Chapter 1

The cane came down again on the seven year olds back leaving a massive welt. The child screamed out in pain and the balding man with glasses hit him harder.

"Boys don't cry. You will not be weak." The man brought the cane down again on the crying child. The mark on his back started to bleed and the old man sneered. "You worthless good for nothing wretch, you should've died to."

"I-I'm sorr-" The old man brought the cane down again. A new bleeding mark on the child's back appeared.

"That brother of mine and his cow were weak, you will not be weak."

The old man kicked the child in the stomach, causing him to double over coughing and weeping.

"Worthless excuse for a boy…" The old man left the bleeding child on the floor.

Slowly the child ripped up his dirty shirt and bandaged his wounds.

"I-I'm s-sorry...uncle…" The child cried his eyes out. 'Someone...save me…'

'Child...I am here.' The deep rumbling voice came from his mind.

"W-Who are y-you?" The child had awe in his voice.

'Look within child, and you will find me.' The deep voice almost sounded caring.

The child did as he was told and closed his eyes.

In the bleak mindscape that was a dead forest, he saw a big red dragon laying there.

'Come closer child, I won't hurt you.' The dragon laid his head on the ground in the mindscape.

The child slowly approached in fear, ready to bolt if a wrong move was made.

"W-Who are you?" The child's fearful eyes took in the massive head as the reptilian eyes gave a glare.

'I am the one that gave you a gift. I will teach you to use it.' The dragon looked to the child and an amazing thing happened. A small red disc with a green gem appeared on the back of the child's left hand.

"What's this?"

'It's what's called a sacred gear. It will grant you the power to defend yourself.'

"B-But...why me? I'm weak and worth-"

'You're not worthless child. Your hope is almost gone and I can't allow that. I can't stand by anymore and let that man do this to you. Get up and exercise your body when he isn't around. In here I will train you in magic.' The dragon slowly got up and put his snout close to the terrified boy.

"B-But why come out now?!" The child screamed at the dragon, fear still in his eyes.

'Because, if you lose hope, then you lose out on everything. And if the great enemy attacked and killed you, the fight wouldn't be fair fight. Now imagine all of your energy as a ball.' The boy did as he was told.

'Now take that energy and do something with it.' The boy looked confused.

"Like what?"

'What do you wish for?'

"I-I don't know…" The child looked down.

'Imagine that energy as a single element, what would the element be?'

"D-Dragon fire?" The child looked timidly at the reptilian teacher.

'Good, now do it.' The statement hung in the air and the child concentrated.

'That's it, concentrate more.' The ball the child held started to glow red before bursting into flames.

'Your magic can take the form of any element. Fire is natural to a dragon; but if you needed a shield, earth is better. Now try this in your room.' The dragon looked away.

"H-Hai…"

The boy opened his eyes and concentrated hard. Like what happened in his mindscape, a ball of fire appeared in his hands.

'See child? Would a useless good for nothing be able to do this? You can be more than that man is trying to get you to become. There is so much more you can be. Now throw it at something.' The voice instructed.

The child saw one of his uncle's beer cans lying around and threw the ball of fire. The can melted to slab on the wood floor leaving a burn mark.

'Now summon another ball of energy to freeze that puddle.' The deep voice instructed.

The ball the child summoned was smaller but it was cold. He threw the ball and partially froze the puddle of aluminum.

'All I want you to do is practice summoning that ball of energy. Do it five times a day. Now to train your body.' The dragon's voice instructed.

"H-Hai."

xXx

7 years later

A boy that looked around fourteen got out of a cab. His chestnut hair and brown eyes looked well, but a burn scar on his cheek said he already had a hard life. 'I really don't want to do this, that bastard knew what this would do.' Only the eye twitch that was on his face betrayed the inner turmoil that was raging inside.

'Calm yourself Issei-kun, at least he isn't here to beat you.' The deep voice rumbled.

'Thank you for all you've done for me. But this place...I haven't been here since I was five…'

'Remember what I've kept saying, it's all a test of inner strength. You'll never be a victim again, not with what I taught you. You've come this far on your own two legs. You can go further.' The deep voice had a caring tone in it.

'I just wish Akeno was here...she would've loved this house.'

'Make some new memories here; who knows, you might find someone to share the house with. Now, get on to the front door, prove that bastard wrong, and move forward with your life.'

Issei walked to the front door and opened it. The smell of dust and stale air greeted him, everything was as it was when he left. Pictures on the wall from when he was a baby with his parents, a few other family photos, and no dust covers. Some of the pictures had some mold on them so he grabbed a trash bag and started throwing anything bad away.

'I remember this trip...we went to Okinawa…'

'That was before-'

'The robbery…'

The boy felt angry as he threw the photo.

'If only…' The sound of shattering glass filled the room.

'Now another mess to clean up. If your uncle never took care of the place, I suggest take-out for dinner. Be sure to wear something when cleaning out the fridge.'

'No shit.'

'Now is not the time to be angry. Never think about 'what if's', instead think about 'what could be.''

'You're right...I start school tomorrow, I'd rather start it on a good note.'

'Now remember your practices, and in here you can practice all you want. Remember your shinai and your gi.'

'Yes dad…'

Issei picked up the phone, when he heard no dial tone he sighed and pulled out his new pre-paid cell.

'This is going to be a long night.'

xXx

The girl looked out the window, her crimson hair flowing in the breeze. Her blue eyes stared out as if captivated by a far off event.

"Rias, you should see the new transfers, one has an interesting aura on him." A girl with flowing black hair tied in a yellow ribbon sat some tea down.

"Really?" Rias turned her head to the side.

"Yeah, the kendo club gave him the usual welcoming, he beat all of them."

"Even Katase and Murayama?" Her sapphire eyes held surprise.

"Those two were the first ones." The black haired girls tone held a playfulness.

"I may have to meet him then."

"Thinking about a new knight?"

"Maybe...depends on how powerful he is."

"I also have some bad news...Ravel Phoenix skipped a grade, she'll be going here this year as well."

"Riser will probably use her to spy on me, that prick…"

"...She is in the transfers class."

"...I see...we'll see what happens then."

"Home room is about to start…"

"Fine. Akeno, let's go." 'I wonder who the new transfer is…'

xXx

A girl with blonde hair and blue eyes stood in the front of the room and smiled a small smile. She wore the standard school uniform for the girls of Kuoh Academy.

"I am Ravel Underwood, pleased to make your acquaintance."

The male that stood next to her wore the standard male school uniform for Kuoh Academy. His chestnut hair and brown eyes looked at the class.

"I'm Hyoudou Issei." He just stood there and waited.

"Are you going to tell is more about yourself?" The teacher looked expectantly at him.

"I'm waiting for questions." His blase tone was heard.

"Where did you get that scar?" A girl in the front row asked.

"None of your damn business." The dead look in his eyes affected all but one student.

"Hey now! No need to be mean! Apologise now." The teacher looked crossly at him.

He turned the dead look into the teacher, it made his skin crawl.

"I'm sorry." With that he took a seat in the back, not even waiting for a reply.

The young blonde took the seat next to him.

"If it has something to do with family, I understand." She pushed up her sleeve to show him a similar mark on her shoulder.

The hate in his eyes softened. "...What happened?"

"I didn't do as my brother said...so he burned me." She had a normal tone in her voice, but the pain was in her eyes.

"I see...I wasn't fast enough...so my Uncle did it." The tone he had held sadness. She timidly reached out and held his sleeve.

"If you want to talk, I'll listen."

"Same to you."

"Man, looks like those two have a connection...bow chicka wow-" The bald male that was next to Issei didn't have a chance to finish the statement, everyone saw Issei hit him hard, the bald kid's nose obviously broken.

"You take him to the nurse, and you Hyoudou, go see the Headmaster."

"Man, what's your problem?"

"Anyone that assumes something like that will be hit." The threat hung in the air as Issei got up.

Ravel got up as well. "I'll go as well and tell the Headmaster what happened."

"Fine, fine…" The teacher waved them from the room.

As the boy with glasses lead the bald one to the nurse's office, the girl and the boy went to an opulent office that had deep red carpet and drapes. A man that appeared in his thirties sat behind a mahogany desk that looked like it was carved from one piece of wood. His dull red hair matched his bright red eyes. He looked up from a book and motioned for them to take a seat.

"Not even twentyfour hours and you're in here. What happened?" He gave an expectant look.

"A classmate made a rude statement and he was hit for it." Ravel told the truth with sincerity in her eyes.

"I see...well, make sure to keep your impulses to a nonviolent nature. I would hate to expel you over a misunderstanding. Back to class." He smiled at the students stupefied looks. "You defended her honor, I like that. Now seriously, out of my office."

"Hai Gremory-sama." The students left stunned.

He picked up his book again and replayed the scene. 'He hit a fellow man for making that kind of comment about a young girl...I'll have to find out all I can about him. He may even give Riser a run for his money...That aura of his though...Seems like he's something else as well. He isn't a fallen, I know that stench anywhere. And he isn't from heaven, I can feel the pain he is in...and he isn't a believer. No, he's something else.'

A knock at the door got his attention. "Come in."

"Gremory-sama, where's the troublemaker?" A short girl with glasses and a no nonsense attitude came into the rich office.

"I decided to let him off, he did defend Ravel Phoenix's honor."

"I know you don't care about that. If you let the worm get away with it, he may do something worse." The girl glared at the headmaster.

"I promise the next time he comes to my office, you can be the one he talks to. Now I'm at a good part of this book, you need to get back to your duties." He waved the girl out. She bowed and left, the look of barely controlled anger in her features.

He turned the page and watched Issei and Ravel walk back to class. 'This will be interesting…'

The blonde haired girl walked in silence next to Issei, sneaking glances at him as he walked. He turned a corner and tripped on a stair leading down. He fell down the stairway, on the way down his shirt got caught and was ripped off revealing the scars on his back. Ravel rushed down and once she got close to him she saw them.

"Did these all…" She traced a scar lightly with her finger.

"Yes." The dead look in his eyes told her everything.

"Let's get you a new shirt. Then back to class." She helped him up and they went the rest of the way down, stopping by the gym for a white t-shirt to wear to class and to throw the old one out.

When they got there the teacher looked surprised.

"A-And now onto the story on page forty five. Issei-kun, please read it."

xXx

Issei put his shoes on and picked up his bag. 'Goddamn fucking asshole!'

'Issei-kun. Relax. Breathe. You just made a friend today, don't let your anger take that away from you. If you do then you are your own worst enemy.' The dragon's voice was as soothing as it could get.

'That teacher has it in for me I swear!'

'You did break that kids nose, not that he wasn't asking for it, but still…'

'He should've watched his mouth.'

'We have company.'

"I-Issei-kun, do you mind if I walk with you?" Ravel looked at him innocently.

"S-Sure."

The walk home was silent, the girl trying to think up a way to strike up a conversation. When he was close to his house he looked at the home with sad eyes.

"I'll walk you home first…" They bypassed his empty house, even she could feel his pain with the way his eyes were screaming.

"Ok." She lead him to a gate where the nameplate said Hiraga.

"See you tomorrow." She waved at him as he walked back to his house. He opened the door, the echo really hitting him.

'At least the place is cleaner and now you have the basics. Even some food. Now put up a barrier to do your other homework.' The dragon instructed.

Issei concentrated and a red scale-mail gauntlet appeared on his left forearm with two green gems that glowed and two yellow spikes.

'Earth.' The boy summoned a huge stone from the backyard like it was a wall.

'Fire.' The stone was now engulfed in flames so hot it seemed as if the sun was in his backyard.

'Wind.' Now a fiery tornado seemed to be going around his backyard.

'Water.' The flames were doused and water was flung everywhere, soaking him through his clothes.

'Clean up.' Issei looked calm as the stone went back into the ground and the backyard was made to look like nothing ever happened. The boy started doing some practices with his Shinai.

"And to think...this is the first day." He brought the shinai down.

'Agreed.'

xXx