"Character Speech"

Inner thoughts/Lyrics

'Quote or reference'

Since this is an AU story, it may have new or changed elements, characters in it. Terms used in the canon may hold different meanings here. In such cases, brief explanations or a character list may be provided at the end of the chapter.

Chapter 1

HERO

"Jab, cross, left hook, cross! Jab, cross, left hook, right hook! 1-2-3-2, 1-2-3-4, that's it! Watch your footing, not too sideways. That's better. 1-2-3-2, 1-2-3-4…...Keep at it!" She instructed as she held the punching bag. The guy punching was still a rookie, but he had potential.

"Jamie, take over will ya?" She hollered over the music playing in the gym.

"Sure, Cassie" He gave her a smile. "Better go find your son. He's gonna be late for his first day."

"He's always late." She replied exasperatedly as she walked off to find her son.

As she neared the almost isolated room at the back of the gym, she heard a different song playing.

Who's gonna fight for what's right

Jab, cross, left hook, cross!
Who's gonna help us survive

Jab, cross, left hook, right hook!
We're in the fight of our lives
(And we're not ready to die)

Who's gonna fight for the weak

Jab, cross, left hook, right uppercut!
Who's gonna make 'em believe

Jab, cross, left uppercut, cross!
I've got a hero (I've got a hero)
Livin' in me

I've gotta fight for what's right

Jab, cross, left uppercut, right uppercut!
Today I'm speaking my mind

Jab, right hook, jab, cross!
And if it kills me tonight
(I will be ready to die)

"1-2-3-2, 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-6, 1-2-5-2, 1-2-5-6, 1-4-1-2….." She counted in a whisper as she watched him execute all the combos relentlessly with finesse. The speed and strength behind those punches was truly amazing to her, even after all this time. He was just like his father. She smiled as she watched him perform a flawless reverse tornado kick. He always bore a heavy burden on his shoulders, wanting to not only uphold the family name but also to surpass both her and Daichi, her deceased husband. His dream was to master a combat style unique to himself, to be the best of them all. She deeply wished it would come true.

She shook herself from her reverie as the song finished. "Honey, time for school." She called softly.

"Be right out, ma." He replied as he kept pounding the bag. She furrowed her brow in annoyance.

"You got thirty minutes left. And if you're late this time….." She warned.

"Okay, okay. I'll go. Just let me get ready." He replied as he ran for the shower. She sighed. He was always like that. Running off to school at the last moment and shooting right out after the bell rang. Barely made any friends at all, as he trained or studied all the time. She was not worried at first, as he got satisfactory grades. But this drive of his was not good.

That's why she was sending him to Kouh Academy for his second year, an all girls private school turned co-ed recently. Not the greatest idea, she knew. But if being around girls opened him up a bit more…

"Bye ma!" He waved as he ran out.

"Take care of yourself. And don't be late!" She waved back with a small smile.

{}{}{}

Oh man, I'll be late. And on first day too. Just great. He thought as he ran.

Ma's gonna kill me. He groaned as he saw only five minutes left on his watch. "Oh hang it all! I'll just skip over." He said as he came near the corner. Instead of going around, he turned sharply to the wall and ran. As he neared it, he suddenly leaped up high, doing a front flip and landing inside a house. He didn't pause but kept on going. As he neared another wall he leaped twice in row, landing on the wall first and then on the rooftop of another house. He kept on skipping and flipping and leaping as he crossed rooftops, latched on to holds of buildings and diving to ground right before grabbing onto a branch or ledge. After three minutes of this madness, he finally landed and broke out into a run as the school came into view. Two minutes later the bell rang, and Ise was in.

That was close. He thought as he huffed.

{}{}{}

"Class, we have a new student with us this year." The teacher announced. "Please introduce yourself." She said as she turned to him. He nodded and wrote his name down on the blackboard, in both Japanese and English. He then turned to the class, few of whom looked wide-eyed at the blackboard.

"Hello, my name is Hyoudou Issei. My family calls me Ise though. Pleased to meet you all." He said as he bowed politely to the class.

The ones with the wide-eyes goggled at him while a few more looked like they were trying to remember something important. Until…...

"Eh?!"

"Hyoudou?"

"NO WAY!"

"For real?"

The class broke out into fierce whispers, the ones who recognized the name pointing at him till the teacher told them all to calm down. "Now, if any of you have any questions for Mr. Hyoudou here, you may ask."

The class erupted with noise as almost everyone wanted to ask him a question.

"Are you really from the House of the Raging Bull?" A girl wearing glasses asked from the front.

"Are you the son of Hyoudou Daichi and Cassandra?"

"Is it true that you have won the Young Dragon Championship last year?" A rather handsome blonde boy from the middle asked.

"Did your father really break a tiger's skull with a single punch?"

"Is the newly opened Raging Bull Gym owned by your mother?"

"Damn, your mother is one hot thing! Can I come into your house and check out-I mean see her?" A guy from the back yelled. Issei scowled as the class sweat-dropped at his words.

"To answer all your questions," Ise began. "Yes, I am from the House of the Raging Bull, once master trainers and fighters of our nation." He said with pride in his voice. "Yes, my mother is Cassandra Hyoudou, former UFC bantamweight champion. My father is Hyoudou Daichi, the Iron Bull. However, I don't recall him punching a tiger in the face, ever." He had everybody laughing at that. "I did win the championship last year. Finally, we own the gym. It specializes in training fighters or athletes. One of my father's last wishes." He finished. A perfect mix of both yours and ma's heritage. Well thought, dad.

"Hey! You didn't answer my question!" The guy from the back complained.

"That is enough Matsuda. Issei, please take a seat." The teacher said as Ise sat down next the blonde guy.

Let's hope the rest of the class doesn't go like this. He sighed as the teacher began his lecture.

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Oh well, at least it wasn't any worse. Ise thought as he walked back to his home. His school day wasn't that bad. Other than the infamous perverted duo trying to get an autographed photo of his mother, it was okay. Like he had expected, quite a few recognized who he was just by his name. Of course, a fighter would never gain the same level of fame as a singer, but by the day had passed rumors and stories about his family was beginning to spread. Those from the kendo club and martial arts club stopped their training and stared at him when he was passing them. He scowled as he remembered something.

They knew me because of my parents. Not for me. He gritted his teeth but stopped himself from raging instantly. He never felt anything but love from both his parents, and he loved dearly them too. What he hated was that people constantly kept judging him by the achievements of his parents.

"Your dad was way better than this you know?"

"If you are weak like this, how can you expect to live up to your father's name?"

"Your mother is Cassie? Wow, you look way too skinny for her son!"

They tried to shield him from this of course but it just wasn't possible. That's why he kept pushing himself. He learned the Raging Bull's Rampage style from his father that his family held so sacred. He learned his mother's grace and deadly speed. But in the end, he refused to use either style for anything but practice.

One day, I'll become the best fighter in the world. And I'll do it with a style of my own.

His thoughts were broken as he suddenly heard malicious laughter from dark alley he left behind. He stopped as his ears picked up four, no five voices.

"Oy, Ray! Check this girl out! She got crimson hair, and look at that body. Damn!"

"Tch, I'm more into the other one. I get her first."

"No can do Ken, I get the red first. I spotted them."

"No, I get it first!" Another whined.

"Why don't we let the ladies decide?" A calm voice said, but Issei could hear the mockery and lust dripping from it.

Wasting no more time, he leaped onto the wall next to him then onto a roof. He ran and grabbed a hold on the next building, climbing rapidly. Just as he reached the top, he saw them advancing on the two girls. Both were wearing Kouh academy uniforms.

He let himself fall off the roof. As he descended, his legs smashed on the first guy's shoulders, making a sick crunching sound as the guy got knocked out from the hit. He crouched low as he landed over the guy's body and made a low kick at two others feet. As they fell, Issei shot out his hands in a palm strike position, impacting their nose and breaking it first. Almost instantly, he rotated his palms and thrust at their back, accelerating their fall. He leaped off to the next target using the thrust's power and his legs, making a fist with his right and smashing it on his nose, hurling him backwards and bonking his head as he landed. He crouched and swung his left leg at the last one's calves. It was a weak one, but he was so surprised that Ise's attack made his legs give away. As he fell, Ise broke the man's nose with a strike, but this time didn't shove him to the floor. Instead, he grabbed his right hand and struck his elbow from behind with brute force with his own. A sick crunch was heard.

"Aaaaaagrh!" The guy managed to yell out before Ise pressed a point on the back of his neck harshly, making him pass out from pain. He dropped the man and relaxed his stance.

The whole thing happened just under a minute.

Ise looked at the girls, checking for injuries of any sort. They looked fine, though they had stunned looks on their faces. Issei couldn't help but notice both girls were very beautiful.

He coughed loudly to get their attention. "You girls okay?"

"Y-yeah. We're fine." The crimson haired one manged to say.

"Good. Don't hang around here any longer. And take care okay?" He said as he ran over to his house. He was getting late for practice. They'd just have to make do on their own. No time for playing knight in shining armor.

"Wait!" She yelled.

"Buchou, he's gone." The black-haired girl stated.

"He was wearing Kouh Academy uniform. Who was that, Akeno?" She asked.

"I believe it was a new second year student, Hyoudou Issei."

"He's pretty strong."

"Well, his family is quite famous for their fighting style. I heard his mother was quite the fighter as well. My, Buchou are you interested in him by chance?" Akeno asked as she smiled.

"Maybe. Let's just watch him for now. Besides, we never got the chance to say thank you, did we?" The crimson haired one said as she walked away.

"As you wish. Before we go, I should wipe their minds. don't want these idiots to find us again." Akeno said as she waved with her hand. A flash of red later, they were gone.

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"Ma, I'm home." Ise announced as he panted and huffed.

"You know Ise honey, you can just take a walk back. No need to be in such a hurry all the time." Cassie smiled at her son.

"I have to train." He answered as he rushed past her.

"How was school?" she asked.

"It was fine, ma. And don't make that face, I meant it when I said it was okay. Didn't make any friends like you hoped though." He answered as he stopped to talk with her.

"Ise, how can you expect..." She was stopped mid rant as he raised his hands.

"It takes time, ma. Besides, I did say that I liked this school didn't I? So, just give it time." He replied.

"Okay" She smiled. "It was perfectly normal, nothing to mention?"

"It was." He said and then snickered. "There were two perverts who kept bugging me for your photo though. Said you were hot as hell." He conveniently forgot to mention the incident after school. She didn't need to worry any more than she did already.

"Let me get this straight." She said slowly. "Two perverted boys my son's age told my son that his mother was hot as hell while demanding a photo of me."

"Yes." He burst out laughing seeing her face.

"Thanks for the ego boost!" She said in a dry, slightly disgusted tone.

"Anyways, ma. I got to run now." Ise said a he dashed in his room as his mother sighed in exasperation.

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The next day went as normally as possible. Ise was packing his things as the bell rang. He lowered to check if he was leaving something behind when he heard all movements stop. Somehow, he felt that he was the cause of it. As he slowly got up, fiery crimson and lustrous black came into view.

The two girls he saved last day.

"H-Hello." He said, a bit unnerved that they had found him.

The duo simply bowed deeply in response, shocking everyone present. A moment later the crimson haired girl spoke in a regal tone.

"Hyoudou Issei. Yesterday, you saved both mine and my friend Akeno's lives. For that, thank you."

"It was the right thing to do." He responded, still too shocked at their behavior.

"Regardless, it was a brave, selfless act that saved our lives." She paused. "My name is Rias Gremory. I am a third year and also the President of the Occult Research Club." She bowed again.

"And my name is Akeno Himejima. Also a third year and a member of the Occult research club." The black haired beauty beside her bowed as well.

He did not want to be rude to them. From the expressions around him, he figured them to be very important figures. He bowed in return. "Please call me Ise. A pleasure to meet you."

"Ara, such well behavior. You must be quite the gentleman." Akeno giggled.

He had no response to that. So he merely stood there and blushed, making her giggle more in response.

"Since I can see it's futile to make you accept anything in return, how about I offer you my friendship?" Rias said, as she extended her hand.

"Sure thing, senpai." He chocked out a moment later as he shook it. Friends?

"Now don't forget me Ise-kun." Akeno giggled at his gobsmacked face.

That was the only mention worthy event of his day. Other than a new female transfer student called Yuuma Amano who sat beside him for the day. But he could care less about that.

Well, now I can tell ma that I may have made a couple of friends.

Character List

Hyoudou Daichi (Ise's father. Also know as the 'Iron Bull' for his power and prowess. Deceased.)

Cassandra Hyoudou (Ise's mother, former UFC Bantamweight champion, now the owner of the Raging Bull Gym in Kuoh.)

Terms or Concepts Used

Hyoudou House: Also known as the House of the Raging Bull, a quite well-known family for it's creation and mastery of the Raging Bull's Rampage style. This house has produced and trained many famous warriors before, and used to be one of the only houses that proudly held on to it's traditions, till Ise's father died.

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