24(Issei)
SLAP
"What THE HELL were you thinking!?"
To say Buchou was upset with me would be the understatement of the freaking century.
She. Was. Pissed.
The new, large, red, hand-shaped mark on the right side of my face was a testament that.
When I arrived at the Occult Research Club, Buchou's eyes became as wide as dinner plates when she saw Asia in my arms. She at least waited until after I laid Asia down on the
I remained silent as Buchou slapped me. I didn't even get the chance to explain or say a word.
"Bringing a NUN here, Issei?!" Buchou shouted, exasperated by my actions. "Not only that, but a nun who is in league with the Fallen Angels!"
"...Buchou…" I uttered weakly. I couldn't even bring myself to look up.
"Of all the irresponsible things, Issei! I admit part of me expected this from Haruto-kun, but—"
"Buchou." I tried again.
"—to actually bring that girl here!? That girl was originally from God's side! She is a person that we cannot ever coexist with! Even if she went with the Fallen Angels, it doesn't change the fact that she is still the enemy of us Devils! I-I'm not even entirely sure what to say! Do you know how bad this is?! It's—"
I couldn't take it anymore. I grabbed Buchou by her shoulders tightly enough to make her stop.
"BUCHOU, THEY TOOK Haruto!"
My crimson-haired master immediately stopped, her eyes widening once again out of shock, her jaw dropped
"What…?"
I couldn't help it anymore… that look in Haruto's eyes… He's so full of shit. We both knew damned well that he wouldn't win against Raynare.
I was suddenly yanked away from Buchou by a sudden powerful force, being turned around to face a stern-faced Kiba. The look in her eyes was a strange mix of worry, anger, and fear.
"What do you mean 'they took Haruto,' Issei-kun?!" Despite seeming weird, Kiba really did care for Haruto. That look in her eyes only made me feel so much more guilty…
I bit my lower lip, trying to fight back the emotions that were threatening to overflow.
"He…He encountered the Fallen Angel while he was hanging out with Asia-san… I don't know what was going on, but this small girl who dressed strangely came along and told me he was in danger. I rushed there as fast as I could and…" I choked, a lone tear falling down the side of my face. "...He… he told me to protect Asia… He wanted me to take him to you and the President for protection. He knew…" This was the hardest part to talk about… "He knew he couldn't win… He sacrificed himself so I could take Asia in for protection."
More and more tears gradually began to fall from my face. I fell to all four's, my head hanging as low as possible.
"I'm sorry…" I couldn't protect my best friend and now I was busting out in tears like some kind of baby… How pathetic could I be?
Instead of another chewing me out or punishing me like I expected, Buchou instead crouched down, staring at me with much more tender eyes than I deserved at the moment. It was completely different from the harsh and scolding gaze she had before.
She gently brushed her hand against my face, wiping away some of my tears.
Buchou smiled softly. "It's alright, Issei."
"Buchou!" Kiba suddenly cut in. "We don't have time for this! We have to go rescue Haruto!" She was clearly unsettled and alarmed. Like an adorable puppy who just realized that her master was no longer around to hug or nuzzle against.
"Calm down, Yuka," Buchou said soothingly. "We don't even know what they want with Haruto-kun yet. If they end up wanting to make an exchange for whatever reason, we'll at least be able to set a trap for them in order to rescue him."
"That's just it… The Fallen Angel, Raynare… she said something about extracting his Sacred Gear or something…"
That was when I felt something troublesome.
The temperature in the room dropped several degrees. Every last person in the room other than me paled. I was surprised when even Koneko-chan and Akeno-san paled. I figured they would be less easily horrified about things than Buchou and Yuka.
After a good five minutes of shocked and horrified silence, Buchou suddenly turned her head to Akeno-san.
"Akeno! Go fetch Sona immediately and tell her what happened! Also, tell her to contact Leviathan-sama! This situation just got so much worse!"
Akeno-san, for once, nodded wordlessly. Not smiling even once. She left the room, no doubt to get the President.
Buchou immediately turned to Koneko-chan and Kiba, horrified alarm on her face.
"Koneko, Yuka! Get ready immediately! We need to make preparations for an assault on the Fallen Angels's hideout!"
Both of Buchou's other servants nodded.
I couldn't help my gaze wandering back over to a still-unconscious Asia.
Another surge of guilt filled my stomach.
Haruto… he called me the strongest person he ever met… but I'm really so weak and pathetic. If he wasn't around, then Asia definitely would have been captured by the Fallen Angels. Deep down, I knew that if we had switched places, I would've been dead in only a few seconds and Asia would have easily been taken… I was such a failure…
No matter what, I wills save you, brother.
But something was bugging me… the way everyone reacted to Haruto having his Sacred Gear stolen… like it would be something final. It was as if… wait—No…
I paled. I turned back to my master. "Buchou… what exactly happens when a Sacred Gear is extracted from someone?"
Buchou, still panicking somewhat. She calmed down enough to answer me out-right.
"Issei…" She seemed somewhat hesitant, looking away from me. I knew the answer from the get-go, but a small part of me was in denial. "...When a possessor has their Sacred Gear taken from them, their body will die. If the Fallen Angels succeed in taking Haruto-kun's Sacred Gear, he will die."
Even though I was prepared for that answer, I felt my heart stop.
I clenched my fists.
This… This was my fault…
But my fists were clenched with determination.
Haruto, I swear this now: I WILL save you!
***
DRIP DRIP DROP
I sat up, rubbing my aching head.
I felt so dizzy and every part of my body was so stiff. My back was hurting like hell…
I looked around me, realizing I was in some sort of weird prison cell… It felt like one you'd usually see in some sort of dungeon or something.
"What happened…?" My memories were kind of foggy due to what I suspected to be head trauma, so it was hard for me to remember why or how I ended up here…
Oh yeah…
Images from the previous… night? Afternoon? I dunno. There was no natural light flowing into this dungeon, so I had no idea what time it was or how much time had passed since I got knocked out by that crow.
I eventually worked up the strength to stand up, stumbling my way over to the front of my cell.
I looked left, then right.
To my left was the end of the hallway and a door that either led to some sort of closet or, more likely, a route that led to the outside world.
Uncertain on my next plan, I subconsciously grabbed the bars of my cell.
BZZZZT!
GAH! FUCK!
I backed away from the bars, falling back to the ground, my hands smoking as if badly burnt.
I glared at the bars, my eyes widening as I realized that they possessed a faint glow…
A holy glow.
Shit, these bars are made with holy light. I can't do jack shit to them.
I then felt one of my hands burn even worse than the other. I clutched it, groaning in pain.
Clutching my smoking hand in pain, I found myself slightly alarmed when I noticed that my hand was wrapped rather tightly in bandages, a large yet dried blood spot staining the previously white bandages.
I also noted that, while I still felt weak, I didn't suffer the severe effects of light poisoning that I expected. Even if I was only stabbed in the hand, being exposed to light poisoning for so long should've killed me.
That meant that someone had treated my injuries.
It was doubtful it was that crow, Raynare…
So who—?
CREEEEEAAAAAAK
I tensed as I heard the sound of the door to my left. Still on the ground, I crawled backwards insect-style, flattening myself against the wall.
I noticed strange shackles on my wrists and also realized I could no longer summon my Sacred gear. I could only assume that the Fallen Angels created these magic shackles to seal my powers in order to prevent me from escaping.
My only hope was that it was a normal human Exorcist who I could clobber with my fists. Hopefully, I could take any weapons off his unconscious body and fight my way out…
"So, we meet again, Namikaze Haruto-chan."
My eyes closed half-way. Shit… I recognized that voice.
The door to my cell opened, revealing a familiar, blonde-haired gothic lolita girl.
Fallen Angel Mittelt entered my cell, shutting the door behind her.
Mentally, I wondered if she would take it easy on me with the torture considering the good terms we left each other on last time…
Then I remembered her getting crushed by that dumpster Tsubasa-chan threw at her… and then I remembered bitch-slapping her… and then I remembered her coming out of the water fountain sopping wet and crying like a baby…
Oh dear God (OUCH!) she's here to kill me, isn't she?
I had nowhere else to back up to as Mittelt continued approaching me at her leisure.
I closed my eyes, preparing for the worst.
Surprisingly enough, the worst didn't happen.
Rather than a light spear through the heart, I felt a strange soft touch against the sides of my face.
It wasn't unpleasant really… It was oddly inviting.
I opened my eyes and my face flushed red almost immediately.
Mittelt's face was only an inch away from mine. She sat on her knees in between my legs which were spread apart. Our lips were so close to one another that it was difficult to move without accidentally brushing our lips against one another.
Mittelt's face was tinged with pink color, her breaths becoming much faster and much more shallow.
"H-Haruto…"
I couldn't help but feel that this position was rather compromising.
"Your face… it's so soft…" Mittelt muttered under her shallow breaths.
I blinked, feeling awkward. "Erm… thanks…?"
"Can… C-Can I ask you something…?" Mittelt asked. "...I keep trying to ignore t-these thoughts and feelings… but… but I can't…" Her tongue was sticking out and I felt Mittelt's body heat up against mine.
"A-Are you okay?" I asked, somewhat concerned.
Then Mittelt gripped me tightly by the collar, staring at me with desperation.
"Please take my virginity! Make me a true woman!" Mittelt requested. "Be as harsh as you want! I'll accept it all!"
Rather than freak out like I normally would in such a situation… I just stared blankly.
"...Eh?"
Ever hear the saying "Out of the frying pan and into the fire"?
Well, I think my current situation is more along the lines of "In the frying pan which is then lit on fire with cooking oil and gasoline"...
And here I thought this was going to be a boring wait until my execution…