High School DxD: Fox of Ill Omen

Rias

My teasing of Ise was interrupted by a knock on his hospital room door.

Ise and I ooked at each other before he called out to the guest.

“Come in.”

The door opened.

An old man stepped inside and I recognized him immediately.

He only had one eye and had a long white beard that grew down to his chest. 

His scruffy appearance made him look far less important than he actually was.

Ise frowned immediately.

“Old man, who are you?”

The man laughed.

“I’m the Old Man of the Northern Countryside. Sekiryuutei, it seems you need to study a little more.”

I stood at once and inclined my head.

“You’re Odin-sama, right? It is an honor to meet you. I’m Rias Gremory.”

“I’m aware as I just watched your game. It was very interesting to watch. It’s nice to meet Sirzech's little sister,” Odin-sama said before looking at my chest. “Hmmm, while watching, I was fascinated by just these.”

I frowned at him.

I couldn’t really say much as Onii-sama and the other leaders of the Three Factions were trying to work out an alliance with the Norse gods.

If I offended or annoyed him then it could cause issues with those talks.

Even if he apparently was an old perv.

Ise quickly put himself between the two of us. 

He was scowling at Odin-sama and looked like he was about to angrily say something when an armored woman quickly came into the room and hit Odin-sama over the head with a rolled up paper.

The woman was roughly the same height as me, had long silver hair, and wore ornate silver armor.

She was beautiful, but her face was scrunched in a scowl as her light blue eyes were locked into Odin-sama.

“Odin-sama! I already told you that it’s unacceptable to look at women that way!” The woman shouted. “You’re the King of the Norse gods! You can’t stare at someone indecently like that! You have a very important meeting tomorrow and you can’t be causing an incident now!”

Odin-sama clicked his tongue.

“You’re truly a Valkyrie with no openings,” he said before sighing. “I remember that I have a meeting. It’s a conference on terrorist-countermeasures with the Angels, Devils, Fallen Angels, Zeus of Greece and Indra of Mt. Sumeru.”

Odin-sama rubbed his temple as he spoke

“Well it looks like I have to be going. Sirzechs’ sister and Sekiryuutei. This world isn’t only full of trials and tribulations. There are also many things to enjoy in it as well. Move forward while enjoying and suffering through it all. Being reckless is the only real way for youngsters like you to grow.”

He chuckled to himself as he left.

The Valkyrie bowed to us before following after him. 

“Who exactly was that Buchou?” Issei asked after they had left.

“Like the Valkyrie woman said, that was Odin-sama, the King of the Norse gods. Despite his appearance that old man is the leader of the gods of Northern Europe,” I explained. “And apparently a dirty old pervert too.” I muttered to myself.

There was even more going on around us as the young Devils Rating Games continued on.

But for now, we will recover before focusing on our next match.

_________________________________________

Issei

Our time in the Underworld had finally come to an end, and the whole peerage was receiving a farewell at the train station in front of the main Gremory residence.

It felt strange.

A few days ago, the place had been full of tension from training and anticipation of our Rating game against the student council.

Before that it had been training for our game, and even further back was the young Devil gathering we attended.

It felt like ages ago despite being roughly a month ago.

All of the introductions, meeting new Devils, and stressful training bled together and made it feel like we had been here for hardly any time at all, while somehow also making it feel like we had been here for a long time.

And now we were going home.

It was a little surreal that this was what my summer break had become.

My original plan had been to hang out with Matsuda and Motohama, go to the beach to look at girls, and probably watch some adult videos with my friends.

Instead I wound up in the Underworld, met my master’s family, was trained / tortured by a legendary Dragon, got my Balance Breaker, and won our first Rating Game. 

It sounded like a fever dream.

Buchou’s father and mother stood before us with servants lined up behind him.

They still felt intimidating despite living in their home for so long, granted I was only actually here for a week.

That was probably why I was still so nervous around them.

But when they smiled at us, there was genuine warmth in it. 

Buchou’s father looked at me. 

“Well then, Issei-kun. I look forward to the day we can meet again. You may return here any time that you would like. Think of the Gremory family as your own family.”

I was surprised by how willing he was to open their home to me.

I scratched my cheek and smiled wryly.

“T-Thank you! I appreciate the offer, b-but I think that staying here every time I come to the Underworld would be too much for me…”

I wasn’t just being polite.

It really was too much.

Buchou’s family estate was massive and grande.

They had an army of servants and a single piece of art on their walls was definitely worth way more than my parents house.

And Buchou’s parents were both important people.

It was too intimidating to accept the offer.

I don’t think I’d ever stay with Buchou’s family unless I was with everyone else. 

Then Buchou’s mother smiled too.

“Nonsense. It would be wonderful for you to stay with us. And Issei-san, please take care if Rias in the human world. My daughter can be selfish sometimes and I worry about her when she is away.”

“Mother! W-What are you saying!?” Buchou shouted, her face turning red. 

Buchou’s face turned completely red.

She looked cute while flustered.

“Of course! I’ll make sure that Buchou is alright!” I said with a nod. 

Buchou was a woman I’d fallen in love with.

So of course I’d protect her with my life.

She was increadibly strong and a great [King], but I still wanted to keep her safe. 

Buchou’s father began to tear up. 

“…the future of my family is looking bright. It’s enough to make me cry….”

Buchou’s mother sighed next to him. 

“Dear, isn’t this now the time where you should be responding with something like, ‘I’m not giving my daughter up to you’ or something along those lines?” She asked.

Buchou’s father shook his head. 

“Even if you say that, Issei-kun seems to have surpassed my power already. So it should be fine. Maybe I’ll be able to settle down and retire soon.”

Bucho’s mother shook her head. 

“Please wait until Rias has graduated from high school at least before talking about retirement.”

I looked between them.

What exactly were they getting excited about?

I was just saying that I would help and protect Buchou.

Buchou’s father was the one to ask, so I don’t get why Buchou’s mother thought he should act differently. 

Maybe I didn’t want to know exactly what they were talking about. 

Then I heard Sirzechs-sama’s voice.

“Rias, send us a letter during your remaining summer holidays.”

He was carrying his son Millicas-sama in his arms, with Grayfia-san standing behind him.

“Yes, Onii-sama,” Buchou replied. “You be good for your parents and stay well too, Millicas.”

“Yes, Rias-nee-sama!”

Millicas’s voice was bright as he smiled at Buchou.

Soon after, we began boarding the train to head back to the human world.

The others started moving toward the train with their luggage.

Asia was checking on everyone one last time.

Xenovia was carrying an absurd number of bags trying to move it all in one trip.

Akeno-san caught one of the bags that Xenovia dropped.

Xenovia said something to her that made her chuckle and place the bag back on top of the pile she was carrying.

Koneko-chan and Yuuto-san were chatting as they moved onto the train.

Gasper was following behind them dragging luggage with him.

He somehow had many more bags with him than I remember him leaving with.

Buchou quickly moved onto the train before her family could embarrass her any further. 

I stepped forward with them.

Then stopped.

Yuki-san was boarding last among our group.

She was hanging back and watching the group.

Maybe she was watching to see if anyone needed help.

I watched her for a moment. 

I remembered the conversation Buchou and I had in my hospital room.

I felt like now was a good enough time to talk to her. 

So before we could board the train I called out to her. 

“Yuki-san.”

She turned toward me.

“Yes?”

The others were already moving into the train.

We could have a minute or two to talk if we stepped aside now. 

I jerked my head slightly toward the side of the platform.

“Can I talk to you for a second before we get on?”

She blinked once, then nodded.

As I started to walk she followed after me.

We moved off just far enough that the we could talk without being overheard.

We were still close by enough that if we needed to board the train quickly, we still could. 

Buchou’s father and mother were still waiting for the train to leave, but they were talking to one of the butlers I had seen around the estate often.

Sirzechs-sama, Grayfia-san, and Millicas-sama were still visible from where we stood.

Seeing them together like that made me pause as I realized that Sirzechs-sama wasn’t kidding when he said that Grayfia-san was his wife.

I could see the resemblance in Milicas-sama to her, even if he looked like a smaller version of Sirzechs-sama.

I shook my head as I was getting distracted already. 

I focused my attention back onto Yuki-san.

She was watching me quietly as she waited for me to start.

I rubbed the back of my neck once.

No point dancing around it.

“Buchou told me,” I said. “About what happened with the two of you.”

I could see the recognition in her eyes immediately.

She understood exactly what I was talking about.

Yuki-san’s expression tightened.

Then she bowed her head slightly.

“I’m sorry.” She said.

I was taken aback at how quickly she reacted.

“I should have stopped sooner,” she said. “Or not suggested it at all in the first place. It was my fault that—”

“Whoa, stop.”

She looked up at me.

I kept going before she could loop back into trying to blame herself and apologizing to me. 

“Buchou already told me what happened with the two of you. I’m not bringing this up because I wanted to yell at you or anything.” I said.

That seemed to stop her in her tracks.

A faint crease appeared between her brows as she looked at me.

“….Then why did you want to talk about it?” She asked

“I just… I wanted to make sure that everything is alright. Between Buchou and you, and between you and I.” I said awkwardly. “Buchou told me that the two of you talked it out and agreed that what happened between you was nothing, and she said she wanted to tell me that I wouldn’t freak out when I heard about it, but I wanted to make sure that things are alright with you.”

She watched me quietly for a moment.

“That’s why Rias-Buchou said she wanted to tell you? So you wouldn’t react poorly when you heard about it?” She asked with a frown.

“Well yeah… I haven’t exactly been subtle with how important Buchou is with me, and she even mentioned that she heard about what I had said I’d do if Buchou found a boyfriend.”

He gave me a dull glare.

“What?” I asked, confused.

Yuki-san shook her head and mumbled something to herself.

I only caught the words ‘dense’ and ‘idiot’.

Before I could question her, she spoke.

“I shouldn’t be too surprised. But anyways, everything is fine between Buchou and I. Like she told you, we came to an understanding and we moved past it. It was just something in that moment. That was all.”

She looked down at the floor fair a moment before looking up at me.

“If any of this makes you uncomfortable, then I can keep my distance from now on. If that makes things easier.”

I waved my hands quickly.

“No! I don’t want that! You and Buchou are friends and I don’t want to ruin that. Why would you—“

“Because it’s obvious you love her Issei,” Yuki-san said, cutting me off. “It’s impossible to miss how deep your feelings are for her. So if I’m in the way of the two of you being happy, then I’ll remove myself.”

I felt myself flush as she started to talk, but I was frowning by the time she finished.

I didn’t like how easily she had said that.

“I wouldn’t ask you of you Yuki-san. You’re a member of our peerage and you don’t need to remove yourself from any part of it. It wouldn’t make me happy if you did that.”

She frowned faintly.

“Then what could I do to put you at ease?”

I sighed.

“Yuki-san, you really don’t-“ I paused as I thought of something.

I would be able to help her feel like she had helped me, and I would be able to figure something out that had been bugging me.

“Do you have romantic feelings for Buchou?” I asked.

She frowned. 

“No, I already told you that what happened didn't mean anything between us.”

“I know that, but would rather you just answer that instead of telling me that you’ll keep your distance from Buchou to make me happy. It would be enough for me if you just tell me directly.”

She watched me for a moment.

“Fine,” she finally said. “I do not have feelings for Rias. We both got lost in a heated moment while I was trying to teach her. It meant nothing to either of us.”

I nodded and then asked my next question.

“What about the rest of the girls?”

I asked because Yuki-san had been very close with Koneko-chan, Akeno-san, and Asia recently.

I wanted to know, because even though I wasn’t with any of them, and probably wouldn’t be, I was still possessive of the girls in the peerage.

I knew it was stupid, and that I didn’t really think any of the girls had any real interest in me, but I cared for them and would be ecstatic if they somehow wanted me to be with me too.

But if Yuki-san was interested in girls as well as guys, and she went after somone in the peerage, like Asia, I… I didn’t know what I would do.

I don’t know if I could do anything.

I didn’t know if any of them were interested in other girls, but Xenovia had already asked if she could have Yuki-san’s baby.

It was Xenovia; so it wasn’t the best example, but I couldn’t push the thought out of my head.

And if I had to compete with Yuki-san for there interest, I didn't think I could get anyone to look at me instead of her.

She was beautiful, calm, and mature, and I was me.

It would be much of a competition.

I don’t think I’d hate her or stop being friends with her, but… but I didn’t know what I’d do.

Yuki-san looked confused when I asked her. 

But I could tell something was off about it immediately.

Like she didn’t get why I would have asked that at all.

“No, I do not have any romantic feelings for any of the girls peerage.” Yuki-san said.

That made me pause.

Because if it wasn’t Buchou.

And it wasn’t the other girls.

Then…

Yuki-san continued before I could think about that further.

“Is that all you wanted to ask? If so, we should board the train soon. Asia will come looking for us soon if we don’t join the others.”

I glanced at the train's doors.

She was right, and I had gotten to talk to her about things.

It was good enough.

“You’re right,” I said. “Let’s get going.”

She started walking and I followed after her.

“I feel better after talking to you,” I admitted.

That made her look back at me.

“Do you?”

“Yeah. Buchou told me everything, but hearing it from you helped.”

She watched me carefully for a moment.

“Do you want me to say anything to Buchou?”

“No,” I said after thinking about it for a second. “I think that we can put this behind us now.”

Yuki-san nodded once and then looked forward again.

“I’m sorry,” she said without looking back. “Even if you and Buchou don’t blame me for it.”

“You really don’t need to apologize, but thank you,” I said.

We continued in silence as we approached the train.

“So… is girls practicing kissing really a thing that happens? I'm just curious.” I said trying to sound casual.

She looked back and gave me an annoyed look.

“No, apparently it’s not. I was misinformed and assumed that it was. That's why it was brought up at all in the first place.”

That made me laugh.

“I sometimes forget the you’re not completely familiar with the norms of the human world. You can be kinda gullible sometimes.”

She frowned as she stopped and turned towards me.

We were close enough to the train now that I was able to quickly move inside before she decided that I deserved to be hit. 

After I got on, I turned back to see if she was still annoyed with me, instead I saw her glancing at Sirzechs-sama.

Her expression was far more composed and any annoyance she had felt at me was hidden.

Sirzechs-sama was watching us while still holding his son.

There was still a lot about Yuki-san that I didn’t know.

But that wasn’t important.

She was my friend and needed someone at moments like this.

That’s all that mattered.

“Yuki-san.”

She turned back to me.

“Come on, let’s go home.”

Her practiced expression lifted slightly and she nodded.

As the door shut behind her, the train whistle blew.

We were finally leaving the Underworld.

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