So, this is the first chapter of the remade and rewritten "Heroic Calamity" story. After doing some reading on it, I grew dissatisfied with how the story was turning out and in all honesty, I grew to dislike how I rushed things. There were also some things that I felt should've been fleshed out more. So, as I declared before, I'm redoing all of the Heroic Calamity. I apologize to the readers that liked the original version but I decided that this needed to happen.

Anyways, I am tempted to give more information about this story's differences and similarities to the old version, but I think that'd be giving away info, so I won't be doing that. Also, I'll be doing what I've done before and suggest music to listen to, which can be found on Youtube, so do with that as you will.

Now, let us begin.

Chapter 1: The Calm Before the Storm

Issei, a young 17-year-old boy, had just begun his 2nd year of High School at Kuoh Academy. He was the son of a successful businessman and fashion designer but he was, by-no-means, filthy rich. Rather, he lived comfortably, going to a school that was conveniently close to his home. He had a rather average build, with brown eyes and brown hair. His personality was quite pleasant, however, he was often withdrawn and didn't speak to others too much. To those that knew him, however, knew him to be a very kind and generous person, even a bit loud once he was comfortable.

For a long time, he lived alone, his parents too far and busy with work to come home to see him. He remembered how he used to stay with a neighbor, but even those days ended when they moved away, along with their daughter, his closest friend at that time.

He grew independent, learning how to cook, clean, and work alone. It was quite sad and lonely, but nevertheless, he didn't blame anyone, understanding that that was just how the dice rolled.

However, the day soon came when this quiet life ended.

On the first day of his 2nd year of High School, Issei had to endure a long and repetitive speech from the Headmaster. He didn't pay too much attention to it since it was literally the same speech he heard on his 1st year at Kuoh.

After Homeroom class started, Issei and the rest of his peers were given a subtle surprise. A new transfer student had arrived, albeit quite late to school. He'd already heard rumors of her the moment she walked through the gates to add to that.

"Dude, I heard she's a total hot babe."

"Her boobs are huge too."

"Think she's single?"

"I heard she's from a rich family."

"She's got silver hair too. I think she's a foreigner."

Those words had circulated almost nonstop when everyone had gotten into the classroom. Now, they could be laid to rest as the answer walked in through the door.

As soon as this new student walked in through the door, he felt himself being entranced. He had to give credit to some of the rumors about this new student.

She had long silver hair that shimmered like stars that reached her upper back. At the top of her head, was a black hairband that resembled a tiara to an extent. Her eyes were like pure sapphire, shining with radiance and grace, while hiding some powerful dignity. She had a truly gifted physique, being slender, well-endowed, and taller than the average person. It was like looking at a divine princess, who could charm nearly any mortal with beauty that needed no magic.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Validia Lucieln, you can just call me Vali. I've just transferred here today and I hope to get along with all of you." Validia bowed.

"Are there any questions for Ms. Validia?" The Homeroom Teacher asked.

Several hands shot up from the class, namely the boys.

"Yes?" The Homeroom Teacher sounded exasperated.

He could already tell that a ridiculous onslaught was coming. They were ridiculous in volume and content. He eyed the two notorious perverts in the class, Motohama and Matsuda. They were always being busted for peeping on the girls in school and could never control their vulgar tongues. He often wondered what the answer was to correcting their behavior.

"How long have you been in Japan?"

"Only a few short months. My family has just moved here after a long consideration." Vali responded.

"Are you single?"

Vali raised a brow, starting to understand what the boys were like in this class.

"Yes, I am, but I don't intend to start dating anyone any time soon." Vali smiled.

That shot down several hands in one fell swoop. Unfortunately, that didn't deter Motohama and Matsuda.

"What are you three sizes?!" Matsuda barked.

"Private." Vali politely responded.

"You have no tact." Motohama pushed up his glasses, preparing to ask a question that was just as bad.

"Alright, enough! We're moving on." The Teacher cut the other half of the Perverted Duo off.

"Where are you from?"

"My family is mainly from America, but we travel a lot, so I can't say I'm from anywhere in particular."

The questions continued for a while longer before class began. During that time, Issei noticed that Vali was always polite, but when things got too personal, she'd deflect questions or decline answering. At least she was nice with strangers.

When class ended, the Teacher walked to Issei.

"Hyoudou, could you show Ms. Lucieln the campus? I'd rather not entrust her tour to the others since the boys are rather hormonal and the girls can be a bit callous at times."

Issei smiled politely.

"Of course." He rose from his seat.

"This way, please."

As they walked around campus, Issei pointed out the facilities and different clubs and classes that Kuoh had to offer.

"So, are you in any clubs, Hyoudou?"

"Issei is fine, and no, I'm not in any clubs." Issei sheepishly chuckled.

"I heard that there's an Occult Research Club here." Vali said.

"Yeah, they mainly write newspaper reports about the occult and folklore. I've read some of their papers; it's a good read."

"Who's in it?" Vali asked.

"As I remember, Rias Gremory happens to be the President, along with Akeno Himejima, Yuuto Kiba, and Koneko Tojo."

"You're really well-informed." Vali grinned.

"I guess I'm just nosy." Issei retorted.

For the next half-hour, the two began to get to know one another. Vali liked the color white, ramen, exercising, singing, and reading. Unlike some stereotypical rumors that Issei had heard about her, she was clearly scholarly and cultured. She had read Hamlet, Romeo & Juliet, Plato, The Art of War by Sun Tzu, and Socrates.

Issei also traded information about himself. He liked taking walks, listening to music, cheesecake, and the color navy. He wasn't as cultured as she was, but he also did a fair bit of reading.

He found it odd that they were hitting it off so well. Perhaps it was because they shared many interests and hobbies. Regardless, their time had ended, as the two had reached the end of the gates. That was where Issei understood that Vali was from an extremely wealthy family. The white limousine parked by the gates with a car full of bodyguards made it clear.

Vali sighed in a disheartened fashion.

"Well, Issei, I'll be taking my leave now. Thank you for showing me around today. I'll see you tomorrow?" She asked, hopeful.

"Yep." Issei nodded.

As the car disappeared down the road, Issei began his walk home in the afternoon sun.

When the next day began, Issei was attending class, taking notes before their assignment began.

"Issei, could you share your book with me? I'm sorry, but I forgot my textbook." Vali sheepishly asked from the next desk.

"Sure, thing." Issei nodded without hesitation.

Scooting over, he laid the book between them, jotting notes down whilst doing so. When it was time for self-study, the class collapsed into quiet anarchy. Thankfully, this didn't bother Issei and Vali.

"I don't understand this." Issei muttered to himself.

Vali, having heard him, spoke.

"Which part?"

"The English to Japanese." Issei relented.

"Well, English writing only has one form, unlike Japan, which has three forms of alphabet. So…" Vali then went on to explain the assignment to Issei.

He found that her company was extremely pleasant. She wasn't overbearing or mean. She was always polite, patient, and encouraging. It felt nice to have this sort of company for once. This quickly became routine for them as weeks went by. Issei often found that Vali had to help him out with schoolwork, sadly. He didn't like making her take time out of her schedule to do his work.

When lunchtime came, Issei had gone over to his usual spot, where he could eat in peace and quiet. It was a nice and quiet spot of land near the Old School Building, which was the former schoolhouse until modern times settled in and a new building was needed. The Cafeteria was often too loud for his liking, as people could get rather rowdy in there.

Much to his surprise, however, he found that sitting in his exact spot, was Vali.

"Oh?" She looked at him in greeting.

"The Cafeteria too nosy?" He asked.

Vali shrugged.

"Kind of. They're pretty persistent." She sighed.

"Yeah, when a new person shows up, they tend to do that." Issei sat down across from her.

"What's this about the Great Beauties of Kuoh?" Vali raised a brow, almost seeming as if she were bothered.

Issei paused from sipping his water. He sighed.

"It's a really strange thing that the students here like to do. Basically, they group up the women that they deem to be the most beautiful in the school and label them as a part of that group. It's some sort of school idol thing. They considered you a part of them, already?" Issei asked.

That was rhetorical, really. He'd already heard the boys talking about how they were already putting her in the group.

Vali looked uncertain.

"I really don't think I should be in there, nor do I want to be."

"It's just something that the guys do since a lot of them are hormonal and bored." Issei shrugged.

"And what do you think?" Vali asked.

"I think it's pointless. It's just a fanservicey idea that the boys started. Waste of time, really." Issei retorted.

"And what do you think of me?" Vali asked further.

Issei nearly choked on his food. That had completely come out of left field. What was he to say to that?

Vali immediately started chuckling.

"I'm just joking."

"For a moment, I thought I'd had stepped on a landmine." Issei grinned.

"So, tell me, who are the Four Beauties of Kuoh?"

"They're Rias Gremory, Akeno Himejima, Sona Shitori, and Tsubaki Shinra. All of them are in our year." Issei ate another piece of his food.

"Sounds like trouble." Vali sighed.

"Well, if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm always here." Issei sincerely offered.

"Thanks, I'll remember that."

For weeks, their conversations carried on like this. They slowly got to know each other every time they met. They would always hang out during lunch and help each other during group assignments. Despite all their time at school, it didn't feel like work to them. For Issei, it was exhilarating. It made him realize that this was what it felt like to have a genuine friend.

Three months into the school year, Issei and Vali decided to hang out outside of school. Their first spot, was the Arcade. Vali had never gone to one, so Issei took it upon himself to take her there.

(Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Ring OST: The Shire. Play Song.)

The Arcade was like any other, full of classic games and electronic games that covered nearly every inch of what one could see. They played racing games, shooting games, and ball games, all of which, Vali won. The whole time, Issei was worried if she'd get bored by the games, but thankfully, he was relieved to see her smile and laugh.

"So, I guess this is a regular routine?" Vali asked.

Picking up a basketball, she threw it into the cage-roofed hoop in front of her. Without flaw, she scored point after point, leaving Issei purse his lips with how far behind he was.

"Nah, I only come by every once in a while."

"To be honest, it may sound kiddy, but I'm actually enjoying this place. I've never had the chance to enjoy Arcades, where I'm from." Vali chuckled.

"Then, I'm glad that I did something right." Issei returned a smile.

When he looked at her, he saw how genuine her expressions were. She had a fun light in her eyes and unrestrained curves in her lips. He considered it a mission: accomplished.

He wasn't going to even mention the Crane Game, since Vali nearly won all prizes in the machine.

"I think I'll share these with everyone." Vali mumbled to herself.

Issei watched with slight surprise as she won the ¥200 gift card from the machine. If this kept up, they'd probably get kicked out of the Arcade. When they left the building, her bag was so full of goodies that Issei wondered if people thought she'd robbed the place.

"That was actually really fun. Maybe because I was with a friend." Vali cheerfully noted.

Issei looked at her, a bit surprised.

"You consider me a friend?"

"Of course, I do. What else would I consider you? You've done nothing but help me since I got here." Vali looked at him as if he were crazy.

"Well, I wasn't too sure if I could be considered that, but it makes me glad." Issei nodded in satisfaction.

"You help me with math homework, showed me around school, listen to me talk, and you've even shooed away people who wouldn't stop bothering me. If I didn't call you a friend, then I'd be an incredible fool." Vali declared.

That made Issei blush a little. He rarely got compliments like that.

(Lord of the Rings – Fellowship of the Ring OST: The Shire. End Song.)

For an hour, they chatted before Issei walked her home. He wondered if that'd been a good idea since he'd gotten confused at first when he'd arrived in front of her gate…which was yards away from her house, er, rather her mansion.

Issei's eyes nearly popped out his skull when he saw the 10-story mansion that was made with white stone and black roofs. Several balconies were installed into the building, with a large fountain partway to the front door of the mansion. The green lawns were well-kept, with an ocean of flowers over them.

That was when Issei remembered that his parents had told him once that a wealthy family owned this luxurious piece of land but often, wasn't here. Now he knew who's family owned this land.

"Well, this is my stop." Vali graciously turned around.

"I'll see you tomorrow, then?" Issei shook himself out of his small surprise to look at her.

"Of course, you will. I'll see you tomorrow as always."

Vali waved goodbye before passing by a guard at the gates, who looked at Issei sternly as the young lady passed through.

"Welcome home, Lady Vali. You're just in time for dinner with your family."

Issei proceeded to walk away. As he did, he listened to the excited cheers and greetings from the maids and butlers, who were handed presents from Vali. Even those below her station were treated as if they were equals to her. That was something nice and new for Issei to learn.

When he returned home, he opened the door to find a quiet, cold, and dark house. This wasn't anything new to him, but it did hit his heart a little. In comparison to Vali, who came home to happy servants who adored and loved her and greeted her with a warm meal, Issei came home to a lonely and cold place, where no one was waiting for him. It hurt slightly, but he'd grown used to it. Perhaps he was a little too used to it.

As another week went by, Vali had an announcement for Issei at lunch. It had become a ritual for the two of them to sit together at lunch and talk about their daily lives, getting to know each other better in-turn.

"So, I joined the ORC." She cheerfully told him.

"I didn't know you liked the Occult." Issei grinned.

"I've always had some fascination with it. My grandparents kind of brought me up on it."

"You never told me what your family business was. I remember you mentioned in class that your grandfather owns a business, but not which one."

Vali looked hesitant to answer that question.

"Is it the Temptative Enterprise?" Issei gave her a knowing look.

"How'd you know?" Vali looked perplexed.

"I saw it on the news. Reporters are going crazy over your grandfather's arrival to Japan, who shares your last name. I can see why you wouldn't want to talk about it, though. I bet some people brown-nose you for it." Issei gave her a knowing look.

Vali made a sheepish look, having forgotten that her grandfather was on the news sometimes.

"They do. That's why I try not to give my last name unless I have to."

"Well, for whatever it's worth, I'll only call you if I need to be bailed out of jail." Issei joked, smiling.

Vali couldn't help but grin.

"We're not getting you a lawyer." She laughed.

"Do you have any other family? Aside from your grandfather?"

"I have a grandma, but that's pretty much about it. My mother and father are dead." Vali solemnly confirmed.

Issei looked down, slightly ashamed for whatever unpleasant memory he may have caused to resurface.

"So, what's the ORC, like?" He changed topics after a short silence.

"It's pleasant. Everyone's really nice and patient. Well, Koneko can be a bit snappy sometimes, but that's no issue." Vali chuckled.

She appreciated that he was trying to move on, not wanting to linger on such a personal matter.

"Seen anything scary?"

"Not really. We do some investigations and stuff, but nothing crazy." Vali shook her head.

"Sounds busy." Issei passively remarked.

That was when Vali bit her lip.

(Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King OST: Eowyn's Dream. Play Song.)

"About that…" She trailed off.

"Hm?" Issei looked up at her.

"Things have been piling up recently, so I'm sorry Issei, but I can't walk home with you today. Maybe not the next few days, even. I'm so sorry." Vali looked at him apologetically.

That disappointed Issei a little when she told him that. He'd come to enjoy her company. She'd been the first real friend he'd had in a long time, but this was trivial. She had more important things to do, and who was he to hamper her?

"Oh, it's nothing to worry about. You've got things to do, so don't hesitate to finish it." He smiled at her encouragingly.

"Thanks, Issei. Maybe we can hang out this week?" Vali cheerfully suggested.

"Sounds great. Let me know when and where." Issei nodded.

As days passed, the two never did have that chance to hang out. On Friday that week, Vali had to cancel another plan. They had wanted to go see a movie together, but like before, it wasn't meant to be. Right after school ended, Issei did the usual and waited at the gates for Vali.

"I'm sorry Issei, but I've got work to do. I'm so sorry." Vali clapped her hands together and bowed.

"Why do you keep apologizing? It's no biggie. We can always reschedule." Issei reassured her, smiling kindly.

Vali felt guilty, as she had seen that whenever a family event happened, there was nobody present for Issei. Even when her relatives were busy, a butler and maid would always show up to support her. He didn't have anything like that.

"Alright, then, how about we have dinner at my place? I promise it'll be worth your while." Vali offered.

Issei paused. He honestly didn't know what kind of people her family was like. Were they kind and likable or were they different from Vali? The last thing he wanted to do, was interact with people that had superiority-complexes.

"Uh…"

"I swear, nothing will go wrong." Vali pushed further.

Issei considered it for a little longer but ultimately relented. Was he supposed to read between any lines here?

"Alright, just let me know when." He nodded.

Vali made a small chippering giggle.

Issei had to admit, he found her chuckles and giggles quite…cute.

"Hey, Vali! It's time to get to work!" A voice called over.

Turning to see who it was, it was none other than Rias Gremory, standing regally on the path leading to the Old School House.

"Yeah, give me a moment." Vali called back before turning to Issei.

"6 PM next Friday."

With those final words, she rushed off to catch up to Rias and the ORC, leaving Issei to watch silently as she disappeared onto the road ahead.

(Lord of the Rings – The Return of the King OST: Eowyn's Dream. End Song.)

On the way home, Issei began to hear footsteps behind him. They were growing louder and louder. He didn't like the sound of them. They sounded rushed. That was when it struck Issei. When could he make out the pace of footsteps so easily from others? It was more complicated than it sounded. It was as if he could tell how far that person was, how fast they were running, and the exact direction they were coming from.

He turned around, hearing the sound grow more frantic. For a moment, he felt like he was about to hit someone, which was unusual for him. He wasn't a violent person, nor did he ever want to hurt anyone. So, why the urge to attack?

When he turned, he found a beautiful young woman running up to him, stopping a few feet away. She was huffing and puffing, catching her breath. She was dressed in a school uniform, one that Issei recognized to be from another high school in the area. This young woman had long raven-black hair, violet eyes, and a figure that many would die for.

"May I help you?" Issei awkwardly asked.

"A-Are you Hyoudou Issei?" The girl asked.

"May I know why you're asking?" Issei raised a brow.

Red flags were shooting up everywhere in his brain. Here stood this girl, who he didn't know, or at least, didn't remember, asking for his identity.

"My name is Yuuma Amano, I wanted to ask you a few things." Yuuma glanced aside.

Issei saw that her cheeks were violently pink, and her arms were shuffling about nervously.

"Go ahead." He decided to humor her.

"Are you dating anyone right now?"

Issei deadpanned.

'Am I…am I getting pranked? Is someone going to hop out the bushes and start filming me?' He wondered to himself. He began looking around, wanting to know more about this situation.

"No, I'm not." Issei responded as he quickly glanced around.

When he noticed how rude he was being, he slapped himself and returned his full attention to her.

At that moment, Yuuma's face lit up. The corners of her mouth spread from ear-to-ear as her eyes sparkled with joy.

"Ah! That's perfect!"

Noticing how she might be looking, Yuuma cleared her throat, returning her composure to normal.

"Well, you see, the reason why I wanted to know is because…"

Yumma began to blink and glance at him quickly.

'Where is this going?' Issei wondered.

"I want to ask you if you wanted to go out on a date this weekend!" She shouted at him.

To say he was surprised, was an understatement. He was caught completely off-guard, even flabbergasted. This was a real first for him. Regardless, alarms blared in his head.

'I…don't think so.' Issei muttered in his head.

After a few silent minutes, Issei shook his head. He gave Yuuma a solemn look, showing her that he wasn't taking her confession lightly, whether it was fake or not.

"I'm sorry but I have to refuse." He politely answered.

"Eh?" Yuuma looked at him, stunned.

"I mean this earnestly and honestly, so don't think I'm not serious about my answer. First of all, we've never met before. We don't know each other and I don't think it's a good idea to be dating when we don't know a single thing about one another. Second of all, I don't have the right circumstances to be dating anyone. If we were genuinely friends and we'd known each other for a long time, then maybe, but that isn't the case. I'm sorry, but I have to refuse." Issei bowed, showing his honest convictions before turning around and walking away.

He left with a bad taste in his mouth as he looked back for a moment and saw Yuuma standing still, staring at the ground in complete shock.

When Friday Dinner came, Issei showed up at the gates of Vali's home, dressed in a black shirt with black pants. He decided to wear clothes between casual and formal to be safe, but he couldn't help but feel underdressed.

Just as he was about to talk to a guard, he immediately opened the gates without a word.

"Lady Vali has been expecting you. Please make your way to the front doors, Sir."

Doing as told, he knocked on the front door after a considerable walk up there. When the door opened, he was treated to a nice sight. Vali opened the door, dressed in a short-sleeved black shirt and white pants. Issei wasn't going to lie, the shirt looked a tad-bit tight on her. Slapping himself for that thought, Issei was shaken out of his thoughts by Vali.

"Hey, come on in!" She excitedly greeted him inside.

(Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance OST: Dearly Beloved. Play Song.)

Entering the house, Issei found Vali's house to be just as luxurious inside as it was on the outside. Crystalline chandeliers hung from the ceiling, with red carpets draping across the floor. Numerous paintings lined the walls with exquisite furniture made from top-class materials, such as leather and marble stone.

Vali led him down the hallway and to the Dining Room, which had a fireplace, a lengthy table, and the same kind of decorations from the room where Issei first entered.

"Go ahead and take a seat. It'll just be the two of us tonight since the rest of my family is busy with work."

Issei felt a small bit of pink tinge across his cheeks. Just the two of them? Trying to put the manners his parents taught him to use, he sat down, put a cloth across his lap, and sat quietly as he waited for the food to be served.

Vali noticed how tense he was and chuckled.

"You don't have to be so tense. This isn't some kind of high-class dinner, if you're worried. It's just dinner between friends." She warmly told him.

Issei caught himself. That was right. What was up with him? He was jumping to a conclusion that he normally wouldn't get to in the first place. He really needed to start making more friends.

"I had no idea that it was your family that owned this place." Issei mused.

"My grandpa bought it a few years ago when he came to Japan. We have branches all over the world, and for Japan, he chose Kuoh."

"Why not Tokyo?" Issei asked.

"He liked the vibe of Kuoh more. So, whenever we come to Japan, we come here." Vali smiled.

Just then, butlers and maids walked through the doors, carrying carts of food.

"Pardon our intrusion, Lady Validia and Mr. Hyoudou. Tonight, we will have a full five-course meal. For appetizers, we will have Buttered Parmesan Ravioli. For Soup, we have French Onion Soup. For the Salad, it shall be a Seasoned Green Salad. The Main Entrée, will be Seared Yellowtail Filets, with a side of Seasoned Asparagus, Lemon White Truffle Rice, with Demi-Glace Sauce. Lastly, Dessert shall be a chocolate Crème Brulee." The Butler declared.

Issei paused. The dinner didn't sound casual at all. It sounded like food he'd eat at a Michelin restaurant.

"Uh, what kind of chefs have you hired?" Issei asked.

"Some of them used to work at Michelin Star restaurants. Why?" Vali gave Issei a quizzical look.

'No wonder that kind of menu came out. No matter how you cut it, it's not something a common person would eat.' Issei retorted in his mind.

"Issei, is something wrong? Is the food not to your liking?" Vali asked, slightly worried.

"Oh no, everything sounds wonderful. I was just thinking of something personal." Issei sheepishly chuckled.

On that note, that part of the conversation ended. As the food came, Vali would glance at her food and then at Issei, going back and forth. She wanted to apologize to him since she had seen that Issei didn't have too many friends, at least any genuine ones. They had made so many plans to hang out but in the end, they often went unfulfilled. It was because of her personal work, which came from her grandfather and grandmother. In turn, it couldn't be ignored. Therefore, she wanted to start making things up to him.

Issei, on the other hand, didn't want to distract her. It was probably pressuring for her to live such a high-profile life. Her down-to-earth attitude made it clear that she wasn't a snob, nor spoiled. She was probably extremely responsible. If that was the case, then Issei wanted to get out of her hair. He was just a normal nobody, after all.

The two chatted over dinner, conversing like they would during lunch hour, enjoying one another's company at a friendly level.

(Kingdom Hearts - Dream Drop Distance OST: Dearly Beloved. End Song.)

One thing did feel off, though. When Issei entered the house, he'd felt something odd. He couldn't pinpoint what it was. For sure, he knew he'd never felt this sensation before. It made him uncomfortable. It felt like someone was jabbing him with annoying pinches that he could barely feel. His spine felt cold and sometimes, he could feel his limbs twitch, as if trying to move on their own.

He'd hoped Vali didn't see that. The last thing he wanted was for someone to see him behaving so strangely. He hadn't reacted like this since he was around five years old.

After dinner was over and Issei and Vali had finished their joking and conversations, Vali was about to suggest doing something else in the house. True to how it looked on the outside, the house had many grand things to do inside as well. There was a small arcade, a tennis/basketball court outside, a swimming pool, an archery range, a home theater, and a massive storage compartment full of merchandise.

As she was about to speak up, her phone immediately began blaring. Looking at the phone, it was Rias calling her. She hesitantly answered it.

"Hey, Rias."

"Vali, we've got work to do tonight. I think I'm going to need your help this time."

Vali grimaced, closing her eyes in slight frustration and disappointment.

"I'll be right there." She sighed.

She looked at Issei, who was returning from the bathroom.

"I'm so sorry, Issei. Something really personal has come up. I can't ignore it." Vali folded her hands together, looking down slightly.

Issei merely smiled.

"It's no problem. You've gotta do what you gotta do. We can always find another time to hang out."

"I'll have someone drive you home." Vali was about to turn to a butler but Issei stopped her.

"No, don't worry about it." Issei chuckled.

"Huh?" Vali looked at him, a bit confused.

"From what it looks like, I think it might be important. I'll just walk home. As it so happens, it's getting late and my home isn't too far from here. Don't sweat over it. I actually really like walking." Issei smiled.

Casually walking to the front door, he thanked the butlers and maids for the meal as he took his jacket.

"Issei, it's late. You never know what could happen. Come on, I'll bring a car up." Vali protested.

"Nah, I'd rather walk. You don't need to worry so much, Vali. It's a small thing." He smiled cheerily at her.

He hadn't pegged her for such a worry-wart at times.

After a few minutes, Vali relented.

"Fine, but if you think something is wrong, call me." She demanded.

"Alright, I will." Issei laughed as he walked out the door.

Issei looked up at the Moon and noticed how beautiful the night was. The giant luminous sphere stood in the sky, lighting Issei's way as he walked home. Things were jolly at first before he noticed that as he continued further along the road, there were less and less people. Why was that? It was odd to him. He quickened his pace, moving faster and faster as he grew more uncomfortable.

"Hello, Hyoudou Issei." A gentle voice reached his ear.

Turning around, he saw someone he'd never expected to see again.

"Amano…" Issei trailed off.

"It's kinda funny seeing you here tonight." Yuuma chuckled.

"What brings you here tonight?"

"I was taking a stroll. After the failed…confession, I was really stunned."

Issei looked away awkwardly.

"I poured my whole heart into that confession. I'd been watching you for so long and yet…I was rejected. Ever since I saw you pass me by, I knew you were special. I told my family about you and they were shocked at how rare you seemed too. I honestly thought I'd have a chance to at least get to know you, if not outright date you." Yuuma looked down sadly.

Issei felt a cold knife whittle its way to his chest. This made him so uncomfortable, but at the same time, he needed to see this through.

"It looks like I was wrong. I should've done this at the start." Yuuma muttered.

"Huh?" Issei raised a brow in anticipation.

At that moment, Issei's life was changed permanently.

"Hey, Issei, do you believe in the supernatural?"

'What does that have to do with anything?' Issei narrowed his eyes.

"Not really." Issei shook his head.

"Then you're in for a treat." Yuuma chuckled.

At that moment, Issei's life was changed permanently.

Sprouting from Yuuma's jacket, were two black feathered wings.

"Wha?!" Issei exclaimed in quiet surprise.

"My name is Raynare and I'm a Fallen Angel. As a final farewell, I'll grant you death. I was honestly shocked when you rejected me, since the lines I fed you were never rejected before. I guess you are a little special." Yuuma, or rather, Raynare turned around and opened her hand.

Shimmering to life, was a crystalized spear made of red light. She smiled pleasantly at him, showing that she clearly didn't have any issues with killing him.

"This is rather sudden, but blame your god for leaving that Sacred Gear in you. You can complain to him when I send you to him." Raynare twirled her velvet spear and flew right at him.

At that moment, Issei felt time stop. His breath was caught in his throat. What was with all of this? He was going to be killed by some supernatural entity that he never believed to exist for a reason that he didn't even know about. His heart was thundering, his mind scrambling to process everything going on while his body tried to maneuver, his instincts yelling at him to try and survive.

(Kingdom Hearts - Dream Drop Distance OST: L'impeto Oscuro. Play Song.)

Without his command, Issei's legs darted to the side, much to his shock. Zipping past him, was the tip of Raynare's spear, which grazed his right cheek. Unbothered, Raynare whirled around, slapping him away with a flap of her wings. It was like being slapped with a giant slab of iron. Issei felt his cut cheek bruise as he skidded along the ground.

He coughed as he painfully tore across the ground. Looking up, he saw a red dot flying at him. Rolling to the side, Issei began to run as soon as he stood up. Trying to lose Raynare, he tried to think of what to do. This was a futile action, of course. Raynare could fly, make magic weapons out of light, and was obviously stronger and faster than him.

'If only I had some kind of power. If only I had some sort of way to fight back. I can't just die here, not like this, at least. I can't die for some reason that I don't understand.' Issei growled to himself.

'Then fight.' A voice whispered in his head.

Issei looked around, alarmed. Where did that voice come from? Was he going insane? What just happened to him that made him hear a completely new voice?

Distracted, Issei was now vulnerable as he tried to sort out the state of his sanity. He turned around and was impaled right through his stomach by a red spear of light.

"Odd. You were running so fast earlier. I was honestly surprised. Humans don't run as fast as you can. My first lunge should've been fast enough to kill you as well, yet you predicted it." Raynare mused on those facts.

A normal human should've been dead already yet, Issei survived for several minutes against her. Her superiors were right. Issei was special. Looking down at her prey, she was surprised once again. He was still moving, no…he was regenerating. Looking closely, the hole in his stomach was patching itself up, much to her and Issei's shock.

Forming another spear, Raynare prepared to cleave his head off this time.

Issei, seeing her prepare for another attack, scrambled to stand up.

'I can't die here. I have to do something. Anything!' Issei tried to command his body to move, to do anything that it could to help him survive.

'If you are that desperate to survive, then fight. Do not hesitate. Do not linger. Fight.'

Once again, a voice entered his mind. It was like having cold metal brush against his spine. He felt himself lose feeling in his body as the very warmth in his blood turned into cold water.

When Raynare threw her spear, Issei made his decision. As stupid as it seemed, he was going to fight. Yes, he didn't know how, but he wasn't going to die without going out on his own terms.

A bright light shimmered from his right arm, blinding himself and Raynare.

"Damnit!" She cursed.

Issei could barely hear her as the sound of loud rushing wind filled his ears. He felt like electricity was coursing through his entire right limb, with the sound of metal plates tapping together. Shaking violently, Issei nearly dropped to his knees as overwhelming shock and adrenaline flowed into his blood and mind.

When the light died down, he was stunned to see that his entire right arm was covered in navy armor. Just how did that get there? Why was it there? Issei didn't have much time to think, as Raynare closed in on him to continue her assault.

Issei jumped back and when she dove at him, he sidestepped and bashed his armored fist right into her abdomen. With a loud clank and crackle, Raynare gasped, vomiting blood as her eyes bugged in pain. Gliding back, Raynare glared at Issei with detest, growling ferociously.

Issei stepped back, unsure of what to do next. It was all moving far too fast to make sense for him.

Raynare charged once again, throwing one spear of light ahead of her. His reflexes anticipated this and side-stepped. This was starting to bother Issei. Why was his body obeying his instincts and not his mind? It was starting to feel as if something was possessing his body. Whatever his will was, he felt that part of it wasn't being followed.

Issei jumped into the air, soaring so high that he was dozens of feet above the ground. Raynare flew after him, hefting her red weapon. That was when an idea popped into his head. If this was some kind of magic or it was along those lines, then surely, he could use magic as well. Extending his hand, he focused hard, knowing his life depended on it. A navy sphere began forming, as Issei felt something flow through his arm, kind of like water in a pipe.

Letting go of the feeling of holding onto it, the sphere became a beam, firing navy energy that obliterated Raynare, erasing her into particles. Along with her, the park suffered consequences, creating a crater so massive that stone debris flew hundreds of feet into the air as ash and dust covered all that the eye could see.

Issei was shocked at the destruction he'd caused. Below him, was a dent in the ground that was roughly 15 feet deep and 30 feet wide. He then noticed that he was rapidly dropping towards the ground. Unable to stop himself, and too frantic to focus again, he smashed into the ground. Feeling powerful jolts of pain, Issei felt some bones pop and muscles tear. To add to that, his body began to register the kind of stress that it had just been forced into, causing him to stagger in pain. He couldn't move, too riddled with aches and cramps.

(Kingdom Hearts - Dream Drop Distance OST: L'impeto Oscuro. End Song.)

"So, Raynare failed…surprising." A new voice called over.

Issei, panting, groaned in irritation. He looked up and found three Fallen Angels floating in the sky.

(Kingdom Hearts 2.5 OST: The 13th Reflection. Play Song.)

One of them was a man, who wore a trench coat and fedora. The other two were both women, the first, a young woman with a burgundy business suit with teal hair and the other being a young girl with frilly blonde hair in pigtails with a gothic Lolita outfit.

Issei growled in frustration.

'It's just one thing after another. My body feels like it's on fire and my bones feel like lead. That blast earlier just took everything I had too. Damn it.'

He forced himself to stand up, readying himself for another fight.

"Let's finish this quickly before it gets even more out of hand. We don't have much time before we're going to be noticed." The woman in the suit materialized a yellow spear of light.

They all darted at Issei, who stood on his guard. No longer questioning his instinctual movements that he didn't understand, Issei dodged a spear at his leg, jumped above the Gothic Fallen Angel and punched the male Fallen Angel in the face. Hearing the rushing of wind behind him, he guessed that he was being attacked from behind.

Ducking, Issei punched the Suited Fallen Angel with his armored gauntlet in the left rib, causing the same reaction that Raynare had. Gagging out blood, she grit her teeth and slashed him across the chest with her spear.

"Grgh!" Issei groaned in pain.

With that staggering moment, Issei lost control of the situation. The Gothic Fallen Angel swept his legs, cutting the back of his calves with her spear before a foot was firmly planted on his right cheek by the Fallen Angel in the fedora. Sent crumpling to the ground, Issei tried to get up but when he saw the enemy bearing down on him all over again, he had to counter, not get up.

Opening his palm again, Issei went with his gut, calling forth some unknown power that had been sleeping in him. Feeling the same sensation from before, he saw the navy sphere form in front of his palm again. With utter desperation, Issei let it loose, firing a beam of navy energy that roared like thunder and struck like lightning. It was massive, having been large enough to level a giant skyscraper in one shot.

"Gaaaah!" The Gothic Fallen Angel screamed as she was too slow to get out of the way, leaving her two other compatriots behind.

Once again, Issei was vulnerable. This time, he really didn't have any strength to defend himself with. To be honest, he didn't even know what he was doing, only obeying his intuition to move and attack. Dropping to his knees, Issei looked up as the remaining Fallen Angels attacked.

Swatting away one spear with his armored hand, another spear tore into his left forearm. Lifting his blue spear of light, the Fallen Angel in the Fedora hoisted Issei into the air before the suited Fallen Angel rose above him and smashed her spear into his gut.

"Gaaahh!" Issei coughed out copious amounts of blood before he was thrown into the ground, with both of the Fallen Angels jousting their spears that were still attached to him.

(Kingdom Hearts 2.5 OST: The 13th Reflection. End Song.)

With a loud crash, another crater was formed. Issei was stifling in pained groans. His arms and legs were leaking blood like water while every single inch of his body was in pain. After firing those two beams of energy, he had never felt so weak in his life. His bones were literally shaking and he felt like every tissue and air on his body was feeling pain. It looked like this was it.

Glaring down at him, the two Fallen Angels coldly analyzed him, expecting some other trick. When he clearly didn't have anything left, they decided it was time to finish their prey. Flapping towards him, they pointed their weapons, ready for the final blow.

"[Division Slicer]"

Issei looked to the side and within the blink of an eye, a crescent wave of white and blue energy came hurling right at the Fallen Angels. It traveled so quickly and was so close, that they didn't have the chance to escape. Suffering the same fate as the other Fallen Angels, the duo were disintegrated, breaking apart as nothing was left behind but the fading light and dust.

Issei, who was barely conscious from all his injuries, weakly turned to get a clearer look at who just saved him.

"Issei!" A familiar voice called over.

He knew that voice. Approaching him, was none other than Validia Lucifeln. There was no way he'd mistake that silver cascade of hair for anything else. Dashing towards him, Vali knelt by his side, examining his wounds. His head had three lacerations across the forehead, at the back of the skull, and his left cheek. His left arm and stomach had punctures in them, and several of his bones were broken with many more cruises across his body.

"Vali…" Issei weakly spoke up.

"Shh…rest. I'm here for you now." Vali gently smiled at him reassuringly.

With those final words, Issei felt the comforting touch of sleep creep into his consciousness. He could feel his pain slowly fade as a gentle touch was left on his person, letting him sleep safely as is consciousness faded to black.

Alright, well, that wraps up the first chapter. I know that this chapter feels a bit rushed too, but I didn't feel like this part of the story didn't need to get dragged out. It was just a 'hello' of the chapter, after all. Anyways, with that said, let me know what you thought about this chapter. I know it's not very different from the original first chapter, but I do think it's a bit more detailed than before.

As always, thank you for your time, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of the rebooted "Heroic Calamity" and I will see you next time, hopefully with an even more fleshed-out first chapter.