do it again," Issei clenched his fists with determination.
"Great! Now then let's get something to eat," Vanquished Dragon said.
Lunch was a cereal bar and a handful of trail mix. He had to conserve his rations. The water was fresh from the river. While he ate his partner explained just what a Kampfer really was. The information that went over his head yesterday was vitally important today. Issei was a Schwert Type. The size of his sword denoted how much potential he had. It was peculiarly reassuring to realize had worth. The whole Boost thing wasn't part of the Kampfer package.
"From what I can tell it's a power you possessed beforehand," his partner summed up.
"Coincidentally awakened at the moment of my death?" Issei blinked.
"Probably. Too bad it didn't wake up sooner," VD folded his little arms.
"Yeah I know...Ugh. I don't even know how to use it. The Kampfer power didn't come with instructions either," Issei grunted.
"Schwert Types are instinctively experts with the Sword. Through training you can improve even faster than the greatest geniuses. You just have to work hard," the plushie told him confidently.
"So my power amounts to swinging around a sword really well. I can't really mock it since it worked on Raynare. Now if I could figure out the Boosting…" Issei sighed. The gem in the center of the bracer flashed. He stared at the bracer in surprise. "Wait. I just have to will it?"
"Is it saying something?" Vanquished Dragon sat forward intently.
"Sort of...It's less 'saying' and more stuffing the information in my brain. Each Boost doubles my power," Issei said.
"Additively?" VD asked.
"Exponentially," Issei responded.
"Dayum…" The plushie whistled appreciatively. "No wonder you were exhausted yesterday. Your body had to contain all of that power. You really should work on your capacity too."
"Guess this is as good a place to train. If I go further away from the river there's a quarry I can use," Issei pointed off in the distance.
"Too bad I can't help with the sword training. I'm a little too small," VD chuckled wryly.
"Do you think I should do patrols through Kuoh? I don't know what Raynare will do. For all I know she might go after my parents anyway…" Issei was suddenly tense with worry.
"Good idea, Issei. You don't know what can happen," the dragon agreed.
"I should pick up some other foods too. I have some money," Issei checked his wallet. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.
Plans were made. He would sleep through the morning, train in the afternoon, and patrol Kuoh at night. Today he was going to just go into Kuoh and do some shopping. The only problem was just how little he had actually had to spend. It wasn't like he could ask his parents for money. Issei sighed while pushing back a surge of depression.
"Before we go there's one thing I have to do," Issei flipped out the utility knife and pulled the duffel bag over. Expertly, with knowledge gleaned from the Kampfer, he fashioned a slit in the end to make drawing the sword easier. Trying to get at it during a fight would have been hard otherwise. He settled the bag on his shoulder and tested the hidden slit. It wasn't pretty, but it was functional. Issei slid a sock over the pommel and hilt.
"Actually why don't I stay here? Someone should watch the camp. Besides...I'm a little too conspicuous…" VD gestured at himself.
"If you're sure…" Issei hesitated.
"Don't worry about it! I'll have a piping hot...cereal bar...waiting for you?" He trailed off with a laugh.
Issei waved goodbye to his friend before hurrying along the riverbank. The bus was still running. His bus pass should be good for the rest of the month. Maybe he could have just jumped across the river? Something to try later. He was once more in disguise with the hat pulled down over his forehead. When the bus arrived he stood near the back. There were a surprising number of people on board. The press of the crowd made him a little nervous.
His earlier revelation was playing havoc with him. The other passengers on the bus were like a who's who of chikan movies. There was the overworked salaryman suspiciously out of work in the middle of the afternoon. Standing nearby was a delinquent with shifty eyes. Those eyes raked over his body a few times already. The delinquent had a couple friends who weren't quite as brazen. Issei moved further towards the back of the bus and sat down. The duffel bag was used as a barrier to prevent approach.
Scratch chikan videos off of his porn list.
During the ride the salaryman slowly fell off the radar. The man fell asleep in his seat. Unfortunately the delinquents were moving up the list. They kept looking in his direction and whispering to themselves. The subject of conversation was obviously him.
Issei cursed his overactive imagination. His nerves were strung so tightly that he almost couldn't walk straight. He made to get off the bus at his stop and stumbled on an uneven patch of floor. The delinquent reached out quickly as Issei closed his eyes in resignation. Nothing happened. He didn't fall to the floor and no one copped a feel either. Instead the delinquent steadied him.
"Hey you okay, miss?" The delinquent asked. His buddies looked oddly concerned.
"Uh, yes…?" Issei was plainly confused. Someone flipped the script when he wasn't looking.
"You looked kind of out of it. Was there somewhere you were going?" He asked.
"Just to the store. Uh, thanks for catching me?" Issei tried not to make it a question.
"Take care of yourself, okay?" The guy smiled.
Issei waved to them as he got off the bus. Maybe it wasn't what Vanquished Dragon meant about overcompensating, but he was being too paranoid. The shopping district was packed at this late hour of the day. He could just disappear among the crowds. In theory. The reality was that he was obviously not a regular. The vendors and shoppers seemed to know one another. With his Kampfer form's figure it was hard to blend in. Then there was the fact he didn't know much about shopping for groceries. The prices of some of the produce shocked him.
"Who would buy apples for that much?" Issei muttered to himself.
"Hey I'll have you know these are fine apples. One bite and you'll never go anywhere else," the vendor bragged.
"Eh heh heh…" Issei flushed at being caught bad mouthing the product. Without another word, he sidled away. The vendor's cries followed him as he fled.
Maybe this was a bad idea. He didn't have enough money to buy even cheap produce. The vendors didn't like window shoppers either. Other patrons were starting to give him the stink eye. Issei resisted the urge to feel sorry for himself, but it was hard. His shoulders hunched dejectedly as he slowly walked away. He still had a patrol to do. The patrol was of his Motohama, and Matsuda's streets. Issei slapped his cheeks to try and restore some vigor. He managed to put the disaster of the shopping district behind him. Barely.
Hours later and still no leads. No one was prowling around his friends' homes and definitely not his own. There was something when he saw his dad taking out the garbage. His father looked like hell. He could only imagine how his mother was holding up. It was hard, but he managed to resist the urge to just watch his parents all night. Only most of the time. He watched them have dinner and try to make small talk. It was stilted and painful. They left the table quickly with a strange sense of relief. As if trying to go through the motions was too hard.
His parents tried to conceive for years before having him. They doted on him even when he was a raging hornball. He was such a disappointment. At least, that was what he thought, but here they were falling apart without him. Issei lowered his head sadly. The decision to stay away was looking worse.
The night passed slowly and Issei was growing sluggish with fatigue. It was time to get back to camp and sleep. Since it was so late he decided to try something. He looked back and forth a couple times to make sure the coast was clear. A faint smile crossed his face. No one in sight. He lowered himself to a sprinter's crouch a moment. When he shoved off it was like someone strapped rockets to his feet. The streets blurred together as he picked up speed. One of his powers might not be actual super speed, but his strength gave him plenty of push.
The part he was waiting for arrived. He approached the river at a rapid clip. Without stopping to think, he shoved off from the riverbank. Issei screamed with joy as he sailed completely over the river and landed on the other side. The force of his landing kicked up dust and debris as he skidded to a halt.
"That was a jump!" Vanquished Dragon exclaimed.
"It felt like I was flying…" Issei smiled dreamily.
"You soared," he clenched his little paws.
At least his night was productive in one way. While it didn't seem like such a momentous achievement, Issei felt proud of himself. The key to success was to take even the littlest accomplishment and build from there. The rumble of his stomach interrupted the celebration. He was reminded of the state of his supplies. Four cereal bars and a bag of trail mix wouldn't be enough.
Issei sighed. At least it couldn't get worse.
Then the rain came down.
Maybe he should stop taunting Murphy.
Mirriam Grave
The Bemused. The Amused. The Unstable.
- Location
- The edge of a point.
Yes and no.
Because their immediate response would be 'Come home, please!', and it would probably hurt him mentally even worse to see such a thing.
He is already having trouble keeping away as it is, something that will get harder with time all on its lonesome.
And if he caves in?
'Hi mom and dad! It's me, Issei!'
'You're not our son! Get out of here or I will call the cops on you, you horrible degenerate! What kind of a monster tries shit like this when our son is missing!'
...yeah... Let's NOT break Issei completely and utterly.
Kampfer Drachen 4
- Location
- PA
Kampfer Drachen 4
The old quarry outside of Kuoh used to do a lot of business. It was the only place to get quality stone for years. Now with improved methods of transport, and new building materials, it wasn't as busy as it used to be. The location suited Issei's needs perfectly. He looked around at the gravel strewn ground and dirt walls. Didn't they film an episode of Kamen Rider out here? Maybe Super Sentai? It certainly looked like one of those generic battle locations.
"You sure no one will mind us being here?" Vanquished Dragon asked.
"It's pretty much dead. We should have plenty of room to train. I mean, how much damage can I do with a sword anyway?" Issei hefted the sword in question. He was wearing the Kampfer bicycle shorts and a green t-shirt with the boots. Was training in heels a good idea? It seemed that one of his powers was to have perfect balance. He wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.
"You might be surprised. We don't know what effect Boosting will have," his partner warned.
"Point," he grimaced. This was all so new to him. Waking up as a woman again messed with his mind. He was still blanking out at the riverbank. Going to the bathroom was difficult too. Of all the things he forgot to bring was toilet paper. Using leaves added a level an entirely new level of awkwardness.
"Let's find a place a bit more secluded," VD suggested.
"No need to invite trouble," Issei agreed.
Issei carried his little buddy to a spot just out of sight of the main gate. With any luck it should give them enough time to escape if anyone did show up. The gravel made walking difficult even with excellent balance. In fact the small stones might help with practicing his footwork. Should he try lifting? There were larger stones that might make decent weights. It wasn't like he could just go to a gym and use their weight set. If he could jump over a river his strength might be a little too high for normal lifting.
The first part of his training was to see just what he could do. He decided to try and do the Saitama Training method. The Perverted Trio tried it before and never could make it through the whole thing. In fact it was such a failure the boys were turned off of exercising ever again. Either that or they were just lazy.
"100 pushups, 100 sit ups, 100 squats, and 10 km run every single day?" VD was stunned.
"I'm going to add pull ups. Should be easy to do...Like so!" Issei pointed at a scraggly tree just low enough that he could grab a limb.
"The training regimen might work for normal people. It's a weight resistance exercise, but you're too strong for that," Vanquished Dragon broke the news gently.
"Wait. Really?" Issei gawked.
"Just work on your swordplay. That's where the real gains will come from," his partner replied.
"I really thought I had a winner…" Issei sighed.
"It was a good idea just not what you need," VD said consolingly.
Vanquished Dragon had a point. The hefty sword didn't even weigh much to Issei. He almost fell in the river as his weight, plus the sword's, made the wet bank collapse. Obviously if he hit someone they would feel the imparted force. As a test he slashed the sword at the trunk of the tree. The blade didn't just bite into the bark but instead went halfway through the trunk. Issei's eyes widened. When pulled the blade out, the tree toppled over. How sharp was this crazy sword!?
"This thing is sharp!" Issei held the sword up in wonder.
"That it is," the plushie agreed.
The sword stance reminded Issei of Cloud from Final Fantasy VII. Only difference was that Cloud didn't have to watch out for boobs. Using a two-handed sword required more grace than Issei expected. He always thought swinging around a European style sword wasn't as complicated as a katana or something. The gravel kept sliding and slithering under his feet as he executed the violent dance of the sword. At several points he had to quickly change his footing to avoid going down.
"Whoa…You're so good at this!" Vanquished Dragon praised.
It felt good to receive recognition. Issei preened a bit, "I'm really getting the hang of this. Maybe I should test my Boosting now?"
"Start with one and go from there," the plushie dragon agreed.
[Boost!]
The first Boost felt intoxicating. He was too angry before to notice how good it felt. The red gem on his sword's pommel flared. A barely visible aura of red coated the weapon. The green bracelet also shimmered. Wait. The Bracelet of Oath was connected to his transformation. Did that mean the Boost was doing something with his male form? Maybe even healing it faster? He didn't know and was in no hurry to experiment. His earlier thought of deactivating the transformation at a hospital was a foolish one. There was no guarantee he would even survive. He definitely wouldn't see his parents again if that happened!
"One Boost. Let's see what happens," Issei gave the sword a downward slash. The force of the swing sent gravel and dirt spraying in all directions. "That was just one!?"
Vanquished Dragon did the smart thing and hid behind a boulder, "Just don't aim it this way!"
"You got it buddy!" Issei had no desire to accidentally kill his friend. He walked away from where VD was hiding. That should be good enough to avoid mishaps.
The first Boost made his body feel lighter. His sword cleaved through the air without resistance. The blade was so sharp it sheared through stone by accident. Issei stared at the boulder he shortened by a foot and blinked. His sword wasn't that sharp before. It managed to cut a tree, sure, but stone was much harder! The Boost timed out soon after. He checked the time.
"Roughly two minutes for one Boost and I still feel good," Issei shrugged.
"Keep going until you start to feel tired!" Vanquished Dragon called.
From experimenting it seemed that he could Boost every ten seconds normally. He could perform a multi Boost at the risk of more strain and shorter time. For finishing off a fight swiftly it was an absolute game changer, but not so good for longer battles. Something else he found was that a charge could be burned for an instant enhancement equal to two Boosts, but the duration was mere moments instead of two minutes. The final thing that really made him giddy was that the sword was tied to his Boosts. Each Boost sharpened the blade further and covered it in raw energy. A swing from his sword at two Boosts extended the reach by a full two feet!
"I wonder what would happen if I channeled it down the sword…" Issei mused. He still had two Boosts and felt okay. This was definitely his last test of the day if he still wanted to patrol tonight. Since it was already like a beam saber maybe he could extend it further? Cloud had Blade Beam after all. Issei grinned. Visualization was key and he already had an example to follow. Rather than burn the charge on himself, he sent it down the blade. The sword pulsed with a malevolent red light as the air screeched. His arms started to shake as sparks started to leap off of the sword.
"Uh oh…" Vanquished Dragon hightailed it even further away.
"Blade...BEAM!" Issei slashed the chaotically pulsing sword down. A blade shaped wave of greenish energy erupted from the tip. It was a full six feet high and traveled faster than Issei could run. The blade of light carved a thirty foot groove along the ground. Issei smiled at his success before suddenly collapsing to one knee. His vision was swimming.
"Issei! Issei! What happened!?" Vanquished Dragon rushed over worriedly.
"I used too much...I didn't hold enough...back…" Issei wobbled on his knees. He only meant to burn one charge, not two.
"Will you be okay?" His friend asked softly.
"I should be...Just really tired...I should take a nap before my patrol," Issei decided.
"You're still going tonight?" Vanquished Dragon asked incredulously.
Issei used the sword to help him stand. He grunted softly, "I'm not going to slack off…"
"This isn't slacking off! What will you do if you're too tired to fight?" The plushie asked.
"If I'm still tired after a nap I'll stay back tonight. Deal?" Issei smiled faintly.
"...Deal," Vanquished Dragon agreed grudgingly. He knew how important these patrols were to Issei. The boy would keep his word though. If he was too tired he just wouldn't go into Kuoh tonight.
His stomach grumbled in complaint. A cereal bar and a handful of trail mix just wasn't as filling. The box of cereal bars was almost empty. At the rate things were going he was going to have to try fishing in the river. He needed money and badly. How did other runaways handle this? Issei glanced down at his bust straining the front of the shirt. A full body shiver ran down his spine. Never mind. He knew how runaways handled their money problems. Who knew his knowledge of porn would turn into such a source of nightmares?
He kept his word to Vanquished Dragon. Sort of. If Issei needed to use more than a Boost he was in trouble, but his reserves were holding. The genderswapped boy sighed softly. His sword was very sharp and if used properly could end a fight quickly. He just didn't want to kill anyone. What would he do if it was a choice between killing an enemy and letting his family get hurt? Issei hoped he was strong enough to make that choice if the time came.
The full moon was a sight he used to enjoy from his bedroom window. Now with his knowledge of the 'Moonlit World' it was a source of concern. If the supernatural existed then who knew what was out there? Issei slapped his cheeks. Worrying about the moon of all things wasn't helping.
A sudden cry of fear in the night caused him to flinch sharply. "I just talked myself out of being scared...Jeez…"
What to do? Did he investigate or keep going? He was near the residential part of the city. There should be cops, right? The cry of fear was joined by a scream of pain. His decision was made for him. Issei checked to make sure his sword was easy to reach while running towards the sounds. Noises carried farther in the night, but his speed was up to the task. Two streets over he found the standard cliche dead end alleyway. The situation itself would be cliche if not for the urgency.
A man in white priest's vestments was standing over a young girl in the Kuoh Academy uniform. He was of above average height and bearing a lightsaber in hand. She had feathered black hair and hazel eyes. Her bust was a nice size for her height. (Not the time Issei!) On her head were a pair of tanuki ears with a tail poking from the back of her skirt. Tanuki were harmless tricksters in folklore. Sometimes they even helped travelers. Issei felt his blood starting to boil.
"Silence you pathetic wretch! Just because you take on a mockery of human form doesn't give you the right to pity!" His voice was pitched low while holding a frightening intensity.
"I-I didn't do anything wrong...I'm a student…" The girl had tears pouring down her cheeks from fear. After a moment Issei placed a name to the face. Tomoe Higurashi. First year student at Kuoh Academy. She was a sweet thing who was made Class Rep. Issei felt a well of shame as he remembered just how he knew her name. Damn peeping. Ugh! Focus Issei! This wasn't the time to beat himself up!
He could make it up to her by getting this loony off her back.
"Leave her alone!" Issei yelled. The sudden shout caused both priest and victim to freeze. Higurashi stared at him in astonishment. The priest, however, eyed her with annoyance and scorn. He was clearly a foreigner who had the 'courtesy' to speak in Japanese just to intimidate his victim more. His eyes raked over Issei's body insultingly.
"Child you can still save yourself. Leave this beast to the judgement of God," the priest said. He didn't care if Issei left or not. It was spoken purely by reflex.
"Please...I didn't do anything wrong!" Tomoe screamed.
"Be quiet you filthy animal!" The priest spun back around with a snarl of fury.
"Why are you doing this!?" Issei didn't understand what his problem was. Did it really matter if she was human or not?
"Begone child or I will forget myself. You can still walk away and not share the fate of this monster," the priest growled. Issei's eyes narrowed sharply.
"The only monster I see is you," Issei stated coldly.
"J-Just go...No one should die over me…" The girl whispered dejectedly.
"I make it a point to not kill people," the priest said piously.
Issei saw red. This bastard was saying she wasn't a person? He was acting like his actions were proper. With the priest's back turned the angry Kampfer slowly drew his sword. The massive hunk of metal cleared the bag smoothly. Tomoe's eyes widened in shock. The priest sneered and said something else derogatory. The words just washed over Issei without registering. All that mattered was shutting the son of a bitch up.
"I don't even need my full power to deal with you…" Issei growled under his breath as he took a step forward. That single step carried him clear to the end of the alley, sword already in motion, with the flat aimed for the man's legs. There was a sharp crack as bones were shattered only drowned out by the priest's screams of pain. His left fist was already cocked and ready to finish the fight. Issei threw a punch so quickly the staggering priest didn't even have time to fall. It sounded like a hammer striking a coconut.
"Uhhh…" The priest's eyes rolled up into his head as he collapsed. Spittle dribbled from his lips as he lay on the ground. His legs splayed unnaturally. Tomoe squeaked in surprise.
"Goodness…" Tomoe eyed the fallen priest in shock.
Issei exhaled slowly to regain his calm. He sheathed the sword once more. "Are you okay?" The boy asked the would be victim.
"Sort of...He uh...banged my head on the wall...Other than that I'm fine!" Tomoe quickly assured him as Issei was turning back to the prone priest with murder in his eyes.
"He won't hurt you again. I'll just call the police…" Issei started to reach for his phone.
"Wait. You can't do that. The police don't know about the supernatural world. I know who to call. Let me take care of this. It's the least I can do for the one who saved me," Tomoe smiled shakily.
"Uh sure thing Higurashi-san…" Issei was thrown for a loop. There was someone to call? This whole thing was so organized there were people to deal with it?
"Ah...Do I know you…?" Tomoe looked surprised as he said her name. Issei flinched. Smooth move dumbass! He was so off balance he accidentally used her name!
"Oh no...You don't know me...I uh...I'm a cousin of Issei…" Issei racked his brain for something to say. He needed a name. "I'm Isse...ko." The Kampfer wanted to kick himself.
"Isseko…?" The underclassmen tilted her head in confusion.
"Hisako! My name is Hisako! Hi!" Issei wanted to curl up in a ball and die. The fight was easier than this!
Tomoe sniffed the air, "You do smell like him…" She conceded.
She can smell that?
Her eyes filled with concern, "Are you staying anywhere? I mean...your scent doesn't...well...it's not fresh. Your cousin wouldn't turn you away. He's a shameless pervert, but kind." She covered her mouth. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't badmouth him!" Issei chuckled dryly.
"Issei's learning the error of his ways...That I can promise you…" Issei flushed with embarrassment.
"If you're sure...Do you need a place to stay for the night?" Tomoe asked.
"Ah no...I'm on my way after this," Issei waved off her offer politely.
Tomoe bit her lip, "If you're sure Hisako-san…"
"I am," he promised.
"Okay. I better get going. I'll make the call when I get home," she said.
Issei watched her go, tucking in the ears and tail with the ease of practice, and heaved a sigh of relief. Tomoe was safe, the priest wouldn't hurt anyone again, and he felt pretty good about that. His stomach rumbled again. Did the shitty priest have any money on him? Normally Issei wouldn't consider rolling a man for cash, but desperate times. Even if the guy was a jerk, he tried not to aggravate his injuries any further. He didn't have a wallet, but his pocket was loaded with rolled up yen. There was enough for two video games at least!
"Never heard of a bank, asshole?" Issei scoffed. He tried the guy's lightsaber, but it didn't work. Neither did the pistol he found. Must be some trick to it. In his vest pocket was an address. If his memory served it was the old church on the outskirts of Kuoh. Weirdly fitting that a corrupt priest would be in a broken down church.
Issei decided it was time to go. He couldn't find anything else on the guy. His aching stomach demanded tribute, and with the priest's thoughtful donation, he could take care of that. Tonight was looking up! Time to go find an all night convenience store. A much happier Issei practically skipped away to do just that.
If Issei had stuck around just a few minutes longer, he would have seen someone else in the alley. A young man with blond hair wearing the boy's uniform entered the alley. He eyed the insensate priest on the ground with distaste. A plain sword formed in his hand which was quickly used to stab the fallen man in the back. The boy gave the sword a firm twist and wrenched it out. He held up a cellphone to his ear.
"It's finished," he said.
"Good. Make sure the body is disposed of thoroughly," a voice said.
The blond shrugged before summoning up a sword of fire. He jammed it into the body, reducing it to ash in moments. "Done."
"Come home," the voice ordered.
He slipped the phone in his pocket. Without a backward glance, he left the alleyway. Only the ashes giving mute testimony to the event.
The old quarry outside of Kuoh used to do a lot of business. It was the only place to get quality stone for years. Now with improved methods of transport, and new building materials, it wasn't as busy as it used to be. The location suited Issei's needs perfectly. He looked around at the gravel strewn ground and dirt walls. Didn't they film an episode of Kamen Rider out here? Maybe Super Sentai? It certainly looked like one of those generic battle locations.
"You sure no one will mind us being here?" Vanquished Dragon asked.
"It's pretty much dead. We should have plenty of room to train. I mean, how much damage can I do with a sword anyway?" Issei hefted the sword in question. He was wearing the Kampfer bicycle shorts and a green t-shirt with the boots. Was training in heels a good idea? It seemed that one of his powers was to have perfect balance. He wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.
"You might be surprised. We don't know what effect Boosting will have," his partner warned.
"Point," he grimaced. This was all so new to him. Waking up as a woman again messed with his mind. He was still blanking out at the riverbank. Going to the bathroom was difficult too. Of all the things he forgot to bring was toilet paper. Using leaves added a level an entirely new level of awkwardness.
"Let's find a place a bit more secluded," VD suggested.
"No need to invite trouble," Issei agreed.
Issei carried his little buddy to a spot just out of sight of the main gate. With any luck it should give them enough time to escape if anyone did show up. The gravel made walking difficult even with excellent balance. In fact the small stones might help with practicing his footwork. Should he try lifting? There were larger stones that might make decent weights. It wasn't like he could just go to a gym and use their weight set. If he could jump over a river his strength might be a little too high for normal lifting.
The first part of his training was to see just what he could do. He decided to try and do the Saitama Training method. The Perverted Trio tried it before and never could make it through the whole thing. In fact it was such a failure the boys were turned off of exercising ever again. Either that or they were just lazy.
"100 pushups, 100 sit ups, 100 squats, and 10 km run every single day?" VD was stunned.
"I'm going to add pull ups. Should be easy to do...Like so!" Issei pointed at a scraggly tree just low enough that he could grab a limb.
"The training regimen might work for normal people. It's a weight resistance exercise, but you're too strong for that," Vanquished Dragon broke the news gently.
"Wait. Really?" Issei gawked.
"Just work on your swordplay. That's where the real gains will come from," his partner replied.
"I really thought I had a winner…" Issei sighed.
"It was a good idea just not what you need," VD said consolingly.
Vanquished Dragon had a point. The hefty sword didn't even weigh much to Issei. He almost fell in the river as his weight, plus the sword's, made the wet bank collapse. Obviously if he hit someone they would feel the imparted force. As a test he slashed the sword at the trunk of the tree. The blade didn't just bite into the bark but instead went halfway through the trunk. Issei's eyes widened. When pulled the blade out, the tree toppled over. How sharp was this crazy sword!?
"This thing is sharp!" Issei held the sword up in wonder.
"That it is," the plushie agreed.
The sword stance reminded Issei of Cloud from Final Fantasy VII. Only difference was that Cloud didn't have to watch out for boobs. Using a two-handed sword required more grace than Issei expected. He always thought swinging around a European style sword wasn't as complicated as a katana or something. The gravel kept sliding and slithering under his feet as he executed the violent dance of the sword. At several points he had to quickly change his footing to avoid going down.
"Whoa…You're so good at this!" Vanquished Dragon praised.
It felt good to receive recognition. Issei preened a bit, "I'm really getting the hang of this. Maybe I should test my Boosting now?"
"Start with one and go from there," the plushie dragon agreed.
[Boost!]
The first Boost felt intoxicating. He was too angry before to notice how good it felt. The red gem on his sword's pommel flared. A barely visible aura of red coated the weapon. The green bracelet also shimmered. Wait. The Bracelet of Oath was connected to his transformation. Did that mean the Boost was doing something with his male form? Maybe even healing it faster? He didn't know and was in no hurry to experiment. His earlier thought of deactivating the transformation at a hospital was a foolish one. There was no guarantee he would even survive. He definitely wouldn't see his parents again if that happened!
"One Boost. Let's see what happens," Issei gave the sword a downward slash. The force of the swing sent gravel and dirt spraying in all directions. "That was just one!?"
Vanquished Dragon did the smart thing and hid behind a boulder, "Just don't aim it this way!"
"You got it buddy!" Issei had no desire to accidentally kill his friend. He walked away from where VD was hiding. That should be good enough to avoid mishaps.
The first Boost made his body feel lighter. His sword cleaved through the air without resistance. The blade was so sharp it sheared through stone by accident. Issei stared at the boulder he shortened by a foot and blinked. His sword wasn't that sharp before. It managed to cut a tree, sure, but stone was much harder! The Boost timed out soon after. He checked the time.
"Roughly two minutes for one Boost and I still feel good," Issei shrugged.
"Keep going until you start to feel tired!" Vanquished Dragon called.
From experimenting it seemed that he could Boost every ten seconds normally. He could perform a multi Boost at the risk of more strain and shorter time. For finishing off a fight swiftly it was an absolute game changer, but not so good for longer battles. Something else he found was that a charge could be burned for an instant enhancement equal to two Boosts, but the duration was mere moments instead of two minutes. The final thing that really made him giddy was that the sword was tied to his Boosts. Each Boost sharpened the blade further and covered it in raw energy. A swing from his sword at two Boosts extended the reach by a full two feet!
"I wonder what would happen if I channeled it down the sword…" Issei mused. He still had two Boosts and felt okay. This was definitely his last test of the day if he still wanted to patrol tonight. Since it was already like a beam saber maybe he could extend it further? Cloud had Blade Beam after all. Issei grinned. Visualization was key and he already had an example to follow. Rather than burn the charge on himself, he sent it down the blade. The sword pulsed with a malevolent red light as the air screeched. His arms started to shake as sparks started to leap off of the sword.
"Uh oh…" Vanquished Dragon hightailed it even further away.
"Blade...BEAM!" Issei slashed the chaotically pulsing sword down. A blade shaped wave of greenish energy erupted from the tip. It was a full six feet high and traveled faster than Issei could run. The blade of light carved a thirty foot groove along the ground. Issei smiled at his success before suddenly collapsing to one knee. His vision was swimming.
"Issei! Issei! What happened!?" Vanquished Dragon rushed over worriedly.
"I used too much...I didn't hold enough...back…" Issei wobbled on his knees. He only meant to burn one charge, not two.
"Will you be okay?" His friend asked softly.
"I should be...Just really tired...I should take a nap before my patrol," Issei decided.
"You're still going tonight?" Vanquished Dragon asked incredulously.
Issei used the sword to help him stand. He grunted softly, "I'm not going to slack off…"
"This isn't slacking off! What will you do if you're too tired to fight?" The plushie asked.
"If I'm still tired after a nap I'll stay back tonight. Deal?" Issei smiled faintly.
"...Deal," Vanquished Dragon agreed grudgingly. He knew how important these patrols were to Issei. The boy would keep his word though. If he was too tired he just wouldn't go into Kuoh tonight.
His stomach grumbled in complaint. A cereal bar and a handful of trail mix just wasn't as filling. The box of cereal bars was almost empty. At the rate things were going he was going to have to try fishing in the river. He needed money and badly. How did other runaways handle this? Issei glanced down at his bust straining the front of the shirt. A full body shiver ran down his spine. Never mind. He knew how runaways handled their money problems. Who knew his knowledge of porn would turn into such a source of nightmares?
He kept his word to Vanquished Dragon. Sort of. If Issei needed to use more than a Boost he was in trouble, but his reserves were holding. The genderswapped boy sighed softly. His sword was very sharp and if used properly could end a fight quickly. He just didn't want to kill anyone. What would he do if it was a choice between killing an enemy and letting his family get hurt? Issei hoped he was strong enough to make that choice if the time came.
The full moon was a sight he used to enjoy from his bedroom window. Now with his knowledge of the 'Moonlit World' it was a source of concern. If the supernatural existed then who knew what was out there? Issei slapped his cheeks. Worrying about the moon of all things wasn't helping.
A sudden cry of fear in the night caused him to flinch sharply. "I just talked myself out of being scared...Jeez…"
What to do? Did he investigate or keep going? He was near the residential part of the city. There should be cops, right? The cry of fear was joined by a scream of pain. His decision was made for him. Issei checked to make sure his sword was easy to reach while running towards the sounds. Noises carried farther in the night, but his speed was up to the task. Two streets over he found the standard cliche dead end alleyway. The situation itself would be cliche if not for the urgency.
A man in white priest's vestments was standing over a young girl in the Kuoh Academy uniform. He was of above average height and bearing a lightsaber in hand. She had feathered black hair and hazel eyes. Her bust was a nice size for her height. (Not the time Issei!) On her head were a pair of tanuki ears with a tail poking from the back of her skirt. Tanuki were harmless tricksters in folklore. Sometimes they even helped travelers. Issei felt his blood starting to boil.
"Silence you pathetic wretch! Just because you take on a mockery of human form doesn't give you the right to pity!" His voice was pitched low while holding a frightening intensity.
"I-I didn't do anything wrong...I'm a student…" The girl had tears pouring down her cheeks from fear. After a moment Issei placed a name to the face. Tomoe Higurashi. First year student at Kuoh Academy. She was a sweet thing who was made Class Rep. Issei felt a well of shame as he remembered just how he knew her name. Damn peeping. Ugh! Focus Issei! This wasn't the time to beat himself up!
He could make it up to her by getting this loony off her back.
"Leave her alone!" Issei yelled. The sudden shout caused both priest and victim to freeze. Higurashi stared at him in astonishment. The priest, however, eyed her with annoyance and scorn. He was clearly a foreigner who had the 'courtesy' to speak in Japanese just to intimidate his victim more. His eyes raked over Issei's body insultingly.
"Child you can still save yourself. Leave this beast to the judgement of God," the priest said. He didn't care if Issei left or not. It was spoken purely by reflex.
"Please...I didn't do anything wrong!" Tomoe screamed.
"Be quiet you filthy animal!" The priest spun back around with a snarl of fury.
"Why are you doing this!?" Issei didn't understand what his problem was. Did it really matter if she was human or not?
"Begone child or I will forget myself. You can still walk away and not share the fate of this monster," the priest growled. Issei's eyes narrowed sharply.
"The only monster I see is you," Issei stated coldly.
"J-Just go...No one should die over me…" The girl whispered dejectedly.
"I make it a point to not kill people," the priest said piously.
Issei saw red. This bastard was saying she wasn't a person? He was acting like his actions were proper. With the priest's back turned the angry Kampfer slowly drew his sword. The massive hunk of metal cleared the bag smoothly. Tomoe's eyes widened in shock. The priest sneered and said something else derogatory. The words just washed over Issei without registering. All that mattered was shutting the son of a bitch up.
"I don't even need my full power to deal with you…" Issei growled under his breath as he took a step forward. That single step carried him clear to the end of the alley, sword already in motion, with the flat aimed for the man's legs. There was a sharp crack as bones were shattered only drowned out by the priest's screams of pain. His left fist was already cocked and ready to finish the fight. Issei threw a punch so quickly the staggering priest didn't even have time to fall. It sounded like a hammer striking a coconut.
"Uhhh…" The priest's eyes rolled up into his head as he collapsed. Spittle dribbled from his lips as he lay on the ground. His legs splayed unnaturally. Tomoe squeaked in surprise.
"Goodness…" Tomoe eyed the fallen priest in shock.
Issei exhaled slowly to regain his calm. He sheathed the sword once more. "Are you okay?" The boy asked the would be victim.
"Sort of...He uh...banged my head on the wall...Other than that I'm fine!" Tomoe quickly assured him as Issei was turning back to the prone priest with murder in his eyes.
"He won't hurt you again. I'll just call the police…" Issei started to reach for his phone.
"Wait. You can't do that. The police don't know about the supernatural world. I know who to call. Let me take care of this. It's the least I can do for the one who saved me," Tomoe smiled shakily.
"Uh sure thing Higurashi-san…" Issei was thrown for a loop. There was someone to call? This whole thing was so organized there were people to deal with it?
"Ah...Do I know you…?" Tomoe looked surprised as he said her name. Issei flinched. Smooth move dumbass! He was so off balance he accidentally used her name!
"Oh no...You don't know me...I uh...I'm a cousin of Issei…" Issei racked his brain for something to say. He needed a name. "I'm Isse...ko." The Kampfer wanted to kick himself.
"Isseko…?" The underclassmen tilted her head in confusion.
"Hisako! My name is Hisako! Hi!" Issei wanted to curl up in a ball and die. The fight was easier than this!
Tomoe sniffed the air, "You do smell like him…" She conceded.
She can smell that?
Her eyes filled with concern, "Are you staying anywhere? I mean...your scent doesn't...well...it's not fresh. Your cousin wouldn't turn you away. He's a shameless pervert, but kind." She covered her mouth. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't badmouth him!" Issei chuckled dryly.
"Issei's learning the error of his ways...That I can promise you…" Issei flushed with embarrassment.
"If you're sure...Do you need a place to stay for the night?" Tomoe asked.
"Ah no...I'm on my way after this," Issei waved off her offer politely.
Tomoe bit her lip, "If you're sure Hisako-san…"
"I am," he promised.
"Okay. I better get going. I'll make the call when I get home," she said.
Issei watched her go, tucking in the ears and tail with the ease of practice, and heaved a sigh of relief. Tomoe was safe, the priest wouldn't hurt anyone again, and he felt pretty good about that. His stomach rumbled again. Did the shitty priest have any money on him? Normally Issei wouldn't consider rolling a man for cash, but desperate times. Even if the guy was a jerk, he tried not to aggravate his injuries any further. He didn't have a wallet, but his pocket was loaded with rolled up yen. There was enough for two video games at least!
"Never heard of a bank, asshole?" Issei scoffed. He tried the guy's lightsaber, but it didn't work. Neither did the pistol he found. Must be some trick to it. In his vest pocket was an address. If his memory served it was the old church on the outskirts of Kuoh. Weirdly fitting that a corrupt priest would be in a broken down church.
Issei decided it was time to go. He couldn't find anything else on the guy. His aching stomach demanded tribute, and with the priest's thoughtful donation, he could take care of that. Tonight was looking up! Time to go find an all night convenience store. A much happier Issei practically skipped away to do just that.
If Issei had stuck around just a few minutes longer, he would have seen someone else in the alley. A young man with blond hair wearing the boy's uniform entered the alley. He eyed the insensate priest on the ground with distaste. A plain sword formed in his hand which was quickly used to stab the fallen man in the back. The boy gave the sword a firm twist and wrenched it out. He held up a cellphone to his ear.
"It's finished," he said.
"Good. Make sure the body is disposed of thoroughly," a voice said.
The blond shrugged before summoning up a sword of fire. He jammed it into the body, reducing it to ash in moments. "Done."
"Come home," the voice ordered.
He slipped the phone in his pocket. Without a backward glance, he left the alleyway. Only the ashes giving mute testimony to the event.
Dopplerdee
Accident Prone(Yes the caps are necessary)
- Location
- Happy Place
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Dang. Kiba sure is...kiba.
Jack of Olives
Rolled a '3' on their Con score
- Location
- The land of fruits and nuts (California)
Mirriam Grave
The Bemused. The Amused. The Unstable.
- Location
- The edge of a point.
Higurashi, not Megumi.
Different Tomoe.
She actually reminded me of Ieyasu(with a color swap again) from Oda Nobuna in description.
Also, rolling your foes for Loot! Truly Issei, I mean Hisako, you are starting down the famed and sacred tradition of Murderhobos everywhere!
You even started with a Bandit equivalent!
Soooo proud of you!
MysteriousTGexp
Ever changing being, genderbending fan.
- Location
- Quebec
To quote Tohru: D! for Dragon!
Also I really love this and hope that this will become a story.
Kampfer Drachen 5
- Location
- PA
Kamper Drachen 5
After Issei's celebratory meal he decided to see if there were other 'priests' running around. Two more of the fakers were found and met similar fates to the first. Each time he caught them harassing perfectly innocent yokai. At least he assumed they were innocent. There was this vague feeling telling him he was right. Usually from the wrist with the ornate bracer. Even more alarming was that he was rescuing humans. The shitty priests were targeting anyone based on their knowledge of the supernatural. What was this crap?
The only good thing was the money he was earning. With careful management he should be comfortable. Which is why he was once more at the market. Unlike the first time he actually had money to spend. Today he would buy real food. Convenience store meals were all well and good, but not as cheap long term. At least that was what his mom told him. He knew a little about cooking and using a campfire wasn't too hard. So what if his meals would be fire roasted? A roasted ear of corn was too good to pass up.
Day three of homelessness and Issei would have a fresh meal. There were no ifs, ands, or buts about it. A bag of groceries dangled from his hand. Issei bit into a crisp juicy apple. The shopkeeper from the other day was right. It was the best apple he ever tasted before. No one gave him a second look. He was a legit customer and not just a window shopper.
The only thing that marred his day was a lingering worry. What was going on at the old church? He was sorely tempted to scout out the location and maybe take it down. The only issue was that he didn't know how many enemies there were. Did they have more winged people too? Were the winged people their bosses? Were the winged people some kind of 'dark angel?' If priests could wield supernatural powers, then it stood to reason they might serve a lower power. No way would he believe that someone like Raynare was a 'higher' anything. Issei bit down the surge of anger that thinking about her brought.
Issei froze as an aura washed over him. It was the equivalent of a light brush, no real intent behind it. Like the feeling of one of the priests except far more benign. In fact the sensation was peaceful, tranquil, it reminded him of safer times. There was a feeling of sadness and confusion. His senses were sharpening from constant use allowing him to narrow down the source. The presence was just ahead. A girl of about his age stood on the corner. Her bewildered expression tinged with resignation. The clothes she wore reminded Issei of a nun if nuns wore green and white instead of a normal habit. At her side was a rolling suitcase.
"Do you need help?" Issei asked. He didn't realize what was going on until his mouth opened. Her presence felt so soothing it drew him like a sanctuary. The poor girl looked surprised at his sudden appearance.
"Ahhh...Perhaps I do…" The nun started to say something in another language, but suddenly it snapped into Japanese. The sensation was so unexpected it gave Issei whiplash. He felt a faint trickle of energy flowing into his bracer. No time to question it as he had someone to help.
"Where are you trying to go?" He asked kindly.
"The locals call it the 'old church.' I have the address, but the streets are so confusing. I was given instructions, but no one came to meet me," the girl lowered her head sadly. Issei stiffened briefly when he heard her destination. This was bad! He couldn't let a nice girl like her go there! Some of the fake priests made terrible comments about what a succubus was good for. The poor girl wasn't even out of middle school yet! If they got their hands on this girl…
No fuckin' way was he allowing that.
"It's not really a safe place," Issei said.
"It isn't?" The nun blinked.
"How much do you know about the Moonlit World?" Issei asked softly.
"You know about it too…?" She looked even more bewildered.
"The...priests...are murderers. I can't let a nice person like you go to them," Issei insisted firmly. The girl blushed at the force behind his voice.
"But where would I go…?" She asked softly.
"You can stay with me," Issei said immediately. The tent was big enough for two people after all. He needed a longer term plan than just camping at the river, but that could wait. Right now he had to convince a girl he just met to go with him. Hopefully she would, but how would he convince her…?
"Okay!" The nun blurted out.
Issei's jaw hung open in shock. It was that easy? He shook himself from his stupor.
"Uh okay. Oh yeah I'm...Hisako Hyoudou," Issei blurted out the assumed name. Why did he do that? Too late to turn back now. Perhaps it was better for Issei to remain 'missing' until this was over. He would apologize later.
"H-hello Hisako...I am Asia Argento," Asia bowed shakily, no doubt trying to imitate Japanese culture. Issei smiled faintly. She was just so cute! His decision to take her with him was the right one.
Issei looked at his grocery bag and decided to get a few more things. He could get more money from his new 'bank.' It struck him that the reason the priests probably carried wads of cash was because they couldn't use a bank. They were probably in the country illegally and hunting Japanese citizens. Asia didn't need to know what he did for money, but he would explain what his patrols were about. Leaving her alone at the camp was less than ideal, but still safer than the old church.
Asia reacted with awe when Issei explained his self appointed mission, "You protect the innocent? You're so strong!" The nun clasped her hands together. Issei blushed from the praise.
"Well somebody has to do it. I did hear from someone that there are people who police this stuff. I haven't seen them. They must be falling down on the job," Issei grumbled.
The pair walked side by side along the riverbank. The sun was setting. Soon it would be time for Issei to do his thing. His buddy Vanquished Dragon wouldn't be left alone anymore. Asia was just such a sweetheart. "I hope you and my pal Vanquished Dragon get along. He's been a huge help during all this."
"Vanquished Dragon…?" Asia looked confused.
"Oh right. Vanquished Dragon is an animated plushie who gave me my powers," Issei held up the green bracelet.
"Wow…" Her green eyes shone. He noticed during their trek she had blonde hair under the habit.
"He's a really good friend. It's just...he's from an unfortunately named toy line…" Issei tried to ease her into it. By now Issei thought his pal looked rather charming. The weird signs of 'death' having grown on him. He wasn't quite so far gone as to think everyone would instantly think that. Like how he used to defend Matsuda and Motohama. He just kind of glossed over their bad qualities. Then again his friends didn't do the same for him…
Another illusion shattered.
The realization hurt more than he thought. One of the pillars of his life was their friendship. Now he could see the inequality for what it was. He wasn't ready to throw it all away, they had a lot of good times together, but much of his innocence was stripped. Before his thoughts could spiral down any further, Asia touched his hand hesitantly.
"Are you okay? I-it looks like you were about to start crying…" Asia bit her lip.
Issei sighed softly, "No I'm not. I'll manage though. One day this trial will be over. I just have to stay strong until then." His gaze firmed with conviction.
Asia whispered to herself, "Is that what this is? It must be a trial sent by God to test me. I will not falter. Just like Hisako I will endure." She clasped her hands together in prayer. Issei rubbed her shoulder soothingly. It was nice to be a source of strength for someone. Like Vanquished Dragon was for him. He smiled kindly at the nun.
Issei lead her over the rise to the hidden clearing containing his campsite. Vanquished Dragon was standing guard, his back held straight with pride. The blue and green plushie was dedicated to keeping the camp safe. His buddy turned at their approach and stiffened in surprise. The little dragon didn't know what to do. Issei felt immediately guilty for springing this on him. He had a complex about his appearance. Asia's next action would determine everything…
"He's..adorable!" Asia squeed. The nun dropped the handle of her suitcase so that she had both hands to lift the plushie. Vanquished Dragon's button eyes managed to bug out as she crushed him to her modest bosom. He stared at Issei with a clear 'what the fuck?' expression.
"Hey buddy? Who is the nice girl that is apparently a nightmare fetishist?" He asked.
"This is Asia Argento. Asia? This is Vanquished Dragon. He's the guy who saved my life by making me a Kampfer. I owe him everything," Issei said to Asia, but to also remind his partner of how he felt.
"Thank you, Vanquished Dragon. If you didn't save Hisako I would have gone to the Fallen…" Asia's shoulders fell. A felt claw patted her face gently eliciting a smile.
"Who are the Fallen?" Issei asked curiously.
"Oh my...You know about the supernatural, but not the Factions?" Asia looked surprised.
Success! Helping out a nice girl not only lead to saving a life, but information too! Issei felt a huge surge of relief. He wouldn't have to go on in ignorance anymore.
"Take a seat...somewhere...I'll make us some tea," Issei said.
Asia chose to sit on her suitcase with Vanquished Dragon beside her. The plushie was so bewildered by the treatment that Issei couldn't help snickering a little. He had to make a fire first to heat the water. Issei placed a camping pot near the campfire, using the radiated heat from a stone to heat the water. A proper campfire was made with a ring of stones after all. More of his memories from camping with dad were returning.
"Are you hungry, Asia-chan?" Issei asked.
"I don't want to be a bother…" Asia demurred but her stomach was more honest. She blushed as the traitorous organ betrayed her.
"Don't worry. I plan on making a feast!" Issei spread his arms expansively.
The feast consisted of chili sprinkled roasted corn in aluminum foil. He also fried a couple tofu burgers. His mom knew a seasoning that made it taste almost like beef. Some garlic, onion, and mushrooms were allowed to glaze in the pan. He didn't have much oil, but it was okay. A good meal would do wonders for making them feel good. Not as good as his mom could do, but he felt satisfied with the results regardless. The happy smile on Asia's face as she bit into the sweet corn said it all. Dinner was soon a pleasant memory. The two humans and plushie sat around the campfire with tin cups full of tea. Just because Vanquished Dragon couldn't drink didn't mean he was excluded.
"I suppose I should explain. Before you go out on your patrol tonight. That way you're more prepared," Asia seemed hesitant to speak. As if she were feeling out the words. Was she trying to decide how much to say? She was probably trying to think of how to explain something that would seem obvious to her. After all she grew up in this world after all.
"That would help," Issei said.
"Definitely. We were really floundering," Vanquished Dragon said.
Asia took a deep breath to gather her courage before speaking, "Okay. There are currently three main factions in the world today. Each one from the Abrahamic religions. The other supernatural factions fell out of favor and lost relevance in the world." It sounded to Issei like she was repeating something she heard.
Rather than questioning her, he let her continue. Interrupting her now would probably make poor Asia's nerve fail.
"I was a nun with the Church and Angel Faction…" Issei could hear the capitalization "...before my excommunication." Asia hurried past the painful memory before he could ask, "The Fallen Faction is comprised of Angels who fell due to sin and vice. We are encouraged to pray for them that someday they find salvation in God once more." Asia lowered her head in prayer.
Barebones information about her former Faction, but some details about the Fallen. He would have to ask for clarification.
"The last Faction is the Devil Faction. The Faction of deceivers and those who lead men astray. I overheard a couple acolytes talk about how the Devils weren't evil. They were...gone the next day…" Asia hugged herself. Vanquished Dragon climbed in her lap. The nun hugged the plushie gratefully.
Little information on the Devil Faction, but it highlighted more of the Church. Excommunicating someone like Asia, or those guys, for what reason? It didn't sound all that damning to him. Daring to say that someone wasn't all that bad? He thought the Bible preached about forgiveness and understanding. Sounded to him like they needed to practice what they preach.
"What about the 'priests' I met?" Issei asked. Asia came out of her sad introspection. The question helped her to focus and allow the pain to recede.
"They were probably of the Fallen Faction. The Church excommunicates priests who are too violent or who commited a great sin. Who were they going after?" Asia asked.
"A tanuki in my school, a middle school succubus, and a wolfkin businessman," Issei said. He lowered his head, "I can sense auras. Every one of their wouldbe victims had no blood in their aura...The Fallen Angel I met was practically drowning in it." He shivered.
"They really shouldn't be hunting anyone here. This territory is owned by the Gremory Family. One of the 72 Pillars of the Underworld," Asia suddenly looked even more concerned for Issei. "You haven't been killing the priests, right?"
"No way! I just rough them up a bit. Killing just isn't in my nature," Issei assured her. The former nun relaxed.
"Good. The Fallen in Kuoh won't feel the need to make trouble if their priests weren't killed. They can't afford to make a major Pillar angry with them," Asia whispered in relief. He thought she was being too optimistic. If they were already letting their priests kill innocent people already, what was to stop them now?
"What are the Devils like? Do you know about the Gremory?" Issei asked.
"I-I don't know that much. I'm sorry," Asia apologized miserably. The dragon in her lap snuggled closer. Issei shook his head.
"You already told me enough. Thank you. I won't be caught off guard now," Issei promised. He knelt down in front of Asia and hugged her. The shorter girl returned the hug fiercely. Vanquished Dragon popped up so he could hug their necks the best he could. His heart felt calmer as he held her. Just her presence was making the little hurts go away. Obviously he was doing the same for her.
There was nothing he wouldn't do to keep her safe. An innocent girl like her deserved protection.
His patrols took on a new importance. Maybe if he kept exposing the priests the Gremory would do their jobs and run the bastards out. Issei liked this plan. Less risk to him and none to Asia or Vanquished Dragon. There was just one problem: What if the Gremory were unhappy about him doing their jobs for them?
He really hoped it didn't come to that…
Issei really had nothing to fear on that score. If he knew what the Gremory Heiress really felt about his nighttime escapades he would be elated.
Rias Gremory was quite sure she liked this new person. Whoever they were she owed them a debt. Without the mystery girl's intervention innocent people would have died. The actions of the Fallen Faction operating in Kuoh were brought to light. Apparently the Fallen Angels weren't keeping track of their Exorcists like they should. When she spoke to Raynare about the problem, the Fallen promised to keep them on a shorter leash.
If it wouldn't exacerbate tensions she would just destroy them outright. As it was she had to wait for bureaucracy, the bane of efficiency, to finally kick her request up the ladder. She wanted permission to evict them, but the delicate political balance needed to be maintained. Rias wished it would all just die in a fire.
"At least we have a guardian who doesn't kill indiscriminately," Rias breathed a sigh of relief. Actually she didn't kill at all. The priests she dealt with were alive. Crippled and mangled, but still breathing. It was almost kinder to kill them. She did need to find this person and give them some training in their abilities. From what eyewitnesses said she was incredibly fast and used a sword as long as she was tall. The swordswoman also hit like a tank. With one swing she left broken bones.
She could very well kill even when trying not to. For the sake of the girl's peace of mind, Rias had to find her. Clearly she wasn't someone looking to permanently harm anyone. The wouldbe victims all agreed that she was friendly and caring. Hisako, if that was her name, claimed to be Issei Hyoudou's cousin. That was another mystery. Koneko found where he shed a great deal of blood before the trail vanished. Now Higurashi reported a girl who smelled like him.
Sometimes coincidences existed, but this didn't seem to be a mere coincidence.
"How does she keep disappearing? Koneko is the best tracker in Kuoh. There is no way that someone so new to all this could evade her...But it's happening now, isn't it?" Rias grimaced.
If Hisako was Issei then something very wrong happened. He should have died with the amount of blood on the ground. Did his Sacred Gear genderbend him to save his life? The idea sounded like the plot to a weird hentai. The kind the Perverted Trio would have watched. What Sacred Gear did he have? Rias suspected it was a high level Dragon Gear, but a genderbending one? The real trick would be getting the information without seeming like a deviant.
It never did get easier…
After Issei's celebratory meal he decided to see if there were other 'priests' running around. Two more of the fakers were found and met similar fates to the first. Each time he caught them harassing perfectly innocent yokai. At least he assumed they were innocent. There was this vague feeling telling him he was right. Usually from the wrist with the ornate bracer. Even more alarming was that he was rescuing humans. The shitty priests were targeting anyone based on their knowledge of the supernatural. What was this crap?
The only good thing was the money he was earning. With careful management he should be comfortable. Which is why he was once more at the market. Unlike the first time he actually had money to spend. Today he would buy real food. Convenience store meals were all well and good, but not as cheap long term. At least that was what his mom told him. He knew a little about cooking and using a campfire wasn't too hard. So what if his meals would be fire roasted? A roasted ear of corn was too good to pass up.
Day three of homelessness and Issei would have a fresh meal. There were no ifs, ands, or buts about it. A bag of groceries dangled from his hand. Issei bit into a crisp juicy apple. The shopkeeper from the other day was right. It was the best apple he ever tasted before. No one gave him a second look. He was a legit customer and not just a window shopper.
The only thing that marred his day was a lingering worry. What was going on at the old church? He was sorely tempted to scout out the location and maybe take it down. The only issue was that he didn't know how many enemies there were. Did they have more winged people too? Were the winged people their bosses? Were the winged people some kind of 'dark angel?' If priests could wield supernatural powers, then it stood to reason they might serve a lower power. No way would he believe that someone like Raynare was a 'higher' anything. Issei bit down the surge of anger that thinking about her brought.
Issei froze as an aura washed over him. It was the equivalent of a light brush, no real intent behind it. Like the feeling of one of the priests except far more benign. In fact the sensation was peaceful, tranquil, it reminded him of safer times. There was a feeling of sadness and confusion. His senses were sharpening from constant use allowing him to narrow down the source. The presence was just ahead. A girl of about his age stood on the corner. Her bewildered expression tinged with resignation. The clothes she wore reminded Issei of a nun if nuns wore green and white instead of a normal habit. At her side was a rolling suitcase.
"Do you need help?" Issei asked. He didn't realize what was going on until his mouth opened. Her presence felt so soothing it drew him like a sanctuary. The poor girl looked surprised at his sudden appearance.
"Ahhh...Perhaps I do…" The nun started to say something in another language, but suddenly it snapped into Japanese. The sensation was so unexpected it gave Issei whiplash. He felt a faint trickle of energy flowing into his bracer. No time to question it as he had someone to help.
"Where are you trying to go?" He asked kindly.
"The locals call it the 'old church.' I have the address, but the streets are so confusing. I was given instructions, but no one came to meet me," the girl lowered her head sadly. Issei stiffened briefly when he heard her destination. This was bad! He couldn't let a nice girl like her go there! Some of the fake priests made terrible comments about what a succubus was good for. The poor girl wasn't even out of middle school yet! If they got their hands on this girl…
No fuckin' way was he allowing that.
"It's not really a safe place," Issei said.
"It isn't?" The nun blinked.
"How much do you know about the Moonlit World?" Issei asked softly.
"You know about it too…?" She looked even more bewildered.
"The...priests...are murderers. I can't let a nice person like you go to them," Issei insisted firmly. The girl blushed at the force behind his voice.
"But where would I go…?" She asked softly.
"You can stay with me," Issei said immediately. The tent was big enough for two people after all. He needed a longer term plan than just camping at the river, but that could wait. Right now he had to convince a girl he just met to go with him. Hopefully she would, but how would he convince her…?
"Okay!" The nun blurted out.
Issei's jaw hung open in shock. It was that easy? He shook himself from his stupor.
"Uh okay. Oh yeah I'm...Hisako Hyoudou," Issei blurted out the assumed name. Why did he do that? Too late to turn back now. Perhaps it was better for Issei to remain 'missing' until this was over. He would apologize later.
"H-hello Hisako...I am Asia Argento," Asia bowed shakily, no doubt trying to imitate Japanese culture. Issei smiled faintly. She was just so cute! His decision to take her with him was the right one.
Issei looked at his grocery bag and decided to get a few more things. He could get more money from his new 'bank.' It struck him that the reason the priests probably carried wads of cash was because they couldn't use a bank. They were probably in the country illegally and hunting Japanese citizens. Asia didn't need to know what he did for money, but he would explain what his patrols were about. Leaving her alone at the camp was less than ideal, but still safer than the old church.
Asia reacted with awe when Issei explained his self appointed mission, "You protect the innocent? You're so strong!" The nun clasped her hands together. Issei blushed from the praise.
"Well somebody has to do it. I did hear from someone that there are people who police this stuff. I haven't seen them. They must be falling down on the job," Issei grumbled.
The pair walked side by side along the riverbank. The sun was setting. Soon it would be time for Issei to do his thing. His buddy Vanquished Dragon wouldn't be left alone anymore. Asia was just such a sweetheart. "I hope you and my pal Vanquished Dragon get along. He's been a huge help during all this."
"Vanquished Dragon…?" Asia looked confused.
"Oh right. Vanquished Dragon is an animated plushie who gave me my powers," Issei held up the green bracelet.
"Wow…" Her green eyes shone. He noticed during their trek she had blonde hair under the habit.
"He's a really good friend. It's just...he's from an unfortunately named toy line…" Issei tried to ease her into it. By now Issei thought his pal looked rather charming. The weird signs of 'death' having grown on him. He wasn't quite so far gone as to think everyone would instantly think that. Like how he used to defend Matsuda and Motohama. He just kind of glossed over their bad qualities. Then again his friends didn't do the same for him…
Another illusion shattered.
The realization hurt more than he thought. One of the pillars of his life was their friendship. Now he could see the inequality for what it was. He wasn't ready to throw it all away, they had a lot of good times together, but much of his innocence was stripped. Before his thoughts could spiral down any further, Asia touched his hand hesitantly.
"Are you okay? I-it looks like you were about to start crying…" Asia bit her lip.
Issei sighed softly, "No I'm not. I'll manage though. One day this trial will be over. I just have to stay strong until then." His gaze firmed with conviction.
Asia whispered to herself, "Is that what this is? It must be a trial sent by God to test me. I will not falter. Just like Hisako I will endure." She clasped her hands together in prayer. Issei rubbed her shoulder soothingly. It was nice to be a source of strength for someone. Like Vanquished Dragon was for him. He smiled kindly at the nun.
Issei lead her over the rise to the hidden clearing containing his campsite. Vanquished Dragon was standing guard, his back held straight with pride. The blue and green plushie was dedicated to keeping the camp safe. His buddy turned at their approach and stiffened in surprise. The little dragon didn't know what to do. Issei felt immediately guilty for springing this on him. He had a complex about his appearance. Asia's next action would determine everything…
"He's..adorable!" Asia squeed. The nun dropped the handle of her suitcase so that she had both hands to lift the plushie. Vanquished Dragon's button eyes managed to bug out as she crushed him to her modest bosom. He stared at Issei with a clear 'what the fuck?' expression.
"Hey buddy? Who is the nice girl that is apparently a nightmare fetishist?" He asked.
"This is Asia Argento. Asia? This is Vanquished Dragon. He's the guy who saved my life by making me a Kampfer. I owe him everything," Issei said to Asia, but to also remind his partner of how he felt.
"Thank you, Vanquished Dragon. If you didn't save Hisako I would have gone to the Fallen…" Asia's shoulders fell. A felt claw patted her face gently eliciting a smile.
"Who are the Fallen?" Issei asked curiously.
"Oh my...You know about the supernatural, but not the Factions?" Asia looked surprised.
Success! Helping out a nice girl not only lead to saving a life, but information too! Issei felt a huge surge of relief. He wouldn't have to go on in ignorance anymore.
"Take a seat...somewhere...I'll make us some tea," Issei said.
Asia chose to sit on her suitcase with Vanquished Dragon beside her. The plushie was so bewildered by the treatment that Issei couldn't help snickering a little. He had to make a fire first to heat the water. Issei placed a camping pot near the campfire, using the radiated heat from a stone to heat the water. A proper campfire was made with a ring of stones after all. More of his memories from camping with dad were returning.
"Are you hungry, Asia-chan?" Issei asked.
"I don't want to be a bother…" Asia demurred but her stomach was more honest. She blushed as the traitorous organ betrayed her.
"Don't worry. I plan on making a feast!" Issei spread his arms expansively.
The feast consisted of chili sprinkled roasted corn in aluminum foil. He also fried a couple tofu burgers. His mom knew a seasoning that made it taste almost like beef. Some garlic, onion, and mushrooms were allowed to glaze in the pan. He didn't have much oil, but it was okay. A good meal would do wonders for making them feel good. Not as good as his mom could do, but he felt satisfied with the results regardless. The happy smile on Asia's face as she bit into the sweet corn said it all. Dinner was soon a pleasant memory. The two humans and plushie sat around the campfire with tin cups full of tea. Just because Vanquished Dragon couldn't drink didn't mean he was excluded.
"I suppose I should explain. Before you go out on your patrol tonight. That way you're more prepared," Asia seemed hesitant to speak. As if she were feeling out the words. Was she trying to decide how much to say? She was probably trying to think of how to explain something that would seem obvious to her. After all she grew up in this world after all.
"That would help," Issei said.
"Definitely. We were really floundering," Vanquished Dragon said.
Asia took a deep breath to gather her courage before speaking, "Okay. There are currently three main factions in the world today. Each one from the Abrahamic religions. The other supernatural factions fell out of favor and lost relevance in the world." It sounded to Issei like she was repeating something she heard.
Rather than questioning her, he let her continue. Interrupting her now would probably make poor Asia's nerve fail.
"I was a nun with the Church and Angel Faction…" Issei could hear the capitalization "...before my excommunication." Asia hurried past the painful memory before he could ask, "The Fallen Faction is comprised of Angels who fell due to sin and vice. We are encouraged to pray for them that someday they find salvation in God once more." Asia lowered her head in prayer.
Barebones information about her former Faction, but some details about the Fallen. He would have to ask for clarification.
"The last Faction is the Devil Faction. The Faction of deceivers and those who lead men astray. I overheard a couple acolytes talk about how the Devils weren't evil. They were...gone the next day…" Asia hugged herself. Vanquished Dragon climbed in her lap. The nun hugged the plushie gratefully.
Little information on the Devil Faction, but it highlighted more of the Church. Excommunicating someone like Asia, or those guys, for what reason? It didn't sound all that damning to him. Daring to say that someone wasn't all that bad? He thought the Bible preached about forgiveness and understanding. Sounded to him like they needed to practice what they preach.
"What about the 'priests' I met?" Issei asked. Asia came out of her sad introspection. The question helped her to focus and allow the pain to recede.
"They were probably of the Fallen Faction. The Church excommunicates priests who are too violent or who commited a great sin. Who were they going after?" Asia asked.
"A tanuki in my school, a middle school succubus, and a wolfkin businessman," Issei said. He lowered his head, "I can sense auras. Every one of their wouldbe victims had no blood in their aura...The Fallen Angel I met was practically drowning in it." He shivered.
"They really shouldn't be hunting anyone here. This territory is owned by the Gremory Family. One of the 72 Pillars of the Underworld," Asia suddenly looked even more concerned for Issei. "You haven't been killing the priests, right?"
"No way! I just rough them up a bit. Killing just isn't in my nature," Issei assured her. The former nun relaxed.
"Good. The Fallen in Kuoh won't feel the need to make trouble if their priests weren't killed. They can't afford to make a major Pillar angry with them," Asia whispered in relief. He thought she was being too optimistic. If they were already letting their priests kill innocent people already, what was to stop them now?
"What are the Devils like? Do you know about the Gremory?" Issei asked.
"I-I don't know that much. I'm sorry," Asia apologized miserably. The dragon in her lap snuggled closer. Issei shook his head.
"You already told me enough. Thank you. I won't be caught off guard now," Issei promised. He knelt down in front of Asia and hugged her. The shorter girl returned the hug fiercely. Vanquished Dragon popped up so he could hug their necks the best he could. His heart felt calmer as he held her. Just her presence was making the little hurts go away. Obviously he was doing the same for her.
There was nothing he wouldn't do to keep her safe. An innocent girl like her deserved protection.
His patrols took on a new importance. Maybe if he kept exposing the priests the Gremory would do their jobs and run the bastards out. Issei liked this plan. Less risk to him and none to Asia or Vanquished Dragon. There was just one problem: What if the Gremory were unhappy about him doing their jobs for them?
He really hoped it didn't come to that…
Issei really had nothing to fear on that score. If he knew what the Gremory Heiress really felt about his nighttime escapades he would be elated.
Rias Gremory was quite sure she liked this new person. Whoever they were she owed them a debt. Without the mystery girl's intervention innocent people would have died. The actions of the Fallen Faction operating in Kuoh were brought to light. Apparently the Fallen Angels weren't keeping track of their Exorcists like they should. When she spoke to Raynare about the problem, the Fallen promised to keep them on a shorter leash.
If it wouldn't exacerbate tensions she would just destroy them outright. As it was she had to wait for bureaucracy, the bane of efficiency, to finally kick her request up the ladder. She wanted permission to evict them, but the delicate political balance needed to be maintained. Rias wished it would all just die in a fire.
"At least we have a guardian who doesn't kill indiscriminately," Rias breathed a sigh of relief. Actually she didn't kill at all. The priests she dealt with were alive. Crippled and mangled, but still breathing. It was almost kinder to kill them. She did need to find this person and give them some training in their abilities. From what eyewitnesses said she was incredibly fast and used a sword as long as she was tall. The swordswoman also hit like a tank. With one swing she left broken bones.
She could very well kill even when trying not to. For the sake of the girl's peace of mind, Rias had to find her. Clearly she wasn't someone looking to permanently harm anyone. The wouldbe victims all agreed that she was friendly and caring. Hisako, if that was her name, claimed to be Issei Hyoudou's cousin. That was another mystery. Koneko found where he shed a great deal of blood before the trail vanished. Now Higurashi reported a girl who smelled like him.
Sometimes coincidences existed, but this didn't seem to be a mere coincidence.
"How does she keep disappearing? Koneko is the best tracker in Kuoh. There is no way that someone so new to all this could evade her...But it's happening now, isn't it?" Rias grimaced.
If Hisako was Issei then something very wrong happened. He should have died with the amount of blood on the ground. Did his Sacred Gear genderbend him to save his life? The idea sounded like the plot to a weird hentai. The kind the Perverted Trio would have watched. What Sacred Gear did he have? Rias suspected it was a high level Dragon Gear, but a genderbending one? The real trick would be getting the information without seeming like a deviant.
It never did get easier…
ExquisiteTopHat
Lined with 🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️🏳️⚧️
- Location
- Planet Earth
- Pronouns
- She/Her/It/Its
You know it's a ding story post when food porn takes up the largest paragraph. Heres hoping for a story thread for this snip series eventually.
Mirriam Grave
The Bemused. The Amused. The Unstable.
- Location
- The edge of a point.
This is especially bad when your insomnia kicks in late at night. I am now starving, but don't have the motivation to make such a meal.
Oh, and it would be bad to eat at this point. That too.
On another note. Yay! Asia! Adorable fluffy nun born around a core of tungsten that she is.
Now they need a cat in their little homeless group to finish the trifecta of healing items needed for proper rehabilitation.