"Yeah, see you too." I heard a kid say to his friend near me. I looked up and shut my eyes, craving some quietness. I tried to shut out and drown the noises near me for just a second but it was no use, people were too loud.
I huffed, and massaged my temples, walking forward. It was the end of the school day and I hadn't seen the Gremory peerage at all, which made the day even more dull and boring.
Slipping through the crowd, a girl came out and stood in front of me. She was standing there, smiling brightly and I decided to greet her because I did know her name.
Too exhausted too smile, I plastered a fake onto my face. "Hey Mayumi, what's up?"
She stretched her smile even wider, if possible. I took a look at her for one second. Falling down her back were waves of light brown hair, she had bright blue eyes and from the talks I'd shared with her; she was generally a nice and outgoing person.
Unfortunately, did to my demigod ability I heard Issei's horny friend talk about this girl's… boob size. I groaned quietly at them and because of their ridiculous thoughts, my eyes made their way into her breasts. Not being rude, I immediately looked away and overall, Mayumi was a pretty girl for her height - she was a bit shorter than me.
"Hey uh…" She blushed a shade of pink and so I raised my eyebrow at her. "I came here to ask you something." She mumbled, looking down.
Why was she acting so weird? "And what's that?" I asked her calmly.
Slowly, I saw her loosen up from her tense body a minute ago and she looked me in the eye. "Do you want to go out with me?"
I winced at her, she was asking me on a date and I was going to say no. I sadly smiled and scratched my neck. "Look Mayumi, I'm sorry but no."
She frowned and then looked away. "Oh." Her voice was quiet. "That's okay." She muttered.
Starting to walk away, she went away before I spun her around with a hand on her shoulder. Sterling my nerves, I lifted her chin and inspired her. "Look Mayumi, I may have rejected you but there will be someone out there for you. Don't get caught up on me, I promise you someone is there for you, you just haven't found them yet." Every word was spoken truthfully and fiercely.
Mayumi nodded, agreeing with my reasoning. "Yeah, I guess." She replied. "It's just, I've been trying for ages." Th-thanks anyways, for the encouragement, I'll see you tomorrow." She grinned, a genuine sign of happiness and acceptance.
Walking backwards, she moved away waving at me. I waved back at her and smiled. "See ya' too Mayumi!" I yelled to her.
I sighed contentedly with myself; I had just helped someone even if if I turned down their offer of a date. Tired from doing stupid equations, I ran a hand through my air and felt my throat go dry from the lack of water.
Shoving my hands into my pockets, I strolled to my motorcycle since Akeno had insisted on driving on it. Whistling a tune, I thought about what to do now. No one was expecting me at home and helping Rias' peerage wasn't an option right now, my emotions fluctuated too easily. The only place in mind was to visit my mom in hospital alongside Paul and just have some peace of mind there. I wasn't going to head there but I had a chance of plans
Discreetly, I saw a flash of red and only one person had such bright and majestic red hair in this school - Rias. Cutting my whistle short, I walked with a quicker pace to my vehicle. It's not that I didn't want to talk to Rias, it's more of I wanted some tranquility, I didn't want to talk about anything magical.
Finally at my bike, I was about to take place myself onto it when a tap on my shoulder caused me to tense and twist around quickly. I realised it was only Rias and calmed down. She was standing there in the usual school uniform, raising an eyebrow at me.
"Were you trying to avoid me?" She asked and her expression told me everything.
"No…?" I meekly replied with a shrug, as more of a question since I wasn't sure myself.
"Well its fine. I'll just go if you don't want to talk." She quickly came to a conclusion.
I grabbed her arm and pulled her around. "I just wanted some peace…" I scratched my neck. "Wanted to visit my mom with a clear head, hadn't seen her today." With a gesture, I explained. "I'm sorry." Ashamed, I looked down for being a dick already.
"It's okay, I can see you're just anxious over your family and are worried. They'll be okay and be back great, believe me." She consoled me with her words.
I didn't realise it until she mentioned me, my mind was always on overdrive and my mind was reeling in thoughts. I fidgeted more, got angrier more easily and I didn't concentrate properly. "I guess you're right." I agreed. "It's just I don't know who hurt them."
"If you want, we can discuss the attackers if you know anything." She offered.
"Yeah, sure, not right now, maybe later today after meeting my mom or tomorrow." I stated, without thinking much.
"Okay, I'm fine with that. I hope to see you there, Percy." She replied with a smile gracing her lips.
I nodded mutely in reply and said back. "Alright, I really have to go, Rias. See ya'." I gave her a quick hug and we lightly embraced before letting go. Reluctantly, she stood to the side and watched me get on my bike, start the engine and zoom away.
While on my drive away from school, I twisted around and spotted her waving her hands and I grinned, waving one back. Not wanting to crash, I spun back around and continued on my path to the hospital.
Once in the parking lot, I left after locking my motorcycle bike and sped to the huge building. The doors automatically opened due to the technology so without further ado, I raced to the reception where the same woman was, smiling brightly at me.
I'm guessing she saw the urgency and worry in my eyes or something because she instantly waved me to mom and Paul's room and wished me a 'good day'. I didn't prefer elevators since I could probably run up the stairs faster and that's what I did. Activating a godly blessing, I whipped through the stairs in no time and found mom's room - BZ 137.
I calmed myself for this and shut my eyes, heaving a few deep breaths. Calm, I changed in my head. Slowly, my breath became normal and heartbeat at rest, so I opened my eyes and made my way into the room.
However, I instantly cursed the fates. Paul was definitely asleep with his quiet snoring and so was my mom, her face innocently sitting on her pillow and her body moving with even breaths. Silently, I went to the chair next to mom and sat down in it, it wasn't particularly comfortable.
Then… I gazed at my mom. I looked at her and her stats, feeling guilt well up in me for this, for being too late to protect her, too slow. It made me feel the same as I did back when I was in the US, Greece, Alaska, I felt guilt. Self-hate for being weak, pathetic and too slow to save those close to me.
All it did was make me doubt myself and make me feel… bad. Every day, I swept up another mask of emotions and made the atmosphere around me joyful, causing snickers here and smiles there. Sometimes, my fatal flaw loyalty went too far, but I was happy to sacrifice myself for everyone's well being, after all, it was my fault.
I didn't realise it but I was crying. Drowning in my own tears, while I held my mother's hand with both of my hands, and tears dropping to the smooth duvet. I placed my forehead on her head, my feelings becoming too much and slipping out, through my grasp.
"Mom…" I whispered quietly. "Why me? What did I ever do the fates?" My cries were rising in volume but I just held back the choked sobs of sadness. "I keep letting people lean on me, rely on me and follow me as their leader."
I let out some more sobs, head still on her head. The room doors were thankfully shut and both were still fast asleep. "And every time, I let people die, disappear. Beckendorf, Luke, Zoë, Annabeth, Hazel, many demigods, many people who hoped they'd survive if they stayed by my side but inevitably, they were whisked away with the wind." My voice was quivering, I was so fragile at that moment.
"Then they ripped Annabeth apart, and my closest friends who I fought with for over a year. My friend lost himself to depression, committing suicide. I almost did but she said to carry on living." I wailed. "But why? There's nothing to look for in the world, you are my only strings to life." I reasoned, salty tears leaking out of my ears.
"And then we come here and I had believed I would slowly heal. But my heart yearns, yearns and yearns for love - me and Annabeth, we were supposed to survive the war, get married, move into our own home and have kids or something. But it was all snatched away!" My voice portrayed a bitter and hateful tone.
"So now I'm starting to like my friends when they are already in relationships. Akeno, Rias - I'm not naïve enough to disregard the feeling that I'm liking them more and more." Shutting my eyes, I attempted to stop the tears but to no avail. "But they are with Issei and they deserve to be with them. I feel regretful for telling them that they probably don't love each other because of something to do with him. And here's me, fawning over them and interfering in their lives." I remorsefully cried.
"And that's all I do. Cause problems and lose the ones closest to me because of me." I ended with my self-condemning speech.
"Shh." Someone gently whispered to me. I looked up and saw my mom, her bright and kind blue eyes, staring into my own. About to open my mouth, she silenced me with a soft finger to my mouth and shook her head. Looking down, and unable to bear her gaze at me, I stayed that way. However, a hand grudgingly raised my chin back up to her line of sight.
"Look, Percy. Don't say that all of their deaths are your fault." She began in the softest voice ever.
"But loo-" I tried to say but her light glare stopped me and so I shut up.
"No buts mister. Your friends, they were willing to die for you and the same for you. They chose it, and unfortunately, they died in the process. It wasn't because of you, it was because they saw something," She poked a finger into my chest. "in you. The loyalty, merciful, kind, gentle, loving, amazing person standing right here. You are my son." For some reason, that statement made me proud and my tears were slowly coming to an end.
"They did it for you. Don't let their deaths go to vain. They died so you could live, they are having a peaceful life in Elysium and when my time comes, so will I, then so will you - it is inevitable, honey." Mom coaxed me.
I nodded silently to her words, starting to agree. "And your girlfriend, Annabeth," I flinched Abby at her name. "was right too. You need to go out and heal from the last, there is no point dwelling on it. Stop stumbling over things behind you. The past is the past and it's where it should stay - not redefining your future." She wisely told me, and she was right.
"And your situation with love." I perked up at that since I didn't know what to do. "Do what you think is right. What your heart wants. Don't take what your heart wants forcefully but do it gently. And if you don't do it, waiting for them, then stop wasting your time." She steeled her voice at the end. "You are the one who should be taking risks and leaps of faith like many of your stunts like the bridge when trying to save me."
I smiled fondly at the memory and noiselessly chuckled. "Don't stand there, you have to act or you don't get your chance."
Her words, they inspired me. "Thanks mom." I replied happily. "You're the best mom in the world."
She shooed me away, telling me to do something about it before it's too late. "Alright, alright." I put my hands, snickering at her attitude. "I'll be off, tell Paul my greetings and get well soon. I'll see you both later." I kissed my mom on the cheek before walking backwardly away with a wave. "Bye."
Mom's lips turned up and she waved tiredly back. "Bye Percy, and I'll make sure to tell Paul."
Turning back around. I glided across the floor, shoes having a lot of grip, and exited the room, the door slipping back into place. Pulling my phone out of my pocket to check the time, I glanced at it while quickly looking up to not crash into anyone. It was the evening right now and I opted to go home until my phone dinged.
'Hey Percy, sorry for interrupting your time with your family but I wanted to say that the meeting about their attackers is still up. My peerage is here, at Issei's house. Thanks.' It read, the message from Rias.
I unlocked my phone with the fingerprint and created a message to send back. 'Yeah, I wasn't about to come until you reminded me. I'll be as quick as I can, I want to know who it was. Bye.' Pressing send, I put the device away and sped off through the building and back to my bike.
I knew in reality, I could run faster than my motorcycle itself, but what wasn't fun about not living at all and sitting on such a glorious seat. I revved it up and drove away to Issei's house.
Too lazy to concentrate on anything but my objective, I reached the meeting location in a few minutes. I shut the bike down, got off and knocked on the door.
I fixed my outfit, pulling my blazer, straightening my shirt and shaking my legs to get some energy out. The brown door opened to reveal Issei and we greeted each other.
"'Sup." I said to him.
"I'm okay. Hey, come in. They're all waiting upstairs, we should get there quickly." He told me.
I waved him on, to go forward. We both walked through a hallway and with a few turns, found the elevator up. When we entered, I was welcomed with some chill vibes when suddenly Issei's face brightened up considerable with a huge grin. What just happened?
He ran a hand through his hair, his face going crazy. "I got to fe-" I knew exactly where he was going with this and placed a hand over his mouth.
"Stop right there." I demanded with a roll of my eyes. "I don't want to know what sexual activities you had, got that?" I stated and he nodded hesitantly.
I let him go and he let out a breath he was holding and that's when the elevator doors dinged open and we travelled through. Letting Issei go first, I followed behind and took a look at everyone scattered around the room.
In the centre, was the same glass table, and around it was everyone. Issei plopped himself down in between Asia and Rias, with Asia, deliberately hugging his arm and pushing her bosoms against it. Xenovia sat on the opposite sofa, who was staring away at the wall, with Koneko and a box next to her, with I guessed Gasper in there since he was extremely shy. On the other side of the box was Rossweisse, I couldn't get over her - she was our school teacher but actually a Valkyrie.
And finally on the third sofa, creating the U shape of couches, was Akeno on one side and Kiba on the other who nodded at me. I gave a faint smile and nodded back in respect. Not knowing where to sit, I self-consciously sat next to Akeno.
And for some reason, since I didn't think she saw nor heard me when I entered, she tended and in the slightest, began to shuffle away. Did I do something wrong? I shrugged it off, focusing on more pressing matters at the moment.
I faved Rias after her cough for attention, as she crossed her legs. "So, we are here today, to discuss the potential people who were behind Percy's family's attack." She gestured to me and her emerald green eyes mixed with a shade of blue pierced my own. I thought devils would have red eyes. I blinked at the random thought and pushed it aside.
"Well…" It had been a few days since the attack so I struggled to recall what they looked like since it was dark; until it clicked why I started a fight with these guys minutes after. They looked like a black cat! "They looked like a black cat." I repeated aloud this time. "I didn't see much but from what I could tell, they had black cat ears and a weird tail. She was human but had cat features." That puzzled me, from everything they told me of their world, there was nothing to do with cats which was random.
Koneko had frozen a bit and stared at me hard. "Are you sure?" She pressed, leaning forward.
I nodded. "Yeah. I saw her. She was dressed in some weird Japanese outfit," I continued until I saw the offended looks, and I scratched my head. "sorry, it just is one of those things…" I tried to remember what it was called. "...a kimono! A black one. And yeah, they also had golden eyes but were also tinted Hazel I guess." I finished my examination of the suspect.
"That's Kuroka, right Koneko?" Issei piped up from his spot. I turned to Koneko who nodded silently in reply.
I wave waved hands in a time out gesture, perplexed. "Wait, who is this cat-lady called Kuroka?"
Since Koneko didn't reply, I swivelled to Rias who took the spotlight. "Kuroka is the sister of Koneko…" She began her explanation of Kuroka while after it all, I sat there baffled.
"So Kuroka is Koneko's sister, born among the… the Nekoshou race, which are basically humans with cat features. She was a criminal for killing her master when she became a devil, and they split apart and now she's back with this Khaos Brigade to destroy the Great Red Dragon?" I concluded unsurely, since it was new information which didn't link with anything I knew.
Rias nodded. "So who actually leads the Khaos Brigade?" I asked confused. And why was it named Khaos, I'm pretty sure Chaos doesn't want to kill anyone or anything - pure blasphemy of her name.
"It is a wielder of the Sacred Gear Divine Dividing, Vali-"
I cut her off before she could finish it off, since I did it myself. "-Lucifer." Her face became curious and also confused along with several others.
I muttered several curses, and anger started pouring into me that I let him escape like that. How did I not make the link the powerful person he was trying to track was me? Furiously, I tugged at my hair and grit my teeth when Rias asked the million-dollar question. "How do you know him Percy?"
I calmed myself down, reminding myself of everyone's expectations and what would happen if I lost control. "Well…" I rubbed my chin. "In the park?" They blinked at me but Rias encouraged me to go on. "I just had a weekend day out so I went out last Saturday, stopping at park and sitting on a bench. He came next, talking about how he wanted to kill that dragon dude and that he wanted a challenge in life. How life was boring, and he was looking for a fight when he discovered me." I recounted, assuming they already knew it anyway.
"Except this fight won't be on friendly terms since you know he is the enemy?" Koneko spoke up.
"Yeah." I leant back into the sofa. "I guess. But he's going down, I should've beat him up when I had the chance except I didn't know it was him." I shut my eyes, guilt clouding myself for being useless.
Kiba shook my shoulder with a frown. "C'mon bro, don't be like that. We'll destroy the guy if he endangers us. It's not your fault you didn't know." He consoled me with some soothing words which I nodded along with.
"Thanks for the advice, I just feel stupid I let him go like that." I clenched my fist. "I would've crushed it but nope…" I stopped tensing my arm and let go, grinning at Kiba who smiled back. I accidentally glanced to right, and saw Akeno still vaguely tense and now lying on the far armrest. Why was she avoiding me?
Rias then continued the conversation. "So we know who the culprit is, it was Kuroka. Right now, we don't know where the Khaos Brigade nor could we attack them anyway." I was about to retort to that statement when she glared moderately at me. "No Percy, you are not going to go out there looking for them and take them by yourselves." That wasn't exactly my plan but close enough. "We will find where they are together, me, my peerage and Percy, and go there, fighting them as one. We can't leave each other behind and I care for all servants the same. I know you are very powerful but even you can't take them all on."
I guess she was right, not like I could take a guy manifesting a dragon along with some other annoying magical people. I huffed in exasperation and crossed my arms childishly. "This sucks." I mumbled.
Asia giggled at my attitude while some of them smiled. Rias shook her head, her crimson red hair falling back into place and was out to speak when Koneko said something embarrassing. "So you care for Percy more?"
I knew what she was pointing out and I hoped no one would have but obviously Koneko did, the devilishly grin on her face told it all. Rias looked at her confused while I just choked a cough. "What?" Rias asked, a bit irritated.
"You said you care for all of your servants the same, instead of all of us so now either you care for Percy more or less than us." Koneko clarified with amusement in her tone and she put her lollipop back in her mouth.
Rias blushed a dark shade while I fell deeper into my shirt, trying to hide it everyone was laughing. Xenovia, Rossweisse and Kiba were snickering at my misfortune, I even heard something from Gasper in his cardboard box. However, to my right Akeno was still focused on nothing, not showing any positivity today. I would talk with her later about this, and her mood.
Rias screeched and growled but it was weak while she was blushing to her roots, her face and hair merging together. "Koneko! Shut up!"
Koneko shrugged bemusedly and carelessly. "It's true though." She pointed out with her lollipop.
She blinked at the way she was acting with her and huffed, crossing her arms and looking up. "It was an accident." She curtly replied. "I care for you all the same." Why was she lying? She probably favoured Issei more for their relationship.
Thankfully, she put an end to the embarrassment and was slowly becoming her natural shade along with me. "I think we've discussed enough today," Cue a cough. "so I think we should end the meeting and carry on with our daily business as there have been no stray devils reported or the sorts." No one objected with her decision and so everyone went on with their life, I checked the clock and saw it just became 6pm.
Most of the girls went into one room with Kiba giving me a 'goodbye' and heading to his home, with Rias attending to a different room which I assumed was hers instead. I could tell from her eyes she was trying to stay strong and was genuinely sad about the incident with Issei, and I didn't think talking to her about it would help again. I let her go and have some time to herself.
Akeno got up and went into a separate room too, avoiding eye contact with me. All the way there, I could see some clashing emotions in her eyes and when I was about to go after her, Issei stepped in front of me.
He looked a bit down and he explained himself at my confused gaze. "It's just… Akeno hasn't been the same. She's normally flirty and teasing but today, and for a while, she had been acting, uh, different. Her feelings and actions are somehow forced I guess, and I can tell she is drifting away from me." His tone portrayed he was upset over the situation but he did have a harem.
I stood there silently taking in his words. What was truly wrong with Akeno, that caused her to act like this? "I think it would be best if I broke up with her so she can be free and find someone else. I'm upset…" He kicked the ground absentmindedly. "...but I do have a harem; it's not like I don't care, more of I'll get over it quickly." He explained at the suspicious look on my face. If he didn't actually care about them…
I clapped him on the shoulder. "You do what is best for her. I'll try and go to her room, and make her spill." I advised him. He smiled at me and nodded his head in acceptance.
"Alright Percy. Hopefully you can do something, not like with Rias." He looked pointedly at me with narrowed eyes.
I put my hands up. "I told you, she fell asleep on me."
I knew he still didn't believe me but he let it go and walked to the room where most of the girls went… obviously to 'chill'.
[End of the chapter]
A/N: Too lazy to give an original author's note for each story so here; hope you all enjoyed the story and review what's good and bad about it. Say whatever you want.
Laziness has been my main reason for a late chapter, but also lack of motivation to write which just comes and goes whoever got some reason. And I'm going on holiday for a bit so don't expect a new chapter any time soon.
Favourite and follow, and reviews would be greatly appreciated since it shows how my skill for writing is changing overtime and if my story is realistic and needs altering of any errors.
Anyway, have a good day y'all, and:
Peace.