He couldn't help but wonder. Wonder what it would be like to be like those that he sees all around him. What would it be like to be loved? Be loved like all the children that he sees walking down the sidewalks with their parents laughing and giggling for joy pointing at the colorful scenery around them. He guessed he would never know. This is his life. The life of an orphan. A life he wished for no child to ever live. He knows what it's like. Knows of the loneliness that you would feel each and every single night. Knows of the longing looks whenever they would see something like this. A happy family walking by just wishing that they could be apart of it.

That is his one wish. If he was being completely honest, he just wanted to know what it would be like. What it was like to be with someone that cares about you. What it would be like to hold hands with the ones you care about the most. What it would be like to be loved. But who is he kidding. This was nothing but a dream. He would never get to experience this.

Issei Hyoudou. That had been the name left with him. That is the story he had been told. Found just outside of the orphanage at the age of three with a note pinned to his chest. His parents? Nowhere to be found. At least his father anyways. As for his mother? He knew where to find her. The very same place that he is going to visit now as he hugs this long used worn out jacket that is way too many sizes too big for him close to his chest clutching a bundle of flowers in his right hand. Savings from the past few months. Savings that he would always spend on her and only her. The other kids from the primary school that he goes to made sure of that.

Made sure to not allow him to have any friends. Made sure to pick on or beat up anybody that ever is friendly to them. Those kids would never look his way again. Some he has never seen in those halls again. He is truly alone in this world. Alone with nobody to spend his time with just making him wish that he never existed at all. Maybe it would be best.

He could then be with his mother. He could get away from the taunts. Get away from this world that has been nothing but cruel to him. Maybe then he could find the one thing that he is searching this city for. Just maybe he would be able to find out first hand what it is like to be loved. A fantasy he knew. His mother would not want that for him. She would want him to live and find a girl one day. A girl that would treat him right. A girl that would always love him and take care of him. He could only wish he would find her someday.

Maybe today? Or tomorrow? Or a year from now? He could only hope. He is very lonely at this time of the year. Christmas. The season of giving. A season that should be celebrated and cherished. Snow ball fights. Singing carols. Opening presents. Things he has never once got to experience.

Snow balls sure would come flying his way. But not playfully. No they would be tossed at him mercifully by his tormentors until he couldn't take it anymore. He could still hear carols being sung. But from the inside of houses as he passes on by. And the presents? Not once has he ever received one. Not once has he ever had the experience of opening a present.

The season of giving. He truly didn't believe that. No this season wasn't anything joyful for him. But to his tormenters it is. The insults they would send his way. Such vicious insults that would constantly remind him of what he is.

Issei's An Orphan. Their favorite song to sing this time of the year. A song that wouldn't bother him any other time of the year. But this time of the year it really stung. Would often make tears come to his eyes that he wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing. Tormentors that he sees now huddled together looking at a nearby display window causing him to quickly duck and hide behind a corner hoping against hope they didn't see him.

As it turns out, luck is on his side. They hadn't seen him instead focusing solely on whatever is being displayed behind the glass. An opportunity for him to slip away into the passing crowd making sure to cover his face perfectly with his large hood. With the occasional glance over his shoulder seeing no familiar faces in sight, letting out a sigh just as he turns his head back forward a sight before him catches his eye. A rather unusual sight. A woman with a bright smile passing out fliers to everyone that passes on by. Out of the ordinary this wouldn't be a surprise. However the lack of attire that she is wearing is though. Dressed as though it is a nice spring day. A woman for some odd reason he is drawn to wanting to see what exactly is on the flier that she is passing out.

And when he receives a flier and turns it over he can't help but raise an eyebrow in question at what he sees. A flier with talk of granting one's desire. A paper that he can't help but look at with awe for a split second before it quickly goes away. This had to be some kind of sick joke. It just had to be causing him to want to rip up the flier in his hands but something stops him. Something that he has never experienced before.

Hope. Hope that maybe this isn't some kind of trick. Maybe this is real. Like a real life fantasy coming to life. A glimmer of hope that makes him fold up the flier neatly and tuck it safely away in his back pocket before continuing his journey forward. If only he had eyes in the back of his head. If he did he would have noticed one of his tormentors looking his way before nudging the rest pointing in his direction.

In Memory of Miki Hyoudou

1981-2012

A tombstone that he knows like the back of his hand. Knows exactly where it is. Knows the exact date it had been put up. The exact weight and how many people helped in the process of burying his mother. Everything. God he wished it wasn't like this. Wished that she was here with him now. Maybe then it he could feel what it's like to be ...be part of a family.

His father long gone nowhere to be found. In fact he didn't even know his name. All he knows is what the men and women in charge of the orphanage told him. And that wasn't very much. His father had abandoned him. Plain and simple. Maybe the pain of losing his wife was too much for him. A wife that he might still see when he looked down towards him? He would never know. He didn't even know if he wished to seek him out one day.

But for now he would do what he has always done every Christmas Eve. Take a seat nearby resting the recently purchased flowers gently around her tombstone and start to talk. Talk about his day. Talk about his dreams. She would be the only one he would ever tell these things to. She is a good listener and he could only hope he would meet her some day.

Just maybe then he would find happiness. Maybe but on this night his small prayer would be answered. Years later he would question whether or not it was his mother that had sent her. Whatever the case was, it was this moment his life would be changed forever.

Change when a sudden voice breaks the silence. A voice that Issei snaps his head towards immediately to find the very last people that he ever wanted to see. Especially here. Not here. Why couldn't they leave him alone.

" Aww! What's the matter? Is little Issei about to cry?"

Glaring at the older boy that he knew to be named Akira wiping away his eyes trying his best to hide away the silent tears that have yet to dry on this cold winter night as he sees the older boy slowly approaching unable to help himself a tight fist forms underneath the long sleeve of Issei's jacket.

" You are aren't you!? Little Issei is crying for his mommy! Aww what's the matter huh? Wished your dead mommy could give you a hug?"

And with that before he even knows it suddenly Issei lunges forward landing a clean blow that lands directly into Akira's jaw sending the older boy back on his ass. Staring down in shock at the older boy finding him doing the same rubbing a bruise that is already forming across his jaw just as he sees a look of anger radiate from the older boy doing what he has always done in the past instantly Issei turns tail and runs away as he hears in the background Akira angirly calling his name out demanding the others to chase after him.

He could hear them. Hear them closing in fast. Their heavy footsteps across the snow. It wouldn't be long before they caught up to him. And they do. Before he knows it Issei feels himself being tackled from behind into the snow face first. And that's when it he feels it. Feels their kicks. Feels their stomps being delivered across his back and their sides. Feels someone landing fist after fist to the back of his head.

Why? Why were they doing this to him? What did he ever do to them? Was this is fate all along? Was he meant to be alone and never remembered? Just a memory for a few selected individuals to look back on years from now and laugh?

He didn't know. Neither does he know how long they continue to beat the crap out of him. It felt like hours before the sound of their footsteps retreating with condragulations being spread around is heard until they disappear. His body tired. So warm. He didn't know how? It couldn't be because of the snow. Was he dying? Is this what death is like?

If it is maybe? Just maybe he could be granted a request before he is to leave this world that has been nothing but cruel to him. And with that his right hand slowly trickles across the snow and into his back pocket grasping a hold of the folded up flier from within.

A flier that he uses the last of his strength to turn himself over onto his back wincing and moaning in pain from how painful the feeling of the cold heat hitting his bruised and battered back feels before he unfolds the flier and brings it to his chest hugging it tight with closed eyes wishing. Wishing for the one thing he desires the most. The wish to be loved. To be apart of a family.

A silly wish some would think but if he is to die he wants at least that. Even for a few brief moments to know what it feels like. A wish that he doesn't know is being granted at this time as the symbol on the flier starts to glow. Glow bright red before the wind starts to pick up around the graveyard causing snow to go flying everywhere.

Snow that he can't help but shiver when he feels some landing across his body under the fierce wind. But then it is gone. The wind disappears and a red light is seen from his closed eyelids. A light he can't help but look towards as though a moth drawn to a light.

And what he finds through blurry vision leaves him speechless. A girl. A girl with long red hair and white skin. And her eyes. Her eyes are so beautiful. These blue eyes that land on him before he watches a look of concern radiate from them before his head is quickly swept up from the snow and cradled gently in her lap.

She was even more beautiful than he could have ever imagined. Is she an angel? An angel here to take him away? Hopefully to a better place. Whoever she is he was glad to have met her. Glad to have seen such a beautiful creature before he would go.

" Issei?"

That voice. That angelic voice. The voice of this red haired goddess. How he could listen to her voice for hours. How soft it comes out from her lips. But what is this? Why does he feel wet drops landing on his face. Is it raining? No it's her tears. This goddesses tears. Is this what it's like? To have someone care about him so much they would cry for him?

Such a foreign feeling that makes his lips twitch upward at the feeling alone. This must be what it feels like. His deepest desire has been granted.

Feeling a soft and delicate hand coming down to rest on his cheek trying his best to focus on her face seeing silent tears trickling down her cheeks trying his best to lift up his hand in an effort to wipe them away a silent groan escapes Issei's lips as his right hand comes falling back down to the snow.

" What do you desire the most?"

Gulping his throat unable to keep his eyes from watering just by the sad look he is seeing across her face with a tear trickling down his cheek Issei whispers out.

" To be loved."

A request that shocks the girl. She had heard all the different requests before that others had told her about. Some sexual desires. Some rather silly desires but love? That was something she has never heard of been requested before. To be loved? A request that she couldn't even begin to imagine the pain behind those words.

Has he never? Surely not? Nobody could be so cruel. Nobody could be so cruel as to not show some type of affection towards another. But the look in his eyes as he said it deep down she knew this was true. So very true. This young man and the verge of death had never felt the love of another. Not the love of a parent like she has experienced. Not the love of a sibling. Not even the love of a friend.

Information that as it slowly makes her come to realization makes even more tears trickle down her cheeks. But he would receive such love. He is different. Truly unique. She could feel it. Feel it when she looks into his eyes. This boy was destined for her. She just knew it and she would save him. She would save his life and forever let him know that she loves him. She will love him now and forever.