Many summers passed. Seasons came and went, unhindered. Gentle winds, calm waters. Those gentle days passed quickly, not waiting for anyone to catch up. Time didn't stop, people changed. Warm days, cold nights, nightmares and daydreams all passed. Time didn't slow down for the tragedy, nor it sped up for fortune.

Time was simply time, unyielding to anyone. It carried on.

The calm carried on for a long time after the demise of the two greatest enemies of that time. Simple, kind life was lead by most. Perhaps too kind, but no one really complained.

Of course, it would lying to say there was no more fighting. There was, of course, as always. Unrest, evil intent - but nothing that stood out. It was simply life.

And life carried on.

The cherry blossoms spun in the wind, gently. Life was bustling like she had never seen before. The girl, holding her book bag in her hands, took a deep breath and smiled. To say that she was uncomfortable would be wrong - she was simply anxious. Her new uniform suited her and she knew it, having let her brown hair fall down, two straight side bangs framing her somewhat messy straight cut at the front.

Tilting her head to the side, she stared down the giant building in front of her. It was hard to take it all in - she was suppose to study here? The people, tussling like ants all around - all of them, convicted, in the know of where to go, what to do. She blushed slightly, still holding the bookcase at the hem of her skirt.

''New student, huh?''

A timid voice asked her from the side. She spun her head, noticing a rather tall boy, his dark hair ruffling in the wind. Behind him, the cherry tree rustled, blowing blossoms around them both.

''Yes, I am.'' - she stated, smiling. -''New in town, as well.''

He smiled. -''I am too. From far away?''

''From the shore.'' - She said, sticking a bit of her tongue out. -''And you?''

''I'm from Hokaido, girl by the shore.'' - he answered, in the same playful manner.

She chuckled. -''That's a long way from Tokyo. What's your class?''

''One-Two. And you?''

''Likewise.'' - she spoke, smiling. He was pulling at the sleeves of his dark blazer, before answering.

''Want to stick together?''

''Sure.'' - she answered, closing one eye. -''What's your name?''

''Mori Isayama.'' - he blushed a bit, remembering that he hadn't introduced himself. -''And you?''

''Yuri Suitopi.'' - she answered, raising her hand. -''Nice to meet you, boy from Hokaido.''

''Indeed.'' - he clasped her hand, shaking it twice. -''Nice to meet you, girl from the shore.''

Both turned towards the giant building, beginning to walk, stepping over the gentle cherry blossoms.

...

Quite a few kids were playing in the park. It was midday, and she was sitting on a park's bench with a cup of coffee in her hand, slowly sipping. Even thought it was quite warm outside, she needed her coffee, to fight of sleep.

Her glance followed the kids, as they ran around, playing catch. Their speeds were quite unnatural, as one of the girls jumped up a tree in a single, light step from the ground. She showed her tongue to the boy who remained on the ground, before trying to jump up the tree as well, but the girl was already gone. He gave up, going after a different kid.

Probably hadn't developed his devil powers as well as the girl, she thought. Leaning back on the bench, she exhaled deeply, throwing her head back. Her long hair slid down the bench's backside. She wanted to keep this gentle calm. Birds chirping, leaves rustling, kids shouting. She glanced at the azure sky, not a cloud in sight. Warm sunlight enveloped her in a sense of coziness.

''E-e-excuse me, miss.''

She heard a high pitched voice, pulling her head out of the non-existent clouds. She glanced down - it was the same kid, who had tried to catch the girl before.

''M?'' - She leaned downwards, her elbow under her chin.

''...Are you Koneko Toujou?''

She closed her eyes for a second, smiling. -''Sure am.''

The kid beamed, his eyes quite literally sparkling. -''I-I-I'm a big fan! I've read all the books that are published about you!''

She leaned forwards even more, ruffling his hair, not saying anything. In those few seconds, all the other kids were around her. Asking questions all at once, trying to outshout each other, Koneko could only show them a slightly uncomfortable smile, trying to calm them down.

''One at a time!'' - She shouted, not too strictly, making them all calm down. Birds chirped in the distance, but the kids didn't anymore. Had she been too intimidating, she thought, but soon after a girl tore the silence.

''Is it true that you became an ultimate devil from a low-class devil?''

Her eyes narrowed a bit, and she responded, after taking a long sip from her coffee cup. -''Yes. I climbed all the way to the top.''

The kids called her cool, making her uncomfortable again. Kids were her weak-spot in this kind of thing. Too much innocence, too much trust in their heroes.

''How did you get so strong?''

A very common question, for a long time now. She smirked. -''Eat a lot, train a lot, sleep a lot.''

Half of the kids pouted, others were reluctant. Their expressions probably meant they had heard it before.

''Don't worry, you'll all grow big and strong.'' - she closed one eye, looking the kids over one more time. With a glance, she could tell. -''You'll be the new generation - holding up devils, so for now - enjoy youth.''

The kids looked thoughtful, as she tried to take another sip of her coffee, only to realize it was empty. She got up, only to get the kids in awe.

''You're really tall! I never realized it on TV!'' - a girl from the kids exclaimed.

She scratched the behind of her head, sighing lightly. She had grown pretty tall, but not ''really'' tall. Well, but she didn't really correct the kids, since she was used to it.

''You'll be too, if you eat your vegetables.'' - She said, showing her tongue. She flicked her wrist, throwing the empty cup towards the quite afar trash bin, and it landed dead center, inside, making the kids even more excited.

In recent years she had somewhat accepted her role as the ''cool hero'', so she didn't really mind the attention.

''Hey, will you play with us?''

''Can't do, I'm busy with grown up things. Maybe sometime later!''

They let out a collective sigh. She looked at their sad faces, before sighing to herself. -''Alright, I won't play with you, but I'll teach you something useful! School sometimes teaches useless things, right?''

They all nodded, their eyes intense and calibrated at Koneko's every little movement.

''Alright, to be a strong devil, you need to in control of your powers, right? You can't just use it willy-nilly, without a care. This will be useful for everything - strength, speed, power.''

She raised her hand, and snapped her fingers. In the place of green summer grass, a small, round pound appeared. Azure water, the same as the sky, surprised the kids. -''This is not the trick, though.''

They watched, as she walked to the middle of it, walking on the water, not even ripples appeared.

''It's important to remember that devil's power can be used not only to destroy and attack. You just need to let it gently flow out of your feet.''

She remained standing, her hands in her white pants' pockets, as a kid tried it, only to fall knee deep into the water. The kids all laughed, as he jumped back out. She cracked up a bit, too. A girl made a single step, before puncturing the surface. She smiled at Koneko, and Koneko smiled back, encouraging her.

She noticed someone standing in the shade, so she turned back to the kids. -''I need to go, so just try to get this. It's not that hard at all.''

Disappointment in their shinny little eyes.

''...and later, you will be able to do...this!''

She exclaimed, raising both of her feet from the water, floating mid-air, without wings.

''Woah!'' - a kid shouted. -''I can't even get my wings to pop out!''

She jumped off the pound, chuckling. -''It will all come with time, as I said.''

Before walking off, she noticed the boy who had recognized her was looking a bit sad. She sighed lightly, and took off her white, thin coat. The kid lit up like a lightbulb, his eyes wide and shiny. Koneko just hoped he wouldn't start to cry, because that was always awkward.

He didn't, fortunately, as he put it on. Of course it was way too large, the ends scraping against the ground, him rolling the sleeves up.

''It's a special coat - it won't really tear or get dirty. You'll grow into it.''

She rubbed his hair again, before pushing him towards the other kids. He waved, running towards them, screaming about being a hero. She chuckled, going towards the row of trees.

''Ah, youth.'' - Koneko spoke to the man standing in the shade. -''Seems like it's pretty nice to be young.''

''Indeed. It's pretty cute, isn't it?'' - he nodded, smiling. -''Although you're not that old.''

She nodded. In devil years she wasn't old at all. -''Age is odd, right? I look about 20.''

''You're what, like 30? There's no difference. We're devils. We'll talk about age when you're 300.'' - He laughed, crossing his arms. His glance turned a bit serious after that.

''Well...when you put it like that, I guess I have to agree.'' - she looked past him. She was a bit over 30, actually.

He tilted his head to the side, sighing. -''I'll just come out and say this - there's a problem. We need your help.''

''I expected ''a problem'' ever since I saw you standing here, all shady looking.'' - she sighed, stretching her back, as she looked at the sky. Her back arched, she raised her sun-kissed, toned arms behind her head, and pulled her long, red hair in a single, messy ponytail.

She exhaled deeply, stopping her half-stretching. Her glance, now serious, pierced the man in front of her. He smirked.

''Good to see you taking this seriously.'' - he spoke, looking her in the eyes.

Her stance had changed in a few seconds. It didn't take much for her to look intimidating, not ever since her growth spurt.

''What is it about?'' - she asked, her eyebrows upturning. -''Don't tell me it's Gods again.''

This time he didn't sigh.. -''It's not. Micheal...said that the Longinus Spear is gone from the system.''

''So...there's a human out there that was born with the Longinus Spear.''

He nodded.

''We need to find him.''

''There's no time to waste. It would be shame if...''

''Enough.'' - she spoke, raising her hand. -''We need to protect the wielder, and their parents. I'll go see Azazel, devise a plan. Meet me at Sirzechs' office in an hour. Get the others.''

He nodded, looking as Koneko disappeared in a elaborate magic circle, mixing Ki and magic together. He sighed again, turning to look at the kids playing. Happy smiles, shinny eyes, full of dreams and hopes.

He looked at the sky. Clouds had rolled in, white and soft. Sun was warm on his back, refreshing wind rustled his hair.

Kind, gentle days.

Writer's notes.

And that is it. The story is over. (I know that this is a dumb thing to say, but there IS gonna be someone out there, so I'll say it - the man in the shade is not Issei. He is just a devil, who I decided to not name.)

I would like to thank you, readers. Without you, this wouldn't be. Also, I would like to thank a few certain persons. Shadenight123, who was the inspiration to me. Like a mentor, sensei, in a way. Although it's kind of odd, since he doesn't even know or care about me. And that's fine.

Also, Ishida Sui, the creator of Tokyo Ghoul. That man is amazing and hard working. I strive to be like him. I would be straight up lying, if I said that this story isn't inspired by his work.

DragonXDelinquent, who I lost contact with, but he helped in the beginning, when it all started. I remember telling him that I want to write a story that will reach the front page of DxD fanfictions. Well, I did it, kind of?

LabsAuthor was also someone who disappeared on me. SatanPie too, who is most likely busy, and I'm happy for him. He's a bright kid.

I really don't mind that people disappear from my life - since that is just life. People change, no need to purposely try to keep the contact, fumbling with ideas and words that both parties don't really like, or care about.

It's similar to me and DxD fanfictions, in a way, you know. I don't like Highschool DxD anymore. It's kind of odd, to think about it like that, right? But I began to write this story when I was 16, and now I'm 18. It's a long time for a teenager. I changed. This might sound like I'm being holier-than-thou, but I'm just telling my honest thoughts. The original story doesn't interest me. I tried to watch the anime again, but I couldn't. I have read the novels to about the...14th book? I think. But that was before I began to write this story. Couldn't get into them now. (That is also why me following the canon went off the rails about there...)

Same to this story. I don't like most of it. I wrote it over these 2 years, and a lot of ideas about this story changed over the time. There was a time where I thought about a happy end. There was even a time where an Issei from a different future would come in. (Of course, heavily inspired by Fate). There were many different plot points that I wanted to write at some point or another, but that didn't happen - and I'm quiet glad. Easier to understand what it feels like is this - open your facebook timeline to 2012 and read your posts. Most likely you won't like what you wrote - you'll find them embarrassing, even cringe worthy. That's how I feel about this story. If I would rewrite it, everything would be different, except these few last chapters...but if I wrote them again, when I would arrive at the end, I would dislike those end chapters. And like that, it would be a never ending circle...so, I won't touch the story anymore. It's done, like this.

Think of this like journey of a teenager. A progression in writing (somewhat).

About the ending - I decided to pull out all the stops of pretentiousness. Amazing Grace fit, since it was God who saved Issei, in the end. Isn't it ironic? He was angry at him, for never helping...but he did, in the end.

And The Hanged Man. 12 in roman numerals. It was all (not a very elaborate or skillful, or hidden) foreshadowing. The Tarot Card -'' The main lesson of the Hanged Man is that we "control" by letting go - we "win" by surrendering. The figure on Card 12 has made the ultimate surrender - to die on the cross of his own travails - yet he shines with the glory of divine understanding. He has sacrificed himself, but he emerges the victor. The Hanged Man also tells us that we can "move forward" by standing still. By suspending time, we can have all the time in the world.''

Even though Issei died, even if he ''lost'', even if he became the villain - his death was victory. He gained freedom in the end - he died his own man, free of the shackles. It was his own decision to die - not Maria's, not Gremorys.

Anyways, pretentiousness to no end. (Or actually to the end)

Actually, I have rambled for way too long now. What I mean to say is that this story is filled with fallacies, broken unfinished plot points, forgotten things, hastily added and borderline plagirised ideas. I'm pretty sure you can actually see times when my depression shines through the story as well. (Also my social commentary about life in general)

What I mean to say, again, is that this work is probably my parting gift to the DxD fanfiction community. It might not be the best gift, and it might sound awfully arrogant of me to say it like this - but I finished it. And I'm probably done with fanfiction. It was a great experience. (And now it seems like I'm asking for attention...well, can't win it all)

Thank you for reading. Really, I mean it. At the time of writing this chapter, this story has 198 000 views. That's fucking a lot. Also, the word amount comes out to about the last harry potter book and then some. I never expected to write so much and I never expected for so many people to support me.

...Thank you.